10 Family-Friendly Halloween Movies to Watch This Year

Although I have so much fun during October scaring myself with horrifying and shocking movies in the late hours of the night, some of my absolute favorite movies to watch are the family-friendly Halloween movies. I love all the adorable and funny movies with friendly ghosts and spooky houses. I enjoy these movies more than horror films sometimes.

There are times when I am just not in the mood to watch a scary movie. I don’t feel like being scared, you know? I don’t want to be constantly thinking about someone breaking into my home because I just watched an invasion movie like The Strangers. Or thinking that all those weird sounds I am hearing are ghosts. So, when I happen to be in one of these moods, I will turn on one of the hundreds of kid-friendly Halloween movies out there. I especially love Disney Channel’s original movies. I wrote a post last year, during Blogtober, specifically talking about my favorite Disney Channel Original Halloween movies, which you can see here. So this year I wanted to broaden the scope a little, and talk about my favorite family-friendly Halloween movies in general.

These movies are fun to watch with your kids, or by yourself. Like I always say, it is so important to connect with your inner child, and one way to do that is by watching moves from your childhood, or movies that remind you of that time. Most of the movies on this list are rated PG, but there are a ton of G-rated Halloween movies out there as well, you just have to look.

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1. Halloweentown

Halloweentown has to be the best family-friendly Halloween movie franchise out there. I don’t know if it’s nostalgia or if I just love some good old fashion special effects make-up, but there is something about this movie that brings me so much joy.

Honestly, I think I just want to move to Halloweentown. Imagine a place where you can be your truest self and no one judges you. That’s the dream. Plus, each movie in this franchise is good in its own way, even the fourth movie with the weird, knock-off Marnie. The Halloweentown franchise can easily be a whole movie marathon in itself.

2. Hotel Transylvania

The Hotel Transylvania series is definitely one of my favorites when it comes to Halloween movies. There is something so charming about the characters, and I especially love the father/daughter relationship between Dracula and his daughter Mavis. Also, I must be a fan of magical places where every strange and bizarre creature can live and be accepted. I wonder what that means about me?

Some exciting news, there is a fourth installment in this series, Hotel Transformania, that came out last month! I had no idea, and now I am even more excited to revisit this film series and watch the new one.

3. Casper the Friendly Ghost

I think the reason I enjoy Casper the Friendly Ghost so much is because of the nostalgia it brings me. I have been watching this movie during the month of October ever since I was a kid, and every year I enjoy it just as much as the first time I saw it. There is something so comforting about turning something scary, like a ghost, into something fun and family-friendly. It is definitely cathartic for all those out there who are scared of ghosts… i.e. me.

4. Twitches

Along the same vein as Halloweentown, Twitches was one of my favorites Disney Channel Original Halloween movies. I still enjoy these movies to this day, so whether you are watching them with all your friends who grew up during this era of Disney Channel, or if you are introducing these films to your kid, I think Twitches would be a wonderful addition to a Halloween movie marathon.

5. The Addams Family Values

With this one, I am talking about the 1993 version. This one is so full of dark humor and spooky fun, I absolutely adore it. But I am also interested in watching the new animate films they are putting out. I can tell from the trailers that the animated series will soon become a favorite of mine. I still haven’t seen the first, and I know the sequel is coming out this year. Looks like I am going to have to watch it soon so I can watch the sequel.

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Of course, I had to add one of my all-time favorite Halloween films to this list. Well, both a Halloween and a Christmas film if you ask me. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the best Halloween movies out there, I look forward to watching it every year. I love watching stop-motion animated films. I am fascinated by the hard work and talent that goes into creating these works of art. Also, I love the dark style that Tim Burton has with all of their films, they fit perfectly into the Autumn season.

7. Monster House

I still remember when I was nine years old and this movie came out. Back then, I wasn’t really into anything dark and spooky… I was nine… but I remember really enjoying this movie. It is like a classic haunted house story that you can watch with the whole family.

This one is a little spookier than the others on this list, but it is rated PG, so it is definitely a family-friendly Halloween movie. You just might not want to watch this with really young kids, or ones who get frightened easily.

8. ParaNorman

Another stop-motion film, ParaNorman involves wholesome characters and a lot of ghosts. It is similar in spook level to Monster House, with a lot of ghosts and haunting imagery. What I adore most about this movie are the characters. Most of my favorite movies surround characters that I love, and characters that I actually care about. Without that, I don’t feel motivated to watch a movie. With ParaNorman, you get characters to care about, and a plot that makes you excited to watch the rest of the film.

9. A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting

This is one of the newer ones on my list. A Babysitter’s Guide to Hunting Monsters was released last year and it is the perfect movie to add to your family’s Halloween movie marathon. Kids will love the action and spooky monsters, and parents will enjoy it as well.

This film is a mix of live-action and animations, with the monsters. It is a Netflix original, which I love. Netflix has been putting out some awesome content for all ages, and I have been loving everything they have been creating each year.

10. Hocus Pocus

This one is a classic. No matter how many times I have seen this movie, it will never get old. Not only can I watch it every year, but I watch it multiple times a year. This is another movie where I really care about the characters. I root for Dani, Max, and Allison, as they try to defeat the Sanderson Sisters. This movie has definitely made a cultural impact on society, I will always be adding it to my Halloween movie list.

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Watching movies is the best part of fall, I always include it in my Autumn nighttime routine. It is such a relaxing and cozy way to unwind after a long day. I love grabbing hot cocoa, lighting a fall candle, and enjoying the movies that this season has to offer.

Whether you are creating a family-friendly Halloween movie marathon, or you are setting up a cozy night of Autumnal self-care, this is the perfect list of family-friendly Halloween movies. There are some live-action and some animated movies on this list, so you can choose the best movie for your tastes and created the best fall night in.