Marvellous Movies for a Hauntingly Happy Halloween Night
With money potentially being tight this October, many families are exploring alternative ways to celebrate Halloween at home, and for lots of households with young children, the prospect of a spooky movie night is high up on the agenda. Picking a Halloween film the whole family can enjoy can be tricky, so this year, we’ve rounded up some of the best Halloween movies for Kids and tweens. Because no one wants their kids up all night having nightmares on 31st October, we’ve also clearly marked each one with its official age rating so that you can assess whether this is a safe watch for you and your family! Which one will you be watching this Halloween?
Super Monsters Dia De Los Monsters (U) Sun down, monsters up in Ciudad Monstruo for a celebration filled with magic colourful creatures and super monstery fun! The monsters celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with a fun filled parade. This Canadian short animated film is just 25 mins long – so perfect for younger viewers.
Adams Family 2019 (PG) – An animated re-adaptation of the original Halloween classic Adams Family – They’re creepy, they’re kooky and adjusting to life in a new neighbourhood, but they’re not the only spooky characters in town! Love the animated version of Wednesday Adams!
Spookley the Square Pumpkin (U) Life’s rough in the patch when you’re a square in a circular world. But this Halloween its important to realise that sometimes it’s our differences which make us great! An adorable animation with a positive underlying message about diversity. At just 47 minutes long – this ones ideal for preschooler or a younger audience!
Ghost Town (12)
Minutes after being pronounced dead, a dentist with an antisocial life is bought back to life with the ability to see ghosts – each of whom have a favour to ask. Starring Ricky Gervais, this option is far more witty than spooky.
Hotel Transylvania (U)
Even monsters and warewolves need some R&R occasionally! What could possibly go wrong?! When he’s a human and he takes a liking for Dracula’s daughter, I guess we are going to find out!
Witches Ball (U)
My daughter loves a bit of magic and this one is right up her street. When one big problem stands in the way of her becoming a bona fide witch. What’ll it take? A bit of magic of course!
A Toot Toot Cory Carson Halloween (U)
A creepy corn maze, a monster truck and a haunted house can’t stop Cory and his crew from getting their halloween candy! A cute animated adventure for preschoolers.
Monster House (PG)
Some houses are haunted, but a few snooping kids are about to discover, this one is straight up ALIVE!!! Three friends uncover the truth about a scary abandoned house in their neighbour hood that has a personality of its own and seems to be eating people!
Some houses are haunted, but a few snooping kids are about to discover, this one is straight up ALIVE!!! Three friends uncover the truth about a scary abandoned house in their neighbour hood that has a personality of its own and seems to be eating people!
Super Monsters save Halloween (U)
It’s Halloween and the Super Monsters are ready to celebrate, with candy costumes and music to get you in the Halloween mood!
Goosebumps (PG)
Who remembers these books as a child? Based on the books by R.L Stine, Goosebumps tells the story of a teen who is really down about moving to a small town – that is until he develops a crush on her new neighbour. But her Dad is a horror writer whose scary world soon becomes a reality!
Corpse Bride (PG)
Just as he’s about to be married, Victor is sucked into the underworld by a Corpse Bride who desires him for herself in this Tim Burton Tale. Slightly more spooky animation, so younger children may not be entirely comfortable but not scary.
Dreamworks Spooky Stories (U)
Shrek dares his friends to bring on the scary when they meet to share ghost stories told in Lord Farquarts’ abandoned haunted castle.
Upside Down Magic (6+)
Nory and her best friend Reina enter the Sage Academy for Magical Studies, where Nory’s wonky magic lands her in a class for those with upside down magic- otherwise known as UDM.
Disney Frankenweenie (PG)
Another Tim Burton Halloween classic, about a boy who tries to bring his dead dog back to life through a powerful science experiment. When he succeeds but the newly revived bolted neck Sparky wrecks havoc with his friends and neighbours; his mission is to convince them that despite apperances, this is the same dog with the kind heart that they know and love!
Maleficient (PG)
Maleficient stars Angelina Jolie at her best as the vengeful fairy who casts a curse on a princess; only to discover that she holds the key to restoring peace on their troubled land. She’s a bit scary to look at, but my girls (4 and 7) both really enjoyed this one.
Hocus Pocus (PG)
The old classics are some of the best – A young boy called Max moves to Salam with his family and accidentally resurects three witches from a 300 year slumber by lighting a cursed candle!
The Haunted Mansion (PG)
Eddie Murphy (actor) and his wife visit a mansion that the owner wants to sell. However, they soon find themselves trapped their and discover that the property is haunted by evil spirits! A bit scary in parts so I’d say 7+ for this one.
Into the Woods (PG)
A Halloween musical with a fab cast derived from lots of different fairy tales mixed together. Into the Woods tells the story of an evil witch who bribes a childless baker and his wife to collect magical items from classic fairy tales in order to reverse the curse put on their family tree.
Coco (PG)
Be warned – this one may make the adults cry! Based on the Mexican Celebration Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz, but his family have banned music in their home.
Whilst on a mission to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself thrown into the colorful Land of the Dead and unlocking the history behind his family tree – See (Why COCO made me sob in the cinema)
Ghostbusters (PG)
Whether its the original 1984 classic – HE SLIMED ME! or the modern day female alternative, there are of course some scary bits for younger kids in Ghostbusters – but for older children or tweens, this one is some halloween nostalgia you can all enjoy!
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (PG)
Unlike the first movie which is based on the E.L Stine books – this one is based on an unpublished Goosebumps novel. When two friends Sonny and Sam find an ancient manuscript whilst cleaning an abandoned house, things escalate when the text brings a ventriloquist dummy to life – soon their sleepy town becomes overrun with monsters, witches and other mysterious creatures!
Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed (PG)
In this live action sequel of Scooby Doo, the team have to solve the mystery of monsters that are attempting to torment their town. Of course there is a villain trying to foil their attempts to save the day (and they would’ve got away with it if it wasn’t for those pesky kids!)
The Witches (PG)
A young boy stumbles onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse. Who can forget being slightly scared of this book as a child! This is a bit scary in parts so not one for younger children (but you can always forward wind the scary bits!) – Looking forward to the new version of this that is coming out soon and cant wait to see Anne Hathaway in action!
The Academy of Magic (PG)
A young girl with magical powers goes in search of the truth when the magic academy she attends is revealed to be harbouring some dark secrets. Spellbinding animated fun.
Which ones of these have you seen?
