We love family movie nights in our house! We get our chores done, dinner cleaned up, and then settle on the couch with blankets and snacks to watch a family-friendly movie. Since it's October, the theme in our house has of course been HALLOWEEN movies!
Here's a list of movies that are either Halloween Themed or have that Fall vibe about them that we think are great to share with your family. Be advised, if your kids are younger or more sensitive, some of these on the list may be scary, but for the most part I tried to put movies that were more funny or sweet rather than terrifying (I don't like being scared either LOL). But please, you know your family best, use your best judgment when showing them something new!
Last warning, if you're looking for the scary list, you gotta go to Google for that one HA! So clean up the house, light your Pumpkin Pie candle, grab those cozy blankets, and get in your jammies and socks, without further adieu, here's our list in no particular order:
1. Coco
Coco is visually stunning (as Pixar movies usually are) and has great music. It is a heartwarming tale that focuses on family and the secrets that can be hidden. I do believe (as with almost every Pixar movie) that this one made me cry.
2. Hocus Pocus 1 & 2
You can't have a Fall movie list without Hocus Pocus. I added the second one because sometimes it's nice having a double-feature. Hocus Pocus is a CLASSIC, but the second one got a 6.0 on IMDB so it's worth checking out.
3. Beetlejuice
Ok, now Beetlejuice is a CLASSIC with a young Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Michael Keaton, AND Winona Ryder, but it might be a little scary for younger eyes (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis have died in a car crash and are stuck between our world and the afterlife). However, the scene where they are sitting around the table and singing Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) by Harry Belafonte is one of my favorite scenes in any movie ever. Catherine O'Hara is GREAT. Beetlejuice is definitely one of my favorite movies!
4. Hotel Transylvania 1, 2, 3
I didn't include the 4th Hotel Transylvania because honestly, I did not like it and secondly, Adam Sandler isn't even in it! But the first 3 movies are solid, full of funny parts, genuinely sweet moments, and funny characters. I wasn't sure I'd like these at all, but I watched them with my kids and enjoyed them a lot. The premise is Adam Sandler is Dracula and runs a hotel in the middle of nowhere for monsters on vacation. In the first one, a human backpacker happens upon the castle and Dracula has to hide him, but the human begins to fall in love with Dracula's daughter (voice by Selena Gomez). The second movie is about Dracula trying to see if his grandson has monster powers (Mavis, his daughter, and Jonathan get married). The third one is about Dracula falling in love with a cruise director Erika who is actually the granddaughter of Van Helsing (voiced by Jim Gaffigan) trying to kill all the monsters. Take my word for it, they're good!
5. Harry Potter Series
Any millennial will tell you these are solid, you probably already know. I've LOVED introducing my kids to this series. This is a good series to use as a motivation to read the books to *finish the first book, watch the first movie, so on and so forth*. My son is even going to be Harry Potter for Halloween! So it's a favorite in our house.
6. The Addams Family (2019)
I found this animated movie a little weird, but it's based on the classics so we gave it a shot. My kids liked it, I wouldn't watch it again, but it's good for a movie night.
7. Nightmare Before Christmas
If you loved the line "We can live like Jack and Sally if we want" from Blink-182's "I Miss You" then you already know and love this movie.
8. Corpse Bride
Tim Burton's on this list a lot. This one needs no explanation, it's weird, it has Johnny Depp, it's a classic. The stop-motion animation is a little freaky sometimes so maybe not for younger viewers, but still, it's a great one for Halloween!
9. Haunted Mansion
A less scary, more funny movie on a haunted mansion based on the ride at Disneyland. Especially cool if you've visited the attraction!
10. Scooby Doo (2002)
This movie was huge in my house, I guess we really loved Scooby-Doo. The live action version features Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Freddie Prince Jr. as Fred, Linda Cardenelli as Velma, and Matthew Lillard as Shaggy (Matthew Lillard was so good at the Shaggy voice that he continues to this day to voice Shaggy characters in various adaptations of Scooby-Doo). The movie centers on the gang at an Island Resort where something fishy is going on. Of course in true Scooby-Doo fashion, they end up investigating it. Definitely worth a watch!
11. Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
This movie GENUINELY scared me when I watched it in 1998 as an 8 year old. My brother and I were so excited for the premiere on Cartoon Network on Friday night, but ended up being spooked because THE ZOMBIES WERE REAL?!?! All in all a classic!
12. Edward Scissorhands
Johnny Depp at his weirdest and most Tim Burton-ish lol. This one is probably more for the older crowd, but it is a good story nonetheless.
13. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Can't have a holiday movie list without Charlie Brown! Probably the most classic of all these movies on this list in my opinion.
14. Ghostbusters
Don't bother with the remake (sorry, everyone!) this is the only Ghostbusters in my eyes. Featuring Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, basically (and I know I keep saying this) it's a CLASSIC! Save this one for older viewers as well.
15. Fantastic Mr. Fox
I love Wes Anderson movies and this is a stop-motion animated movie about the Fantastic Mr. Fox who tries to give up stealing birds, but plans the ultimate heist against 3 evil farmers. It's based on a story by Roald Dahl (whom I loved as a kid). The color scheme of this movie is all golden yellows, reds, and oranges (it's very fall) and the music is superb (the first scene features a Beach Boys song called "Heroes & Villains"). All in all, it's a great story, very Wes Anderson in its visuals and its dialogue, and a family favorite around here.
16. The Goonies
What 80s kid didn't love The Goonies? It's a great adventure movie where kids find an old pirate map and try to find the treasure, but end up getting involved in something bigger! Can't wait to show this one to my kids!
17. Frankenweenie
Another Tim Burton movie! This one is a little creepy too so might be too scary, but a young Victor loses his dog and then brings him back to life. He has to convince his parents and community he is the lovable companion he's always been.
There you have it! I left off some movies like Coraline because that movie freaked me out and I didn't like it, so this is OBVIOUSLY my opinion! What movies were we missing that you'd add? Which ones on here are YOUR favorites?