halloween movies and shows to watch with kids
this post was updated in 2024
got some requests to share some kid friendly halloween movies and shows so i rounded up some of our family’s favorites. i also asked my followers on instagram to share theirs — so many good suggestions!
also, i included photos of each one because arlo is super visual and it sometimes helped him to see pictures of what he was watching before he watched it to brace himself when he was little! haha.
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for little kids
the skeleton dance — silly symphony
we watched this constantly when i was a kid, and so did gid, and then arlo liked to watch it literally every day when he got home from school during every halloween season 🙂 it’s only a couple minutes but it’s our family tradition… and now izzy loves it too!
where to watch: Disney+
sing: thriller
a short with the “sing” cast doing THRILLER!!
where to watch: netflix
the addams family (2019)
arlo really enjoyed this, it is PG but he loves “spooky” stuff so he was fine, any younger than 4 seems a little too young though! (ps i enjoyed the first one way more than the sequel but arlo liked both)
where to watch: Hulu, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, Apple TV
it’s the great pumpkin, charlie brown
duhhhh! we watched charlie brown christmas daily last year.
where to watch: Apple TV
hotel transylvania
we actually love ALL four of these movies! some might think the fourth one is worse, but it’s still very fun.
where to watch: Apple TV, amazon prime
nightmare before christmas
i mean duhhhh.
where to watch: disney+, Amazon prime, Apple tv
spookley the square pumpkin
a childrens book adapted to a movie about a pumpkin who has to overcome feeling shame for being different.
where to watch: netflix, Amazon prime, Apple tv
double double toil and trouble
an olsen twin halloween movie, that’s all i’ll say on the matter!
where to watch: Apple tv
room on the broom
arlo loved this book! it’s pretty much exactly what you expect!
where to watch: Apple tv, amazon prime
the muppets haunted mansion special
arlo loveeeed it, we think it’s quite corny haha. but old gonzo is definitely a showstoppper.
where to watch: disney+
curious george: a halloween boo fest
for little little kids, this seems festive and super not scary!
where to watch: amazon prime, pbs kids
super monsters
a show all about preschool monsters!!
where to watch: netflix
casper
this may be better for big kids, but i also feel like there’s really nothing scary in it?! your call. arlo is a fan!
where to watch: amazon prime, hulu, youtube tv, apple tv
halloweentown
a classic that everyone seems to love! arlo actually hasn’t seen but i’ll try it this year.
where to watch: disney+, hulu, youtube tv, amazon prime
the legend of sleepy hollow (1949)
a cartoon of the classic halloween story narrated by bing crosby! and the songs are great. it’s rated G, but may be a little scary for the younger kids so have your remote on hand.
ps. you’ll find this show under the name “the adventures of ichabod and mr. toad” because it’s a bundle. skip past mr. toad (if you want!) to get to “sleepy hollow”
where to watch: disney+
if you give a mouse a pumpkin
if your kids are into the “if you give a mouse a cookie” books they will love this seasonal episode
where to watch: amazon prime
coco
not a halloween movie per se — but it’s set in the land of the dead AND on the day of the dead so there are skulls and skeletons aplenty!
where to watch: hulu, amazon prime, apple tv, disney+
toy story of terror!
a halloween short with woody, buzz and all their friends
where to watch: disney+, amazon prime, apple tv
mickey’s monster musical
a pretty cute musical episode with mickey and friends. it’s a two parter!
where to watch: disney+
monsters, inc.
monsters are very on theme for halloween!
where to watch: disney+, amazon prime, apple tv
for bigger kids
corpse bride
some little kids might be ok watching this one (if they’re ok watching nightmare before christmas obv) but i put it on the big kids list just in case!!
where to watch: max, hulu, youtube tv, apple tv, amazon prime
coraline
another one to watch if they like corpse bride!
where to watch: apple tv, amazon prime
beetlejuice (1998)
i was definitely little when i saw this and i’m sure i was terrified haha. arlo has never made it through the whole movie but he’s enjoyed snippets.
where to watch: youtube tv, apple tv, max, hulu, amazon prime
hocus pocus (+ hocus pocus 2)
if you’re a millennial i’m sure you’ve already been trying to get your kids into it!
where to watch: disney+, amazon prime, apple tv
scaredy cats
a cute tv series with black cats, witches and magic
where to watch: netflix
the halloween tree
a few people said this one! based on the book by ray bradbury.
where to watch: amazon prime, apple tv
goosebumps
i mean i was obsessed with goosebumps as a kid so…
where to watch: disney+, netflix
monster house
three teens discover that their neighbor’s house is really a living, breathing, scary monster.
where to watch: amazon prime, apple tv
the addams family (1991)
i guess i was 6 when i saw this and i loved it then, but i was very used to watching things that were too old for me haha
where to watch: pluto tv, hulu, youtube tv, apple tv, amazon prime
over the garden wall
a cartoon network show i’ve never even heard of, but the internet says it’s great and stars elijah wood
where to watch: hulu, amazon prime
the haunted mansion (2022)
this actually had some legit jump scares, i totally enjoyed it and was surprised because of how bad i heard it was! totally good pick if your kid is on the brave side!
where to watch: disney+, amazon prime, apple tv
frankenweenie
a tim burton twist on frankenstein. this one is rated PG but i think it’s a little scary for the younger kids so i’m putting it in the big kids list.
where to watch: disney+
ghostbusters (1984)
arlo has now seen almost all of the ghostbusters movies and loves them!
where to watch: hulu, amazon prime, youtube tv, apple tv
paranorman
a misunderstood boy tries to save his town from a curse
where to watch: tubi, pluto tv, amazon prime, apple tv
lego star wars: terrifying tales
for all the lego kids out there!!
where to watch: disney+
the house with a clock in its walls
a young orphan helps his magical uncle (jack black!!) find a clock that has the power to bring about the end of the world. cate blanchett also stars as the neighbor witch!
where to watch: hulu, youtube tv, apple tv, amazon prime
scoob!
this looks fun! scooby and crew have to save the world from the ghost dog cerberus
where to watch: max, hulu, youtube tv, apple tv, amazon prime
ernest scared stupid
ok this movie SCARED THE CRAP out of me as a 7 year old. arlo wasnt as scared as me but the monster is actually terrifying 😆 don’t worry it’s still a dumb ernest movie though. this is one of my favorites!
where to watch: youtube tv, apple tv, amazon prime
wednesday
a series starring jenna ortega as wednesday addams — prob for the older kids!
where to watch: netflix, apple tv, amazon prime
chilling adventures of sabrina
a spin-off series of sabrina the teenage witch
where to watch: netflix, apple tv
a series of unfortunate events
based on the lemony snicket books starring neil patrick harris
where to watch: netflix
i got more suggestions than these, but would love to hear in the comments if there are any you recommend!
Ernest Scared Stupid! ?
Apparently City of Ghosts is another good one, on Netflix and is about LA and ghosts 🙂
I would also add Coco on Disney+! Not Halloween but dio de los muertos and lots of skeletons. Not spooky at all but we really like it
So fun! I can’t wait to add some of these to our list. The first and second Harry Potter movies are perfect Halloween watches for kids!
(my youngest is 5 but she’s been watching them with me for a few years now)