As the temperature drops and excitement for Halloween rises, many people will want to get in the Halloween mood by watching festive movies. While most people’s minds go to horror movies, it’s also very important to have movies that the whole family can watch.
I compiled some of my favorite family-friendly Halloween movies to give you some of the best recommendations that all ages will love! Here are my top 5 halloween movies to watch this upcoming season:
Casper (1995) rated PG-
Casper is one of the most well known Halloween characters, and the movie lives up to those standards. The film, starring Christina Ricci and Devon Sawa, is a wholesome family movie following the story of a friendly ghost named Casper. When a girl named Kat and her father move into the house Casper resides at, she and Casper spark an unlikely friendship. I think this movie is a great option for families with younger children because it isn’t scary at all and it’s really entertaining to watch.
Hocus Pocus (1995) rated PG-
Hocus Pocus is one of the most iconic Halloween movies. In this classic, a teenage boy named Max and his family move to Salem, Massachusetts. When they arrived Max struggled to fit in at school and was bullied by some teens in Salem. Eventually Dani, Max’s sister, Max, and their new friend Allison are exploring an abandoned house and Max accidentally summons three evil witches that used to live in the house. They spend their Halloween trying to stop the witches before they become immortal and terrorize the people of Salem for eternity. This is a great option when searching for family-friendly Halloween movies. It’s a cult classic that has been a treasure for years, especially since a sequel was released in 2022. The sequel stars some of the same actors and is overall a great addition to the story. I would recommend both of these movies to watch this fall.
Hubie Halloween (2020) rated PG-13-
Hubie Halloween, starring Adam Sandler, is a comedy following the story of Halloween loving Hubie Dubois. Hubie lives in Salem, Massachusetts and is ridiculed by his counterparts and viewed as an outcast. When people in his town begin to go missing, Hubie must do everything he can to keep the people of Salem safe. I would recommend this for a more mature audience. The film has some crude humor that could be confusing for younger viewers. Overall, Hubie Halloween is a great option to both make you laugh and warm your heart.
Coco (2017) rated PG-
Coco isn’t technically a Halloween movie, but it focuses on DÍa de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. It’s an intimate family tradition celebrated in Mexico and other places with people of Mexican heritage. The animated movie showcases Mexican culture and tradition by following the story of aspiring musician, Miguel. His family runs a shoe making company and is morally against music due to family issues in the past. Miguel becomes desperate to create music and ends up crossing over to the stunning Land of the Dead. He meets unlikely friends along the way and reconnects with his family that had passed away. This is one of my favorite animated movies because it gives children more perspective on other cultures and provides a great story. It’s a heartwarming family story that always makes me shed a tear, but it also has lots of humor. I would strongly recommend this to families with younger children, as there isn’t anything in it that wouldn’t be family friendly.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) rated all ages-
Like the majority of the Peanuts movies, this is a wholesome look at a popular holiday. Charlie Brown and his gang return in this 25-minute long special starring thumb-sucking Linus and how he spends his Halloween. He has a pure outlook on the holiday and this is truly a heartwarming film. For as long as I can remember, I’ve watched It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown every year and it’s become a tradition for my family. All of the Charles M. Schulz inspired films are staples for every holiday. They’re entirely family appropriate, and the storylines are easy enough for any age group to understand.
