As the nights grow colder and the season gets a little spookier, there’s nothing better than curling up with a good Halloween movie. To make your next family movie night extra festive, we’ve rounded up our favorite Halloween films and TV shows for all ages, from not-at-all-scary picks for younger kids to spookier favorites for teens. Let’s dive in!
Halloween Movies and Shows for Families
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Recommended age: 4 and up
Starting off strong with something nostalgic and charming, we have It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. This Peanuts classic follows Linus as he awaits the Great Pumpkin while Charlie and his friends go trick-or-treating. It’s a sweet cartoon that’s great (and not scary) for the youngest viewers.
Coco
Recommended age: 7 and up
Young Miguel takes a journey to the Land of the Dead in this heartfelt Pixar 2023 film. In celebrating Día de los Muertos, Miguel is whisked away on an adventure where he learns more about his family history and love than he ever imagined. This movie is endearing, colorful, and beautifully reminds us of the importance of remembering those who’ve passed. It’s deeply emotional yet uplifting, perfect for ages 7 and up.
Nightmare Before Christmas
Recommended age: 7 and up
Considered a classic Tim Burton Disney movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a bit like if The Grinch Who Stole Christmas took place in Halloween Town. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, sets out on a mission to take over Christmas. It’s more imaginative than scary, but still weird enough to make it a great spooky watch with the family.
Casper
Recommended age: 8 and up
Casper might be a ghost, but he’s as sweet and silly as they come. In this '90s classic, a young girl befriends Casper the Friendly Ghost while her father investigates the haunted house where he lives. The movie is more about Casper’s kindness than it is about his ghostiness, but it still fits perfectly in our Halloween lineup for ages around 8 and up.
The Monster House
Recommended age: 8 and up
This movie takes the thrill up a level with a house that is literally alive. Three neighbor kids are quickly set on a mission to discover more about this house and stop its plans to eat all the kids who come trick-or-treating on Halloween night. This movie has a few more jumpy and scary moments than the previous ones on our list, so this may not be a fit for more sensitive kids.
Goosebumps
Our first TV show recommendation on the list brings us Goosebumps, and it’s a two-for-one special!
The 1995 version is based on R.L. Stine’s classic books, a series of spooky tales where kids face ghosts, monsters, and mysteries. It’s a great, old-school kind of creepy and fun, perfect for ages around 9 and up.
The 2023 version has a bit more edge and suspense, so we’d bump this recommendation up to 12 years or older. But both have a good blend of chilling adventure and imaginative charm.
Hocus Pocus
Recommended age: 10 and up
Time and time again, Hocus Pocus is included on the “best Halloween movies” lists — and for good reason! The movie debuted in 1993, and since then, fans have fallen in love with the three hilarious and quirky witches. The story goes, these three witches accidentally resurrected in modern-day Salem. The movie definitely has a few scares, but it has a lot more laughs.
Ghostbusters
Recommended age: 11 and up
Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters! In other words, a team of quirky scientists who are the unlikely heroes that save New York City from the onslaught of escaped slimy monsters. This is a great one for tweens who can handle a little bit of mild language and some creepy adventure.
Beetlejuice
Recommended age: 13 and up
Beetlejuice is our second Tim Burton film on the list, and our first that puts us squarely in teen territory. Beetlejuice follows a family who, after recently dying in a car crash, adjust to the afterlife. In the process, they realize a new family is moving into their home, and they decide it’s their mission to kick them out. But instead, they accidentally summon the chaotic Beetlejuice. The humor is a little darker, and the visuals are a lot more gothic, but it’s perfect for teens who love something wonderfully weird.
Wednesday
Recommended age: 13 and up
This one’s another TV show series, and it’s based on one of the most classic spooky families ever — the Addams Family. Wednesday goes to boarding school and brings her macabre vibes, which aren’t always received well by the other students. It’s a perfect blend of coming-of-age and supernatural mysteries, and Wednesday always keeps things interesting with her sharp wit and dark humor.
The Sixth Sense
Recommended age: 14 and up
This movie gets a little more intense and leans more on the mystery thriller side than the scary and spooky side. A young boy confides in his therapist that he can see and talk to ghosts, but things get far more eerie as the movie goes on. It’s also more emotionally complex, so it’s best for teens who can handle that and who would enjoy an unforgettable plot twist.
Stranger Things
Recommended age: 14 and up
Last but not least, the show that’s taken over the Halloween season for the last five years, Stranger Things. With its next and final season releasing at the end of 2025, it’s the perfect time to catch up on all the episodes. If you’re unfamiliar, Stranger Things follows a 1980s small town that ends up being the epicenter of government conspiracy and supernatural activity. The suspense, creatures, and emotional storytelling make it great for teens, but younger kids might find it too intense.
Bark: for When the Internet Gets Too Scary for Kids
Movie night is great when you can make sure it’s appropriate for your child, but the internet makes it almost impossible for you to truly manage what your child can access. That’s why Bark offers a whole suite of parental controls to give parents exactly that.
Not only can Bark help you block apps and sites, it can also send you alerts if your child stumbles upon anything potentially harmful. You can check out our products page to see all the ways Bark can help protect your family, including the Bark app, the Bark Phone, the Bark Watch, and the Bark Home.
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Bark helps families manage and protect their children’s digital lives.
