Introducing kids to horror can be done from a young age, but there’s an obvious priority to stick to what’s appropriate for their age range. We’ve put together various options for children in different stages of maturity, which can be found in the huge libraries of content now available to stream straight to your TV, computer, or mobile device.
Some of the suggestions on this list are set during the Halloween season, while others feature the spooky elements that often come with celebrating the holiday. Ghosts, monsters, vampires, witches, and zombies: this list has it all. The titles span decades, but many of these have grown into fan-favorites. Here’s a list of the best family-friends Halloween movies, and where they can be found on streaming.
Casper
Hocus Pocus
Due to the annual airings of Hocus Pocus to celebrate the Halloween season, the film has grown into a cult classic. The 1993 horror fantasy comedy, directed by Kenny Ortega, focuses on a trio of ancient witches who are resurrected by a teenage boy named Max on Halloween. The Sanderson sisters, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, wreak havoc on the town of Salem as Max and his allies try to stop them. A Hocus Pocus sequel is reportedly in the works at Disney+. The title can currently be viewed through Freeform’s subscription service or on Disney+ on launch day.
Coraline
Coraline is a spooky favorite among young viewers and the title is highly recommended for those who missed out on the 2009 release. The stop-motion animated horror by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) and is based on Neil Gaiman’s 2002 novel. The film follows a new girl in town, Coraline (Dakota Fanning), who finds a parallel world after exploring her new home. Everything in the alternate world mirrors hers but it’s a bit better. Coraline contemplates staying there forever before finding she is trapped in the “Other World.” The critically-acclaimed movie can be found streaming on Netflix.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
ParaNorman
Despite not being set around Halloween, ParaNorman shares the qualities of the holiday by focusing on the supernatural. The 2012 stop-motion animated film also has a lot of heart while telling the tale of a young outsider, Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee). The 11-year-old boy has the ability to speak with the dead and according to the spirit of his uncle, Norman is the only person to save the town from an old witch’s curse. The situation becomes more dangerous when zombies rise from the graves. The fantasy horror-comedy can currently be purchased on iTunes.
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
The most recently released title on this list is Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, the sequel to 2015’s Goosebumps. Both films are based on the works by children’s author R.L. Stine. Goosebumps 2 serves as a stand-alone film so it’s not necessary to have seen the first film. The horror-comedy centers on two boys, Sonny and Sam (Jeremy Ray Taylor and Caleel Harris, respectively), who accidentally unleash monsters from the Goosebumps books after finding one of Stine’s unpublished manuscripts. The disastrous event occurs on Halloween night and features memorable Goosebumps characters like Slappy, the Banshee, The Abominable Snowman, and Prince Khor-Ru. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is available on Netflix.
Monster House
The Witches
The Monster Squad
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