10 of the best family-friendly Halloween films
Fantastic Halloween movies for the whole family to enjoy
Halloween is just around the corner, which means the kids can look forward to pumpkin carving, ghost stories, scary tales, and, of course, Halloween costumes. Then there’s trick or treating, and if after that they're still not exhausted, there’s no better way to wind down than by watching a spooky film as a family.
To help you choose which movie to watch, we’ve selected some of the best Halloween films for the whole family to enjoy. Whilst some are sure to contain some frights, all are rated PG or U, so they are suitable for all age ranges.
We have everything from old blockbusters like Jurassic Park, classics like Ghostbusters and animated hair raisers like Moster House. There’s something for all the family to enjoy and if the kids have been trick or treating, you won’t have to worry about stocking up on movie snacks.
The best family-friendly Halloween films at a glance:
Rated U:
More like this
Rated PG:
- Hocus Pocus 2
- Monster House
- The Addams Family
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- The Haunted Mansion
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks
- Nightmare Before Christmas
Best kids Halloween movies
Here's our top Halloween film picks for the kids to enjoy:
Monsters Inc (U)
Monsters Inc. might not be the first film that jumps to mind when you think of Halloween, but the friendly giants that star in this movie are a real hit with the family. The monsters under the bed concept is always a big fear with kids, but the gags and mishaps in this make it a light-hearted one for Halloween. Mike and Sullivan star as they extract screams and aid a child who enters the monster world.
Age suitability: 4+
Running time: 1h 32m
Where to watch: You can stream Monsters Inc. on Disney Plus.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (U)
This classic Aardman Animation follows Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit, in their first-ever film. It follows the funny duo as they set out to solve the mystery behind the garden sabotage they uncover working as pest removers. It's a film full of hilarious chases, goofy pratfalls and, of course, cheese.
Age suitability: 4+
Run time: 1h 34m
Where to watch: You can stream Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit on Netflix.
Room on the Broom (U)
This animated film is perfect for little ones on Halloween. It's made by the same studio that animated family favourite The Gruffalo and follows a kind witch who invites a surprising collection of animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat. It's a magical tale about the importance of friendship and the benefits of being kind to others.
Age suitability: 4+
Run time: 25m
Where to watch: You can stream Room on the Broom on BBC iPlayer.
Hocus Pocus 2 (PG)
Following on from the original 1993 film, Hocus Pocus 2 revisits the town of Salem, Massachusetts. It begins by exploring the Sanderson Sisters' origin story as young witches during the seventeenth century, before transporting us to the present day, where they return to cause mayhem on All Hallows' Eve. The inclusion of the sister's backstory doesn't just add context to the sequel but also means kids can enjoy the film as a standalone movie even if they haven't seen the original (which you can also stream on Disney Plus) - making a great watch for all the family.
Age suitability: 8+
Run time: 1h 43m
Where to watch: You can stream Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney Plus.
Monster House (PG)
Monster House is a great film for the whole family to watch and features three children who find out their neighbour's house is haunted. As Halloween is coming up they need to destroy the house before it gobbles up trick-or-treaters. This film is rated PG and has a few jump scares.
Age suitability: 8+
Running time: 1h 31m
Where to watch: You can stream Monster House on Netflix.
The Addams Family (PG)
If you think your family is strange you've got nothing on the Addams family. This eccentric bunch will have you in stitches, but beware – your kids (and you!) will be singing the theme tune for days after Halloween. The story follows the spooky family as they try to avoid being swindled by a con artist. There are some scenes of violence and innuendo, so best suited to older preteens.
Age suitability: 8+
Running time: 1h 39m
Where to watch: You can stream The Addams Family on Paramount Plus, which you can also add to your Amazon Prime Video account and Sky.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (PG)
The first in the Harry Potter series, this film is a great introduction to the wizarding world. Harry, Ron and Hermione star as they enter the magical school of Hogwarts and get their first taste of spells. During their first term, they battle a troll, a three-headed dog and a teacher with a dark secret. This is a brilliant (and not too scary) Halloween flick.
Age suitability: 8+
Running time: 2h 32m
Where to watch: You can stream Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on Netflix and Sky.
The Haunted Mansion (PG)
Another family adventure, The Haunted Mansion, follows a family who takes a vacation to a (you guessed it) haunted mansion. Here, they are troubled by ghosts and have to work together to save each other. Eddie Murphy joins the cast in this funny Halloween flick, and it's your classic family-inherits-haunted-house plot but with lots of jokes for the kids.
Age suitability: 8+
Running time: 1h 39m
Where to watch: Stream The Haunted Mansion on Disney Plus.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (PG)
This is the perfect choice for young families, and despite being nearly 55 years old, it hasn't lost its magic. If you want to watch Wizards and Witches (and, of course, flying beds) without the scare factor, then the 1971 Disney classic is an excellent Halloween choice. The film is set in wartime and follows an aspiring witch who's studying witchcraft in order to help with England's war effort, a bed is enchanted, and then they fly off to an animated land. Trust us, it makes more sense in the film.
Age suitability: 8+
Run time: 2h 19m
Where to watch: Stream Bedknobs and Broomsticks on Disney Plus.
Nightmare Before Christmas (PG)
Whether you think it's best for Christmas or Halloween, there's no denying that Tim Burton's 1993 stop-motion film is a classic must-see. It follows a pumpkin king who gets bored of scaring people at Halloween and instead opts for stealing Santa Claus. There are some scary images, though, so perhaps best for older children.
Age suitability: 8+
Run time: 1h 16m
Where to watch: Stream Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney Plus.
Where can I watch family-friendly Halloween movies?
When it comes to family-friendly Halloween movies, there are a few main places that offer a great range of spooky children's films. By their nature, Halloween films are made to be scary, so the best places to look are streaming services which are targeted towards kids. It's also best to make sure the films are rated either U or PG to avoid frightening the children too much.
A great streaming service for family-friendly Halloween movies is Disney Plus. It has some great family-friendly films, and most of our above selections can be found there. To stop children from viewing any content which may be unsuitable, you can also turn on parental controls and open a kid's account. You can sign up for a Disney Plus account here.
Netflix is also home to lots of family-friendly Halloween content and you can find this in their 'family' category when in the app. Then there's Sky, which has a dedicated family film channel and kids category on Sky Cinema, that will be airing films throughout the Halloween period. And don't worry, any unsuitable content will be hidden behind a PIN.
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Authors
Finn Byrne is a Digital Writer for Immediate Media. He works across several brands including The Recommended, RadioTimes.com, MadeforMums and BBC Gardeners’ World. Finn has previously written for publications including MyLondon, The Mirror, The Express, and The Star. When not writing Finn enjoys spending time on the football pitch and getting stuck into a book.
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