Best Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween Season: Children’s Edition

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Halloween is a good time to look at some of the best horror movies to watch. In my last article, I highlighted my top horror picks for adults this Halloween season.

Now, let’s explore some of my favorite family-friendly Halloween movies currently available on Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video.

These films deliver just the right touch of spooky fun and Halloween charm without the scares—perfect for a cozy movie night with everyone. Happy Halloween watching!

Netflix Picks:

Goosebumps (2015)

Goosebumps is a family-friendly horror-comedy based on the popular book series by R.L. Stine. The story follows teenager Zach Cooper, who moves to a small town and discovers that his neighbor is R.L. Stine himself.

When Zach accidentally releases the monsters from Stine’s locked manuscripts, he must team up with Stine and his daughter to capture the creatures, including Slappy the Dummy, before they wreak havoc on the town.

This movie mixes scares and laughs, making it an entertaining watch for all ages.

Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)

In Hotel Transylvania 2, Dracula is thrilled to be a grandfather to Dennis, the half-human, half-vampire son of Mavis and Johnny. While Mavis worries about raising Dennis among monsters, Dracula hopes to bring out his vampire traits.

As Dennis nears his fifth birthday without any signs of vampirism, Dracula and his friends—including Frankenstein, Murray the Mummy, and Wayne the Werewolf—try to train him in vampire skills, with hilarious mishaps along the way.

When Dracula’s old-fashioned father, Vlad, arrives and disapproves of Dennis’s human side, tensions rise.

Eventually, the family learns to embrace Dennis’s dual heritage, transforming the hotel into a welcoming place for both monsters and humans, filled with love, laughter, and acceptance.

Ghostbusters Frozen Empire (2024)

In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family teams up with the original Ghostbusters. Together, they face Garraka, an ancient phantom god. Garraka unleashes an icy curse over New York, threatening to freeze the city.

Armed with new ghostbusting tech and age-old powers, they race to stop the threat. Their goal: save the city from a frozen apocalypse.

Wendell & Wild (2022)

In Wendell & Wild, demon brothers Wendell and Wild cause mischief. Voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, they convince Kat, a troubled teen, to summon them.

Their arrival creates chaos, pushing Kat to confront her inner demons. She navigates a whimsical world of ghouls, lost souls, and the undead

The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)

In The Curse of Bridge Hollow, a father and daughter must team up to save their town when a mischievous ancient spirit brings Halloween decorations to life, turning the holiday into a night of mayhem.

As they battle possessed decorations, they uncover secrets about the town and learn to embrace their own differences. This horror-comedy blends spooky thrills with family-friendly fun and stars Marlon Wayans and Priah Ferguson.

Disney+ Picks:

Hocus Pocus (1993) & Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Hocus Pocus is a beloved Halloween classic following three mischievous 17th-century witches, the Sanderson sisters.

The sisters are accidentally resurrected by a teenager in modern-day Salem. With their sights set on achieving immortality by stealing the life force of children, the trio creates magical mayhem as the teens band together to stop them before dawn.

Hocus Pocus 2 reunites the Sanderson sisters when three high school friends accidentally bring them back to life once again in Salem.

As the sisters plot to reclaim their powers and rule the town, the friends must find a way to outwit the witches before Halloween night ends.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Nightmare Before Christmas is the perfect blend of spooky and festive. Most people watch this during both Halloween (and Christmas) seasons.

Gravity Falls (2012-2016)

This movie is not just for adults only. Gravity Falls is perfect for a binge with its supernatural mysteries and clever humor.

Prime Video Picks:

Curse of Crom: The Legend of Halloween (2022)

This movie centers around a cursed town and introduces sinister forces that push a group of friends into a fight for survival. The movie is rated TV-14, making it suitable for teens and older viewers.

Casper (1995)

A friendly ghost tries to make friends with a new girl in town. Casper is gentle enough for younger viewers.

ParaNorman (2012)

A boy who can talk to ghosts must save his town from a zombie invasion. The movie is not too scary I would say more like light horror with a message about acceptance.

Coraline (2009)

The film follows Coraline Jones, a curious young girl who discovers a secret door in her new home that leads to a parallel world similar to her own.

This “Other World” seems perfect at first, offering everything Coraline desires, but it soon reveals a dark and sinister side. As she tries to escape the clutches of her “Other Mother,” Coraline must use her wits and bravery to save herself and her real family.

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022)

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is the fourth installment in the Hotel Transylvania animated franchise.

In this comedy adventure, Dracula and his monster friends are accidentally turned into humans, while Johnny, the human son-in-law, becomes a monster due to Van Helsing’s new invention, the “Monsterfication Ray.”

With their identities swapped, Dracula and Johnny must work together to find a way to reverse the transformation before it becomes permanent.

This journey through jungles and mishaps tests their relationship and shows the importance of family, acceptance, and embracing each other’s differences.

Monster House (2006)

Three children investigate a haunted house in their neighborhood. This film combines adventure with light frights.

Ready for a spooky family movie night? Grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and enjoy a Halloween filled with fun and loads of spookiness!

About Ufuoma Akpotaire 57 Articles
Ufuoma Akpotaire is a passionate movie and music reviewer with a love for travel and culture. As the Senior Culture and Travel Editor at Verayea, she combines her enthusiasm for storytelling with her experience exploring new places. Through her reviews, she celebrates creativity and inspires readers to appreciate the connections between movies, music, travel, and global cultures.

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