The greatest tragedy of my life is that Halloween wasn’t celebrated in Australia until I hit my twenties. I was smack bang in the middle of my all black wearing, Tim Burton worshipping, emo phase when the kids first started trick or treating so I’ve never gotten to bob for apples un-ironically. Once you have a kid though, you get to go back and do all those sort of things under the guise of ‘being a good parent’ HUZZAH!!! I am hell bent on my son loving Halloween as much as me so I am slowly indoctrinating him through film. Here are my 10 favourite spooky but family friendly movies to stream with yours this Halloween.
1) The Nightmare before Christmas
Streaming on Netflix
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King! While this is primarily a Christmas movie, given it takes place in Halloween Town I think it works for both. The songs are catchy as hell, and while it’s not directed by Tim Burton, the fact that he came up with the concept gives it its Burton-esque vibe.
2) A Monster in Paris
Streaming on Stan and Netflix
Thanks to the joy of streaming I only just discovered this movie but it’s become one of my all time favourites. Raoul and Emile accidentally release a monster from a scientist’s greenhouse and promise to bring it back. They discover the monster may not be as scary as he appears, and with the help of opera singer Lucille, help to save him from a evil police chief.
3) Hotel Transylvania
Streaming on Netflix
This is the only Adam Sandler movie I have liked in the last decade. Sandler plays the owner of the Hotel Transylvania, a refuge for monsters from the evil humans. But what happens when a human finds his way in and maybe aren’t as bad as he made out?
4) Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Streaming on Netflix
If you haven’t seen it you really should. Wallace and Gromit are working as pest controllers when a gigantic rabbit starts terrorising the town. Go watch it!
5) Coraline
Streaming on Netflix
Coraline is a kick ass little girl who takes no guff from anyone. This movie also features French and Saunders playing retired actresses with hundreds of taxidermied angel-dogs and Ian McShane training a mouse circus. If I need to sell it more, it’s also based on the fantabulous book by Neil Gaiman.
6) Corpse Bride
Streaming on Netflix
Tim Burton is just God’s gift to halloween movies. Pretty much most of them could be used here, but I love the beautiful creepiness of Corpse Bride. There is something truly ethereal about this movie, that makes it one I absolutely adore.
7) Casper
Streaming on Netflix
Oh this was my favourite movie as a teenager. Bill Pullman as a a slightly dorky dad – sign me up! There’s a little something for everyone here – kids and mums alike 😉
8) Igor
Streaming on Stan
A bit of a lesser known effort, but pretty good despite it. John Cusack plays the title character who dreams of becoming a mad scientist and winning the evil science fair. The only problem is when he manages to make a monster, she’s the kindest, sweetest girl you’d ever want to meet and has always wanted to act.
What does your family do on Halloween? Do you have some favourite family friendly Halloween movies that I’ve missed? Or are you more into the scarier fare? Share in the comments!
Linking up with Denyse Whelan, All Mum Said and One Mother Hen today.
26 comments
This is perfect! I was just saying to hubby on the weekend we need to work out some kid’s Halloween movies we can watch with our son because the Nightmare On Elm Street series may be too hardcore for a 9 year old. LOL! #OpenSlather
Yeah might give him some nightmares himself that one! I had so many more I wanted to put down but they weren’t available to stream. Try your son on Hocus Pocus. Possibly the best Halloween movie of all time!
I am not into Halloween or anything remotely like the movies you reviewed BUT that doesn’t make me a grinch! I love that you have a passion for this and are sharing it all here. Thanks for linking up for Life This Week! Denyse
Aww thanks Denyse!
My girls love Tim Burton – we have The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline and The Corpse Bride on DVD – they re much loved in our house!
I think he tows the line between a bit scary and just totally way too much far better than most directors do. I love that the vast majority of his films are kid appropriate nowadays.
Oh, good idea. I must suggest one of my girlfriends do this with her son!
Happy to help 😉
Thanks for the Halloween movie tips I’ve got my weekend all planned out now!
Let me know which ones you like best!
Thank you, this is perfect! i wouldn’t have known where to start with Halloween movies, great suggestions 🙂
It’s hard to find some that aren’t super scary!
I love Hotel Transylvania! The second one is pretty good too. Mr 7 likes a movie called Monster House where the house comes alive and eats people. It’s so weird, and honestly surprised it’s a kids movie.
I’ve heard of that one but never seen it. I might have to track it down!
Oh I will have to look into some of these. I have a 6 and 4 year old. My 6 year old has seen the Were-Rabbit and it still scares him a bit, so we have to be careful with our choices.
It does have a few scary bits in it. Try him on The Wrong Trousers, it’s a bit less scary.
I used to love Caspar when I was growing up. Devon Sawyer was cute!
Oh he was one of my first crushes. Such a cutie!
Loving ALL of these! Coraline is a big fave of mine but I remember my kids finding it a little to creepy!
My niece was the same. She found the button eyes a bit scary.
That Monster in Paris film looks great. My tornadoes are just reaching the age where they enjoy watching movies and this year will trick or treat for the first time. Up until now, our only Halloween movie has been Room on a Broom 🙂
Oh it’s such a beautiful little movie! My little boy loved it.
I loved Casper so much. I remember watching it on repeat for ages. My friends little girl is named Coraline after the movie although I’ve never seen that one. I’m not a huge fan of Halloween because I’m scared of anything even slightly horror related, but I’ve started to slowly embrace it this year. I have a feeling its only going to get bigger and bigger each year now.
Oh me too! I used to watch it every day. Halloween is definitely getting more and more popular in Australia isn’t it?
Wow there are so many movies aren’t there Tory. My kids have the same handful on high rotation at the moment. I might introduce them to some of these. Thanks for the great suggestions.
Happy to help 🙂