I absolutely adore Halloween movies but now that I’m a parent with children of my own, I am realizing that most Halloween movies are pretty inappropriate… Even one of my favorites, Hocus Pocus, is about witches sucking the lives out of children. Most parents will say “oh my kids don’t even notice,” or “they look right over those details,” and that’s great but my kids aren’t like that. They analyze everything. They were terrified watching Frozen 2 because of the water scenes because they were afraid she was going to drown. In other words, scary movies aren’t really their “thing” right now. Someday we will be able to enjoy some of my Halloween favorites but for now, we need some “gentle” titles. Here are some that I’ve complied in case you’re in the same boat as I am. For reference, my kids are ages 5, 3.5 and just about 2!
It’s the Great Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown “The Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween while Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin.” – IMDb
Hotel Transylvania (there is also a 2 and 3) “Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count’s teenaged daughter.” – IMDb
Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie “Lumpy teams with tiny Roo for a Halloween adventure in the Hundred Acre Wood, in this animated tale about friendship, bravery, and teamwork.” – Amazon
Toy Story of Terror “Woody and the gang are held up at a roadside motel and members of the group start to disappear from everywhere. Woody and set about getting to the bottom of the mystery.” – IMDb
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest “George and Allie visit Renkins’ farm on the occasion of Halloween and learn of a spooky legend about a scarecrow who attacks people wearing hats. The duo try to get to the bottom of the mystery.” – Common Sense Media
Monsters Inc “There’s a reason why there are monsters in children’s closets—it’s their job. Monsters, Inc. is the most successful scream-processing factory in the monster world, and there is no better Scarer than James P. Sullivan. But when “Sulley” accidentally lets a little human girl into Monstropolis, life turns upside down for him and his buddy Mike.” – Pixar
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit “Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit, set out to discover the mystery behind the garden sabotage that plagues their village and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest.” – Amazon
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Monster Musical “Who, or what, is making a curious clanging, banging noise? With the right Monster Mouseketools and help from YOU, this mystery will soon be history!” – Amazon
Mickey’s Treat “Everyone’s invited to Big Pete’s Halloween party. But the gang needs to reach Trick-Or-Treat Tower before the moon is full, or the gates will lock and the party will be over before it even starts. Can they get through the foggy woods, past the Candy Corn Patch and over the drawbridge in time?” – Amazon
Room on the Broom “Based on Julia Donaldson’s picture book, telling the story of a kind witch who invites a collection of animals to join her on her broom, though her cat thinks it will get too crowded. Her new friends make themselves useful, however, when the witch is threatened by a fearsome dragon.”
Super Monsters Save Halloween “The Super Monsters use their powers to get their neighbors in the Halloween spirit, then help a nervous friend see there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble “On Halloween night, two precocious little girls try to save their parents from their nasty old aunt’s greedy clutches. Magic abounds and they meet mysterious new friends along the way.” – IMDb
Spookley the Square Pumpkin “Poor Spookley is a pumpkin with a square shape rather than round. He’s teased by other mean round pumpkins. But he receives help from a Scarecrow and his 2 bat side-kicks and 3 very funny spiders.” -IMDb
As always, I recommend you check out the film before you commit to viewing them together because it’s an awful feeling when you’re in the middle of watching something and realize “oh wow, that was not something I wanted my kids to see….”
I hope you and your family are able to enjoy some of these and have a Happy Halloween friends!!
xxoo Kate
Candidly Katelyn 