Looking for the best Halloween movies for kids? Whether your children love friendly ghosts, silly monsters, witches or something a little spooky, there are plenty of fun films to enjoy together.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite family-friendly Halloween movies, from gentle animated films for preschoolers to spooky adventures for older kids and teens.
To make choosing easier, we’ve organised the movies by age group, with suggestions for children who don’t like scary films as well as those who enjoy a few frights.
So grab the popcorn, get comfortable and plan a Halloween movie night!
Best Halloween movies for kids: Quick picks
Not sure what to watch? Here are some of our top Halloween movie recommendations for different ages.
| Best for | Movie |
|---|---|
| Preschoolers | Room on the Broom |
| Kids who scare easily | Monsters, Inc. |
| Younger primary school kids | Hotel Transylvania |
| Primary school kids | Hocus Pocus |
| Kids who love mysteries | Scooby-Doo |
| Older primary school kids | Goosebumps |
| Tweens | The Nightmare Before Christmas |
| Teens | Beetlejuice |
A note for parents: These age suggestions are a general guide rather than official classifications. Some children enjoy spooky movies, while others find ghosts, monsters or suspense frightening. Always check the Australian classification and consider your child’s sensitivity before watching.
Quick Navigation
New & Worth Watching | Littlies (2–6) | Primary School Kids (6–12) | Halloween TV Specials | Whole Family Classics | Tweens & Teens | Properly Spooky (Teens 15+)| Movie Marathon Ideas | FAQ
New & Worth Watching (2026)
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom
The third feature film from Aardman’s beloved claymation flock, released in Australian cinemas from 18 September 2026. Mossy Bottom Farm is gearing up for Halloween when the Farmer wrecks the pumpkin patch, and Shaun’s attempt to fix things with a science experiment goes hilariously wrong. Gentle, funny and genuinely suitable for the whole family, including younger kids who aren’t ready for anything scarier. Rating G.
Littlies (Ages 2–6)
Room on the Broom
Based on the much-loved Julia Donaldson book. A friendly witch and her cat pick up new animal friends along the way, and nothing here is remotely scary. A lovely first Halloween film for toddlers and preschoolers. Rated G.
Spookley the Square Pumpkin
A gentle story about a square pumpkin who doesn’t fit in with the round ones, with a simple message about acceptance. Low stakes, low scare factor, perfect for little ones. Rated G.
Super Monsters: Halloween for Everyone
A team of friendly preschool monsters get their town ready for Halloween. Cute rather than creepy, and a good option if your child loves the Super Monsters Netflix series already. Rated G.
Super Monsters: Vida’s First Halloween
The Super Monsters take turns sharing their favourite Halloween traditions as newcomer Vida experiences her first one. Another safe, sweet pick for the youngest trick-or-treaters. Rated G.
Casper
The friendly ghost classic. There are a couple of mildly spooky moments but nothing that should trouble most preschoolers, and it’s a nice entry point into “ghost stories” before moving on to spookier fare. Rated PG.
Hotel Transylvania
Dracula runs a hotel for monsters and has to keep his human guest a secret from the other guests. Colourful, silly and light on scares, though the sequels lean slightly older as the humour gets a bit cheekier. Rated PG.
Primary School Kids (Ages 6–12)
Hocus Pocus
Three witches are resurrected in Salem and set about trying to regain their youth. A genuine Halloween classic that’s spooky in tone but not graphic, and works well for kids who are ready for a proper “witch movie.” Rated PG.
Hocus Pocus 2
The Sanderson sisters return for another Halloween in Salem. Similar tone to the original, so if your kids handled the first one, this is a safe follow-up. Rated PG.
Monsters Inc
Not strictly a Halloween film, but the monster-in-the-closet premise fits the theme perfectly, and it’s genuinely funny with almost nothing scary for sensitive kids. Rated G.
Coco
Set around Día de los Muertos, this Pixar film explores family, memory and the Land of the Dead with warmth rather than fright. One of the better options if you want something with real heart alongside the spooky theming. Rated PG.
Goosebumps
Based on the R.L. Stine books, a teenager discovers his neighbour is the author of the Goosebumps series and that the monsters in the books are real. More adventure than horror, and a great gateway for kids who love the books. Rated PG.
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
A haunted Halloween night in a small town, again leaning more into fun spookiness than genuine scares. Works well as a double feature with the first film. Rated PG.
The Addams Family
The animated version follows the family as they clash with a reality TV host threatening their spooky way of life. Quirky and funny rather than frightening, with plenty of Halloween atmosphere. Rated PG.
The Curse of Bridge Hollow
A teenager and her dad accidentally unleash an evil spirit in their new town and have to team up to stop it. A solid “just spooky enough” pick for kids who like a few bumps in the night but aren’t ready for anything more grown-up. Rated PG.
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Siblings discover a hidden world of magical creatures after moving into their family’s old estate. More fantasy-adventure than horror, with a good mix of wonder and mild peril. Rated PG.
Halloween TV Specials
Shorter than a full film, these are a good option for a quick dose of Halloween spirit before bed, or for littlies who won’t sit through a whole movie.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
The gold standard of Halloween specials. Linus waits in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin while the Peanuts gang go trick-or-treating. Gentle, nostalgic and genuinely suitable for all ages. Rated G.
Toy Story of Terror!
A Pixar short special where the Toy Story gang get stuck in a motel on a stormy night and start disappearing one by one. Funny with just enough spookiness to feel like a proper Halloween watch. Rated PG.
Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985)
Garfield and Odie go trick-or-treating before stumbling into an old pirate ghost story. A nostalgic pick that still holds up for littlies and primary schoolers. Rated G.
Scooby-Doo Halloween Specials
There are several across the decades, and they’re reliably good filler for primary schoolers who want mystery-solving over real scares. Rated G to PG depending on the special.
The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror
An annual anthology of three short horror parodies within regular episodes, and a genuine pop culture institution each Halloween. The satire and dark humour skew older than the other specials on this list, so it suits tweens, teens and adults better than littlies.
Whole Family Classics
Ghostbusters (1984)
A team of scientists turned ghost hunters save New York from a supernatural invasion. Spooky enough to be exciting for older kids, silly enough that younger family members can usually handle it too, making it a genuine whole-family pick. Rated PG.
The Goonies
Technically an adventure film rather than Halloween-specific, but the treasure hunt through spooky tunnels and booby traps gives it the right atmosphere for a Halloween movie night. Rated PG.
Gremlins
A boy accidentally breaks the rules for looking after his new pet, unleashing chaos in his small town. Rated PG here, but it’s genuinely darker and gorier than the rating suggests (it’s one of the films that led to the creation of the PG-13 rating overseas), so it’s worth previewing if your kids are more sensitive and better suited to older primary schoolers and up.
Beetlejuice
A ghostly couple hires a “bio-exorcist” to scare off the new family living in their house. Quirky, darkly funny and a genuine Halloween staple, best suited to kids who are comfortable with a bit of Tim Burton weirdness. Rated PG, with a warning for coarse language.
Corpse Bride
A stop-motion Tim Burton film about a man accidentally marrying a dead bride. Visually stunning and more melancholy than scary, it plays well for kids who enjoyed Coco. Rated PG.
Frankenweenie
Tim Burton’s black-and-white stop-motion film about a boy who brings his beloved dog back to life using science, with unexpected consequences. Heartfelt as much as spooky, and a nice pairing with Corpse Bride for a Tim Burton double feature. Rated PG.
Tweens & Teens
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
The 2024 sequel brings back the chaotic ghost with a new generation of the family in the crosshairs. Considerably gorier and edgier than the original, with coarse language and comic-but-graphic violence, so this one suits teens rather than younger tweens. Rated M.
Hubie Halloween
A well-meaning but socially awkward Halloween monitor tries to keep his town safe on the spookiest night of the year. Broad, silly humour that lands well with tweens and up. Rated PG.
Scooby-Doo
Mystery Inc reunites to solve a mystery at a theme park. Perfect for kids who like their spookiness paired with plenty of jokes, and a good stepping stone toward slightly more grown-up mystery-horror. Rated PG.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Jack Skellington from Halloween Town stumbles into Christmas Town and decides to take over the holiday. A stylish, musical crossover that works just as well in October as it does in December, and suits kids who like something a bit more gothic. Rated PG.
Properly Spooky (Teens 15+)
If your teens have outgrown “family-friendly spooky” and want something with real scares, these sit a step up in intensity. None of these are appropriate for younger kids, and it’s worth checking the current rating before watching, since a couple of these can shift between M and MA15+ depending on the cut.
A Quiet Place
A family must survive in near-total silence to avoid deadly creatures that hunt by sound. Tense rather than gory, this is a strong “gateway” pick for teens who want a genuine scare without excessive violence. Typically rated M.
The Others
A woman and her two photosensitive children believe their house is haunted, in this slow-burn gothic ghost story with a genuinely unsettling twist. Atmospheric rather than graphic. Typically rated M.
Insidious
A family discovers their comatose son is being targeted by malevolent spirits from another realm. Leans heavily on jump scares and unsettling imagery rather than gore, making it a solid pick for teens easing into horror. Check current rating before watching, as it sits around M to MA15+.
Crimson Peak
A young woman marries into a mysterious family and moves into their crumbling, haunted estate. Visually stunning gothic horror with romance woven through it, better suited to older teens given some violence. Check current rating before watching.
Halloween Movie Marathon Ideas
If you’re planning a full night of it rather than just one film, try pairing by mood instead of just age. Hocus Pocus followed by Hocus Pocus 2 makes an easy double feature for primary schoolers, while Beetlejuice and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice works nicely for a family with older kids.
For a gentler night, Room on the Broom followed by Casper suits littlies who want two short, low-stakes films rather than one longer one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Room on the Broom or Spookley the Square Pumpkin are both gentle enough for toddlers and preschoolers, with nothing genuinely scary in either.
Both lean spooky rather than frightening, and are generally fine for primary school aged kids. If your child is sensitive to jump scares or witches, it’s worth previewing the first ten minutes together first.
What’s the best Halloween movie for the whole family, including adults?
Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice both hold up well for parents while still being accessible for older kids, making them solid whole-family choices.
Availability shifts throughout the year, so it’s worth checking your usual streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Stan and Prime Video closer to Halloween, as several titles rotate on and off each season.
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Best Halloween movies for kids and families (2026)
Looking for the best Halloween movies for kids? Whether your children love friendly ghosts, silly monsters, witches or something a little spooky, there are plenty of fun films to enjoy together.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite family-friendly Halloween movies, from gentle animated films for preschoolers to spooky adventures for older kids and teens.
To make choosing easier, we’ve organised the movies by age group, with suggestions for children who don’t like scary films as well as those who enjoy a few frights.
So grab the popcorn, get comfortable and plan a Halloween movie night!
A note for parents: These age suggestions are a general guide rather than official classifications. Some children enjoy spooky movies, while others find ghosts, monsters or suspense frightening. Always check the Australian classification and consider your child’s sensitivity before watching.
Halloween movies for toddlers and preschoolers
If you’re introducing little ones to Halloween, start with gentle stories featuring friendly monsters, witches and ghosts. These movies and specials are more about fun than frights.
Room on the Broom (2012)
Based on the much-loved Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler picture book, this charming animated short follows a friendly witch and her cat as they make room on their broomstick for some new animal friends. A lovely choice for younger children who enjoy stories about friendship and kindness.
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Monsters Sulley and Mike work at a factory that collects children’s screams, but everything changes when a little girl named Boo enters their world. This funny and heartwarming Pixar film is a good introduction to friendly monsters, although some scenes may frighten very young viewers.
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest (2013)
Join Curious George as he celebrates Halloween with costumes, pumpkins and a mystery involving a legendary scarecrow. A gentle Halloween adventure that’s especially suited to younger children.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Celebrate Halloween with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. While the other children enjoy trick-or-treating, Linus waits patiently for the Great Pumpkin to appear. A nostalgic Halloween special that’s ideal for a relaxed family movie night.
Spookley the Square Pumpkin (2004)
Spookley is a square pumpkin who feels different from the other pumpkins in the patch. This sweet animated story celebrates kindness, friendship and accepting differences.
Halloween movies for primary school kids
These films offer a mix of spooky fun, humour, magic and adventure. They’re great choices for families who want a Halloween movie with a few surprises but not too many scares.
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Dracula runs a luxurious hotel where monsters can escape from humans. But when a human unexpectedly arrives, things get complicated, especially when he meets Dracula’s daughter, Mavis. Packed with silly humour and colourful characters, this is a fun Halloween movie for families.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Three witches are accidentally brought back to life in Salem on Halloween night, leaving a group of kids to stop them before sunrise. This Halloween favourite features magic, comedy and some genuinely spooky moments, so it’s better suited to children comfortable with mild scares.
The Addams Family (2019)
Meet the delightfully unusual Addams family in this animated adventure. When the family moves to a new neighbourhood, their spooky lifestyle clashes with the expectations of their neighbours. A fun choice for children who enjoy quirky characters and dark humour.
Scooby-Doo (2002)
Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang reunite to investigate strange happenings at a spooky island resort. With mysteries, monsters and plenty of laughs, this live-action adventure is a fun option for older primary school children.
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
A real estate agent and his family find themselves trapped in a mansion filled with ghosts and supernatural surprises. Starring Eddie Murphy, this Disney adventure combines comedy with haunted-house scares.
Casper (1995)
Casper is a friendly ghost who wants nothing more than to make a friend. When a young girl and her father move into a haunted mansion, an unlikely friendship develops. Although Casper is lovable, the film also explores death and loss and includes some frightening scenes.
ParaNorman (2012)
Norman is a boy who can speak to ghosts, but his unusual ability becomes essential when his town faces an ancient curse. This stop-motion animated film combines humour, mystery and some darker themes. Best for children who enjoy genuinely spooky stories.
Frankenweenie (2012)
When a boy loses his beloved dog, he uses science to bring him back to life. Directed by Tim Burton, this black-and-white animated film is a touching story about friendship and loss, with some spooky imagery.
Halloween movies for tweens and older kids
For children ready for something scarier, these movies offer more suspense, creepy characters and supernatural adventures.
Goosebumps (2015)
Based on R.L. Stine’s popular books, Goosebumps follows a group of teenagers who accidentally release monsters from the author’s manuscripts. With a mix of comedy, action and jump scares, it’s a good choice for older children who enjoy spooky adventures.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town and decides to give Christmas a spooky makeover. With memorable songs, imaginative animation and unusual characters, this Tim Burton-produced classic works for both Halloween and Christmas movie nights.
Coraline (2009)
When Coraline discovers a mysterious door in her new home, she enters an alternative world that initially seems perfect. But things soon take a disturbing turn. This beautifully animated film is genuinely creepy and best suited to older children who enjoy darker fantasy stories.
Monster House (2006)
Three friends discover that the creepy house across the street may actually be alive. With plenty of suspense and frightening moments, this animated adventure is ideal for older primary school kids and tweens who want a scary Halloween movie.
Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
The Sanderson sisters return to Salem in this sequel to the original Halloween favourite. Three teenagers must work together to stop the witches from causing chaos once again. A fun option for families who enjoyed the first film.
The Witches (1990)
Based on Roald Dahl’s book, this fantasy film follows a young boy who discovers a gathering of witches with a terrifying plan for children. The witches’ transformations can be particularly frightening, making it more suitable for confident older viewers.
Ghostbusters (1984)
A team of scientists starts a ghost-catching business in New York City and soon finds itself dealing with a supernatural threat.