Top 25 movie for your Halloween 2021

List 25 Best movie to watch with family in this Halloween

'Hocus Pocus' (1993)

Starring the inimitable Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as a trio of scorned Salem witches, Disney's 1993 fan-favorite tells the tale of Max, a California teen who moves to the famed Massachusetts town just in time for Halloween. When he, his little sister Dani, and his school crush Allison unwittingly raise the Sanderson sisters from the dead, danger befalls the children of Salem. Befriending a cursed black cat, Max and his friends must go on an epic adventure to foil the witches before sunrise.

A true Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus is beloved by children and adults alike for its magical concoction of comedy, fantasy and nostalgia. - Erica Russell

'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993)

Even before retail stores were annually stocked with actual Nightmare collectibles, the movie presented an instantly iconic Christmas village-version of Halloween, and most of Jack Skellington’s fellow Halloween Town residents are too adorable to be fearsome.

Nightmare’s absorbing stop-motion visuals are equally matched by original songs composed by ex-Oingo Boingo frontman Danny Elfman, who also provides Jack’s singing voice. It’s a family-friendly goth lite adventure that’ll carry you from October through December (trigger warning for those afraid of Cab Calloway-esque burlap sack men who sing under black light, I guess). - Samantha Vincenty

'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' (2001)

Based on J.K. Rowling's beloved book series, this film franchise needs no introduction — but for oblivious first-years, here's a little Harry Potter 101: After his parents are killed by an evil wizard when he's just a baby, Harry is raised (and mistreated) by his contemptuous non-magic aunt and uncle. On his eleventh birthday, however, he finds out he's actually a wizard and has been invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he will learn the art of magic. There, he meets his future best friends Ron and Hermione, adventure ensues and Harry sets off on a years-long path to achieve his destiny as the "Chosen One."

Released in 2001, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is not only the most whimsical and light-hearted offering from the film series, but it's also the de facto starting point. Brimming with friendship, adventure and beautiful, visually enchanting storytelling, Harry's tale is a timeless one which appeals to viewers of all ages. - Erica Russell

'Beetlejuice' (1988)

Beetlejuice was only the second time mass audiences experienced director Tim Burton’s knack for creating fully immersive alternate worlds (Pee Wee’s Big Adventure being the first), and the whimsical tale of a newly-minted ghost couple navigating the afterlife counterbalanced its spooky scenes with sweetness, bursts of eye-popping color and some classic Harry Belafonte. It also gave us a bounty of incredible Halloween costume ideas: Beetlejuice, goth Lydia, bride Lydia, Miss Argentina, ghost football team (great for groups!), Adam and Barbara’s stretched out faces when they’re trying to be scary…the list goes on. - Samantha Vincenty

'Under Wraps' (1997)

Hijinks ensue when three kids discover an ancient Egyptian mummy stored in the basement of a dastardly neighbor's house. When the mummy—whom they name Harold—wakes up from his centuries-long slumber, the trio of friends must race the clock in order to put Harold back in his sarcophagus before midnight on Halloween. The stakes are high: If they fail, he will disappear forever instead of being reunited with his beloved in the afterlife.

Released in 1997, this Disney Channel Original Movie is a feel good, family-friendly blend of humor and adventure, making it perfect for skittish Halloween-lovers. - Erica Russell

'Coraline' (2009)

Genuinely creepy, this stop motion-animated film based on Neil Gaiman's book tells the story of Coraline, a bored young girl who goes on an Alice in Wonderland-like adventure when she stumbles upon the door unto another world. What initially seems like paradise in comparison to her everyday mundane life, the Other World soon takes a sinister turn when Coraline discovers a malevolent force is scheming to eat her soul and trap her there forever.

Artfully crafted and surprisingly mature for a traditional children's story, 2009's Coraline is a modern gothic fairy tale that's equally parts delightful and strange. - Erica Russell

'Death Becomes Her' (1992)

Robert Zemeckis’ darkly hilarious meditation on very real and common American fears — aging and the loss of female beauty — won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, and you know what? The campy effects hold up, as we watch Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn’s bodies get twisted, perforated and otherwise put through the wringer like Wile E. Coyote’s on a bad day. The tale of two bitter rivals and the hapless cosmetic surgeon caught between them is macabre but definitely not scary, and Isabella Rossellini brings darkly glam vibes as the mysterious woman who purveys an eternal life-giving elixir. - Samantha Vincenty

'ParaNorman' (2012)

Released in 2012, ParaNorman is a stop motion-animated horror comedy about a young clairvoyant outcast who is tasked by his suddenly-dead uncle with completing an ancient ritual that will protect his small town from the wrath of a vengeful witch, and a convergence of dark forces just outside town.

Both fresh in plot and nostalgic in tone, ParaNorman is unique animated fare thanks to its emotionally-charged core message which explores themes of revenge, individualism, prejudice and the effects of bullying. - Erica Russell

'Monsters, Inc.' (2001)

Disney-Pixar's beloved Monsters, Inc. is essentially an animated buddy comedy. The film centers on two lovable monsters, best friends/co-workers Mike and Sulley, who become entangled in a conspiracy plot when an adorable human child, thought to be deadly, enters their world. Brimming with themes of friendship and trust, character development, comedy and adventure, the movie has become a bona fide family classic since premiering in 2001. - Erica Russell

'Once Bitten' (1985)

Another teen comedy/horror-lite twofer a la Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Once Bitten stars a baby Jim Carrey as Mark, a high school student with a(n honestly kind of boring) girlfriend who meets a sexy and mysterious older woman (Lauren Hutton) with an appetite for virgin blood. The film’s a must for the Carrey completist, and for anyone who’s a “sucker” (GET IT?) for a great '80s movie high school dance scene. - Samantha Vincenty

Universal Pictures

'Casper' (1995)

When disenchanted Kat and her depressed "paranormal therapist" father are summoned to rid the ghostly inhabitants of a mysterious mansion in Maine, the lonely pre-teen finds a new best friend in Casper. As her father struggles to evict Stinky, Stretch and Fatso, the friendly ghost's not-so-friendly three uncles, Kat learns the tragic story of how Casper came to be, and discovers the heiress of the manor's greedy plot to steal his treasure.

Casper wasn't exactly a critical darling upon its release in 1995—but it was a box office success, and in its own campy, oft-crude '90s way (belching specters, anyone?) the film has stood the test of time. - Erica Russell

'Ghostbusters' (1984)

What more is there to say about a classic that’s recently reemerged in the public conversation, after the death of ‘Buster Harold Ramis in 2014 and the sea of “fanboy” tears over Paul Feig’s 2016 incarnation? The only Americans over age 12 who haven’t seen the Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver-starring original are either sadly deprived or ain't are DEFINITELY afraid of no every ghost. If you haven’t watched the far-more-funny-than-scary hit, which doubles as a portrait of ‘80s-era New York City: Do. Immediately. - Samantha Vincenty

'Little Shop of Horrors' (1986)

Full disclosure: This writer has a mild case of botanophobia (fear of plants), so if I can revel in a tale centered around an enormous sentient Venus fly trap with teeth, so can you. Like Ghostbusters, Little Shop co-stars Rick Moranis during his hot streak of playing Poindexterish accidental sort-of-heroes, as well as Steve Martin as a sadistic, motorcycle-riding dentist. The musical adaptation was directed by a Muppet (well, Frank Oz, the original voice of Miss Piggy and Fozzie the Bear) and features some catchy songs. Sure, there’s plenty of blood in the movie, but it’s impossible to be scared when you’re singing along to “Suddenly Seymour.” - Samantha Vincenty

'Practical Magic' (1998)

Based on Alice Hoffman's bewitching novel of the same name, Practical Magic tells the tale of two beautiful sisters—sensual, free-spirited Gillian (Nicole Kidman) and weary, practical Sally (Sandra Bullock)—who possess magical powers. After Gillian becomes entangled with an abusive lover, she and Sally band together to escape him. Their escape plan backfires badly, and all hell breaks loose when the two witches inadvertently conjure a demonic entity.

Whimsical and nostalgic, this 1998 drama crafts an enchanting witches' brew of lighthearted comedy, spooky themes and feel-good messages. - Erica Russell

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (1992)

The PG-13 1992 movie makes the TV series it inspired look positively bone-chilling by comparison, but the supernatural teen comedy remains a fun watch. Kristy Swanson and peak-hotness Luke Perry aside, even greater joys are Rutger Hauer and Paul “Pee Wee Herman” Reubens’ performances as the original Big Bads. - Samantha Vincenty

'The Goonies' (1985)

Released in 1985, this family adventure film is about a group of kids and teens who, in an attempt to save their homes from demolition, band together when they find an old map that reveals the way to a famous pirate's buried treasure. Technically, Steven Spielberg's film can (and should) be watched any day of the year, but thanks to its pirate lore-laden story, creepy skull-and-crossbones visuals and thrilling adventure narrative, the movie is perfectly enjoyed as a fright-free Halloween treat. - Erica Russell

'Frankenweenie' (2012)

Based off Tim Burton's 1984 short of the same name, Frankenweenie is a surprisingly tender tale about a young boy named Victor who uses the power of electricity to resurrect his beloved dead dog, Sparky. Featuring gorgeous black and white stop-motion animation that hearkens to an older era of film-making, the film combines elements of fantasy, comedy and horror to create something both wonderfully macabre and charming. After all, what's more classic than a story about a boy and his dog? - Erica Russell

'The Addams Family' (1991)

Christina Ricci’s Wednesday Addams, with her iconic deadpan, is the true star of a film that’s more Edward Gorey than actually gory. Like the sublime sequel, Addams Family Values, the Barry Sonnenfeld-directed movie retains the “kid-friendly haunted house” aesthetic of the 1960s TV show while drawing mildly subversive dark wit from a sharp screenplay full of fish-out-of-water gags. We should all be so lucky find a morbid love like that of Morticia and Gomez. - Samantha Vincenty

'Addams Family Values' (1993)

In the batty sequel, the Addams hire a nanny named Debbie to help look after their newborn baby — and she's not what she seems.

Released in 1993, Addams Family Values is one of the rare sequels that may even be better than the original. It's a macabre dark comedy classic featuring visual gags and twisted jokes galore, but it's the women—Cusack's insane Debbie, Christina Ricci's deadpan Wednesday and Angelica Huston's smokey Morticia—who steal the show. - Erica Russell

'Halloweentown' (1998)

Released on the Disney Channel in 1998, this whimsical fan favorite is about a young girl who doesn't know she is actually a powerful witch until her grandmother spirits her and her siblings away to Halloweentown, a whimsical world where creatures like skeletons and goblins are everyday inhabitants. - Erica Russell

'Scooby-Doo' (2002)

When the "meddling kids" of Mystery, Inc.—Shaggy, Daphne, Fred, Velma and their dog, Scooby-Doo—are called to investigate a series of mysterious happenings at a potentially haunted island theme park, the gang of friends, who are in the midst of a falling out when they arrive, must put their heads (and stomachs) together when they uncover an even more devious plot than anticipated.

Critically panned but ridiculously successful at the box office in 2002, this live-action movie based on the famous long-running Hanna-Barbera cartoon is a campy delight. With its genius post-'90s cast, campy writing and pitiful CGI effects (the only frightening thing about the film's spooky premise is its titular character's scary design), Scooby-Doo is pure silly fun—if you can get past the flatulence jokes. - Erica Russell

'The Worst Witch' (1986)

Before there was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, there was Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches, and before The Craft, Fairuza Balk played an even younger witch named Mildred Hubble. The Worst Witch was based on the first in a series of children’s books, brought to live with charmingly-low production values in 1986. But who needs flashy special effects when you’ve got Tim Curry, a cool talking pig and neon-haired witches singing in the woods? TWW is pure, soothing old-school British charm. - Samantha Vincenty

'Teen Witch' (1989)

Released in 1989, this sweet cult classic is like 16 Candles meets Harry Potter. On her 16th birthday, nerdy high schooler Louise Miller develops magical abilities of the cauldron and broomstick variety. Of course, the old adage "be careful what you wish for" rings true in Teen Witch, making the film a charming, family-friendly comedy made extra enchanting by its extremely '80s fashions and soundtrack. - Erica Russell

'The Witches' (1990)

Admittedly, many a child were traumatized by this 1990 film based on Roald Dahl's book of the same name. In The Witches, a boy named Luke vacationing with his grandmother stumbles upon a meeting in which all the evil witches of England are attending to discuss their plot to kill the children of the world. After being discovered by the vicious Grand High Witch, played by Angelica Huston, Luke must go on a perilous adventure to stop the witches from completing their terrible plan. - Erica Russell

'Goosebumps' (2015)

Things go bump in the night in this 2015 supernatural horror-comedy about iconic children's horror author R. L. Stine. Featuring a surprisingly well-cast Jack Black as Stine, Goosebumps follows the spooky events that occur in one small town when the author's fictional monsters are unleashed from their respective books. Though more silly than scary, the film has its fair share of spine-tingling scenes, and its overall creepy charm make it a fun watch for both new and nostalgic fans of the iconic series. - Erica Russell