29 Spooky and Fun Halloween Movies For Kids Based on Their Ages

The Halloween season is all about spooky decorations, creepy costumes, and, of course, nail-biting movies. For all those horror enthusiasts, there are endless options of scary films available to stream, from the classics — with your masked slashers and gratuitous gore — to the psychological thrillers, which may deliver less blood but are in no way less haunting. But if you're looking for a film to watch with the family this spooky season, classics like "Halloween" or even newer movies (looking at you, "Bodies Bodies Bodies") are definitely not ideal for your little ones.

So this year, skip the work of trying to find something fun but not traumatizing, and check out our list of Halloween movies for kids. Whether your child is a scary-movie-lover or not the genre's biggest fan, there's a Halloween movie out there for every kid to enjoy. For each movie, we call out the ages of the intended audiences and how much of a fright they might cause your kiddos — although, to be honest, most of these movies are more funny than creepy. Read on to see which of these scary movies for kids are sure to be a hit on your family's watch list this Halloween.

Additional reporting by Melissa Santoyo

01
"Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit"
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"Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit"

Rating: G

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: The only things that might be perceived as scary in this claymation flick are when the rabbit transforms into the were-rabbit and the scenes where the townspeople attempt to go after it with guns and garden tools.

Rent or buy "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" on Amazon now!

02
"Spooky Buddies"
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"Spooky Buddies"

Rating: G

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: Although most of the spooky parts are exaggerated and meant to be funny, there are some eerie music, creepy dark scenes, and two mischievous villains that could appear frightening to your youngest kiddos.

Watch "Spooky Buddies" on Disney+ now!

03
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
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"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: This one contains some actually frightening bits. Harry and his friends fight off a troll, Voldemort appears as a face on the back of someone else's head, and there is a flashback of Voldemort killing Harry's parents. Most of the violence and scariness are made perfectly manageable by the crew's bravery, but you know your kids' scare tolerance best. (Though this doesn't seem like your standard Halloween movie for kids, there is a Halloween scene, and the film has that fantasy feel, making it perfect for this time of year.)

Watch "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" on HBO Max now!

04
"The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad"
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"The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad"

Rating: G

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: As long as your kid can get past the fact that the headless horseman is, well, headless (though really it's just the town bully in disguise) and the fact that he wants to chop off Ichabod's head with a sword, this Disney tale is mostly a tame one.

Watch "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad" on Disney+ now!

05
"Casper"
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"Casper"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: This children's Halloween classic takes place in a super-creepy house, and though Casper is a friendly ghost, his three ghost uncles are not. Although the violence is cartoonish and silly for the most part, there are a few instances of characters dying and immediately becoming ghosts, which could frighten those with vivid imaginations.

Rent or buy "Casper" on Amazon now!

06
"Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas"
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"Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: This Tim Burton classic isn't so much scary as offbeat; however, younger children may be frightened by the fact that Jack is a skeleton or by the other creepy-ish Halloween creatures.

Watch "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" on Disney+ now!

07
"Halloweentown"
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"Halloweentown"

Rating: G

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: This Disney Channel Original is mostly fun and games, but kids younger than 6 or 7 might find the battle at the end in which a few of the characters are frozen into a trance-like state a little frightening. Little ones may be upset simply by the appearances of some of the Halloween characters, too.

Watch "Halloweentown" on Disney+ now!

08
"The Haunted Mansion"
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"The Haunted Mansion"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 10 and up

Why it's scary: The kids in this family-friendly Halloween movie get chased several times by ghosts, demons, and skeletons, and they're also locked in a chest at one point, which is a little heart-pounding. Also good to note: the movie revolves around a creepy mansion, and most of it takes place in the dark.

Watch "The Haunted Mansion" on Disney+ now!

09
"E.T. the Extra Terrestrial"
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"E.T. the Extra Terrestrial"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: Even though E.T. is one of the most likable creatures to appear in a film, his appearance may frighten much younger children before they get to know him and his loving personality. The government agents who track down E.T. and capture him are very serious, which is a little frightening, and E.T. doesn't look too great (he looks like he's dying) while he's in their care, which could upset your kids, too.

Rent or buy "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial" on Amazon now!

10
"Twitches"
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"Twitches"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: This Halloween movie for kids is pretty tame, though there are a few dark moments. The main villain, Thantos, performs some dark magic that could be scary for younger children.

Watch "Twitches" on Disney+ now!

11
"Tower of Terror"
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"Tower of Terror"

Rating: NR

Age of kids that can handle it: 8 and up

Why it's scary: There are a bunch of ghosts in this Halloween movie, much like the ones in the famed Disney attraction. Younger kids may be frightened by the ghosts, especially a headless one who threatens the main characters with a knife, but the scary moments are overall mild.

Buy "Tower of Terror" on Amazon now!

12
"Hocus Pocus"
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"Hocus Pocus"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: Although the Sanderson sisters are mostly hilarious and the spunky main characters handle themselves around the witches, there are still a number of spooky scenes in this Halloween movie that younger kiddos may not like. A zombie with his mouth sewn shut crawls out of his own grave and follows the kids, the sisters suck the soul out of a little girl, and Thackery Binx, the lovable black cat, gets run over by a bus. This '90s classic is a must see — but watch mindfully.

Watch "Hocus Pocus" on Disney+ now!

13
"Scoob!"
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"Scoob!"

Rating: G

Age of kids that can handle it: 4 and up

Why it's scary: There are a few jump scenes and spooky moments, as well as some weapons and violence.

Watch "Scoob!" on HBO Max now!

14
"The Witches"
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"The Witches"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 8 and up

Why it's scary: This movie is based on Roald Dahl's classic novel for kids, but man, is it creepy. The main character, Luke, and his mice encounter a bunch of scary witches at a convention of sorts, and the kids in it find themselves in perilous situations on more than one occasion.

Watch "The Witches" on HBO Max now!

15
"Coraline"
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"Coraline"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 9 and up

Why it's scary: This fantasy flick will definitely frighten younger kids. Coraline is trapped in a scary and dangerous place where people have frightening buttons for eyes, and the movie is dark and creepy in general. It's a safer bet for your tween to watch this family Halloween movie.

Rent or buy "Coraline" on Amazon now!

16
"The Addams Family"
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"The Addams Family"

Rating: PG-13

Age of kids that can handle it: 10 and up

Why it's scary: This Halloween movie is a fun one based on the classic 1960s sitcom, but it's still a bit scary for younger children. A ton of different weapons and torture devices appear throughout the film (though no one gets hurt), and even though the characters are hilarious and likable, their personalities are a little disturbing, so make sure your child will be able to find the humor in this film before letting them watch.

Watch "The Addams Family" on Paramount+ now!

17
"Goosebumps"
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"Goosebumps"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 9 and up

Why it's scary: Based on the creepy kids' books from your childhood, this movie brings R.L. Stine's scariest stories to life. It's a noisy film full of tons of different kinds of monsters and a lot of chaotic scenes with chases and fighting.

Rent or buy "Goosebumps" on Amazon now!

18
"Tim Burton's Corpse Bride"
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"Tim Burton's Corpse Bride"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 10 and up

Why it's scary: In typical Burton fashion, even the most lovable characters in this movie are creepy. The bride is an actual corpse, the adorable puppy is actually a skeleton, and there are a ton of other types of dead people throughout the movie — but it's all in good fun if you think your little one can handle it.

Watch "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" on Hulu now!

19
"Paranorman"
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"Paranorman"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 10 and up

Why it's scary: Full of animated stop-motion monsters, zombies, ghosts, witches, and corpses, this movie includes a bunch of creepy images, chase scenes, shadowy figures, and jumpy scenes.

Rent or buy "Paranorman" on Amazon now!

20
"Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween"
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"Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 8 and up

Why it's scary: There are definitely a few creepy moments and jumpy scenes in this tween-friendly flick.

Rent or buy "Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween" on Amazon now!

21
"Monster House"
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"Monster House"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 10 and up

Why it's scary: Although this one's a cartoon, it's still totally creepy. The old man who lives across the street is seriously terrifying, and the "monster" house itself is nightmarish — it has sharp teeth and everything! (The kids aren't necessarily good role models, either: they break and enter, approach a ton of unsafe situations with reckless abandon, light sticks of dynamite, and steal tons of cough medicine to "sedate" the house.)

Watch "Monster House" on Netflix now!

22
"Monster's, Inc."
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"Monster's, Inc."

Rating: G

Age of kids that can handle it: 5 and up

Why it's scary: Most of the violence or scariness are pretty cartoonish, though the film has its heart-stopping moments, and Sully does let out a few pretty gnarly roars that could be scary to younger kids.

Watch "Monster's, Inc." on Disney+ now!

23
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"
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"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

Rating: G

Age of kids that can handle it: 4 and up

Why it's scary: There isn't much to be concerned about in this special. There is, however, a faux-war scene when Snoopy dresses up as a World War I pilot.

Watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" on Apple TV now!

24
"Frankenweenie"
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"Frankenweenie"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 9 and up

Why it's scary: This is for sure a creepy one, from its overall look (classic Burton!) to its eerie music. Overall, it's a silly movie, but for kids who are spooked by this type of aesthetic, "Frankenweenie" may not be the one for them.

Watch "Frankenweenie" on Disney+ now!

25
"Hotel Transylvania"
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"Hotel Transylvania"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: Dracula is fairly sweet compared to how he's portrayed in other Dracula films, but he does have a few scary facial expressions throughout the film. Mavis's mother and Dracula's wife's death is mentioned here and there, which was a result of an attack by humans that is referenced in a flashback.

Watch "Hotel Transylvania" on Hulu now!

26
"The Addams Family"
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"The Addams Family"

Rating: PG

Age of kids that can handle it: 7 and up

Why it's scary: Most of the dark plot points and general spookiness in this one are comedic, and as it's animated, nothing is too creepy.

Rent or buy "The Addams Family" on Amazon now!

27
"Double, Double, Toil and Trouble"
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"Double, Double, Toil and Trouble"

Rating: G

Age of kids that can handle it: 5 and up

Why it's scary: This movie is definitely more of a comedy than a horror, but there are some frightening moments surrounding Agatha the witch and her spooky home.

Rent "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble" on Apple TV now!

29
"Beetlejuice"
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"Beetlejuice"

Rating: PG-13

Age of kids that can handle it: 10 and up

Why it's scary: Most of this film takes place in the dark, inside either a creepy old house or a graveyard. That said, the "scary" parts are pretty manageable acts of physical comedy with a horror twist (think the Maitlands sporting their "masks" with the long nose and giant mouth).

Watch "Beetlejuice" on HBO Max now!