All the '80s Halloween Movies You Love That You Should Watch With Your Kids

Published on Sep 13, 2017 at 12:55 PM

As kids age and mature, it's so fun to share some of the things you loved from your own childhood with them (especially if they get them away from the games they're playing alone on their iPad for a bit). If you grew up in the '80s, it's all but a guarantee that some of your favorite flicks from the decade were its biggest Halloween hits. As the growing popularity of Stranger Things has proved, the '80s were one of the best decades for all things scary and spooky.

If you're gearing up to create your family's Halloween bucket list, scroll through these classic Halloween movies from the '80s that you should watch with your kids so you can add a big check next to "scary movie marathon" on your list (and when you're done, you can tackle the '90s!).

The Worst Witch (1986)

Rating: G

Age of kids who can handle it: 6+

Why it's scary: Unless your child is very sensitive, most of the scariness in this movie is comedic, and no one is hurt as a result of any of the violence. Elementary-age kids should have no problem with this one, but if there are toddlers in the room, they could get frightened.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Rating: PG

Age of kids who can handle it: 7+

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 hot (he looks like he's dying) while he's in their care, which could scare your kids.

Beetlejuice (1988)

Rating: PG-13

Age of kids who can handle it: 10+

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

Ghostbusters (1984)

Rating: PG

Age of kids who can handle it: 10+

Why it's scary: Much like Beetlejuice, a lot of the "scary" in Ghostbusters is mixed with humor. There's a bit of profanity, a few sexual innuendos (that might go over most kids' heads to be honest — though the scene where Ray is meant to be receiving oral sex from a ghost is long enough to alert kids to something weird going on), and a lot of smoking, and one or two of the ghosts are a little frightening, but we're talking '80s graphics, so even then, they're not that spooky. If you aren't fussed by some swearing, smoking, sex talk, and one or two jumpy scenes, this '80s classic is a must see for older kids.

Gremlins (1984)

Rating: PG

Age of kids who can handle it: 11+

Why it's scary: Although the gremlins themselves are pretty gross looking, the poor things get chopped up by knives, blended in the blender, and microwaved — but they are also pretty brutal to the humans, so it's a trade-off, I suppose? And a side note: this movie will ruin Christmas for your family if your little one still believes in Saint Nick.

Poltergeist (1982)

Rating: PG

Age of kids who can handle it: 13+

Why it's scary: Your child may not ever handle a staticky TV without freaking out ever again after this movie. Don't let its PG rating fool you — most of this movie is super creepy, and the viewer is meant to be in a pretty steady state of fear and anxiety.

The Monster Squad (1987)

Rating: PG-13

Age of kids who can handle it: 13+

Why it's scary: This movie definitely has a more Scooby-Doo feel to it, but for some teens, the cartoonish violence can be a lot (think vampires stabbed in the heart, a werewolf getting blown apart multiple times, and a guy's head getting crushed).