Our Top 10 Halloween Movies For Kids

Kids
Family

By: Marie Ashworth, 19 October 2016

By: Marie Ashworth, ellaslist

There’s nothing like a great movie to set the scene for Halloween. We’ve picked our favourite top 10 Halloween movies that have just the right amount of spookiness so as not to disturb your kids for life, just make sure you take a look at our recommended ages – we don’t want these movies to create nightmares and sleepless nights.

1. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Spielberg’s family classic is still one of the best. It’s the story of the loveable extra-terrestrial who finds itself stranded on earth and the special connection the little boy Elliot makes with him as he tries to repatriate him. We challenge you not to cry.

Recommended age: 7yrs+

2. Hotel Transylvania – Daddy’s Little Daughter (2012)

This is a good introductory ‘monster movie’ for little kids – the monsters are tame, and the story focuses on Dracula and his daughter as she comes of age (118!). When a boy stumbles upon Dracula’s hotel and falls for his daughter Mavis, Dracula becomes quite the protective parent.

Recommended age: 7yrs+

3. Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie (2005)

One for littlies, this sweet-as-honey Halloween story follows Pooh and his pals as they gobble up all the trick-or-treat candy, immediately feel bad and get tummy ache!
Recommended age: 3yrs+

4. Ghostbusters (1984)

This 80s classic follows the somewhat hilarious escapades of a team of paranormal sanitation workers with fully charged proton packs strapped to their backs as they venture around New York City attempting to exterminate the ghost population. Some of the ghosts are skeletal and scary, hence the recommendation for older children. Or try the new all-female cast reboot which came out last year!
Recommended age: 11yrs+

5. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

A 70s Disney classic about three children evacuated from London during World War II who find themselves looked after by an apprentice witch who plans to save England from the Nazis by casting a spell. A flying brass bed adventure to the world of Naboombu follows.
Recommended Age: 7yrs+

6. Corpse Bride (2005)

Tim Burton lets his imagination run wild yet again in this animated movie about Victor, a nervous and clumsy young man, who accidentally marries a dead bride. He is taken to the Land of the Dead and must somehow escape in order to be reunited with his true fiancée in time for their wedding. It manages to handle dead bodies, skeletons, decay and death with humour.
Recommended Age: 10yrs+

7. Coraline (2009)

A cool but creepy fantasy based on Neil Gaiman’s popular children’s novel. Unhappy about relocating to a new house and leaving all her friends behind, Coraline, the gutsy heroine discovers a door to an alternative world. There she finds attentive, doting versions of her real parents and other excitement. But this new world is more dangerous than it seems.
Recommended Age: 9yrs+

8.Casper (1995)

This adaption of the well-known ‘friendly ghost’ cartoon series focuses on Casper who has always struggled with being lonely and when he finally finds a friend, he tries to bring himself back to life. But things do not go according to plan. Its tale is not as mild as the cartoons but not too scary for the right age group.
Recommended Age: 6yrs+

9. Gremlins (1984)

A dad discovers a Mogwai in Chinatown and buys it as a Christmas present for his son Billy, who loves his sweet furry pet Gizmo, but disregards the basic rules of owning a Mogwai. Gizmo spawns nasty offspring, and the new creatures immediately go wild and tear up the house. There are several gory scenes; Gremlin-in-a-blender, Gremlin-in-a-microwave to name but a few.
Recommended Age: 9yrs+

10. Monsters Inc. (2001)

Cute, kid-friendly monster movie where the monsters are more afraid of kids than the kids are of monsters! But these monsters need to collect kids’ screams to fuel their world. Children are getting hard to scare so they they must work hard.
Recommended Age: 5yrs+