Boo! 15 Family Halloween Movies to Stream This Year

From horror-comedies, to animated tales of the macabre — Netflix has you covered with the best family-centered horror films for Halloween!

Horror as a modern genre emerged out of the aftermath of World War One and has evolved to meet the changing emotional needs of the times ever since. We turn to horror to understand ourselves and explore the hardest aspects of the world around us, as much as we do simply to be entertained.

All the streaming services, from Netflix to Disney+, are going through some big changes now that the new streaming wars are upon us, and you’re not likely to find as many of the big-name horror films on the platform as you might have last year. Give your kids a taste of the spooky season with these hits.

Phantom Pups (2022)

Get ready for Netflix and Chills season with this family-friendly Halloween series. After Freddie and his family move into a haunted house, they meet a bunch of ghostly puppies. When they discover a way to make their ghost puppies become real, Freddie and his sister embark on an epic supernatural quest that teaches the true meaning of friendship.

Wendell & Wild (2022)

Out as of October 28th, this stop-motion animated film comes from the genius director behind A Nightmare Before Christmas. Two demons enlist the help of a teenage girl in order to help them get to the land of the living.

Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

When two teenagers enact a ritual to celebrate both Halloween and one of their birthdays, they inadvertently resurrect the Sanderson witch sisters who set about enchanting the town while the girls must race to warn the mayor and figure out how to undo the spell. I’ve been skeptical of this, but a lot of die-hard Hocus Pocus fans say it’s nostalgic, if nothing else.

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

A young witch in training sets off on her first adventure and finds the city of her dreams, but life is never as simple as one dreams it to be. This classic Ghibli film is one of the best family films ever and adds a delightful twist to the Halloween spooky vibe.

Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)

This Muppet musical offers all that Muppet fans could ever want, as Gonzo agrees to spend the night in the Haunted Mansion on a dare.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Is it a Christmas film or a Halloween film? Either way, it’s certain to end up on both lists. Follow the classic Tim Burton stop-motion work of musical magic as Jack and crew work to save Christmas!

Toy Story of Terror (2014)

In this wacky 20-minute short adventure, the Toy Story gang must track down a missing Mr. Potato Head in a perfectly spooky Halloween adventure.

The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)

In this family Halloween film, a father and daughter supernatural investigation team set out to explore a town where the Halloween decorations have all suddenly come to life!

Coraline (2009)

Adapted from Neil Gaiman’s brilliant children’s book, this story follows a young girl named Coraline as she learns about the strange secret hidden away inside her new home, and the otherworld that exists on the other side of wishes and dreams.

Coco (2017)

Miguel has one dream, to be able to play the guitar as well as his idol, Ernesto de La Cruz. But Miguel’s dream will see him go all the way to the land of the dead as he explores his family history and learns the true meaning of ancestry.

E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982)

Possibly one of the greatest films of all time, join Elliott as he tries to save the miraculous and mysterious E. T. From the clutches of the government agents sent to track him down. Offering all the magic of Halloween in a whole different way, this is one of the classic films for this time of year.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

It doesn’t get better than this classic 1960s cartoon, which captures perfectly the entire Halloween experience in a way that modern films frequently fail to do. Whether this is your first time watching it, or your fiftieth, this is the top Halloween film.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

Wallace and Gromit are at it again, this time trying to figure out whose been destroying all the vegetable gardens around town. The monster at the end of the mystery turns out to be far more cuddly than can possibly be imagined.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Sure, there’s a new one out, but Hocus Pocus didn’t become great because loads of money was poured on it… it became a cult legend because it’s so unbelievably bad and campy that it couldn’t help but become a cult classic. Critics of the new film are right, don’t bother: the original Sanderson Sisters magic is where the ghoulish fun is at.

The Worst Witch (1986)

Want to experience one of the many sources that J.K. Rowling ripped off to create her Harry Potter franchise? Look no further than The Worst Witch (based on an even earlier book series). Notoriously hard to find, this original stars Tim Curry and is so glamorously campy that it cannot be handled by mortals.