Fall is right around the corner, and with the hot weather still lingering, you may need a variety of movies to help remind you that autumn is coming. There are mixes of classics, forgotten favorites, and new releases that will bring you to that mindset. Everyone needs something scary, but of course not too scary, to watch with the family, and this list should do the trick. Light that pumpkin spice candle, heat up your favorite hot drink, and grab your favorite blanket. Here are 15 kid-friendly horror movies to get you ready for the season.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
You cannot have a list of fall movies and not haveHocus Pocuson the list. 300 years ago, the three Sanderson sisters were burned for their crimes. Max (Omri Katz), a teenage boy from California, accidentally finishes their final spell, and they are brought back for one night on Halloween. Max and his sister Dani (Thora Birch) must stop the witches before they use the town’s children for eternal youth. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are the Sanderson sisters, and their iconic roles put a spell on an entire generation.
Hocus Pocusis the one movie that everyone looks forward to during the Halloween season. It has funny parts, and scary scenes that will keep you coming back for more. From the costume designs to the musical score, this is the perfect thing to watch if you want to feel those fall vibes, even if it is blazing hot outside.
The Witches (1990)
If you want more witches, well, the movieThe Witchessays it all. It isa Roald Dahl storyturned creepy, fun film with a surprising ending. After Luke (Jasen Fisher) becomes orphaned, he and his grandmother (Mai Zetterling) go on a vacation to a hotel on the coast. At the same time, the hotel is hosting a convention, and thanks to his grandmother Helga’s stories, Luke discovers that all the attendees are witches. Matters get worse when the high witch, played by spooky icon Anjelica Huston, turns Luke and his friend into mice. The two boys must work together to stop the witches before they turn every child into a mouse, just like them.
Witchesis scarier, much scarier, thanHocus Pocus. It has a lot of shocking scenes and gooey grossness that adds to the story. This is definitely more for older children, as some of it can be shocking, and even reaching into body horror. However, it is shot and directed like an art piece. The setting combined with the story makes for the perfect bridge from summer to fall.
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The Little Vampire (2000)
The Little Vampireis an often overlooked movie. It is a fantastic story about vampires that is greatly balanced and has an adorable sense of humor. Tony Thompson (Jonathan Lipnicki) is forced to move with his parents to Scotland, where he is very far from being the most popular kid at school. He is lonely and wishes for a friend, only for Rudolph (Rollo Weeks), a child vampire to tumble into his life. The boys become close, often spending time together in Rudolph’s graveyard home. Life becomes much more difficult for the vampire boy and his family when a cruel vampire hunter discovers their home. Tony must find a way to save his new friend, before it is too late.
The best part of the movie, right after the engaging story, is the wonderful costumes. They are dramatic and fantastical, perfectly portraying each vampire’s personality. The jokes are great, and the scary scenes are just scary enough, but not so scary that you want to run for the covers. It is the most underrated vampire movie of all time and deserves to be on your watch list.
Haunted Mansion (2023)
The most recent film on this list isHaunted Mansion.This came out recently, and is a great option if you need something new. Something you haven’t seen before. When a single mom buys this mansion, she discovers that the old home is overrun by ghosts. In order to clear them all out, she is forced to hire an unexpected team. It is a fight for the house, with funny jokes and a light air of spookiness. This movie is based on the ride at Disneyland by the same name. It is much more akin to the ride than the previous film, though there is some disappointment in the lack of singing busts.
Monster House (2006)
Monster Housefeels like it starts out as a kid’s version of Alfred Hitchcock’sRear Window, but with a monster twist. The grown-ups in DJ’s (Mitchel Musso) life don’t believe that there is something really wrong with the house across the street. Dj and his friends know that the house is dragging things, possibly even people, into its mouth. To make matters worse, Halloween is just around the corner, and the kids are worried something terrible will happen when trick-or-treaters come to call.
This one is a little scarier than one would expect, with a heartbreaking ending. It is a story of both childhood fears, misunderstandings, and loving people who are hard to love. There are lessons in this film that do not take away from the scary nature of the story. It is fantastic for a family Halloween fright, and one perfect for when the adults get tired of movies likeSpookley the Square Pumpkin.
ParaNorman (2012)
Zombies flicks are fantastic. If your littles are much too young for theWalking Dead,or won’t appreciate theNight of the Living Dead,thenParaNormanmight be a good introduction. Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee) can see and speak to the dead; however, no one in his life seems to believe him. He then meets Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), who finally believes him, and it seems that life might just be getting better. However, his uncle comes to town, telling him of a witch’s curse that must be stopped. Norman is unsuccessful to stop it, and the magic takes over the town, bringing the dead to life.
With a strange team of teens and kids, they must save his town before it is completely destroyed by the curse. This is a fantastic, stop-motion animated film that has a great sense of humor and lots of references to classic zombie movies. The details are incredible, and Laika Entertainment shows how beautiful stop-motion still is and how it does have a place in film still. It is another movie with life lessons beyond the horror, that makes a well-balanced, heart-warming story.
Corpse Bride (2005)
CallingCorpse Bridehorror, is admittedly a bit questionable. There are scenes that are spooky, and shocking, but for the most part, it is a tragedy. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter play Victor and Emily in thisTim Burton classic.It wouldn’t be a Tim Burton film without them, of course. Victor is betrothed to Victoria (Emily Watson), and he finds himself incredibly nervous about the entire idea. After everything seemingly goes wrong at the wedding rehearsal, Victor runs off.
Victor practices his vows and accidentally marries a corpse named Emily. He is trapped between the living and the dead. Things only get worse when he realizes he loves both Emily and Victoria. Victor must decide his own romantic fate, before Victoria is married off to a suspiciously rich newcomer. This is another fantastic stop-motion piece that is romantic as well as scary, with a twist that makes your blood run cold.
Related:10 Stylistic Trademarks That Make Tim Burton Movies Unique
Scooby-Doo (2002)
You can’t have a list of kid-friendly scares without mentioningScooby-Doo.The 2002 live-actionScooby-Dooeven has two of the spookiest icons in the cast,Matthew LillardandSarah Michelle Gellar.It starts with Mystery Inc. having a big argument that forces them all to stop speaking to one another. Months would pass, and the gang would all be invited to Spooky Island.
The team is shocked to see each other together once again, so they do their best to avoid working together. However, things shift when Scooby (Neil Fanning) is taken, and the gang must fix their problems to save the most innocent of their group.
Scooby-Doois the classic choice for kid-friendly scares. They even follow the same idea thatR.L. Stine has in his children’s horror novels. You get the scares, but you know early on that they will solve the mystery and save the day.Scooby-Doois perfect family fun with humor that tickles everyone’s fancy.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toadis an older film, that must be watched with an understanding of the time. In current times, it might seem a bit strange. Especially in Ichabod’s (Bing Crosby) tale and the strange way they depict a woman. However, both stories are incredibly fun. Mr. Toad’s (Eric Blore) story revolves around a false accusation of theft.
It is based on the storyThe Wind in the Willows.Mr. Toad is one who likes to be adventurous, and he wanted to purchase a motor car. He trades Toad Hall for the motorcar but is accused of selling a stolen vehicle. Mr. Toad must rely on the help of his friends to escape a false arrest.
On the other side, Ichabod Crane’s story is a tale of jealousy. Bing Crosby is the voiceover of the tale of theHeadless Horseman. Ichabod falls for the town’s most eligible bachelorette, only for the town’s brute, Brom Bones (Bing Crosby) to become jealous. He decides to scare off Ichabod with the tale of the local Headless Horseman at the local Halloween party. Both tales are a mix of comedy and horror, with a fantastic introduction to the original scary stories.
Coraline (2009)
Dakota Fanning is the lead inCoraline.She does a fantastic job of playing the young girl trying to understand herself and her own family. It is based on theNeil Gaiman book by the same name.Coraline discovers a hidden door in her new house, and she decides to crawl through it. She is thrown into an alternative world where everyone has button eyes.
Coraline finds that she has doting parents in this world and gets tempted to stay. However, she will soon discover that not everything is as it seems and the Other Mother (Teri Hatcher) isn’t to be trusted.
It is another creepy stop-motion animated film, with art that can scare even the bravest adult. If you look past that, however, there is a powerful story of being happy with what you are given. It is about understanding that people express love in different ways that aren’t necessarily going to be immediately obvious. It is a great film for a dark, rainy night, and something that will leave you lost in thought.
