“It’s showtime,” as the ghost with the most is so fond of saying, because the 2024 edition ofFreeform’s31 Nights of Halloweenreturns on Tuesday, October 1. And this year’s schedule is serving up some of the same delicious selections that have come to be expected during the night-by-night All Hallows’ Eve tradition.Hocus Pocusis present and accounted for, and it will be one of two fan-favorites to hold down that very first eerily entertaining evening. And director Kenny Ortega’s 1993 classic will be preceded by the return ofTim Burton’smuch-belovedBeetlejuiceon opening night, which was noticeably absent from Freeform’s frightening festivities altogether last year. Check out31 Nights of Halloween’steaser below:
24 million viewers tuned in for 2023’s presentation of31 Nights of Halloween(perFreeform), and this year’s TV tradition should prove just as successful. In addition toThe Nightmare Before Christmas(5:05 EDT/PDT),Beetlejuice(6:45 p.m.) andHocus Pocus(8:50 p.m.), the 2024 event begins that Tuesday withHalloweentown(1 p.m.) and 2003’sThe Haunted Mansion(3 p.m.) leading the way.
31 Days of Halloweenobviously features plenty of familiar films, but some exciting newcomers will join the lineup this year. Four selections will make their first Freeform appearances in 2024:Arachnophobia,The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. ToadandSomething Wicked This Way Comes. Then, last but not least,Muppets from SpaceconcludesOctober 17’s selections at 12 a.m. and bleeds over into October 18 following the midnight hour.
Modern-Day Disney Flicks Join Freeform’s Lineup
Two films that did not appear during the2023 edition of31 Nights of Halloweenwill make their world television premieres on Freeform this October. Disney’sHocus Pocus 2andHaunted Mansionboth join the family-friendly fun this time around. However, with the ever-expanding content, some beloved movies simply didn’t make the cut in 2024. Surprisingly, and for the second year in a row, the originalGhostbustersis missing in action once more during31 Nights of Halloween,yet, somehow,Mrs. Doubtfirereturns.
Fortunately,Ghostbusters: Afterlifedoes make several appearances over the course of October. However, there’s still plenty of ghostly and ghoulish selections to choose from. Freeform will present special double features ofHalloweentown, The Incredibles, Hocus Pocusand theMonsters, Incfilms, during the event, along withTim Burton, Despicable Me, Pirates of the Caribbeanand Season 1 ofGoosebumpsmarathons.
And since a mask and cool costume are apparently all one needs to make the31 Nights of Halloweenmarathon, two of Tom Holland and Zendaya’s web-slinging adventures crawl their way into the month-long lineup.Spider-Man: Far From Homeand thebillion-dollar blockbusterSpider-Man: No Way Homecome along for the ride to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve.
Hocus Pocus’ Heroes Return to Salem to Celebrate the Film’s 30th Anniversary
Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw, Thora Birch and Jason Marsden all return to Salem to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hocus Pocus.
31 Nights of HalloweenbeginsTuesday, October 1,at 1 p.m. EDT/PDT on Freeform with the aforementionedHalloweentown.The delightfully scary programming will help usher in the spooky season prior to All Hallows' Eve, and fans of the beloved annual event can check out the marathon’s complete schedule right now, courtesy ofFreeform’s official website.
