The best family-friendly Halloween movies that spook but won’t cause nightmares

You’ll still find some Australians who object to the particular form of American cultural imperialism that is Halloween, but at its core, it’s a fun week for kids and adults to dress up, eat lollies and chocolates, and imagine there are unknown things that creep around in the dark.

The holiday has its roots in pagan, folk and religious traditions across many cultures, and there is something spooky about the idea that the fabric between the living and the dead is the thinnest on October 31.

So, if you want to provoke some goosebumps but not be (re)traumatised with the freakiest of horror movies, indulge in these kid- and kid-at-heart-friendly movies that might make you apprehensive about what’s under your bed, but not give you any actual nightmares.

SPIRITED AWAY

Revered for its stunning animation and its whimsical but dark fairytale, Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away remains a favourite for a reason — and tops “best of” lists for all kinds of genres.

The film is the story of a 10-year-old girl whose parents are turned into pigs by a witch after they trespass into an abandoned theme park. The girl must enter a spirit world to save them, encountering wildly imaginative scenarios, challenges and characters.

Watch it: Netflix

WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT

In Australia, we know a thing or two about rabbits being pests, but even we wouldn’t be handle the infestation faced by Wallace and his trusty canine companion Gromit.

The characters’ gentle Englishness mixes with dry humour and cheeky gags in this stop-motion animation that pays homage to classic monster flicks while still managing to be fresh and winning. A must for every Halloween.

Watch it: Binge

CASPER

If you’re going to be haunted by any ghosts, you want it to be Casper. He is, after all, so friendly. Created in 1945 as a cartoon, the character was updated in 1995 in the Christina Ricci-starring movie which introduced a generation of girls to 1990s tween idol Devon Sawa.

In this version, Ricci plays Kat, the daughter of a paranormal therapist (Bill Pullman) who has been hired by a greedy heiress and treasure hunter. Hijinks and wholesome romance ensue.

Watch it: Paramount+

THE CORPSE BRIDE

Tim Burton likes life with a sprinkle of darkness and a wallop of the macabre while still aiming for utterly charming. He’s also a little prone to the warm and fuzzy.

It’s how he combines all these elements together that make for some of his most memorable work, among which is The Corpse Bride, the story of a young man who, betrothed in an arranged marriage, accidentally weds a murdered young woman.

Watch it: Digital rental

HOCUS POCUS

For the past three decades, Hocus Pocus has become such a family favourite thanks to reruns, VHSes, DVDs and now streaming, you might be surprised to remember that it was initially a box office failure.

But the campy Halloween-set story of the Sanderson witch sisters resurrected to wreak havoc is exactly the right amount of weird and stupidly funny. The cackles, the costumes and the chaos! How can you resist?

Watch it: Disney+

BEETLEJUICE

There are some things in the original 1988 Beetlejuice that is hard to explain to kids who are old enough to be curious but not so old as to have worked it out for themselves – so you decide how much you want to get into how creepy it is that this centuries-old ghoul wants to marry a high school girl.

Besides that, the wacky shenanigans and fanciful stop-motion monsters and residents of the underworld are still very cool. Also, the Banana Boat song and dance - what a riot.

Watch it: Stan, Binge

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

This generation of kids might be losing their minds over Jenna Ortega’s unblinking Wednesday Addams, but for those who know better, Christina Ricci will always hold that crown, even if she is obviously comfortable with handing it over.

Barry Sonnenfeld’s visually inventive 1990s movies had sass, goofiness and just a dash of sauciness. It wasn’t subtle but neither were the Addamses. Make it a double-bill and add the even brasher Addams Family Values sequel.

Watch it: Binge, Stan

GHOSTBUSTERS

Sometimes you wonder if Ghostbusters would’ve stayed as culturally relevant as it has if it didn’t also make for iconic and easy Halloween costumes. Or maybe people just really like green goo monsters.

With a cast of comedy legends Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis, there’s nothing quite like the quick wit of the ghoul-fighting heroes out to save Sigourney Weaver and New York City from Zuul.

Watch it: Binge, Stan

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA

A franchise that is definitely more for the kids than the parents, Hotel Transylvania is the story of Dracula who recognised there was a gap in the market to cater to a very specific clientele: monsters who may be ostracised in polite society.

There’s something intrinsically interesting in the idea that beasties should be a protected class with their own retreat but it’s also a useful movie with which to introduce younger viewers to some iconic characters including Frankenstein, Quasimodo, werewolves, mummies and the Invisible Man.

Watch it: Binge, Stan

HARRY POTTER

There are eight Harry Potter movies and they kept getting longer so you’d be committed if you wanted to marathon them this week. But for younger kids, those first two chapters – Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets – are cute and before the Hogwarts wizards become angsty teens with hormones and resentments.

The vibe is adorable innocence, which totally tracks when you remember they’re directed by Chris Columbus, who also made Home Alone.

Watch it: Netflix, Binge