Subscribe to Listverse
Halloween is just around the corner and with it comes loads of candy, movies, costumes, and fun! Because we already have a list of the top 10 horror movies, we thought it might be a nice idea to do a list of halloween movies that are suitable for all ages – something the kids and adults will both love. I have tried to pick a good balanced selection of movies – not just horror movies, but movies that contain halloween themes: witches, ghosts, and all things spooky. I have intentionally excluded movie series (such as the Harry Potter series) and Halloween versions of popular shows (such as the Spongebob Halloween special). If you haven’t seen any of these movies, you definitely should. Be sure to tell us what movies you will be watching this halloween! This list contains a competition – further details at the bottom of the list.
More than 300 years ago, 3 witches were sentenced to die in Salem, Massachusetts and a boy was turned into a cat (a black cat, naturally). Now it’s Halloween, and the witches (who fly on – I kid you not – vacuum cleaners) are back. This time, they’ve got their eyes on immortal life and have turned their wrath on trick-or-treaters and it’s up to the 300-year-old cat to save the day.
When an arranged marriage between Victor Van Dort and Victoria Everglot reaches the rehearsals, Victor starts to worry. Spending time alone in the forest, Victor decides to practice on his own. Everything seems to go well, until he accidentally puts the ring upon the hand of a corpse. Before he knows it, Victor is in the land of dead and now has a corpse bride. Whilst everyones worries about who Victoria will marry in the land of the living, Victor desperately finds a way to get back.
Furious that her late father only willed her his gloomy-looking mansion rather than his millions, Carrigan Crittenden (Moriarty) is ready to burn the place to the ground when she discovers a map to a treasure hidden in the house. But when she enters the rickety mansion to seek her claim, she is frightened away by a wicked wave of ghosts. Determined to get her hands on this hidden fortune, she hires afterlife therapist Dr. James Harvey (Pullman) to exorcise the ghosts from the mansion. Harvey and his daugh- ter Kat (Ricci) move in, and soon Kat meets Casper, the ghost of a young boy who’s “the friendliest ghost you know.”
In a land of monsters, James P. Sullivan is king. He and his coworker/ friend Mike Wazowski are two of many monsters that work for Monsters Inc. a utility company that generates power for a very paranoid and nervous city of monsters. This power, oddly enough, is generated from the screams of children, which is produced by scaring them in their sleep. One night, however, Sully uncovers a devious plot to rid Monster city of it’s power problems, but in all the wrong ways. Together, ironically, Sully and Mike will fight to protect the innocence of the children they scare every night.
A young boy, recently orphaned, is taken to England by his grandmother. At a hotel in which they are staying, a group of witches have gathered to prepare a plot to rid the world of all children. This movie is based on the wonderful book by Roald Dahl and stars Anjelica Huston and Rown Atkinson. This is a film that the kids will definitely love. This film was produced by Jim Henson.
In a small anywhere town in any state in America, two young boys- quiet Will Halloway and somewhat rebellious Jim Nightshade-enjoy the ever-shortening days of autumn. When the boys hear about a strange traveling carnival from a lightning rod salesman, they decide to see what it is all about-but Will is fearful, as most carnivals end their tours after Labor Day. When the ominous Mr. Dark, the Illustrated Man, rides into town on a dark midnight, setting up his massive carnival in a matter of seconds, the boys are both thrilled and terrified. A great film by Ray Bradbury.
Originally a television program, the Pufnstuf film was a real gem and has outlived the series. One of the best things about this film is that it stars Mama Cass (Cass Elliot) from the Mamas and the Papas, as Witch Hazel. The show and the film were both notable for bright colors, fast edits, sped-up film, musical segments and pop culture in-jokes, and appealed to young adults almost as much as children. Central to the film is young Jimmy and his magic flute, and a group of wicked witches who want to capture the flute for themselves. The series and movie are named after one other important character, a friendly dragon.
Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, is bored with doing the same thing every year for Halloween. One day he stumbles into Christmas Town, and is so taken with the idea of Christmas that he tries to get the resident bats, ghouls, and goblins of Halloween town to help him put on Christmas instead of Halloween — but alas, they can’t get it quite right.
After Barbara and Adam Maitland were killed in a car crash, they find themselves trapped as ghosts in their beautiful New England farmhouse. Their peace is disrupted when a yuppie family, the Deetzs, buy their house. The Maitlands are too nice and harmless as ghosts and all their efforts to scare the Deetzs away were unsuccessful. They eventually turn to another ghost ‘Beetlejuice’ for help…
Three odd-ball scientists get kicked out of their cushy positions at a university in New York City where they studied the occult. They decide to set up shop in an old firehouse and become Ghostbusters, trapping pesky ghosts, spirits, haunts, and poltergeists for money. They wise-crack their way through the city, and stumble upon a gateway to another dimension, one which will release untold evil upon the city. The Ghostbusters are called on to save the Big Apple. This film is a timeless cult classic.
If this list reaches 200 comments, one commenter will be selected at random to win a mug, shirt, or cap from the List Universe Store. In addition, the winner will be allowed to pick any one of the movies above to be included with their prize! The winner must be a registered user. As usual, comments must be related to the list and not designed just to increase the count or your chances of winning. Every comment is counted – so you can comment more than once. For those who can’t wait to get some merchandise, the store prices have now all been discounted! So be sure to check it out. All products sold at the List Universe Store are of a high quality. Shipping takes 7 – 11 days.
Sources: Some synopses are courtesy of IMDB, the Internet Movie Database
October 21st, 2008 at 2:00 am
Most excellent list. Only one movie that I haven’t seen (and that is how I judge excellence, is if it falls in my frame of reference).
October 21st, 2008 at 2:09 am
thunderchicken: which one haven’t you seen?
October 21st, 2008 at 2:13 am
Oh, nice list! I love all these films and I have to admit I’ve rewatched far to many of them to the point I actually think I couldnt watch Ghostbusters again for a couple of years.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:18 am
I heard they are making a new ghost busters movie, but will it ever be up to par as the original?
October 21st, 2008 at 2:18 am
Fun list! Go figure Tim Burton would have 3 entries.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:22 am
I love films 9, 6, 3,2 and 1, although I hate the way THe Nightmare Before Christmas has become so ‘cool’ among the emo/goth kids. I would love a t-shirt or a badge for my bag but I’d just be accused of being emo, grr. One of the extra features on the dvd is a brilliant short film called ‘Vincent’ about a little boy who wants to be Vincent Price and it’s narrated by Mr. Price himself. Believe it or not, me and my boyfriend’s ’specila’ song is the Ghostbusters theme by Ray Parker Jr. We have a sense of humour!!
October 21st, 2008 at 2:22 am
Seriously good list, I haven’t seen Something wicked and have never even heard of Pufnstuf so I’m surprised to see them so high up.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:29 am
That should be ’special’ – give me a break I’m not long up and my eyes are doing weird things today
October 21st, 2008 at 2:38 am
Ya can’t re-do ghostbusters!!!!! Thats just wrong.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:38 am
Oooohh! I LOVE this list, and I’ve seen them all!!!! Excellent list. Can’t even choose my fav, they’re all so so good. Made my day with this list. Missing Addams Family thou me thinks!
October 21st, 2008 at 2:38 am
what about simspns halloween specials
October 21st, 2008 at 2:40 am
Paulb: absolutely not – no remake of ghost busters would ever be as good as the original!
ligeia: love the nickname – presumably related to the Poe short story Ligeia.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:40 am
Great List! I’ve seen everything but the Pufnstuf; I must try and find it.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:42 am
Ligeia, your “special” song made me laugh out loud! Ours is Rocket Man by Elton John! Ha ha! And no! Spinners right, can’t re-do Ghostbusters! that’s plain wrong!
October 21st, 2008 at 2:43 am
how about ernest scared stupid? i love that movie
October 21st, 2008 at 2:43 am
A great list, I’ve watched 8,7,6 and 1. All were exceptional movies.
Comment 6: Goth doesn’t fall under the category of emo.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:45 am
Donna: I loved the Addams family TV series – though I watched it in re-run – I didn’t even mind the old in-jokes that made no sense to my generation
Peadaddy: read the intro to this list – I excluded Halloween specials from regular shows.
bekkhild: good luck finding it – I tried to find it on Amazon.com and it wasn’t there. I suspect the film company hasn’t done a DVD release which is a great shame as it is incredibly fun and shows Mama Cass in her prime – not long before her untimely death of a heart attack.
Hemza: as I said in the list – Pufnstuf holds a special place in my heart – hence allowing my bias to put it so high on the list. But, if you see it you will understand why. Furthermore, the series on TV was incredibly popular and the film had some great stars, so it deserves a new audience.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:48 am
jfrater: absolutely, I’m a big Poe fan. And a big fan of Vincent Price, which is great because he was in so many screen adaptations of Poe stories, including The Tomb Of Ligeia
Donna: well, we don’t like traditional ‘romantic’ songs and we both love Ghost Busters and that song is brilliant so it seemed like an obvious choice
Toolhead: I know, that’s why I put a / between them. TNBC is something that is used as an emblem of their culture by both the emo and goth kids around where I live.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:49 am
Addams Family seriously rocks my world, whether it be the TV series or the films (first two only)! And Beetlejuice is class. I demand more films like these too be made!
October 21st, 2008 at 2:55 am
Fun list, thanks.. my recomendation for kids nowdays would be ‘Halloweentown’ it is family friendly, has some good costumes, and who doesn’t love Debbie Reynolds?
My kids are grown now, but when they were younger we always watched Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin. I would also rent some older B movies like ‘The Tingler’ and we’d sit around a bowl of popcorn and wait for the HORROR to begin!!!
Thanks Vincent Price
October 21st, 2008 at 3:10 am
I heard that the movie wasn’t very successful but I really liked Monster House !…
Funny, Scary, with an 80’s spirit… great movie.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:12 am
What about The original Saw or Cannibal Holocaust? i thought that would surely make the list
October 21st, 2008 at 3:13 am
Great list, as usual! All about the Burton films myself, though haven’t seen most of the older ones on here. The music from Nightmare before Christmas is fantastic.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:16 am
Yeah, I was expecting to see Cannibal Holocaust on here too. Good list, though.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:26 am
I love Nightmare Before Christmas. Actually havent seen all of these though, should look into more
October 21st, 2008 at 3:32 am
I love the corpse bride, it was actually very funny yet romantic……Tim Burton’s movie are the best!!!!!!
October 21st, 2008 at 3:33 am
Agh, The Witches. That still terrifies me.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:48 am
sooooo hope i win
October 21st, 2008 at 3:49 am
Nightmare Before Christmas is by far one of my favorite movies. But not one of those weird fans who buys all the action figures and dolls at hot topic lol. But pretty good list I remember watching alot of them.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:52 am
Paulb (#22): ermm – this is a list of “family friendly” horrors – I think Saw and Cannibal Holocaust are not so entertaining for kids – to say the least
October 21st, 2008 at 3:57 am
okay – I just realized that Paulb and Baxter were being sarcastic – ignore my last comment
October 21st, 2008 at 4:16 am
the witches… that freaked me out so bad. I still can’t watch it. for kids???
October 21st, 2008 at 4:20 am
As the world’s biggest HR Pufnstuf fan, how did I not know there was a movie??!!??
October 21st, 2008 at 4:58 am
5 and 4 are the only two I haven’t seen, but definitely approve of everything else. I also agree, I miss seeing the Addams family on this list.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:05 am
I also agree with the whole Nightmare Before Christmas thing. I’ve loved that movie since I was a kid, and now it seems to be just a trend for all these emo/scene/goth kids to love it.
Nice list.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:13 am
Great list! Wow, a movie list where I have seen almost all the movies. Amazing. Although I love Beetlejuice, the first time I watched it as a young girl, I remember getting really scared during a couple of scenes. When I rewatched it as a adult, I had to laugh at myself. I may have been a bit overly sensitive back then. lol I have to agree with Lynn in Oregon, my kids love the Halloweentown movies and I can even watch them with minimal cringing.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:20 am
I absolutely loved (and was afraid of) The Witches -novel as a kid, but I had no idea it was made into a film. I definitely need to check it out sometime.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:30 am
I have seen all except the pufnstuf movie. I knew about the kids show, but a movie too? I love each and every one of these. I thought something like Monster House would be on here. I am glad you picked much better movies than that.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:31 am
I would put Nightmare before Christmas number one because it is the best HALLOWEEN movie on the list ghostbusters is a good solid one tho but i dont think it beats out the Halloween King from behind the pumpkin door!
October 21st, 2008 at 5:33 am
I was expecting Practical Magic to make the cut. One of the first ones on the top 10 list, but I still expected to see it.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:39 am
Really nice list.
It’s good to have some suggestions of movies to watch with the whole family… In general, your mother doesn’t want to watch Halloween or Friday the 13th with you. heaoiuheaioueah
October 21st, 2008 at 5:54 am
No Mr. Boogedy on the list?!?! I remember that being one of my absolute favorite family-type “scary” movies growing up.
Also, another great family movie which I remember as being slightly scary was Darby O’Gill and the Little People. That isn’t so much a Halloween movie, though.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:57 am
Must say GREAT list. I love number 10….so much in fact that I had two black cats a a kid growing up and one was named Zachary and the other was named Binx. lol! I also was a avid fan of Beetle Juice as a kid. I was in this class and we also did these impromptu pro/con speech things and no matter what card I got I always so how managed to link my speech with Beetle Juice. I love Halloween movies…from the bloody and frightening to the cute and funny. Thanks for the awesome list.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:00 am
You know…I have never seen The Nightmare Before Christmas which is apparently unheard of for people in my age group
Thanks for the list jfrater! I’m thinking about having a movie night this Halloween, and I’m not into horror movies, so these are perfect!
October 21st, 2008 at 6:11 am
I must say that Ive seen all of these movies, minus the one that came out in the 70’s that starts with “Put” anyway, by far my favorite of the list is The Witches! Good stuff JFrater!
October 21st, 2008 at 6:15 am
I would have totally mentioned Mr. Boogedy if it wasn’t already mentioned. Another kid friendly Halloween movie is the Halloweentown series made by Disney(shocker). My kids enjoy them and they are definitely original…
October 21st, 2008 at 6:34 am
this is a great list..
infact, apart from 4 and 5 i just knew the others would make the list.
although, i always found ‘the witches’ quite frightening as a child.. the rowan atkinson factor must have balanced it out.
PS.
beatle juice is a brilliant film, maybe not totally family friend (as i recall some bad language) but still.. just great.
thank you so much for this list
October 21st, 2008 at 6:37 am
oh, and how good is rick moranis in ghostbusters.. anyone?
October 21st, 2008 at 6:37 am
I couldn’t agree more with the top 2! But I agree Beetle Juice and even Ghostbusters may not be identified by some people as family friendly. I was allowed to watch them growing up and loved them though.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:40 am
I didn’t remember Pufnstuf until I thought about it for a few minutes after reading the list. That was a really strange show & movie. And didn’t they have a lot of drug-related double meanings?
I mean, the show is called Pufnstuf (Puffin’ on some stuff??). I didn’t notice any particular drug references, but I do remember people talking about it.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:42 am
Great of you to mention H.R. Pufnstuff. Excellent tv show, excellent movie. A fave.
Did you all know that the originators of Pufnstuff successfully sued McDonald’s for stealing Grimace, The Hamburgler et al? Sid and Marty Krofft (Canadians btw) were consulted and offered licensing. The Kroffts were fired, McDonaldland went ahead without them. It worked out in the end. McDonald’s had to pay.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:47 am
who you gonna call?
October 21st, 2008 at 6:48 am
Maelstorm: I love Earnest Scared Stupid. I even saw that in the theaters for my birthday (right before Halloween) when it came out in 1991. Loved it then and still love it now.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:49 am
When I saw the title of this list, I knew it would be Burton-heavy… and rightly so! Although the Corpse Bride did not liveup to my expectations, havign seen TNBC in theatres when I was a teenager.
I knew as I read this that Beetljuice had to be on here… I would have been flaming madif it wasn’t! It not only wasmy intro to Winona Ryder, Calypso music, and a more macabe Micheal Keaton (didn’t he do Batman that year too, with Jack Nichelson?)Whcih, id I am not mistaken, are both Burton gems…
“Shahe, shake, shake seniora, shake your body line…”
rtr
October 21st, 2008 at 6:54 am
I LOVE Hocus Pocus, it is one of my favorite movies. I have never seen Nightmare Before Christmas and it is on my must see list this month!
October 21st, 2008 at 6:55 am
I cannot take this list seriously since it omits Wallace and Gromit’s Curse of the WereRabbit. That movie was certainly better than Hocus Pocus and Casper. And it’s more kid-friendly than all but Monster’s Inc.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:05 am
Thanks, jfrater, I had completely blocked Something Wicked This Way Comes from my memory until this list. That carousel just creeped me out as a kid!
Great list!
October 21st, 2008 at 7:09 am
Donna (19) There was a third Adams Family? Ugh.
Although I do like the second one..that camp scene is classic!
Does anyone know if Something Wicked This Way Comes is a book? I vaguely remember seeing the title in a bookstore/library awhile ago.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:12 am
Great choices really, maybe u shoudda included Scooby Doo and the Boo brothers, i mean…I know it’s cra*py, but i used to love watching that on halloween
)
October 21st, 2008 at 7:17 am
There are quite a few movies listed here that I’ve yet to see! Good job! My favorite is The Nightmare Before Christmas, but close second is Monsters, Inc.
Very good list, I enjoyed it!
October 21st, 2008 at 7:19 am
Nothing beats sitting around on Halloween with some ice cold apple cider, the surround sound system turned up and The Nightmare Before Christmas playing. The music in that movie is GREAT! Everyone can sing along, ready?
October 21st, 2008 at 7:26 am
There was alsoe this one cartoon with a dude who stole some kids soul or something, dunn really remember it, in the end the kids had to give 1year of their life to get another kid back….any…anyone know what i’m talking about!?
October 21st, 2008 at 7:32 am
Callie (58) Yeah they made a third. Addams Family Reunion. Not a patch on the first two though. Not the same cast, god bless Raul Julia.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:32 am
The Watcher in the Woods was my favorite creepy horror movie when I was a kid – Bette Davis eyes, you know. I also loved Return to Oz, with a young Fairuza Balk; it was much, MUCH darker than the original.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:40 am
I love everything by Tim Burton.’Sleepy Hollow’ is great too, although I am not sure if it is entirely family friendly. ‘Van Helsing’ was good fun as well and my young nephew loved it.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:45 am
Hocus Pocus is awesome! I loved it when the witches are like we need a virgin and the guy gets all embarressed. Haha. Sarah Jessica Parker is in this movie too but it was before her nose job!
October 21st, 2008 at 7:45 am
great list. I also really like Monster House. Very clever movie.
“What is that”
“It must be the Uvula”
“Ooooh, its a girl house”
October 21st, 2008 at 7:49 am
No tRHPS? Though I don’t know a movie with Frank-n-Furter can be considered family-friendly
October 21st, 2008 at 7:57 am
I’ll second Rick Moranis in Ghostbusters.
“That’s Nova Scotia salmon. The real thing. It costs $24.95 a pound but really $12.48 a pound net after tax. I’m writing this whole party off as a promotional expense. That’s why I invited clients instead of friends.
Everybody, this is Ted and Annette Fleming. Ted has a small carpet cleaning business in receivership, but Annette is drawing a salary from a deferred bonus from two years ago and the house has $15,000 left at eight percent.”
October 21st, 2008 at 8:08 am
I love all of the movies on this list! But I forgot about Pufnstuf, I have very vague memories of watching it and loving it as a kid.
#68(flgh) As a Rocky Horror vet, I don’t think that it will ever be family friendly, although there is always one or two nut cases that bring their 4 yr olds. Although for any one considering bringing their pre-school age child to Rocky on Halloween, wait until their older and understand what’s going on, otherwise it will scar them for life.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:13 am
Return to Oz! THat’s one I would consider adding to this list.
I think this is the 1st movie list in which I have seen every single one of the films. I couldn’t remember “something wicked..” until I sae the clip. Thanks for adding that.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:13 am
*saw
October 21st, 2008 at 8:14 am
It figures that Tim Burton should dominate this list.
Since I was a kid when Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice came out, my first memories of these two copyrights are of the silly little kid’s shows that they spawned.
Here’s a list of things the the Beetlejuice cartoon had in common with the movie version:
1. The title.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:16 am
Yes, Adams Family is much more “Halloweeny” than some of the other selections. Overall, good list. I’ve seen all but two.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:28 am
honestly I think that beetle juice is the best movie on this list-hands down.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:42 am
I love Hocus Pocus. Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Bette Midler = awesome.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:43 am
Great list but how can you not put Nightmare Before christmas @ #1? Ghostbusters is a great film but it’s no “Nightmare”.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:44 am
I hereby declare my relentless love for Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s the best movie about Halloween, and in fact the best ANYTHING about Halloween. Did that make sense to you?
October 21st, 2008 at 8:48 am
BTW ligeia like what you like, let your freak flag fly and who cares what other people think. If someone labels you emo?!? because you have Nightmare stuff…. please. I’ve collected that stuff for years and this film will be around long after the emo fad has gone, remember jinco jeans? i didnt think so.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:52 am
Man I liked casper I mean saw about 100 times when I was a kid It brings back memories
October 21st, 2008 at 8:53 am
Something Wicked This Way Comes is an amazing movie, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it on here. I have to say I was surprised with the number one, but it usually works that way.
Good list.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:54 am
I have to question the inclusion of Beetlejuice as “family friendly.” It not only has several images which might be scary for a young child, but it also has quite a bit of crude language, including at least one F-bomb (Nice f’ing model! *crotch grab with car horn sound effects*) Great movie, but not really something I’d watch with the kids.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:55 am
So many memories with Ghostbusters…I loved that movie as a kid.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:59 am
A perfect list for this time of year!
Some of my secret favorites are on it, too! Something Wicked This Way Comes, a wonderful story by a fabulous man, it worked surprising well to screen. The story is still so much better though, that I recommend anyone who enjoyed the movie to read the book!
Beetle Juice is a film I expected to hate, yet I fell in love with it almost from the first scene! It has everything; humor, horror, bad puns, silly jokes, awful songs, wonderful special effects…everything I want in that genre!
The Night Before Christmas, just perfect in it’s way.
Ghost Busters. A classic the day of release. “nuf said.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:02 am
I remember Witches! I used to LOVE that movie! Now I have to go watch it for old times sake.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:08 am
yun
does it really? It’s rated PG….they show it on the family channel. I haven’t seen it in forever but I don’t remember cursing to that degree.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:10 am
These may be family-friendly, but they’re barely halloween films. I mean, I don’t care how old your kids are, halloween is about them begging to see something horrifying, you playing something horrifying and them never sleeping again. It’s practically a tradition.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:15 am
I love The Nightmare Before Christmas! I particularly enjoy the part where the kids are opening their Christmas “presents”, as delivered by Jack Skellington. The kid showing his parents that Santa brought him a head in a box is just great.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks could be a Halloween movie – it’s got witches and magic. And Angela Lansbury!
October 21st, 2008 at 9:15 am
Did anyone else have a hude crush on Devon Sawa around the Casper/Now and Then years? I totally had the posters on my wall..then Final Destination came out when I was in high school and he got all ugly…so sad.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:16 am
In response to Littlegraysheep, comment #62, I believe you are thinking of “The Halloween Tree”. I watched it on the weekend for nostalgia, it was one of my favourite halloween specials when I was little.
I also adore Garfield’s Halloween, The Addams Family, and The Labrynth and I remember there was a Disney Halloween special they used to show every year that was full of cartoon shorts that I absolutely loved.
I can’t say that I ever really liked The Nightmare Before Christmas, although I did see it in theatre when it first came out.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:23 am
@Callie (58) yes, ’something wicked this way comes’ is a book, the book is by ray bradbury. the film script appears to have been adapted by bradbury and a second writer. the book is entertaining. just don’t expect the kind of genius bradbury wrote in ‘fahrenheit 451′ (at least in my opinion)
October 21st, 2008 at 9:23 am
I’ve never really thought of Monsters, Inc. as a Halloween movie, but it’s still definitely a fun one.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:24 am
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Army of Darkness. Only one f-bomb in the whole movie. It was a favorite with my kids when they were between 6 and 10. High Camp and scary. Ash rocks. S-Mart ftw.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:27 am
Ha! 200 no problem.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:28 am
I too loved Hocus Pocus. Especially the part with them flying on vacuum cleaners. And also Bette Midler’s teeth. Loved it. Nightmare before Christmas is so cool. Actualle have a pair og Slippers/in door shoes formed as the ghost dog. It’s nose blinks red when you walk. Nice:-)
October 21st, 2008 at 9:32 am
Its adams family & casper for me every halloween season. I havent seen some of the movies on this list though…will check it out this halloween!! I dont agree with the hocus pocus though, its a once time see only.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:33 am
I just saw Haunted Mansion at my daughters school the other night. It was very good. But she still prefers Evil Dead 2.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:33 am
great list!
would definitely include Monster House and/or Addams Family in place of PufnStuf or Casper.
Nightmare before Christmas should be #1, with Beetlejuice #2, Ghostbusters #3.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:40 am
im happy that hocus pocus is on here! my cat is named binx after the cat in the movie
October 21st, 2008 at 9:42 am
Nice list! i love ghost busters!
October 21st, 2008 at 9:45 am
The movie “halloween” has been kind of a tradition but I think I’ll mix it up this year and get corpse bride. The mention of a special song brought back memories of me and my sons special song 18 years ago…lol was mc hammers “you can’t touch this” he now has it as a ring tone on his phone, makes me smile everytime i hear it!
October 21st, 2008 at 9:57 am
#5 for kids ? From what i just seen I dont know about that.I havent seen the whole movie so maybe it`s OK.I just love Beetlejuice the small amount of time he`s on the film is gold!
October 21st, 2008 at 9:58 am
i cant believe how many of these films I actually have not seen!!! i think i will have to have a mega-movie-marathon on halloween night!
October 21st, 2008 at 10:02 am
‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ is my favourite animation; I know nearly all the songs by heart now. I love its overall style, the music, the chracters, storyline… It really brings back lots of old memories.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:05 am
My first thought was Hocus Pocus, glad to see it made the list. I enjoyed it when I was younger. The end of Monster’s Inc. always makes me tear up, such a good film!!
October 21st, 2008 at 10:07 am
Ok maybe someone mentioned this already or maybe they didn’t but….. where is the movie the Worst Witch??? I LOVED that movie when I was a girl. Watching it over and over again on tv during the Hallows Eve season!! I think this should be on the list. Has anyone else seen this flick? Poor Mildred Hubble and her tabby. *giggles* Now I wanna find and rent it again.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:07 am
i dunno if i agree with #10. That movie tended to creep the ever-living hell outta me as a kid. lol.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:08 am
What about Halloweentown or Halloweentown High? I agree with JulieAllison, I never thought of Monsters, Inc. as a Halloween movie. I also had never heard of the Pufnstuf movie (it came out right before I was born) nor The Witches. I guess with The Witches, it must have been because I was “too old” having already graduated!
Still it is a great list.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:09 am
The only one I haven’t seen is Puffnstuf, though I’ve seen a parody. Maybe the parody would be even funnier if I’d seen the original. Sigh.
This is a terrible thing to say, and maybe I’m just too picky, but sometimes, some of these movies make me want to cringe a little. Almost like “family friendly” is synonymous with “implausible” and “forced”. I still love all these movies, but some of them (and I hesitate to mention which), are riddled with what seems to be, through adult eyes, bad acting and bad writing. I really hate saying that, I really do love most of these movies, but some of them I love despite their flaws.
I loved Something Wicked this Way Comes so much as a kid, I went out and bought the book. Why not make a list of kid friendly Halloween books? That would be pretty high up on the list- wonderful book, I highly recommend it.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:10 am
The Halloween Tree – hands down my FAVORITE Halloween movie. I had to buy it on VHS from Amazon because it wasn’t released on DVD. I love how it fades in and out where the commercials are supposed to be (made for TV movies, ha). I watch it every year. =)
October 21st, 2008 at 10:14 am
About the only other halloween type movie I could thinkof was E.T., didnt they dress up e.t. to go trick or treating?
Gotta say. hated that casper movie! besides just being bad, the idea of a dead boy as a ghost, having the hots for the girl, coming back to life, and then cathy moriartys way over the top bad acting, i wouldnt reccomend it to my family!
October 21st, 2008 at 10:32 am
Your description of Hocus Pocus is absolutely terrible. It is not up to the ‘cat’, it is up to Max, the teenage babe, and his little sister. They don’t fly on vacuums on purpose, but only because they hide their brooms. That movie is one of my favorite movies of all time and seeing the horrible description was unbearable.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:39 am
Okay, I will comment directly on the list later, after I’ve read all the comments, but I had to rush down here and reply to Dr. Bob @ 42. Darby O’Gill is my St. Paddy’s day movie! I used to watch it every year on this old VHS, my dad had recorded it off Disney channel, when you used to have to pay for it, during one of their “free sample” weeks. Every ten minutes or so, it would pop up saying “To order Disney Channel, call…” We also had Sword in the Stone and a few other movies on the same tape:)
October 21st, 2008 at 10:43 am
110. simplyshannyn: Absolutely my favorite Halloween movie, as cheesy as it can get in certain parts. It’s adorably educational!
I had NO idea they had made “Something Wicked This Way Comes” (also penned by Ray Bradbury) into a movie.
Corpse Bride was a disappointing “sequel” to the Nightmare Before Christmas, which was wonderful.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:45 am
I’ve actually only seen 2 movies off this list, Monster’s Inc. and Casper. I agree with islanderbst, I hated that movie.
You should do a list of the top 10 worst horror films ever. I think i know the movie that should be number 1, “Killer Clowns from Outer Space.” It’s absolutely horrible, which actually makes it more fun to watc
October 21st, 2008 at 10:50 am
hey wen is saw V comin out
October 21st, 2008 at 10:51 am
I agree Disney’s Haunted Mansion should be on the list. Its a great deal of fun. The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is another funny one. I dearly love Hocus Pocus.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:03 am
Okay, now to comment on the actual list. How did I not know that “Something Wicked” had been made into a movie?! I simply love the book, my favorite Bradbury (well, that I’ve read, I certainly haven’t read all of his work!). My father forced me to read it as a kid, and I didn’t really want to, but I absolutely loved it, and have read it at least 3 times since. Other than that, the only one I haven’t seen is PufnStuff.
I’m taking some of these lists entirely too personally Jamie…you see this time of year in Disneyland, they turn the Haunted Mansion into a whole Nightmare Before Christmas ride, which we went on just minutes before I was proposed to. Also, I so loved the vows in Corpse Bride, that I hope to work them into my wedding!
Anyway, another excellent list, though like others have said I may have worked in the Addams Family movie. Both were good, but the first one was better.
There are a few crude parts in Beetlejuice, the the “Nice ******* Model” and the part where he puts a Bordello in the model, but not enough to say that it’s not kid friendly. The Goonies had lots of swear words, but was still rated PG, I think things were less strict when these were made.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:06 am
I’ve always thought The Nightmare Before Christmas should really be watched in December.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:16 am
I remember having The Witches read to our class in 4th grade and it creeped me out! I’ll have to check out the movie, I love Angelica Huston. =)
October 21st, 2008 at 11:19 am
Beetlejuice can be iffy at times as a family movie. The Beetle-snake used to scare the crap out of me when I was younger.
Still, I love it none the less.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:24 am
I wish The Nightmare Before Christmas didn’t become the cash cow that it did. It sort of lost a bit of edge to it because of it.
I still like the movie, but I used to love it. And it’s even worse with the “updated” soundtracks they put out and everything.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:25 am
Still haven’t seen Ghostbusters… would anyone recommend it? :@)
Haven’t seen The Nightmare Before Christmas either… I’ve got a lot of catching up to do
October 21st, 2008 at 11:27 am
91. tami: @Callie (58) yes, ’something wicked this way comes’ is a book, the book is by ray bradbury. the film script appears to have been adapted by bradbury and a second writer. the book is entertaining. just don’t expect the kind of genius bradbury wrote in ‘fahrenheit 451′ (at least in my opinion)
****
Fahrenheit 451 and Something Wicked This Way Comes can’t be compared honestly, the way apples and a rib-eye steak can’t be compared honestly.
Fahrenheit 451 is a paper on the demise of civilization.
Something Wicked This Way Comes is a story of two young boys discovering the true nature of evil.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:37 am
You know for some reason I always think of The Nightmare Before Christmas as one of my favorite holiday movies as well.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:48 am
I Love Nightmare before Christmas I just purchased the collectors eddition, and my children love it as well, they have t’shirts, folders backpacks, anything they can get their hands on, and they know all the words to the soundtrack. It is just so cute, I hope they do a sequel.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:49 am
I never watched Nightmare before Christmas until i played Kingdom hearts.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Great list – except for Hocus Pocus, I really hated that movie! The only bit that was funny in it was a cute cameo by Penny Marshall.
I’d have to add Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” and “Fantasia”.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:04 pm
128. Rose: Right! That one scene in Fantasia, “A Night on Bald Mountain” scared me so as a kid! It was glorious!
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I hadn’t seen the Nightmare Before Christmas until recently. I decided to get the re-release DVD or what ever it was because I knew how all of the emo kids like it (a bunch of my friends are wanna-be emos). I liked it but I don’t really see why the emo kids like it because it seemed pretty childish, I guess it was just because of the way Jack looked. I always try to not wear stuff like TNBC shirts and stuff because that’s what everyone’s wearing (I kind of dress emo but I don’t act like them).
October 21st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Nightmare Before Christmas should be Number 1!!!!!!!!!!
October 21st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
i love Nightmare before Christmas!
October 21st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
#112. Lucy – October 21st, 2008 at 10:32 am
Your description of Hocus Pocus is absolutely terrible. It is not up to the ‘cat’, it is up to Max, the teenage babe, and his little sister. They don’t fly on vacuums on purpose, but only because they hide their brooms. That movie is one of my favorite movies of all time and seeing the horrible description was unbearable.
—–
The disclaimer that some of the write-ups come from IMDB and for Hocus Pocus, this writeup was the top of the list for it. You know that the descriptions don’t always match the movie (same with books)!
October 21st, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I freakin love the Pufnstuf movie, mostly because I am a huge Mama Cass fan. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favorite movies of all time!
October 21st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Anyone seen the boxing of the new release of Nightmare Before Christmas? It was something like $100USD at a wholesale place (comes in a huge box and it has a hard case of Jack Skellington’s head). I love the movie, but come on! Is there really that big a following for it? BTW, it should have been #1. I don’t associate Ghost Busters with Halloween. Should it instead have been the series of Ghost Buster movies?
October 21st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I agree that the Nightmare Before Christmas should be #1. Ghostbusters doesn’t really have to do with Halloween because its just a comedy with ghosts and its not scary or halloweenish at all.
Ernmas: I have heard of that thing with Jack’s head, I just got the regular box for about $25. But yes, it does have that big of a following that people would buy it for $100.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I love hocus pocus! its cheesy but great.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I love halloween….but ive only actually seen two of these….heard of em all
October 21st, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Also there is a CD out called “nightmare revisited” or something like that….and they are covers of all of the songs in Nightmare before christmas. I saw Amy Lee doing a cover on leno, and she did REALLY WELL with it. so look into that cd, cuz it’s cool
October 21st, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I found the book, Something Wicked This Way Comes, to be frightening (though I was quite a bit younger when I read it). I’ve not seen the movie, but the book was not very family friendly.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:44 pm
No ABOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN? What’s up with that?
October 21st, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I hear they may be making a ghostbusters 3. Crazy stuff
October 21st, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I’ve never heard of pufnstuf it looks creepy
but I’ve always loved casper he was awesome
October 21st, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I never realized how old some of these movies are.
October 21st, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I absolutly love anything Tim Burton does. Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite!! I too would have put it number 1 and not Ghostbusters. Also Haunted Mansion and Scooby Doo Monsters Unleashed are good family movies. Also Addams Family moives and Mosnter HOuse are good calls!BeetleJuice is an awesome movie but unless it is on TV it isn’t appropriate for all ages. The whore house scens is always takin out and a few words Michael Keaton uses, but still a great great movie!
Good JOb
October 21st, 2008 at 1:57 pm
You have to love Hocus Pocus, because it really is a fun movie . . . and Bette does camp it up alot!!! Ghostbusters also has a soft spot in my heart . . . my son’t first collectibles were Ghostbusters stuff, including the “power pack” as well as the Ghostbusters’ uniform (man, I wish I would have saved them!!!).
Ah, memories!!!
October 21st, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Oh my, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that already so many consider Nightmare Before Christmas should be #1 on this list (myself included)…
BTW, do you think the 3D version re-release of “Nightmare…” is worth it? I haven’t seen any movies in “Real D” (I think is called), you know with those new 3D glasses and stuff; Nightmare is gonna be re-released on October 24 in that (3D) format.
So might that be worth heading off to the theater and putting on some silly 3D glasses…?
October 21st, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I was just thinking about it and I don’t think Ghostbusters is really a family friendly movie. I’m not the type of person who thinks everything should be cencored, and I probably would let my young kids if I ever haveany see it, but I’m just saying that to some parents some of the stuff isn’t family friendly. There’s some swearing like shit, and the scene where his pants get unbuckled, and her saying “I want you inside me.” Also the dogs were pretty scary. When I was like 7 I was at a friends house and saw only the scene with them transforming into dogs and then running around, and I was freaked out. I don’t know why, that usually didn’t happen to me. I was disapointed with Ghostbusters being #1 anyway. The Nightmare Before Christmas was maybe not as good of a movie but it was definately a better family-friendly Halloween movie.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Any of you guys see “Little Monsters” with Howie Mandel? My son’s favorite movie (other than Ghostbusters) when he was a kid (he’s 22 and yes, I’m old).
The classics . . . Dracula, Frankenstein are works of art.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
holy moly, They made “The Witches” into a movie??? I HAVE to see it.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Ren: Ghostbusters was added for slightly older kids – 12 and above probably. I was very young when I first saw it and the comments you refer to went right over my head.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:13 pm
great list!
I remember that movie “something wicked this way comes” i was like 8 and i thought it was a good fright!! LOL
October 21st, 2008 at 2:17 pm
and come to think of it, another good not-too-scary movie i remember watching when i was younger was “Lady in White” it had a young Lukas Haas and was a good ghost story and mystery!! i loved it!
October 21st, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I think Hocus Pocus is a little strong for some kids. My little sis had nightmares from it.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Monsters Inc. is the most underrated Pixar film. It’s probably the most out there one, and maybe that’s why, as its the only one I can think of that completely creates its own world (as opposed to using a neglected part of our world). I found it to be one of the most touching films I’ve seen, and it still resonates the same way to me now (as a teenager) as it did when I was younger. The little twist at the end (laughter as opposed to screams-doesn’t really give away much and you know what I mean if you’ve seen it) also is a really nice commentary on life.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I too swear my never ending admiration for “NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS”. It is tied to Halloween as closely as some of the Christmas seasonal favorites are to x-mas. I remeber the first time i saw it, i was slightly bewildered at some of the characters and plot development – then i watched it again with greater amusment – then again, and it struck me – this is one of the greastest animated films of all time, Halloween or whatever.
And not trying to kiss Tim B’s ass too much – i think Sleepy Hollow should be considered for late October viewing.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Little Shop of Horrors!
October 21st, 2008 at 2:47 pm
What about The Monster Squad? That’s a great Halloween flick.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Nightmare before Christmas is my favorite movie ever! I also love Corpse Bride. Monster’s Inc. is amazing. This list is just amazing. My favorite one most likely.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:59 pm
157. kbenjy: Little Shop of Horrors!
****
The original “Little Shop of Horrors” was a wonderful little movie, not much more than a student film really, and was, I believe, Jack Nicholson’s first starring role.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Nightmare before Christmas should be #1. v.v
October 21st, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Oh yeah, Little Monsters was awesome. That was hilarious when he pissed in the apple juice.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
segue: I’m rather partial to the Rick Moranis version. Kudos to kbenjy for the mention.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
145. bloomfever2002 – October 21st, 2008 at 1:56 pm
—-
Oh my goodness, I forgot all about the Addams family movies. Those would have been great on this list!
What about “The Littlest Vampire?” It had Jonathan Lipnicki in it. My youngest used to love it. It was released in 2000, so that put him at about 5 when it came out on video.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Even though it’s old and it doesn’t have a halloween theme, I think a good “scary” movie for little kids is ‘Escape to Witch Mountain’.
Magic, aliens, shipwrecks, car chases, bad guys, killer dogs… who could want more??
The twin’s abilities are cool and the chase scenes are pretty intense for the younger ones.
and those 70’s outfits could be considered costumes
A good one for older kids is ‘Fright Night’, but it does have some (tame) sex scenes in it if I remember right.
‘Silverbullet’ is one for the older kids as well.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Mom424- Thanks for the kudos! segue- I knew the Rick Moranis version was a remake, but I didn’t realize that: 1. Jack Nicholson was in the original or 2. The original was a Roger Corman film!!! Consider it ordered…I just hope it arrives in time for Halloween!
October 21st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I wouldnt put beetle juice over nightmare before christmas but Ghostbusters is undisputable as far as halloween goes
October 21st, 2008 at 3:55 pm
nice list I liked the nightmare before christmas. I have been watching that movie ever since I was like 8.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I watch beetlejuice and hocus pocus every year!
October 21st, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I’m not sure Beetlejuice and Ghostbusters are completely family friendly…but good choice of movies!
October 21st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
That’s a good list, very accurate. Is ghostbusters really a halloween movie though? It’s awesome every day of the year it doesn’t need halloween!
October 21st, 2008 at 4:15 pm
166. kbenjy: You’ll love it! It was literally filmed in TWO DAYS! It’s camp with a capital K, and though a lot of the jokes are, by now, outdated, the cast is so top-notch that there’s no way it can’t hold its own.
Let me know how you like it.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
10, 9, 3, and 2 are my faves
nightmare before christmas should have been #1 in my opinion though
October 21st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Now, I would never count myself a fan of Charlie Brown and his gang of misfits, known as the Peanuts, but throughout my childhood, every year on Halloween American Tee Vees was “It’s A Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!” Call it a made-for- tv movie.
I think all of us kids inwardly felt somebody was pulling the wool over our eyes, but holiday specials meant something none the less and year after year something was dreadfully wrong if Charley Brown wasn’t on at Christmas and Halloween…and this was like 20 years after it first appeared! As far as Halloween American Tee Vee, there was also the animated Ichabod Crane, probably Disney. Well animated, dark and forboading headless Horseman. I remember that better than Charlie B, come to think of it.
Triva: The role played by Bill Murray in Ghostbusters was originally written for John Belushi, by his pal Dan Aykroyd. But with Belushi’s sudden death it went to Murray.
Ghostbusters makes me think of Transylvania 6500.
Also, now I remember Young Frankenstein.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
six five thousand
October 21st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I’m not sure how ‘family friendly’ Beetle Juice is — it used to terrify me as a kid!
The Witches is a fantastic movie though.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Monsters Inc is by far my favourite Disney animated movie, it is just a classic and casting Billy Crystal as Mike Kowoski was just brillant.
It’s one of those movies I have to watch at least 2 to 3 times a year.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Thankfully, I have three of those movies on DvD, and have seen all but The Witches, Pufnstuf, and Something Wicked This Way Comes (also, I don’t think I’ve seen all of the Ghostbusters movie, either, as strange as that may sound…).
I remember watching that Beetlejuice cartoon when I was a kid. Finally seeing the original movie, it was rather odd to see how much it differed from the cartoon–especially Beetlejuice himself! I also remember seeing The Nightmare Before Christmas at least once when I was a kid, but my current love of the movie is mostly due to having re-discovered it thanks to Kingdom Hearts, hehe.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I love Hocus Pocus! Total classic.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Monsters Inc isn’t my favorite Pixar movie, but its grown on me. I’ve grown to appreciate it more than I used to and I now see it as one of Pixar’s most underrated (still, not their best, but better than a lot of people say).
October 21st, 2008 at 5:14 pm
wow. Haven’t seen these movies in a long time. I remember the Witches, and of course the Ghost busters…but the ones I’m interested in are the ones we all saw when we were little but those movies faded away. Movies like…umm…err.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:37 pm
The Nightmare Before Christmas definitely should have topped this list, in my humble opinion…
Also, I just “registered” on the site, and it saddens me that I was forced to drop my exclamation mark.
:’(
October 21st, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I just registered too! I LOVE the sight and have been lurking for ages. Yeah, the contest kinda prompted me to register… I hate to admit that!!
But anyway, another great list and some more movies to add to my weekend viewing!
October 21st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I remember watching the series HR PufNStuf. Jimmy was my first ever “human” crush, I even named my Teddy (who still lives me with) after him. My first crush was Humphrey B. Bear and the man I married looks just like him! (hairy back and doesn’t wear trousers at home) Great list. Love all the movies.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
You know, i think as a child i was heart wrenchingly mal-movied. I’ve only seen three of these, and I never see many of the movies in these lists. I just finished watching Reqiem for a dream and A clockwork Orange.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Lol Beetlejuice? didnt really think that would be family friendly, same with ghostbusters. Make the kiddies watch Saw and Hostel, thatl put heair on their chests
October 21st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Great list. I’ve only seen half of these. I had no idea they made a Pufnstuf movie (or maybe I did and I was too young to remember – or too old to remember now
) Will definitely keep an eye out for ‘Something Wicked’. 
October 21st, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Sheldon Roy, Clockwork orange should definitely be on this list
October 21st, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Dude, I remember that Nightmare Before Christmas, that movie was soo old. But I don’t know how Jack Skellington turned into a punk icon…
October 21st, 2008 at 6:13 pm
The only one I haven’t seen from the list is Something Wicked this Way Comes.
But I was really hoping Halloween Tree would be on here because it is my all-time favorite Halloween related movie, with The Nightmare Before Christmas being a close second.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:17 pm
A Nightmare on Elmstreet?
October 21st, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Jack Skellington was the best ally in Kingdom Hearts II, except for probably cloud, but you only had cloud for one battle.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I think beast was a pretty good NPC in kingdom hearts
October 21st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I love all of these movies!
Great List.
xD
October 21st, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Family-friendly movies aren’t so fun, but I did like Corpse Bride!
October 21st, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Great job on the list. Ghostbusters is one of my all time favorites. I really love Rowan Atkinson when the is talking though.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Yup.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Meh, I don’t like Halloween movies much. And Ghostbusters being a Halloween movie? It just seems like a movie with some ghosts in it to me, not really seasonal.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I love Monsters. Inc!
October 21st, 2008 at 6:38 pm
dustfinger- yeah thats true but nowadays anything else is called Horror
October 21st, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Oh, hooray! Three Tim Burton classics! I love to watch the ones that made the list at Halloween.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Ghostbusters scared the crap out of me when I was a kid!! Definitely deserves to be #1 imo.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:26 pm
argh..i didnt make it to top 200 boohoohoo..i love these movies..hoohooohoo
October 21st, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Phew! I was scared stiff that we wouldn’t reach 200 comments.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:24 pm
When theres free stuff involved boy the comments roll in!
October 21st, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I never knew they made The Witches into a movie! When I was a kid, my grandma and I would listen to the book on tape. I’ll have to check out the film.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Here’s another vote for The Nightmare Before Christmas belonging in the #1 spot! I LOVE this movie and I wear my Jack Skellington sweatshirt with pride, though I am not emo OR goth.
I agree with many others who have mentioned The Addams Family movies and Young Frankenstein as good candidates for this list. I’ve never seen The Witches, though I’ve read the book several times. Raold Dahl rocks! And I do remember seeing Something Wicked This Way Comes when I was younger and being scared half out of my wits…
October 21st, 2008 at 9:06 pm
jfrater: Pufnstuf is the sole holiday inclusion that I have not been fortunate enough to see. By the way, Witches is excellence stuff – one of my absolute childhood favorites. I believe that Jim Henson had a hand at that movie, correct?
October 21st, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Pufnstuf was one of the first movies I saw! I can’t remember much about it, though, and I may be conflating memories of the tv show. I have otherwise seen Casper, Monsters Inc and Ghostbusters.
The entire concept of Halloween has escaped me. It’s not a big thing in Australia.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Huh. I’ve /read/ the original books for The Witches and for Something Wicked This Way Comes, but to be honest, I wasn’t even aware that the movie versions existed.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I think the appeal of Pufnstuff was really for the drug culture. Then again, most of the drug culture’s material was great for kids too. Ooh look at all the colours…
October 21st, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I’m glad that Ghost Busters is # 1. I don’t know why but I didn’t like it that much when it first came out, but now when I watch it, it’s hilarious.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Dio – I agree with u about Peanuts holiday shows. Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas.
Too me Ghostbusters is a summer movie.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:06 am
The Nightmare Before Christmas creeps me out. First animated movie to do so.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 am
At the risk of repeating myself… Addams Family should seriously be on this list!
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:19 am
first time i can say i’ve seen all of the movies on this list.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:51 am
haha awesome. I just watched The Witches last night.
Loved that movie when I was little. Which is weird because I have a big mice/rat phobia.
XD
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:28 am
Thank you so much for the list!! There’s already too much ‘horror’ events relation to Halloween happening here so it’s nice to find something I can actually enjoy.
I’ve never heard of beetlejuice much less watched it. But I will amend that soon
Love Tim Burton’s movies!
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:15 am
As mentioned before, Monster House is a notable omission.
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:09 am
Hey, great list. But i also vaguely remember a halloween movie from my childhood in the early 90’s involving a cartoon halloween movie about these kids, one was a skeleton, and they visited an old mans house with a tree out front. The kids also traveled around the world to see different halloween variations. IF anyone remembers this movie could you please reply, i would love to watch it again now.
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:53 am
Tim Burton wins the contest!! 3 of 10!!
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:23 am
yes. tim burton. very unique films.
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 am
Every Halloween I watch Hocus Pocus on tv (usually on ABC Family or something) and I watch The Nightmare Before Christmas. I really think that Casper should have been higher, that was one of my favorite movies when it first came out. But yes, this is definitely Tim Burton’s area of expertise.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
I’d like to suggest “The Haunting” (1963). Eepy-cray!
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 am
Y’know, I’ve never seen Ghostbusters. That’s really shameful ¬.¬
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
Oh I love this list. I remember watching The Witches when I was little, such a funny yet creepy movie. Hocus Pokus was another movie I loved but no one else liked it so I could never rent it (or find it for that matter).
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Family Friendly is subjective to what you feel is Family Friendly. I have no problem with showing any of these to my family.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I absolutely love Hocus Pocus. I’m sad its not higher on the list.
Tho a great list there are a couple I wouldn’t consider Halloween movies (like Monsters Inc)
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Ernest Scared Stupid!
That movie freaked me out as a kid!
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
re: Tim Burton 33% of all his movies star Johnny Depp. Almost 3/4 feature the music of Danny Elfman.
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Tim Burton definitely wins here, he makes the best movies.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Great list. I always loved Hocus Pocus. Where’s Addams Family? That’s a classic one you forgot to add!
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 am
Monster House is a great kids movie for Halloween too.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 am
I don’t agree with Beetlejuice being so high on the list… But I love Monsters Inc and The Nightmare Before Christmas. I would also add Monster House (another CG).
I totally forgot about the Witches. The creeped me out when I was a kid – it’s a great movie.
LOVE this list! (But then I am a Halloweenie)
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:00 am
I just watched Monsters, Inc. for the first time yesterday and I thought it was adorable!
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Still remember seeing Casper for the first time. Great movie, though I’ve only seen the Swedish-dubbed version.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Nightmare Before Christmas is my favourite film, but it has too much association withemos/goths, many of which have never even seen the film. It’s not exceedingly gothic, as you say, it’s family, and I wish it didn’t have the label so I could enjoy it myself more freely.
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I love Hocus Pocus and Nightmare Before Christmas!
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Who is Mama Cass? Did she choke on a ham sandwich?
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Mama Cass was only the best singer in The Mamas and The Papas. She died from a Heart Attack not from a ham sandwich,thats an urban legion.Me on the otherhand hope to die from a ham sandwich!
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
With Cheese.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
WINNER: The winner of the competition on this list is comment 114 – Cedestra! Cangratulations! Email me (jamie at frater dot com) with your real name, street address, and choice of prizes.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Congratulations Cedestra!
October 24th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
What about The Lady in White? It’s a really good ghost story, maybe not appropriate for the under ten crowd, but beautifully done.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I might add, the opening credits music for The Witches is absolutely fabulous.
October 25th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
MUST MUST add MONSTER SQUAD, Director said this is an Abbott and Costello meet the Little Rascals. This movie is turning out to be a “classic”. Online signatures forced it’s release onto DVD.
October 25th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
CORRECTION: Re Monster Squad, that was Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein and Dracula with the Little Rascals. Not cheesy at all.
October 26th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I’ve always thought Tim Burton’s animations – Corpse Bride and Nightmare Before Christmas to be wildly over-rated. Neither really held my attention, and the songs in NIghtmare which everyone raves about were nothing special. I thought.
October 27th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
as many others here i have never heard of Pufnstuff.
not really a fan of “family friendly” movies with supernatural beings or such in them. TNBC is really good, Beetlejuice is awesome but corpse bride dissapointed me.
they should make movies with the aspiration to simply make a good movie and worry about the ratings as they come, and not push the whole “family friendly” crap down the throat of the movie as if forcefeeding a limp frog.
its just stupid.
and movies starring children saving the town/city/region/country/world/galaxy/peanutbutter/universe and so on makes me puke. blah.
screw narnia, screw halloween town and screw… high school musical. especially high school musical.
is monsters inc really a halloween movie? cant remember.
oh, and screw casper as well.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
How can EVERYONE forget Monster Mash?? It was a 60’s puppet stop-motion film that featured every great halloween creature and ghoulie.It featured the voice talents of Boris Karloff and Phylis Diller, and for our home it just wasn’t Halloween until we saw that movie aired on our local station..aww Jeeeez….
October 30th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Ahhh… I love all these movies…brings back childhood memories…Yet you should have added The Witches w/ Anjelica Huston…still a good list…
October 30th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Ahh..nice seeing this list. Brings back memories..I’ve seen these movies over and over and I don’t get bored..Casper was the best with the dancing scene of Devon Sawa as Casper and Christina Ricci. Anyone know the name of that song?
November 12th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Monsters Inc. is one of my all time favorite movies.
February 10th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
aww…i remember watching the witches in 7th grade on halloween at school..i love that movie and completely forgot about it until now! thanks for the memories
March 31st, 2009 at 2:54 am
I’d have to include “Arsenic and Old Lace” with Cary Grant, Raymond Massey and Peter Lorre, and an entire cast of familiar, brilliant Hollywood character actors. It’s a wonderful 1944 madcap comedy about an old family house inhabited by two delightfully sweet spinster sisters who fill their cellar floor with all the lonely elderly gentlemen they “help” by giving them some of their very special elderberry wine; a brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and blows the bugle for the charge up San Juan Hill every night; a malevolent long-lost maniacal nephew who has come home on Halloween to hide out from police, along with the alcoholic surgeon (Peter Lorre as “Dr. Einstein”) who has terribly botched the plastic surgery which was supposed to help the nephew escape police scrutiny; and a “normal” nephew, a theater critic who is afraid the family’s homicidal tendencies will one day appear in him and ruin his chances for a happy marriage to the literal girl-next-door.
Witty but also adorably silly, the lovable characters are popping on- and off-screen all night long in a fast-paced B&W movie which can be enjoyed by, say, 11-year-olds and above who don’t need dripping gore in a “spooky” movie. And for all of us who enjoy old movies which leave us with a smile on our faces.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:41 am
The Nightmare Before Christmas I remember seeing when it came out on video, and was not impressed. I think just the characters themselves would be too scary for kids, wasn’t there one where bugs ran out of his mouth or something? Maybe you should specify an age range here. I mean, I know families who have had to turn off Finding Nemo and stuff like that. As for those loser kids you see walking around wearing all black and big top-hats with TNBC characters on them, I want to punch each and every one of them in the face, and then do the same to their parents for letting them look like such retards.
April 27th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
The only sane one: I know plenty of those kids. they are all very nice and have a tendency to agree with me when i say that wierdos who dont let thier kids see the nightmare before christmas are complete morons.
June 27th, 2009 at 2:22 am
3 films are tim burton related here. but hey, they’re great.
If there’s somethin’ strange
in your neighborhood…
September 5th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Who you gonna call?
GHOSTBUSTERS!
Yeah, it played once. I caught the song only, then changed it to the Sci-Fi Channel, where they were playing Quantum Leap.
September 13th, 2009 at 5:56 am
plz refer to the cartoon movie mentioned at number 62 & 220, plz plz tell me the name of that cartoon or any link where can i find it..i am searching for it for almost ten years..can any one help me..ill be grateful
September 13th, 2009 at 6:02 am
@littlegraysheep (62): plz do u remember the name of this cartoon or any where abouts of it??? plz reply
September 13th, 2009 at 6:11 am
@walterstc (220): plz if you can reply me with the name or more details of that cartoon…
September 20th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Let’s not forget….
Halloween is Grinch Night
Witch’s Night Out
Raggedy Ann & Andy and the Pumpkin Who Couldn’t Smile
Bugs Bunny Howl-Oween Special
Disney’s Halloween Treat
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
And, fera, I believe the cartoon you’re looking for is “Halloween Tree”
September 29th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Great, great list.
Halloween is the best time of year for me really<3
Another I would recommend is a Ray Brabury classic ;
The Halloween Tree.
Amazing, amazing movie.
Great for learning and entertainment.
I especially liked the twist at the end.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Here it is for whoever’s looking for it ;