The 10 Best Spooky Family Halloween Movies to Stream Right Now
Halloween is the perfect excuse to pull the blankets up and press play, but not every scary movie belongs on a night with little ones or friends who jump at shadows. These ten picks lean into gentle scares, big hearts and plenty of creature fun, so everyone can enjoy the chills without losing sleep. They're all streaming right now across a mix of free and subscription services, which makes it easy to build a double feature without a big spend.
Quick picks
- Hocus Pocus (1993)
- Halloweentown (1998)
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Casper (1995)
- Monster House (2006)
- Coraline (2009)
- ParaNorman (2012)
- Goosebumps (2015)
- Scooby-Doo (2002)
- Corpse Bride (2005)
1. Hocus Pocus (1993)
Three sister witches wake up in Salem on Halloween night after centuries asleep, and it falls to three kids and a newly found black cat to stop their reign of mischief. It's silly, sweet and full of spellbinding characters, with Bette Midler clearly having a grand time as the eldest sister. Streams with a Disney+ subscription.
Directed by Kenny Ortega. Starring Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Bette Midler. Fantasy, Comedy, Family. Rated PG.
Subscription: Disney+ · Where to watch
2. Halloweentown (1998)
On her 13th birthday, Marnie learns she is a witch and is pulled through a secret portal into Halloweentown, a magical world where ghosts, witches and werewolves live apart from humans. Debbie Reynolds adds warmth as her grandmother, and the adventure balances spooky settings with a story about finding where you belong. Streams with a Disney+ or Hulu subscription.
Directed by Duwayne Dunham. Starring Debbie Reynolds, Judith Hoag, Kimberly J. Brown, Joey Zimmerman. Family, Fantasy, Comedy. Rated G.
Subscription: Disney+, Hulu · Where to watch
3. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, grows bored with his annual scares and decides to take over Christmas, with unsettling results for Santa and the holiday. Henry Selick's stop-motion animation is wonderfully eerie, and Danny Elfman's songs make it a joy for musical fans. Streams with a Disney+ subscription.
Directed by Henry Selick. Starring Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey. Fantasy, Animation, Family. Rated PG.
Subscription: Disney+ · Where to watch
4. Casper (1995)
A gentle young ghost haunting a Maine mansion falls for the teenage daughter of a paranormal specialist, while his mischievous uncles stir up trouble. Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman anchor a story that is more tender than frightening. Streams with a Hulu or Peacock subscription.
Directed by Brad Silberling. Starring Malachi Pearson, Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty. Fantasy, Comedy, Family. Rated PG.
Subscription: Hulu, Peacock · Where to watch
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5. Monster House (2006)
Three teens investigate a decrepit neighboring house that seems determined to swallow them whole, uncovering frightening secrets along the way. Steve Buscemi voices one of the animated characters, and the story leans into creepy atmosphere without going too far. Streams free with ads on Tubi, or with a Peacock subscription.
Directed by Gil Kenan. Starring Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner, Spencer Locke, Steve Buscemi. Animation, Comedy, Family. Rated PG.
Free with ads on Tubi. Subscription: Peacock · Where to watch
6. Coraline (2009)
Bored in a rambling new house, 11-year-old Coraline finds a secret door to a stranger, shinier version of her life. Henry Selick's inventive stop-motion gives the story its eerie, dreamlike texture, and its themes of family and courage make it a thoughtful pick for older kids. Streams free with ads on The Roku Channel, or with a Hulu, Peacock or Max subscription.
Directed by Henry Selick. Starring Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French. Animation, Family, Fantasy. Rated PG.
Free with ads on The Roku Channel. Subscription: Hulu, Peacock, Max · Where to watch
7. ParaNorman (2012)
Norman can talk to the dead, but nobody in his town believes him until he must perform a ritual to lift an ancient witch's curse. The animation is striking and the mood spooky, while the story encourages kindness and standing up for others. Streams free with ads on The Roku Channel, or with a Hulu, Peacock or Max subscription.
Directed by Sam Fell, Chris Butler. Starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck. Family, Animation, Adventure. Rated PG.
Free with ads on The Roku Channel. Subscription: Hulu, Peacock, Max · Where to watch
8. Goosebumps (2015)
A teen who moves to a small town and befriends the daughter of a famous horror author accidentally unleashes monsters from the pages of her father's books. Jack Black brings plenty of playful energy to the mayhem, and the creatures are more goofy than grisly. Streams free with ads on Tubi.
Directed by Rob Letterman. Starring Dylan Minnette, Jack Black, Odeya Rush, Ryan Lee. Adventure, Horror, Comedy. Rated PG.
Free with ads on Tubi · Where to watch
9. Scooby-Doo (2002)
Mystery Inc. heads to Spooky Island, a seaside amusement park, only to find that the rides and attractions are hiding something sinister. The gang's familiar chemistry carries the story, and the mystery-solving keeps things light and fun. Streams free with ads on YouTube, or with a Max subscription.
Directed by Raja Gosnell. Starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini. Mystery, Adventure, Comedy. Rated PG.
Free with ads on YouTube. Subscription: Max · Where to watch
10. Corpse Bride (2005)
A young man about to marry is pulled into the underworld and wed to a mysterious corpse bride, while his real fiancee waits in the land of the living. Tim Burton's gothic style is gorgeous, and the story is more romantic and wistful than scary. Streams with a Max subscription.
Directed by Mike Johnson, Tim Burton. Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman. Romance, Fantasy, Animation. Rated PG.
Subscription: Max · Where to watch
Pick a night, choose two or three films based on how brave your crowd feels, and keep snacks close. Streaming availability changes often, so check the service before you press play.
More movie lists
Streaming catalogs change often. Availability was checked the morning this was published. Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDB; this product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
