Halloween is a fantastic time for families, filled with costumes, candy, and spooky fun. For many, a Halloween movie night is a cherished tradition. But finding movies that are festive and fun without being genuinely terrifying for younger viewers can be tricky. As parents and horror enthusiasts ourselves, we’ve navigated the maze of age-appropriate Halloween flicks for years. Like you, we’ve scrolled through countless online parent guides, often finding them either too simplistic or completely out of touch with what’s suitable for kids. Many suggest films that are either too babyish or, shockingly, recommend movies with intense violence and adult themes that are clearly inappropriate for children.
If you’re looking for a sensible guide, from someone who loves horror but also understands parental responsibility, you’ve come to the right place. We’re sharing our insights and recommendations to help you curate a Halloween movie marathon that your kids will love, without any nightmares or need for therapy afterwards! Consider this your ultimate Reptile Parents Guide… to navigating the thrilling world of Halloween movies for your little monsters! (Okay, maybe not reptile parents literally, but all parents seeking guidance!).
Young Children: Embracing the Scooby-Doo Spirit
When our son was very young, his entry point into the spooky season wasn’t ghosts or goblins, but dinosaurs! A lucky afternoon channel surf landed us on Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster. It was a revelation. He was captivated, and so were we, suddenly reminded of how Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! sparked our own lifelong love for all things gothic.
For young children, Scooby-Doo is the perfect Halloween gateway. It’s packed with classic horror tropes – spooky mansions, eerie creatures, mysterious villains – but ultimately, everything is explained logically. It’s clever, funny, and completely kid-friendly. The franchise is vast and varied, offering everything from the original charmingly simple TV series and updated versions like What’s New, Scooby-Doo? and Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!, to live-action movies and the more complex teen drama of Mystery Incorporated.
The animated movies are a treasure trove: well-made, engaging, and gothic without being genuinely scary. Themes are diverse, from alien adventures in Moon Monster Madness and Alien Invaders, to superhero fun in Mask of the Blue Falcon, and even wrestling crossovers in WrestleMania Mystery and Curse of the Speed Demon. For classic gothic vibes, try Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, The Witch’s Ghost, Legend of the Vampire, Where’s My Mummy?, Camp Scare, Music of the Vampire, Frankencreepy, and Scoob! Don’t forget Courage the Cowardly Dog, another Cartoon Network gem with similar humor and gothic sensibility, culminating in the team-up movie Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog.
For animated movie magic, the Hotel Transylvania series is a hit with its friendly monster humor reminiscent of The Munsters. If those are a success, explore Monster Family 1 and 2 (also known as Happy Family), and the vintage stop-motion musical Mad Monster Party (1967) with Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller, a precursor to Tim Burton’s style. Speaking of Burton, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and Frankenweenie (especially the original short film and the animated remake) are excellent choices for slightly older young children. Don’t forget Burton’s short film Vincent, often included on Nightmare Before Christmas DVDs.
Burton’s films have a touch of darkness, so perhaps best for ages seven or eight and up, similar to Neil Gaiman’s Coraline. Other great animated options include Igor, Monster House, ParaNorman, The Book of Life, and Coco. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is also a must-watch. For very young viewers, seek out older animated shows like The Trap Door and Will o’ the Wisp, both charming and available on DVD. And remember the classic Count Duckula, a gothic Dangermouse, and the 70s BBC show Rentaghost. Finally, The Munsters TV series and the 1966 movie Munster, Go Home! offer similar lighthearted monster fun to Hotel Transylvania. The original Addams Family TV show (1964) is also readily available and hilarious, but hold off on Wednesday and the 90s movies for now. The 2019 and 2021 animated Addams Family films are perfect for younger Halloween audiences.
Infant School Age: Retro Spooky Adventures
As kids grow, their tastes evolve, and parental radar needs to be more finely tuned. The goal is to find movies that capture the Halloween spirit while remaining age-appropriate: no strong language, no children in serious danger, minimal violence, nothing too scary, and definitely no adult content. Our top tip? Embrace classic cinema! Introduce your children to the wonders of older films. They’re often less generic, less CGI-heavy, and less saturated with product placement than modern movies. Younger kids are also less concerned with film age; if they enjoy it, they enjoy it!
A fantastic starting point for this age group is 1950s B-movies. Remember the Halloween movie marathon playing in the background of the original Halloween? Films like Forbidden Planet, This Island Earth, and The Thing from Another World. Post-war kids grew up on these, and they’re still perfect today. We started our son with The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms and the original Godzilla, King of the Monsters! These often air on channels like Film 4, TCM, and the Horror and Sci-Fi Channels. The sci-fi genre from this era often uses the “overcoming the monster” archetype, making them less disturbing than outright horror, and they often have U and PG ratings.
Classic 50s sci-fi shockers include: The Day the Earth Stood Still, Them!, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Tarantula, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Earth vs. The Spider, The War of the Worlds, Invasion of the Saucer Men, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, 20 Million Miles to Earth, It Came from Beneath the Sea, It Came from Outer Space, and The Blob. Many are available in inexpensive DVD box sets, but aim for restored versions if possible for better quality. You can even venture into Ed Wood classics like Plan 9 From Outer Space and Bride of the Monster for some truly wacky fun.
Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion fantasy and monster movies are another goldmine. Beyond those mentioned earlier, explore his fantasy films The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, The 3 Worlds of Gulliver, Jason and the Argonauts, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, and Clash of the Titans. His H.G. Wells adaptation First Men in the Moon and dinosaur adventures One Million Years B.C. and The Valley of Gwangi are also excellent. Look for Jack the Giant Killer (1962) and Gorgo (1961), a British take on Godzilla. And of course, the original King Kong, created by Harryhausen’s mentor Willis O’Brien.
Japanese kaiju movies are generally safe for children. They’re essentially actors in monster suits battling amidst miniature cityscapes. The 1960s films are particularly vibrant and action-packed, such as Son of Godzilla, Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster, Destroy All Monsters, Ebirah: Horror of the Deep, King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, and All Monsters Attack. Only the original Godzilla is heavier, reflecting the atomic bombing of Japan, making it more of a war film. These are great for kids intrigued by modern “MonsterVerse” movies like Skull Island but not quite ready for their intensity.
During this phase, we also snuck in comedies with spooky elements like Ghostbusters (all of them), Casper, Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice, Dark Shadows and Edward Scissorhands, The Burbs, Young Frankenstein, Gremlins, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Little Shop of Horrors, and Carry On Screaming. Their humor makes them less scary, the violence is slapstick, and any adult jokes will likely fly over kids’ heads. The Witches (1990), the Roald Dahl adaptation with Angelica Houston, was also a hit, unlike Hocus Pocus, which we, and many others, didn’t enjoy.
Junior School: From Classic Monsters to Goosebumps
Moving into junior school, it’s time to explore the Universal horror films of the 30s and 40s. A boxset of classics like Frankenstein, Son of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, and Creature from the Black Lagoon is a fantastic investment. Bride of Frankenstein might have a slightly higher rating, but these films, while groundbreaking in their time, are quite tame by today’s standards. If these are a hit, delve into sequels like Dracula’s Daughter, Ghost of Frankenstein, The Mummy’s Tomb, and even Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. These films also pave the way for later franchises like Stephen Sommers’ Mummy movies and Van Helsing, suitable for kids around 12.
Beyond Universal, explore other gothic films from the era, like the Jacques Tourneur/Val Lewton RKO classics I Walked with a Zombie and Cat People; MGM’s The Picture of Dorian Gray; and Paramount’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Island of Lost Souls. If Island of Lost Souls is a hit, the 1977 Island of Doctor Moreau and even the 1996 remake are also safe. The 1960 Time Machine adaptation is another great choice. Consider the 1945 Ealing horror anthology Dead of Night for classic British chills.
As a bridge to more modern horror, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, an early 70s TV show, works well. It’s a precursor to The X-Files, featuring a reporter investigating paranormal cases. It’s rated 12, but the scares are mild, similar to 70s Dr Who. The BBC’s Ghost Stories for Christmas, adaptations of M.R. James stories from the early 70s, offer literary ghost stories that are now quite tame. Start with “The Signalman,” but avoid “The Ash Tree” due to a torture scene. The original Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits TV series are also excellent, their age making them less overtly scary, but the stories remain impactful. A bigger leap might be the 1979 Salem’s Lot miniseries, which was surprisingly popular with our then 10-year-old, despite some adult themes.
Hammer films are another avenue, but tread carefully. Stick to the early Hammer films before they became more explicit. If kids handle Karloff and Lugosi, they’re likely ready for Lee and Cushing a year or two later. The Hammer Quatermass films and Frankenstein series up to Frankenstein Created Woman (1967) are generally safe for older kids. The first Dracula is also acceptable, but later vampire sequels can be problematic. Curse of the Werewolf is a 12-rated film for slightly older viewers. Films like The Mummy, The Reptile, The Devil Rides Out, and Plague of the Zombies are generally okay, depending on your comfort level with occult themes. Avoid later, more adult Hammer films from the late 60s and early 70s. If 60s Hammer works, the American International ‘Poe Cycle’ films starring Vincent Price, such as The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Raven, Tomb of Ligeia, and The Masque of the Red Death, are also good options. Avoid later, bloodier Price films from the 70s. Other Price classics like The Fly and House on Haunted Hill are fun and appropriate. The 90s Addams Family movies and Wednesday series are also generally acceptable at this stage.
Goosebumps – books, films, and the original TV series – become key during this phase. The Goosebumps films and older teen horror adventures like Goonies and The Monster Squad are great choices. Something Wicked This Way Comes and The Twilight Zone movie can also be tried, though opinions may vary on their success. The Omega Man (1971), based on I Am Legend, is another possibility, action-packed but not excessively violent by modern standards.
High School: ‘This is My Boomstick!’ Territory
By high school age, Halloween movie nights can become epic marathons. Boundaries can be pushed a bit, still maintaining no explicit adult content and keeping violence moderate. It’s about vetting films in advance and being ready to switch movies if something is too intense.
Some films we’ve watched with our high schooler include:
Psychomania (1973): Campy British biker zombie movie. Questionable due to suicide themes, but more comical than disturbing.
Shock Waves (1977): Low-budget Nazi zombie movie. Atmospheric but not high quality, though teens might find it surprisingly enjoyable.
The Haunting (1963): Classic ghost story, heavy on atmosphere and suspense, more intense than outright scary.
Tales from the Crypt (1972): Amicus anthology film, some stories are a bit mature, but overall, the horror is dated and tame. Avoid the 90s Tales from the Crypt TV series for younger teens due to adult content and violence.
The Fog (1980): Early John Carpenter ghost story. Ominous and atmospheric with minimal violence, though a jump scare and implied premarital sex are present.
Poltergeist (1982): Spielberg-produced horror classic. Generally okay, but be prepared to fast-forward through the face-tearing hallucination scene. Hold off on Poltergeist II due to a scene of domestic violence.
The Others (2001): Intelligent and subtle ghost story, reminiscent of The Innocents.
Invaders from Mars (1986): Tobe Hooper remake of the 50s classic, a fun and thrilling “Goosebumps” style plot. Avoid Hooper’s Lifeforce, which is more adult-oriented.
House (1986) and House 2 (1987): Lighthearted, comedic supernatural adventures with jump scares but nothing too intense.
The Lost Boys (1987): Teen vampire movie, previously avoided due to implied teenage intimacy, but scenes are actually quite tame.
Army of Darkness (1992): Theatrical cut is fine, more fantasy adventure than hardcore Evil Dead. Avoid the director’s cut for innuendo.
World War Z (2013): Action-packed, PG-13 zombie movie with no gore, suitable as a first modern zombie film.
This Halloween: Expanding the Spooky Horizons
This year, with a 12-year-old, we’re venturing into Cert 12 movies more freely. Our son’s list includes:
Critters 1, 2, 3, and 4 (1986 – 1992): 80s comedy horror, generally fine for 12 and up. Be mindful of alien transformations for younger viewers. Critters Attack! (2019) might require pre-screening due to a 15 rating.
Poltergeist II and III (1986 – 1988): Sequels to the original Poltergeist, less intense and generally acceptable after the first film.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986): Kung fu action-comedy with comic book violence, no real gore. Be aware of a plot element involving trafficking young women.
It (1990): TV miniseries adaptation, dated and less intense than recent It movies.
The Blair Witch Project (1999): Emotionally intense found-footage horror, but not overtly violent.
Night of the Comet (1984): Breakfast Club meets The Purge, teen apocalypse movie, nothing too heavy.
Ghoulies I and II (1985–1987) and Troll (1986): Gremlins/Critters knock-offs, seemingly innocuous based on parent guides. Avoid The Gate (1987) due to problematic dialogue.
Curse of the Werewolf (1961): Hammer werewolf movie, similar in intensity to The Curse of Frankenstein.
We’re also considering The Innocents (1961) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) for literary adaptations, and Rob Zombie’s Munsters remake (PG). Looking ahead, The Craft, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and Twilight movies might be on the horizon for future Halloweens. Classic 80s slashers and zombies will wait until our son is at least 15. Contemporary horror is off-limits until he’s 18 due to excessive violence.
Ultimately, trust your instincts about what your children can handle. Use resources like IMDB parent guides and Common Sense Media, but take them with a grain of salt. Always prioritize BBFC age ratings. Our key guidelines are: violence and gore, level of menace, threats to children, adult material, drugs/alcohol, and profanity.
Start young children with cartoons like Scooby-Doo and Hotel Transylvania. Progress to animated movies like Tim Burton’s films, Monster House, Coraline, and ParaNorman. Then introduce 1950s sci-fi and monster movies, Ray Harryhausen films, and Universal monsters. By junior school, early Hammer films, Vincent Price Poe films, Goosebumps, Goonies, and Monster Squad become options. High school allows for more modern films, potentially venturing into 12-rated movies and older 70s and 80s horror films.
Happy Halloween movie watching!
