Bored on a Friday night? Want to get into the feeling of fall and Halloween with an aura of spooky? Watch these movies with your friends, whether it is your roommate or a bunch of people, and you will definitely end up with chills up your back or a nostalgic feeling of your childhood Halloween. These movies may be a bit of a throwback, but they will be sure to get you into the pumpkin smelling, apple cider-drinking mood.
10. Scooby Doo: Spooky Island
This movie, while a throwback, is available on Netflix! After taking a bit of a break, the Mystery Inc. gang is called back into action to solve yet another baffling mystery. A lot of college students on the island are acting strange, and of course there are some creepy monsters behind it all. The Mystery Inc. is out for answers, and of course Shaggy and Scooby come along for some humor and food.
9. Halloween Town
This movie just celebrated its 20th anniversary an will bring you back to the days where you believed in witches and magic. Join Marnie as she learns she’s a witch, begins to explore her powers, and even takes on a creepy evil goblin. We all love and remember this move so grab a few Disney fanatics, some candy and popcorn, and watch as you learn all about Halloweentown.
8. Twitches Too
Tia and Tamara Mowry are an unstoppable pair in this sequal to Twitches. Alex and Camryn are at college when they are pulled back into the magical world where their mother was a witch as well. The humorous pair have to find a way to work together, possibly against their deceased evil father. Join the girls as they go back to Coventry to banish evil magic once and for all.
7. Harry Potter (the first or second one for the feeling of “wizards and haunting”)
Really any of the movies of this franchise could get you in the mood, but if you start from the first movie it’s almost impossible to not continue to watch all eight of them. At around the ripe age of 11 years old, Harry Potter finds out he is a wizard. He learns about the magical school, Hogwarts, and, with great joy, leaves his aunt and uncle’s house. Harry goes to school and meets his friends, Hermione and Ron. He soon realizes he is not an ordinary student at Hogwarts and finds that he will have to be the one to find out what is behind all the fuss of the Sorcerer’s Stone. Hagrid, Dumbledore, and a myriad of others in the Wizarding World help Harry on his first adventure.
6. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
A throwback all the way to 1966, all Charlie Brown wants is to be invited to a Halloween party. Snoopy is dressed as the World War I flying ace, and the rest of the gang follow in suit to go trick-or-treating except Linus. Linus is waiting for the Great Pumpkin to come to him in at their local pumpkin patch. Sally is torn between joining Charlie or waiting with Linus—find out what she ends up doing!
5. Casper the Friendly Ghost
Casper, a kind and (obviously) friendly ghost, finds himself in presence of 2 humans: a paranormal activity expert and his daughter. Casper, who lives with his 3 uncles, has to find a way to befriend these humans and still satisfy his uncles. Eventually, a huge decision must be made between “the friendliest ghost you’ll ever meet” and the humans he befriends.
4. Ghostbusters
Who else are you going to call? An absolute classic, but I thought I would add a little description anyway. Fresh out of university (jobs), these three ex-professors decide to start a ghost hunting service in New York City, at a cost of course. They come equipped with all the right stuff, and even catch media attention. Not everyone believes in them and their plan to rid the city of ghosts, though, and they struggle with some ups and downs. Follow these three men on a mission to save the city from creatures of your worst childhood nightmares.
3. Hocus Pocus
This film will show you the most savvy, daring witches you will ever met. This Disney film takes place in Salem, Massachusetts with three witches who stir life up for a young teenager, Max, during Halloween. He has to save the town before everyone falls under the spell of the witches. Screaming, disguises and lots of cauldrons: what could be more Halloween than this?
2. E.T.
A boy finds an extraterrestrial who he gets to be close with. E.T unfortunately breaks the observer’s heart and gets sick, forcing Elliott to ask the government for help. This movie not only looks at how people judge others who do not look like us, but also shows us how powerful friendship can be.
1. Coraline
Personally, I have a soft spot for this more recent claymation film. Coraline has just moved with her parents to a new town, where everything seems to be gray and dull. She tries to breathe a bit of life into the new house, but her parents are just stressed and have no time to deal with her antics. After exploring the ancient-looking house, Coraline finds an alternate universe through a passage in the house, in which everything seems to be perfect. Her “mother” is running the show, making Coraline feel extremely comfortable. Her agenda includes sewing buttons into her eyes, and when Coraline refuses them, things go completely downhill. Good thing she does not have to face the “fake mother” alone.