If you are like me, then you love Halloween. The decor, candy, and all things pumpkin are just some of the reasons to love this time of year. Watching movies as the weather cools is another great reason. However, these modern Halloween movies of today scare the dickens out of me. Movies that have jump scares are an absolute no for me. Masked killers following the victims everywhere just makes me pull the covers over my head. Even though I am not afraid of clowns, I refuse to watch them on film. So I’ve compiled a list of 10 Halloween movies for those of you, like me, who would like to sleep after watching them.
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
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Right off the bat, here is a classic Halloween movie that is great for all ages. Charlie Brown has been an icon since the 1950s and almost everyone knows the rest of the Peanut gang. The legend of the Great Pumpkin brings adults back to their imaginative childhood where they would have believed in anything. The loveable characters make the movie easily enjoyable. This movie is not even remotely scary. While some may argue that it is children’s movie because it is animated, I say we are never too old for classics.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
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One of the greatest movies by the equally great Tim Burton; this movie is also a classic. Although Burton has stated this movie is more a Christmas movie than a Halloween one, I see it as both. I watch this movie no matter what season it is. The Pumpkin King and Oogie Boogie may seem scary, but they are more humorous than anything.
- Coraline (2009)
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Based on the novella by Neil Gaiman, co-author of Good Omens, this movie is creepy but not too scary. I have always considered this movie to be one of the creepiest I would watch. The Other Mother looking into the screen, trying to keep you with her forever was just so weird. This movie made me question small doors in old houses. Yet, this movie is too good to not watch. Just don’t let anyone put buttons in your eyes after watching it.
- Hotel Transylvania (2012)
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More humorous than anything, this movie is the child of Adam Sandler. Sandler co-wrote for this movie and even played its main monster, Dracula. He even included the rest of his friends (who also played some of Drac’s friends) and family to play in the movie as well, such as his real-life wife who played Martha, Dracula’s deceased wife. Even his daughter got into the first movie and played young Mavis, Drac’s daughter. I have seen all three of the Hotel Transylvania movies and enjoy all of them.
- Mickey’s House of Villains (2002)
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This one I had on VHS tape as a child (remember those?). Mickey Mouse’s House of Mouse is taken over on Halloween night by the Disney Villains. This movie can also be a classic as Mickey shows older Halloween Disney cartoons through the movie before and after the Villains take over. I watch this every Halloween in tribute to Disney.
- Casper (1995)
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Casper the Friendly Ghost has been around since the 1930s and has become an icon of Halloween. Everyone knows who Casper is. The little ghost has been in many movies, including a Christmas one. However, in this movie, a father and daughter move into the house that Casper and his three evil uncles haunt. We learn that Casper was once a real boy who died. This movie is more sad than scary, but not sad enough to dismiss it from your Halloween playlist. I also recommend Casper Meets Wendy (the friendly little witch).
- Halloweentown (1998)
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A movie by Disney that has four movies in the series, Halloweentown is a Disney classic from the late 1990s. In Halloweentown, we are introduced to three kids who learn that they are witches from their mother’s side of the family; the famous Cromwell family. Here, the eldest daughter works to save the otherworldly Halloweentown from danger. This movie is not scary but has good makeup designs for the many creatures of Halloweentown. I recommend watching all four movies from Halloweentown.
- The Addams Family
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The creepy, weird family that likes to snap their fingers, The Addams Family is also a well-known movie. There have been many TV series and movies based on Charles Addams’ fictional family. This family shows that no matter what time of the year, it is great to be creepy.
- Beetlejuice (1988)
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Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Be … a dear and watch this movie. Due to the new Broadway musical based on the movie, all things Beetlejuice are in style more so than normal, not that I am complaining. The 1988 movie is slightly scary if you hate snakes, but otherwise, it is funny. However, if you can’t stand the overly flirty Beetlejuice of this movie, there is a cartoon series where Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz are best friends! Beetlejuice: The Animated Series first aired in 1989 and had four seasons, ending in 1991. The animated series is a little weird, though, since Lydia’s age was reduced to 12 years old and is best friends with the demon that tried to marry her in the movie. But once you get past that, it is a great watch.
- The Harry Potter Series (2001-11)
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No Halloween movie playlist would be complete without mentioning the Harry Potter movies. Every Muggle in our world knows who Harry Potter is and his many adventures at Hogwarts. Between the seven books and the eight movies, Harry Potter and the rest of the wizarding world has made its way into our Muggle lives as one of the largest franchises of our generation. If you are looking for a binge watch over the Halloween season, the Harry Potter movies are a great choice.