By: Amanda Kotze
Halloween is not only a time for dressing up as mystical creatures or your favorite fictional characters. It’s also a time to get cozy and watch re-runs of old Halloween movies. As a movieholic, my favorite time of the fall season is having an excuse to revisit old Halloween movies I have watched hundreds of times before. If you are like me, you might have a hard time trying to figure out which movie to watch this Halloween. To help out, I have compiled a list of nine of the best Halloween movies from our childhood. No matter what new Halloween movies appear every year, I always find myself going back to these old faithfuls.
1. Hocus Pocus (1993)
One of the most iconic movies from my childhood is definitely Hocus Pocus. It’s the movie I always make sure to watch on Halloween and no matter how many times I watch it, it remains one of my favorite Halloween movies. Who doesn’t love the story of the Sanderson sisters? And don’t get me started on the hilariously sassy cat, Thackery. This movie is great for a cozy night in with lots of popcorn and friends to watch it with. Who knows? Maybe you can convince them to dress up like the Sanderson sisters for Halloween.
2. Halloweentown (1998)
Marnie Piper’s wild Halloween adventure was a staple in my house growing up, especially since it was otherworldly, but not too scary that my mom had to deal with the three kids not being able to sleep. This magical world of Halloweentown where witches, warlocks, goblins, and all sorts of other creatures live was so enchanting to watch that no matter what, if I saw it was on TV, I would commandeer the controller to put it on. This movie, like Hocus Pocus, stands the test of time and would be a great throwback movie to put on, or any of the movies in the series (they are all great).
3. Casper (1995)
Casper, as most of you know, tells the tale of Kat who moves into a haunted house where Casper the friendly ghost and his three jokester uncles reside. Casper was always the cutest ghost and I will be the brave one of us and just admit it: most of us had a huge crush on human Casper and if you disagree, I think we both know the truth. The story evokes so many emotions, from happiness to sadness, making it a charming movie to come back to again and again.
4. Twitches (2005)
Twitches, the first of the two movies, tells the tale of Camryn and Alex who not only find out that they are twins, but also witches. This heartwarming movie shows strong female characters and a beautiful, genuine sister bond. As being the youngest in my family with two older sisters, I always loved this relationship they showed between Alex and Camryn. They didn’t always get along and they would often fight, but when it came down to it they loved each other. So, if you want a Halloween movie that has lots of magic and a fight of good versus evil that still pulls at your heartstrings, this movie is for you.
5. Corpse Bride (2005)
A bit on the weirder side, Corpse Bride is a fascinating movie about Victor van Dort who is set to marry Victoria, but who unwittingly marries the murdered bride, Emily. This tale takes you through the land of the dead and the land of the living, introducing you to a whole host of characters. With lots of twists and unexpected events, this movie is sure to keep your interest while reminding you of the days before Halloween when teachers would play this move in class.
6. The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Based on the ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, The Haunted Mansion is an intriguing movie that focuses on Jim and his family as they go to the Gracey house to help put it on the market. This house happens to be filled with ghosts who have their own stories which center around the tragic deaths of Edward Gracey and his love, Elizabeth. This movie is full of laughs but also mystery as a who-dun-it scenario arises as the kids find out Elizabeth was murdered. With references to the ride throughout the movie, this Halloween tale is sure to make a fun night.
7. The Addams Family (1991)
The Addams Family is a movie that is full of larger than life characters who do unusual things. It is definitely not a children’s movie with its black comedy script and unsavory events that the characters go through. However, Wednesday Addams is such an iconic character that at least half of the girls at my middle school wanted to be her for Halloween. With characters that are so weird that they are loveable, this movie is sure to fill your Halloween movie craving.
8. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
I personally always find it hard to determine what time of year exactly The Nightmare Before Christmas should be watched. Technically, it is about Jack the Pumpkin King taking over Christmas, but my middle school teachers would always play it at both Halloween and Christmas. I’m just going to go with any season as a good time to watch this movie. Time placement aside, this movie, like Corpse Bride, portrays a whimsical take on Halloween and, in this case, Christmas. It is full of intricate sets and catchy songs that will be stuck in your head long after the movie has stopped. I suggest making your roommate watch the movie with you so when you start humming Jack’s “What’s this?” song they, too, can be tortured with you.
9. Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost (1999)
Last, but not least, you simply cannot have a Halloween movie list without some mention of Scooby-Doo. There are many movies and TV episodes of Scooby-Doo that fit right into the Halloween category, but I chose this one because it happens to be one of my favorite Scooby-Doo movies and it is such a classic. Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost has the Mystery Gang investigating the appearance of a witch just as the town of Oakhaven, Massachusetts is turned into a tourist attraction that is home to supposedly ancient witch artifacts. This movie is great for a whole host of reasons: it has a fall vibe, the person behind the witch is unexpected, and the Hex Girls are in it. Whether you just love Scooby-Doo or you love the three strong mysterious characters that make up the Hex Girls, this movie is definitely one to re-watch.