Halloween may be the holiday that celebrates telling spooky stories and tiptoeing through haunted houses, but for those of us that get nervous just at the mention of anything horror-related, don’t be discouraged. Grab a blanket, some hot cider and hunker down to watch one of these tame Halloween flicks while your friends are out getting scared silly.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Who you gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS! With A-List stars Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver, Ghostbusters is a supernatural comedy film following three parapsychologists attempting to catch the ghosts of New York City. Watching the Marshmallow Man wreak havoc on the city is timeless.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
It’s never a real holiday until there’s a Charlie Brown television special. Linus is one of the central characters in this episode, as he camps out at the pumpkin patch awaiting the arrival of the “Great Pumpkin”. Sidenote: what’s up with everyone giving Charlie Brown rocks instead of candy? Give a kid a break!
Hocus Pocus (1993)
This Halloween movie quickly became a cult classic following it’s release on home video. It follows the Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches that are brought back from the dead and cause mischief in the town of Salem. Can we just take a moment to acknowledge that Sarah Jessica Parker plays one of the three witches?
Halloweentown (1998)
What could be better than a town where it’s always Halloween? Unfortunately, in Halloweentown people have begun to go missing, and it’s up to witch-in-training Marnie and her family to discover why and protect the city. This film was followed by three sequels, but I recommend sticking to the original.
Gremlins (1984)
Another film of the horror-comedy genre, Gremlins is about a small, Furby-like creature called a Mogwai that begins multiplying and attacking people throughout town. It can be creepy at times, but the cuteness of the gremlins and absurdity of it all makes it laughable.
The Addams Family (1991)
You gotta love a family that names their kids “Wednesday” and “Pugsley” and considers a disembodied hand part of the crew. Based on the characters from the cartoon by Charles Addams, this movie and the Addams family members have become a well-loved part of American culture.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
A deeply moving film that was received with critical acclaim, E.T. is the story of a young boy who discovers an alien and befriends it, forming a psychic connection. Watch this with a box of Kleenexes on hand; there are a few moments that are so beautiful you may find yourself getting a little misty.
ParaNorman (2012)
A young boy named Norman must quickly become the hero when all sorts of paranormal creatures are released into his town, creating chaos in the Town Hall. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, this film will have you rooting for Norman all the way.
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