If you are anything like me, you count down the days until Halloween. You crave the cooler, darker nights of fall so you can stay in and watch movies cuddled up on the couch. However, I don’t like to have the living daylights scared out of me, so I prefer the less gory kind of movies. Here is my list of perfectly spooky, slightly odd movies that you can (mostly) watch with the kiddos during your spooky movie night.
I have broken my list into different categories. Some movies fall into more than one; there are some listed more than once. This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from my link, I earn a small commission.
A Spooky Movie Night for the Whole Family
Everyone’s homework is done, and the dinner is put away, so why not put on a movie the whole family can enjoy? These are my favorite movies with just enough creep factor to be perfect for Halloween.
| Movie | Year | Rating |
| ParaNorman | 2012 | PG |
| Monster House | 2006 | PG |
| Coraline | 2009 | PG |
| Hotel Transylvania | 2012 | PG |
| Frankenweenie | 2012 | PG |
| Goosebumps | 2015 | PG |
| The BoxTrolls | 2014 | PG |
| The NeverEnding Story | 1984 | PG |
| The Goonies | 1985 | PG |
| Jaws | 1975 | PG |
| The Witches | 1990 | PG |
| Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit | 2005 | G |
| The Last Unicorn | 1982 | G |
| Coco | 2017 | PG |
| Soul | 2020 | PG |
| It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown | 1966 | NR |
| A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting | 2020 | TV-PG |
| Nightbooks | 2021 | TV-PG |
| We Have a Ghost | 2023 | PG-13 |
| Hubie Halloween | 2020 | PG-13 |
| Fun Size | 2012 | PG-13 |
What’s family movie night without some popcorn? Here are some great products for enjoying popcorn and a movie.
Hot Air Popcorn Machine – 14-Cup Electric Popcorn Popper, Oil-Free
Silicone Microwave Skull Popcorn Popper
2 Pcs Halloween Candy Skull Bowls
Gothic, Dark & Atmospheric
These movies are for the nights you want the dark vibe of something spooky but isn’t your typical slasher movie.
| Movie | Year | Rating |
| Sleepy Hollow | 1999 | R |
| Crimson Peak | 2015 | R |
| Rebecca | 1940 | NR |
| Dracula | 1931 | NR |
| Rosemary’s Baby | 1968 | R |
| The Omen | 1976 | R |
| Constantine | 2005 | R |
| The Shining | 1980 | R |
| The Sixth Sense | 1999 | PG-13 |
| The Haunting | 1999 | PG-13 |
| Edward Scissorhands | 1990 | PG-13 |
| Rear Window | 1954 | PG |
Let’s create the dark, gothic vibe with some ambience enhancers. Turn down the lights and break out the candles.
6 Rechargeable Flameless Candles in Glass with Timer Remote
9 Rechargeable Wax Flameless Candles with Timer and Remote
Pumpkin Spice Latte Candle, 9oz Coconut Beeswax, Non-Toxic
Ghosts, Haunted Houses & the Supernatural
I love the paranormal! These movies contain the out-of-this-dimension energy.
| Movie | Year | Rating |
| The Sixth Sense | 1999 | PG-13 |
| The Haunted Mansion | 2003 | PG |
| Haunted Mansion | 2023 | PG-13 |
| Beetlejuice | 1988 | PG |
| Ghostbusters | 1984 | PG |
| Casper | 1995 | PG |
| The Haunting | 1999 | PG-13 |
| The Conjuring | 2013 | R |
| Poltergeist | 1982 | PG |
| 1408 | 2007 | PG-13 |
| House on Haunted Hill | 1999 | R |
| The Amityville Horror | 2005 | R |
| The Frighteners | 1996 | R |
| The Shining | 1980 | R |
| The Lost Boys | 1987 | R |
Witches, Magic & Witchy Vibes
Let’s get real, I could watch these movies any time of year, but they are so much better during Halloween.
| Movie/Show | Year | Rating |
| Practical Magic | 1998 | PG-13 |
| The Craft | 1996 | R |
| Lisa Frankenstein | 2024 | PG-13 |
| Death Becomes Her | 1992 | PG-13 |
| Hocus Pocus | 1993 | PG |
| Harry Potter series | 2001–2011 | PG–PG-13 |
| Into the Woods | 2014 | PG |
| The Witches | 1990 | PG |
| Dark Shadows | 2012 | PG-13 |
| Little Shop of Horrors | 1986 | PG-13 |
| The Last Unicorn | 1982 | G |
| The NeverEnding Story | 1984 | PG |
Witchy movies call for a cup of witch’s brew. Try some of these vessels for your next magic potion.
Simple Modern Halloween 40 oz Tumbler with Handle
Ceramic 14 oz Halloween Ghost and Bat Coffee Mug
18oz Frosted Witch Halloween Tumbler with Lid and Straw
Add a Tarot Reading to your Spooky Movie Night with a Halloween Tarot Deck. Check out my Favorite Halloween Tarot Decks.
If you are looking for a Tarot Spread to use, try my Halloween Tarot Spread.
Cozy Halloween & Lightly Spooky
These movies are classics! They are filled with odd characters or old spooky houses on rainy nights. I think they are perfect for a dark fall evening. Add them to your spooky movie-night repertoire.
| Movie | Year | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Hocus Pocus | 1993 | PG |
| Beetlejuice | 1988 | PG |
| Ghostbusters | 1984 | PG |
| Casper | 1995 | PG |
| The Haunted Mansion | 2003 | PG |
| Haunted Mansion | 2023 | PG-13 |
| Clue | 1985 | PG |
| Edward Scissorhands | 1990 | PG-13 |
| Death Becomes Her | 1992 | PG-13 |
| Just Like Heaven | 2005 | PG-13 |
| The ‘Burbs | 1989 | PG |
| Little Monsters | 1989 | PG |
| Young Frankenstein | 1974 | PG |
| The Witches | 1990 | PG |
| Into the Woods | 2014 | PG |
| Ghost | 1990 | PG-13 |
A truly cozy movie isn’t complete without a warm, fuzzy blanket or soft pajamas. Check these out for the coziest spooky movie night possible.
Halloween Pumpkin Throw Blanket
Button Down 2 pc Halloween Ghost and Cat Pajama Set
Zombies, Monsters & Creatures
For when ghosts aren’t quite enough, and you need monsters.
| Movie | Year | Rating |
| ParaNorman | 2012 | PG |
| Monster House | 2006 | PG |
| Corpse Bride | 2005 | PG |
| Frankenweenie | 2012 | PG |
| Gremlins | 1984 | PG |
| Warm Bodies | 2013 | PG-13 |
| Shaun of the Dead | 2004 | R |
| Night of the Living Dead | 1968 | NR |
| Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit | 2005 | G |
| Little Shop of Horrors | 1986 | PG-13 |
| The Frighteners | 1996 | R |
| The Lost Boys | 1987 | R |
When You Actually Want to Be Scared
Okay, these movies are for after the kids go to bed. Make sure you have your blanket handy to cover your eyes.
| Movie | Year | Rating |
| Halloween | 1978 | R |
| The Conjuring | 2013 | R |
| The Shining | 1980 | R |
| The Omen | 1976 | R |
| Rosemary’s Baby | 1968 | R |
| The Amityville Horror | 2005 | R |
| House on Haunted Hill | 1999 | R |
| Crimson Peak | 2015 | R |
| Sleepy Hollow | 1999 | R |
| Constantine | 2005 | R |
| The Craft | 1996 | R |
| The Lost Boys | 1987 | R |
| Shaun of the Dead | 2004 | R |
| Night of the Living Dead | 1968 | NR |
| The Frighteners | 1996 | R |
Campy, Weird & Just Plain Fun
Sometimes you don’t want scary. You want weird.
| Movie/Show | Year | Rating |
| Rocky Horror Picture Show | 1975 | R |
| Death Becomes Her | 1992 | PG-13 |
| Beetlejuice | 1988 | PG |
| Young Frankenstein | 1974 | PG |
| Clue | 1985 | PG |
| The ‘Burbs | 1989 | PG |
| Little Shop of Horrors | 1986 | PG-13 |
| What We Do in the Shadows | 2014 | R |
| What We Do in the Shadows — TV series | 2019–2024 | TV-MA |
| Hubie Halloween | 2020 | PG-13 |
| Lisa Frankenstein | 2024 | PG-13 |
| Gremlins | 1984 | PG |
Is there a movie on this list that you can’t find on your streaming service? 9 times out of 10, you can find it on Prime; check out Amazon Prime.
The countdown has begun! Only so many nights are left to enjoy your spooky movie night, so get started now! I hope you enjoyed my compilation of less-than-scary Halloween movies. Perhaps I helped you find a new favorite. Which movie did I leave out?
