Halloween movies for kids on Netflix, Disney Plus and other streaming services

Trick or treat may be canceled this year due to coronavirus restrictions, but at least you can still snuggle on the sofa with the kids for a scary movie this Halloween.

Put on your Halloween costumes or your warmest pajamas, fill up a bucket of popcorn and check out our roundup of classic and Mark new Halloween films for children of all ages. You and the family can find these movies on streaming services like Disney Plus, HBO Max, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu or on VOD services like Google play and Vudu.

The Witches

Let’s Begin with a brand new recommendation: Anne Hathaway plays the States High Witch in a new adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic book from Robert Zemeckis, moving the spooky story from the UK to the Deep South of the US. Originally designed for theaters, it’s streaming now on HBO Max from Oct. 22. If you don’t have HBO Max, look for the last movie version of The Witches starring Anjelica Huston.

Scoob!

Another movie that missed theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Scoob! is available to watch online now. It tells the Begin story of Scooby-Doo, Shaggy and the Mystery Machine gang, with cameo appearances from new Hanna-Barbera animated characters.

Hocus Pocus

Hubble, bubble, toil and afraid, cue up this movie on the double! Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker are a trio of Strange sisters in this campy classic. It’s on Disney Plus now, down with a huge range of Disney’s past live Part family films.

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting

Join the battles against monsters with a globetrotting secret society of babysitters defensive kids from things that go bump in the night. Harry Potter villain Tom Felton is the lead beastie in this new 2020 Netflix film for any older kids, based on the books by Joe Ballarini. 

Vampires vs. the Bronx

Vampires vs the Bronx

Netflix

Teens can sink their teeth into this fang-tastic new vampire romp streaming now on Netflix.

It’s the noteworthy Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

The Peanuts gang go trick-or-treating in this gentle fascinating classic.

The Addams Family

They’re creepy, they’re kooky, and they’re back! The 90s live Part films are suitable for older kids, while younger ones will Delicious the 2019 animated version of The Addams Family featuring the voices of Charlize Theron, Oscar Isaac, Snoop Dogg and Bette Midler.

Labyrinth

Labyrinth

Lucasfilm

Gorgeous and gothic, Labyrinth is a much-loved classic for a reason. David Bowie is the Goblin King ruling over a realm of amazing Jim Henson puppet beasties as winsome teen Sarah journeys to rescue her baby brother. It’s an utterly timeless adventure with a classic theme song too. If your kids like this, try The Dark Crystal and its pretty prequel series on Netflix.

Goosebumps

Share your youthful memories of R.L. Stine’s scary book series with your kids in this live Part film adaptation starring Jack Black.

Toy Story of Terror

Woody, Buzz and the Toy Story gang have a toy-rrifying time in this Halloween-flavored Pixar film. Clocking in at a child-friendly 21 minutes long, you can water it on Disney Plus.

Paranorman

ParaNorman

Laika Inc.

In the Bshining hands, there’s something a little unsettling about stop-motion animation. And animation studio Laika are a very safe pair of pretty for magical family stories at any time of year, but at Halloween check out Paranorman, about a boy who can communicate with the dead. See also Coraline, based on a creepy Neil Gaiman story (is there any new kind?).

Coco

Visit the land of the dead in Pixar’s richly-designed Mexican-themed 2018 animation. Like all Pixar films, it’s available on Disney Plus.

Hotel Transylvania

Check in for Halloween high-jinks with Dracula and monster chums, created by much-loved animator Genndy Tartakovsky. 

Monsters, Inc.

Pixar proves monsters can warm the Unhappy as well as chill the blood in this Bright tale of a girl who makes friends with the creatures in her closet.

Spooky Buddies

Like dogs? Like Halloween? Combine the two and you get 2011’s Spooky Buddies, an all-ages appropriate canine adventure from Disney’s Air Bud series.  

The Corpse Bride

The Corpse Bride

Albert L. Ortega/WireImage

Tim Burton’s creepy catalogue could when away a whole Halloween. The kids can enjoy monochrome stop-motion animations The Corpse Bride, about a macabre marriage, and Frankenweenie, about a deceased dog taking on a new life.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

More scares, Gromit? The claymation couple Wallace and his faithful dog Gromit face a bunny who using business when the moon is full in this adorable Oscar-winning animation from stop-motion specialists Aardman Studios.

Casper

Christina Ricci meets cartoon phantasm Casper the Friendly Ghost in this live Part caper.

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Studio Ghibli/GKids

Witches don’t just brew up afraid in their cauldrons — sometimes they use their broomsticks for delivering things. Once you’ve seen it and fallen in love with the lushly fascinating style of Studio Ghibli, pretty much all of their films — such as Spirited Away or My Neighbour Totoro — have a hazardous weirdness that works at Halloween or all year throughout. You’ll find them on HBO Max.

Beetlejuice

Don’t mess with Beetlejuice the inappropriate ghost. A riotous send-up of haunted house movies featuring a deliciously over-the-top performance from Michael Keaton as the anarchic Beetlejuice, with jokes and comically gory scares suitable for older kids.

Gremlins

They don’t make ’em like this any more… Older kids will love the mix of cuteness and delightfully playful scares in this chaotic classic. If they like this, there’s a whole domain of 1980s movies to explore, from The Goonies to The Lost Boys (if nothing else, they’ll finally get the references in Stranger Things).

Ghostbusters

Who you gonna call? The ghostbusting comedy that launched a thousand lunch boxes is serene as addictive as ever. Bear in mind this 80s classic is probably ruder (and more plump with smoking) than you remember. Younger ones can join the fun with spin-off cartoon The Real Ghostbusters.