It’s almost Halloween, and you know the kids are asking for a movie night. The great thing about Halloween 2025 is that it’s not on a school night for once, which means more time for trick or treating and “scary” movies.
Some kids love the gore and others don’t, so if you’re looking for something that’s family-friendly, I’ve got your back. I have a squeamish nine-year-old, so I totally understand! These are the favorites in our house that you’ll want to make sure you watch this year. (And every other year.)
Hocus Pocus
There is no Halloween without this 1993 classic. Hocus Pocus remains a fan favorite simply because of how brilliant it was for its time. And it stands the test of time, as was proven with the long-awaited sequel. Honestly, though, the first movie will always be the best, and if you only have time for one, pick the first.
The story follows the Sanderson sisters, who had a mission to collect all the children of Salem and steal their life to become young and immortal. When they’re hanged in 1693, they set up a prophecy that they will come back, and come back they do! In style!
Coraline
This isn’t just a horror movie, but also a movie about family and belonging. Coraline is the new girl in town, but she’s nothing like everyone else around her. And her parents aren’t the most welcoming and warm people. So, when she finds an alternate reality inside her walls, she gets excited about having a place to call home.
That is, until Other Mother proves to be a dangerous creature looking to keep Coraline with her parallel family forever. Coraline needs to figure out how to save herself, and then she needs to save the family she didn’t believe she belonged with.
The Addams Family
With Wednesday a big hit on Netflix, it’s time to see why so many people fell in love with The Addamses. Sure, the original TV show started it all, but it was the movies from the ‘90s that captured our hearts. The Addams Family starts it all off, with the introduction of Gomez, Morticia, and the rest of the family, as they deal with a man who claims to be Gomez’s long-lost brother, Fester.
In this case, you want to make time for the sequel. The Addams Family Values sees Wednesday and Pugsley head to a summer camp, where they simply don’t fit in. However, they’re about to stand out with their take on history.
ParaNorman
Next up is a ghostly family-friendly horror movie by the name of ParaNorman, and as you would expect, it follows a character called Norman. He can speak with the dead, and to be honest, he often prefers the dead over the living (and I can’t always blame him).
When Norman finds out that a centuries-old witch cursed the town he now lives in, he learns that it’s up to him to figure out a way to prevent the curse from coming true. However, it’s too late, and zombies start to rise from their graves. Can Norman use his supernatural abilities to save the living, or are they all doomed?
The Witches
I have to end this with another classic, although there is a reboot out there to try out as well. The Witches follows Helga and Luke, a grandmother-grandson duo who find themselves at a convention of witches. While there, the Grand High Witch has a plan to turn all children into mice because she hates them, and so do all the witches there.
When she spots Luke, the Grand High Witch turns him into a mouse, but he is able to get to his grandmother. Helga and Mr. Stringer, the hotel manager, need to find a way to fight back against the witches. Of course, one of the questions is whether Helga will ever turn her grandson back into a real boy.