I am old enough to remember "The 13 Nights of Halloween" on Fox Family. Yes, before it was FreeForm or ABC Family, the channel we watched most often was Fox Family. Each night for the last two weeks of October, "The 13 Nights of Halloween" played some of our favorite Halloween movies and it was tradition to watch as many as possible. We didn't realize how fortunate we were.
While there are so many ways to watch our favorite movies now, some movies end up getting lost. Streaming companies decide which films they think are worth being added to their services and which ones aren't. But how do we keep tradition if we can't find our childhood movies? Well, here is a list of some of the old Halloween movies that are hard to find on streaming.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
Scooby-Doo is one of my all-time favorite characters, and while I now own the seasons of several Scooby-Doo shows, as a kid, I was lucky to find a few episodes on a VHS tape. So, when Cartoon Network aired a new Scooby-Doo movie, I was ecstatic.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island shows the Mystery Inc. gang reunite for Daphne's (Mary Kay Bergman) TV segment about actual haunted sites. They end up at Moonscar Island, Louisiana, where they are met with ghosts, zombies, and monsters. It was the first time the bad guy in Scooby-Doo wasn't just a human in a mask. I watch this movie every Halloween, but since HBO Max has begun removing their Scooby-Doo content, I have to rely on my trusty DVDs.
Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost (1999)
Another Halloween must-watch, Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost takes place during Halloween time in New England. The famous author, Ben Ravencroft (Tim Curry), has invited the Mystery Inc. gang to his hometown to help him search for his ancestor's diary. But it seems that the town of Newhaven is haunted by the ghost of Ben's ancestor. Though Ben claims she was a Wiccan healer, the rest of the town believes she was an evil witch.
This is probably my favorite Scooby-Doo movie. With Tim Curry voicing Ben Ravencroft and the introduction of the eco-goth band, The Hex Girls, it has so many reasons to be on my Halloween watchlist. In previous years, HBO Max didn't include Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost on their platform, and when it finally did, the CEO said it was time to remove much of its animated content.
The Halloween Tree (1993)
Based on Ray Bradbury's novel of the same name, The Halloween Tree follows a group of kids who learn the history of Halloween traditions while trying to save their friend's soul. It has a good portion of the book directly narrated in the movie by Ray Bradbury himself, and you will learn about myths, legends, and folklore along with the children in the film.
They even got Leonard Nimoy to voice Mr. Moundshroud, the caretaker of the Halloween tree and the teacher of Halloween history. If that isn't enough reason to watch it, I don't know what is. I purchased it digitally through Prime Video a few years ago, only to find that the next year it was completely unavailable. It is back on Amazon's streaming service as of 2025, but I have to purchase it again, which is frustrating.
When Good Ghouls Go Bad (2001)
When Good Ghouls Go Bad is an ABC Family original movie that, in my opinion, should be ranked alongside movies like Hocus Pocus. It's just as campy and fun, plus it stars Christopher Lloyd. R.L. Stine was one of the writers, so you know it's got to be good. The story also features a high school's pottery kiln, similar to Hocus Pocus, but this time it's more important to the plot.
In a town that has allegedly been cursed by the ghost of a boy who died in the school kiln, Halloween is strictly off-limits. But Danny Walker has more issues on his hands than not going trick-or-treating, as his grandfather (Lloyd) has come back from the grave as a zombie. Despite the excellent story and cast, the only places you can find this film are physical copies on eBay or possible uploads on YouTube.
Tower of Terror (1997)
A TV movie based on the Disney Parks ride, Tower of Terror always gave me chills. Just the scene in the abandoned hotel kitchen with the ghostly little girl singing was enough to give me nightmares. And I loved being able to see the story of the movie play out similarly to the ride, because I was obsessed with The Twilight Zone as a kid.
Tower of Terror is about an old Hollywood hotel that is haunted by the ghosts of hotel guests who never made it out of the elevator after lightning struck. A failed journalist, played by Steve Guttenberg, and his niece Anna (Kirsten Dunst), investigate the old hotel looking for a juicy story to restart his career. They get caught up mystery and find that the dangers from the past are haunting them as well as the ghosts. This is another movie that you need a physical copy of, because Disney does not have it available to stream anywhere.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown shows Charles Schulz's Peanuts gang celebrating Halloween. But Linus chooses not to participate in the festivities because he's adamant that he will meet the Great Pumpkin if he sits in a pumpkin patch all night. The Great Pumpkin is apparently a Santa Claus-like figure whom Linus believes will reward him for his sincere belief.
This TV special is peak Peanuts content, with Snoopy as a World War I flying ace, Charlie Brown's ghost costume having too many eye holes, and of course Charlie Brown receiving rocks instead of candy while trick-or-treating. In 2020, Apple TV+ acquired Peanuts and all the movies and specials became unavailable anywhere else. They do offer a couple days when you can watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown without a subscription, but it doesn't always work if you have previously had a subscription. For 2025, those days are Oct. 18 and 19.
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
Something Wicked This Way Comes is one of those movies that leaves people questioning what Disney was thinking. It is a dark fantasy horror that scared the crap out of a lot of kids and adults alike, but was also loved for that very same reason.
The story is based on the novel by Ray Bradbury, the author of The Halloween Tree, which explains the adept take on horror in a family film. I was terrified of carnivals for years because of this movie! Something Wicked This Way Comes follows a carnival owner who grants wishes, but of course all of the wishes come with disturbing twists. As of this year, 2025, Disney+ has made this film available for streaming, but if you want to make sure you can watch it every year, you'll probably want to invest in a physical copy. Streaming platforms are fickle!
Movies that were once considered obscure or cult classics, like Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, have seen a resurgence in popularity, which has allowed them to be readily available to stream. But other Halloween movies from my childhood haven't been as lucky. I'm honestly working to own physical copies of all my favorite obscure titles just to avoid the struggle to keep up my Halloween tradition. I hope you can watch all your nostalgia-filled spooky movies!
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