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Halloween Movies to Watch With Your Kids

By Tracey Dowdy

Like almost everything else about 2020, Halloween is going to look a little different. The CDC has released its guidelines for Halloween, Día de los Muertos, and Thanksgiving to help protect individuals, families, friends, and communities from COVID-19. Based on these recommendations, many families and communities are looking for Trick or Treating alternatives this year. 

One timeless tradition is to get your scare on through a Halloween-themed TV show or spooky movie. Here are a few age-based suggestions to help you make Halloween 2020 memorable for all the right reasons.

Ages 4+

Super Monsters Save Halloween (2018) – Netflix

The Super Monsters are preschoolers whose parents just happen to be the world’s most famous monsters. In this 30 minute Netflix special, they show preschoolers how the holiday’s scares are mostly make-believe by explaining the tricks behind haunted houses and spooky decorations.  Super Monsters: Vida’s First Halloween is another fun option. 

Room on the Broom (2013) – Netflix

Based on a book by Julia Donaldson, Room on the Broom features a friendly witch who’s quick with a smile and kind to the animals who ask her for a ride on her broom. 

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) – Amazon Prime Video/HBO Max

Kiki is a good witch who uses her broom and her flying ability to start a delivery service. It’s from Studio Ghibli, so you know it’s beautifully animated.

Ages 7+

The Addams Family (2019) – Amazon Prime Video

The adorably kooky family moves to the suburbs where Wednesday’s friendship with the daughter of a local reality show host causes problems. There are plenty of jokes for both children and adults to keep everyone entertained throughout the film.

The Worst Witch (2017) – Netflix

Mildred Hubble lives an ordinary life until the day that Maud Spellbody crashes her broomstick into their balcony. Maud introduces Mildred to Cackle’s Academy – a school for young witches where under the watchful eye of friendly headmistress Miss Cackle and scary deputy Miss Hardbroom, Mildred begins her training. But no matter how hard she tries, her spells have a habit of going badly wrong, causing chaos. Will Mildred always be The Worst Witch?

Hotel Transylvania (2012) – Amazon Prime Video/Hulu/Netflix

Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective dad mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count’s teenaged daughter.

The movie is from the POV of the monsters, and they’re the good guys. Plus, if your kids love this one, two sequels follow.

Ages 10+

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Is it a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? The world may never agree, so feel free to start watching Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, attempt to bring Christmas to his friends on repeat from now through December 5.

Corpse Bride (2005) – Amazon Prime Video

When a shy groom practices his wedding vows, he accidentally marries a ghost. Written and directed by Tim Burton, the movie is exactly the style you’d expect from a Tim Burton film. Sweet, macabre, and fun for kids and adults alike.

Halloweentown (2004) – Amazon Prime Video/Disney Now

After learning she is a witch, a girl helps save a town full of other supernatural creatures. It’s cute and all-around wholesome entertainment, and a Disney Channel Original Movies classic, as any 90’s kid will tell you. 

Hocus Pocus (1993) – Amazon Prime Video/Disney+/Select theatres – check local listings

Max and Thora’s family moves them to Salem, where they struggle to fit in. Max accidentally awakens a trio of diabolical and slightly goofy witches who were executed in the 17th century. There’s a reason this Disney classic is at the top of so many must-watch lists. 

The Witches (1990) – Amazon Prime Video

Netflix is promoting a remake with Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch, but she’s got big pointy shoes to fill as Angelica Houston is magnificent in the 1990 original. Luke and his grandmother Helga stumble onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse.

Ghostbusters (1988) – Amazon Prime Video/Disney+/Select theatres – check local listings

IMDb describes Ghostbusters as “Three former parapsychology professors set up shop as a unique ghost removal service,” which may be the lamest description of a classic movie I’ve ever heard. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis, and Sigourney Weaver helm one of Hollywood’s biggest hits. 

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits, and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.

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Halloween Music for Kids

By Tracey Dowdy

 

We all know that Halloween will look different this year, but different doesn’t necessarily mean lame or no fun. Whether you’re hosting a virtual Halloween party, want a playlist for your socially-distanced trick or treating plans, or just want to set the mood while you hang out at home, this playlist of kid-friendly music will hit the right notes. 

Best for preschoolers

Who Took the Candy? by Super Simple Songs is part of a catalog of fun and not-so-spooky songs for littles. 

Bumps in the Night takes kids on a spooky adventure with Mr. Whirly, as he sings about the mysterious sounds kids hear at night and how they don’t need to be afraid. 

Caspar Babypants’ Skeletone, a silly skeleton, uses his bones as a musical instrument.

Halloween Sharks by Pinkfong puts a holiday twist on Baby Shark. I apologize in advance for the earworm your kids will love, and you’ll endure. 

You kids will love shaking their booty and roaring along with Laurie Berkner and the monsters in Monster Boogie. 

Lucy Kalantari has lots of fun and slightly spooky songs for kids – check out It’s Halloween; Flick of My Wrist; Haunting Days of Halloween.  

Kids may be scared of the monsters that come out when they sleep, but Under My Bed by Recess Monkey takes the spooky away.

There’s never been and never will be a groovier monster than the Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley.

Grammy winners (Family Hip Hop) Secret Agent 23 Skidoo will have your littles up and moving with their funky Halloween hit, Ain’t No Party Like Halloween. 

Your littles will howl at the moon with laughter, trying to master the “oo-ee-ah-ah-ah’s” sung by the chipmunks in Witch Doctor by David Seville. 

 

For Older Kids and Teens

Jack White (White Stripes) embraces his inner ghoul-like never before in Little Ghost. 

Introduce your kids to a pre-TikTok dance craze with the Monster Mash by Bobby “Boris” Pickett. Score bonus points by having them watch the video of his live performance and see his wild facial expressions. Eat your heart out, Jim Carrey! 

DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince rap a ghost story? Keep talking. I’m listening. Check out A Nightmare on My Street.  

What can I say? The seventies were wild, and apparently, werewolves roamed the streets – at least according to Warren Zevon in Werewolves of London.

Speaking of the seventies, it doesn’t get much better than old school Stevie Wonder. Superstition is the perfect addition to this playlist. 

Is there a better song lyric than Ghostbusters’ “I ain’t afraid of no ghost?” Of course not. Thanks, Ray Parker Jr. 

The Harry Potter franchise is full of possibilities for this playlist, but Hedwig’s Theme and Double Trouble have to top the list. Actually, just go ahead and add the Harry Potter Complete Soundtrack Playlist. 

How do you choose between People Are Strange by Echo and the Bunnymen or The Doors? You don’t – both are great. 

Lana del Rey’s version of Season of the Witch is creepy enough to be included on the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark soundtrack, although it’s hard to beat the original by Donovan. 

Get that red lipstick on and do the Time Warp from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. It’s just a jump to the left and then a step to the right. With your hand on your hips, you bring your knees in tight. But it’s the pelvic thrust – They really drive you insane.

The Theme from Halloween starts eerily and builds to a wild crescendo. Even if you’ve never seen the movie, you’re guaranteed to be spooked. 

I Put a Spell on You is the greatest Halloween song tucked inside the greatest Halloween movie ever. There’s no room for argument. 

Rockwell’s Somebody’s Watching Me is graced by a slick Thriller-style sample courtesy of Micheal Jackson. Being Motown founder Barry Gordy’s son probably helped with that.  

Suppose you’re looking for a weird song about a creepy-crawly spider being crushed by a book, then Boris the Spider by The Who ticks every box. Good luck getting John Entwistle’s gravely growl out of your head. 

Speaking of voices to narrate your nightmares, James Hetfield is happy to help through Enter Sandman – Metallica at it’s scariest. 

Could any list ever be complete without Thriller by Michael Jackson? The answer is no. 

You just know that a song that starts with sassy snapping fingers is going to be good. Take it away, Addams Family.  

Even though the show has been off the air since the seventies and your kids have no idea who Herman and Lily are, the Theme from The Munsters has the perfect vibe. 

There you go! Have a spooktacular time!

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits, and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.