10 Movies You Can Watch With Your Kids This Halloween

Of all the movie nights you can have, without a doubt, the one that is most fun is Halloween night! Gathering the brood and buddies together on the couch with tubs of microwave popcorn and bags of chichirya, having the lights turned down low and losing yourself to the whole creepy ambiance of it all is a tradition for many families.  But on this night, let the kids stay up to watch with you.  Here are ten kid-friendly suggestions that will even have you and your spouse hanging at the edge of your seat or rolling on the floor.  

 

1. The Mummy (1999)

This rollicking Indiana Jones-esque 1940s adventure of tomb raiding and ancient undead monsters is still the best one of the lot (the second is mildly forgivable but don’t bother wasting time on the third).

Starring Brendan Frasier as treasure hunter Rick O’Connell and a pre-Oscar Rachel Weisz as combat librarian Evy Carnahan, the couple accidentally disturb the tomb of the cursed high priest Imhotep (perennial bad guy Arnold Vosloo), that results in the mummy seeking to exact vengeance on them and their team.

Why kids will like it: Chases through the desert, gunfights, swashbuckling action, Egyptian sepulchers and a desiccated, immortal magical mummy after your tail – all the makings of a good time.

However what makes this flick a winner is snappy dialogue.  John Hannah and Kevin J. O’Connor are hilarious as Jonathan Carnahan (Evy’s party loving brother) and Beni Gabor (Rick’s goofy rival) respectively.

Most memorable scene: Some of the funniest scenes are when Frasier and O’Connor are tossing barbs with each other, but the scariest moments are all about Arnold terminating the members of Rick and Evy’s expedition like a certain governator, except with more prejudice and less of an Austrian accent.

 

2. Ghostbusters (1984)

Who ya gonna call?  Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, that’s who – this comic trio play goofball parapsychologists who study occult from a purely scientific point of view.  The partners eventually devise a way to start a unique business by taking on the supernatural with out-of-this-world gadgetry and nerdy flair.  Things start getting more interesting for the trio when the supernatural in New York City decide to cut loose and bring about the End of Life As We Know It.

Why kids will like it: Hi-jinx, humor and horror, this movie has it all!  This is old-school Saturday Night Live at its best without all the profanity.  

There is a reason why this movie and its subpar sequel spawned a few Saturday morning cartoons in the 1990s.

Most memorable scene: Catchy dialogue occurs all throughout the movie but some of the coolest, wackiest scenes happen towards the end when the Big Apple finds itself invaded by the forces of Gozer the Gozarian.  You will never see marshmallows the same way ever again.

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3. The Dark Crystal (1982)

When people remember Jim Henson, most will think of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock.  However, there are some fans who consider this cinematic gem as among Henson’s greatest achievements because of its originality and brilliance.  This epic tale set a thousand years in the past recounts the shadowy reign of the vulture-like Skesis on a war-torn planet and how a humble Gelfling named Jen was chosen for a quest to restore balance to the forces of Light and Darkness.  Only Jen can restore the Dark Crystal before his world is plunged into inescapable chaos.

Why kids will like it:  This movie was Henson’s Lord of the Rings, a sweeping story about a bygone era, with magic, fantastic creatures, heroes of legend and dark villains.  The film’s overall look, with its gruesome creatures and haunting locales, lends itself very nicely for All Hallow’s Eve.    

Most memorable scene:  It’s hard to say, considering that The Dark Crystal takes you into its world and it’s over before you realize the movie’s done.  Get ready to lose yourself in it.

 

4. Spirited Away a.k.a. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)

Who says the West has a monopoly on what works for Halloween?  The Japanese do it even better in this animated masterpiece from Studio Ghibli.  Chihiro is a little girl whose family is off to move into a new house.  Her family takes a wrong turn on the road and end up in an abandoned amusement park that serves as a gateway into a world of shapeshifters, gods, monsters and witches.  Soon, Chihiro must find her way out of this strange land and save her parents in the process. 

Why kids will like it: Spirited Away is one of the best movies ever directed and written by Hayao Miyazaki – considered by many to be Japan’s Walt Disney. Every frame of this film is like a breathtaking hand-painted watercolor (which is not far from the truth).  Add a colorful cast of creatures and characters with a story that is engaging and unexpected and you have a family classic in your hands.

Most memorable scene: Check out Chihiro’s encounters in the bathhouse and the scenes with the witches Yubaba and Zeniba, both played by Suzanne Pleshette in her last big screen role.

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5. Labyrinth (1986)

Remember how many fans consider the Dark Crystal to be one of Jim Henson’s most brilliant movies? Labyrinth is another movie in the running that others argue is even better.  A lissome Jennifer Connelly plays Sarah, a teenager who in a moment of supreme exasperation inadvertently wishes her infant half-brother Toby away to the land of faerie.  Now, she must seek him out before the Goblin King transforms the baby into one of his own.

Why kids will like it:  This is a faerie tale in its purest form, both wondrous and eerie.  The cast of characters here are like Alice in Wonderland’s motley crew, and the scenery is trippy and spectacular. It’s a sugar high without any sugar.  

Most memorable scene:  Any scene with David Bowie in it is definitely worth watching – the ladies will get a kick out of him prancing around in black tights. Eye-candy aside, he is mesmerizing as Jareth, the Goblin King.

 

6. The Addams Family and Addams Family Values (1991 & 1993)

Lovingly based on the cartoons of Charles Addams comes the creepiest, kookiest, spookiest family ever to grace the silver screen.  With luminaries such as Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci and the late Raul Julia you’d think that this was some dark drama.  Dark it is, drama – not so much.  

What it is, is pure, wicked fun.  Think of a family that lives like every day is Halloween.  Then imagine that they are all deranged masochistic psychopaths, but in a nice way.  Then imagine their relatives getting together for a dinner party.

Why kids will like it: These two movies are the epitome of Halloween!  The antics of Gomez, Morticia, Fester, Lurch, Cousin It, Granny, Wednesday and Pugsley alternate between sheer hilarity and utter revulsion. It’s for the child in all of us who used to delight in collecting slimy frogs and shiny beetles or marvel at bodily fluids ejected at breakneck speeds from various mucous-covered orifices.        

Most memorable scene: It would have to be the tango of Gomez and Morticia for both movies, but the put-downs of Wednesday Addams in Addams Family Values are pretty solid.

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7. Army of Darkness (1992)

Ash is your average department store clerk with a slight quirk: he’s been attacked more times by flesh eating zombies than Flava Flav has alarm clocks.  This time though, Ash finds himself in the 14th Century battling evil warlocks while trying to save a medieval damsel in distress, not to mention the rest of the kingdom.  It’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court with zombies.  And shotguns.  And chainsaws.  And steam-powered helicopter-bladed armored convertibles.  

Why kids will like it:  Bruce Campbell lays it on thick as Ash and his pseudo-Elvis appeal is cheesy and gut-bustingly funny.  In spite of all the ravenous, festering undead, this flick tends not to take itself too seriously and draws heavily on the work of The Three Stooges for its less cerebral moments. Lest you think this is lowbrow grade-B entertainment, you should know that Sam Raimi of the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy created this classic schlock shocker. Of course, he went on to make Drag Me to Hell…  

Most memorable scene:  Look for two: the one where Ash starts teaching the medieval townsfolks what a boomstick is and the final battle where the keep is assaulted by hordes of undead. 

 

8. Beetlejuice (1988)

Hollywood has lots of movies where a family moves into this lovely house in the country only to find out it’s haunted (The Amityville Horror; Paranormal Activity; You, Me and Dupree) but in this case, the situation is reversed.  Alec Baldwin (before 30 Rock) and Geena Davis (before Stuart Little) play the Maitlands, a newly deceased married couple whose home is sold and invaded by the Deetz family, the loopiest, most annoying family you could ever end up with. In desperation, the Maitlands call upon Beetlejuice (manically portrayed by Michael Keaton), a bio-exorcist who specializes in removing humans from a proper ghost’s home.  This is a rare gem from Tim Burton prior to his creative fixation with Johnny Depp.  

Why kids will like it: Tim Burton indulges his weirdness here sans CGI – most of his effects are either animatronic or claymation.  Still, the results are ghastly fun.  There’s a lot of graveyard humor and cool grossness abound. 

Most memorable scene: Check out a prepubescent, pre-shoplifting Winona Ryder’s Lolita Goth performance here – she is charming and sweet in spite of all the funereal makeup.  The best parts are when the Maitlands attempt to scare the Deetz family, only to have their tactics backfire.  Also, musical numbers are a riot!

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9. Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

Tottington Hall is about to celebrate its annual Giant Vegetable competition.  To prevent unruly pests from plaguing the event, whackjob inventor Wallace and his anthropomorphic canine assistant Gromit use creative gadgetry and humane methods to capture every rabbit in the village.  But when the horrific and hirsute were-rabbit descends on Tottington Hall to plague the populace, Wallace and Gromit are faced with a dilemma: can they stop the misunderstood creature before their rival, Lord Victor Quartermaine resorts to .308 caliber, 24-carat carrot violence?

Why kids will like it: Although stop-motion animation is a dying art, the level of detail in Curse of the Were-Rabbit is simply delightful.  In this era dominated by cookie-cutter CGI blockbusters, this little labor of love held it’s own and even won an Oscar.  Its Rube Goldberg-esque British absurdist humor is priceless, the bunnies are cute and it doesn’t hurt to have Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham-Carter in the voice cast.   

Most memorable scene:  The best moments are not spoiler-friendly but stick with Wallace’s crazy creations and the pair’s antics together.     

 

10. Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 (1940 & 1999)

  

This sumptuous animated flick produced by Walt Disney himself has captivated audiences for the last seventy years and as a happy side effect, many learn to appreciate the joys of classical music because of its magnificent score.  This movie is actually eight astounding traditional cell drawn music videos (well before MTV was even a thing) of full-length orchestral pieces by Bach, Beethoven and Schubert, including the short clip of Mickey Mouse as the sorcerer’s apprentice.

Why kids will like it:  Name a kid who doesn’t like anything from Disney.  That child may need intense psychiatric therapy, or is in his forties and may still need intense psychiatric therapy.  Even adults will find this movie enchanting.  However, as it is a 1940s movie, the pace does tend to be a bit slow and has some brief lectures about each piece by the conductor – still, music appreciation class was never this fun.

Most memorable scene:  Most people associate Fantasia with the sorcerer’s apprentice (who bares no resemblance to Jay Baruchel or that atrocious movie he was in) or the pirouetting hippos from Dance of the Hours.  However as this is a Halloween list, go with the Night on Bald Mountain.  It’s so dark you won’t believe this was actually a Disney movie from the 1940s.  Let’s just say it is what Halloween would look like if it were drawn by Dante Alighieri.