10 Spooky Family Movies That Aren’t ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ or ‘Hocus Pocus’
As the spooky season is almost upon us, it’s time to break out the eerie family movies that are good for a fright night. Props and all due credit go to the two most popular of all time, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus. These two movies are Halloween staples and go without saying. They are on everyone’s watch list already, and everybody knows how good they are, so this list will feature ten other movies that will tickle your bones and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
From alien encounters in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial to grotesque and terrifying villains in The Witches, cinema has served up some big scares for families. With newer entries like Mr. Harrigan’s Phone and Haunted Mansion, Halloween has never been a better time to watch some good, scary movies. From little terrors to angsty teens, take a peek through your fingers at these haunting tales.
10
‘The House with a Clock in Its Walls’ (2018)
Director Eli Roth is known for his knack for horror. When he turned his sights to a family film in 2018, critics wondered what the result would be. The result, The House with a Clock in Its Walls, is a magical, mysterious, and steampunk-themed movie that combines elements of suspense and apprehension with light-hearted wit.
Owen Vaccaro stars as Lewis, a young orphaned boy who is sent to live with his eccentric uncle Jonathan (Jack Black). Unbeknownst to Owen, his uncle has been a warlock for years and can do magic. Full of thrilling scenes, fantasy-like elements, and a great scene of smashing pumpkins, The House with a Clock in Its Walls is a great movie to watch before Halloween. Fans of Jack Black and Cate Blanchett won’t want to miss this hidden gem.
9
‘The Addams Family’ (1991)
Creepy and kooky, The Addams Family was the OG Gothic film for families. Full of familial bonding, sinister plots, and hazardous situations, it is one of the best to come out of the canon. Although there are some innuendos and Gomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia (Anjelica Huston) are very passionate, there aren’t any overtly sexual scenes. The violence and gore are also more slapstick rather than disturbing.
The Addams Family is a great movie for families to watch before Halloween, as it will get everyone excited about the spooky season. The drama and intrigue are exciting, but not too scary. Fans of TV’s most infamous family will enjoy watching the dynamic character performances by the talented cast, which includes Christina Ricci and Christopher Lloyd.
Dialing up the spookiness factor a notch, the Steven Spielberg mega-hit E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial has kids, candy, and comedy mixed with high-stakes suspense. Spielberg, who had invented the summer blockbuster and shattered cinema records with Jaws in 1975, released his family-friendly alien film to massive box office success. The film spent 16 weeks at number one and has been a cherished favorite of fans ever since.
E.T. tells the story of a group of kids who find a young, lost alien near their home. Their attempts to keep their new friend a secret become increasingly difficult as they try to help him contact his species so he can go home. Government conspiracies, flying on bikes, and lots of excitement make E.T. a great film to watch with the whole family. It is set around Halloween and makes a great addition to your watchlist, as well as this list.
7
‘Haunted Mansion’ (2023)
Less successful than its counterpart, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion is another Disney film that is based on one of its most famous theme park rides. The original version of the film, called The Haunted Mansion, was released in 2003 with Eddie Murphy and Marsha Thomason as the leads. Twenty years later, the film and script got some updates, and it was relaunched in 2023 with LaKeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson at the helm.
Haunted Mansion is filled with spooks and spectres as mother-son duo Gabbie (Dawson) and Travis (Chase Dillon) do their best to settle into their new home, which it turns out is still occupied. Gabbie hires everyone she can think of to help get rid of the ghosts residing between her walls, and an immensely talented cast of supporting actors answer the call. Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Tiffany Haddish, and horror legend Jamie Lee Curtis are just a few of the celebrities who make an appearance.
Unfortunately, Haunted Mansion suffered from a poorly timed release. The movie was released both out of season (during the summer, not fall) and during the SAG-AFTRA strike. This led to an underwhelming performance at the box office. But it is an entertaining watch, and fans of the ride and fans of Halloween-themed films will get a kick out of this fun and freaky family movie.
6
‘Beetlejuice’ (1988)
For fans of Tim Burton, Beetlejuice is a must-see. One of the first dark comedies, Beetlejuice centers around a disgusting and demented entity that is hired by two ghosts to drive out a family of living people who have moved into their house. However, the self-centered Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) has ulterior motives for helping, and all chaos breaks loose in this creepy and comedic film. Keaton is tremendous and great performances are given by the supporting cast, which includes Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder.
Beetlejuice was Burton’s second feature film and has some hallmarks of his distinctive touch, like a penchant for grim and menacing esthetics. It was a smash hit with audiences and critics alike, and the long-anticipated sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, was released last year. For those who like creepies and crawlies, Beetlejuice will be a big hit for your movie night.
5
‘The Dark Crystal’ (1982)
From the visionaries behind The Muppets, Jim Henson and Frank Oz, comes a harrowing tale about a young Gelfling who must go on an epic quest to save his world from evil vulture-like creatures called Skeksis. The Dark Crystal is a dark fantasy and not for the faint of heart or younger viewers. It is very much in the same vein as The Labyrinth, but is completely puppeteered with no onscreen human actors.
Fans of thematic lore will enjoy the rich backstory and atmosphere of The Dark Crystal. The craftsmanship and detail that went into fabricating the puppets and animatronics are amazing and stand the test of time. The Dark Crystal is just as spellbinding and intense for modern audiences as it was when it was first released, over four decades ago.
4
‘Mr. Harrigan’s Phone’ (2022)
From the “King of Horror”, the one and only Stephen King, comes the 2022 Netflix original Mr. Harrigan’s Phone. Employed by the wealthy Mr. Harrigan (Donald Sutherland), Craig (Jaeden Martell) has been visiting the billionaire three times a week to read books to him for several years. Wanting to give something back to his mentor and benefactor, Craig buys Mr. Harrigan an iPhone. After Mr. Harrigan’s death, the phone begins to exhibit strange behavior, and Craig gets responses from the device that was buried with his former boss.
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone is somewhere between a horror and a cautionary tale. It has great performances by the cast and was one of the supremely talented Donald Sutherland’s final projects. It is a slow-burning drama that is best for teens and tweens, as younger audience members may get bored with the slower pace. But for those who like cerebral thrillers, especially those by Stephen King, it is a good choice.
3
‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
While you could certainly do a whole marathon of the fan-favorite Harry Potter film series, if you need to pick just one to watch around Halloween, it should be Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Director Alfonso Cuarón gives his signature gravitas to the installment, and it has a distinctly darker feel than some of the other films. Complete with werewolves, shrouded dementors, and more, it is thrilling enough for a family-friendly scary movie night.
In the film, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) has returned to the wizarding school of Hogwarts and begins to seek out a man he suspects of betraying his parents, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman). Many things are not as they seem in The Prisoner of Azkaban, and some mysteries are revealed, while others are only beginning. It is a great piece of fantasy filmmaking that even viewers unfamiliar with the genre can appreciate.
2
‘Coraline’ (2009)
For fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas and Tim Burton’s style of writing, Coraline should be a great fit. Along the lines of ParaNorman and Corpse Bride, the stop-motion animation and grim features will give anyone a good fright. Haunting imagery and unsettling themes will be thrilling for some and nightmare fuel for others, so parents should consider their kids’ sensibilities before choosing this one.
Coraline follows the title character, voiced by Dakota Fanning, who begins to explore her new, seemingly boring house after moving in. When she finds a doorway to an alternate reality, she learns compelling lessons about real-life versus fiction. While The Nightmare Before Christmas is more musical and whimsical, Coraline is more cerebral and compelling and will give anyone a good scare.
1
‘The Witches’ (1990)
For fans of Hocus Pocus, the incredibly creepy film The Witches is sure to give everyone the frights. Based on the book by Roald Dahl, the same author as Matilda and James and the Giant Peach, the story involves a young boy who accidentally encounters a convention of witches at a hotel. The witches plan to transform all the local children into mice and have them exterminated. Anjelica Huston is alluring and terrifying as the Grand High Witch, and Rowan Atkinson makes a great cameo as the hotel manager.
Similar to The Dark Crystal, The Witches has Jim Henson’s genius to thank for the disgusting and freaky puppet scenes. The Witches has some cute scenes that will remind viewers of The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and it is a classic watch for Halloween fans. As with all the films on this list, be sure to know what your kids can handle before you select a movie, and have fun enjoying some ghostly wails and frightening tales together.
The Witches
- Release Date
-
December 7, 1990
- Director
-
Nicolas Roeg
- Writers
-
Allan Scott, Roald Dahl
