Over My Dad Body

Halloween is here!

Along with all the jack-o-lanterns and creative, spooky costumes, it’s the perfect time to cozy up for a Halloween movie marathon.

As children get older, they often start wanting to watch scary movies. Believe it or not, research shows that it is actually okay for them to get a little spooked as long as it is age-appropriate. A great way to make sure it’s fun and safe is to binge on some family-friendly Halloween movies together at home.

These kid-friendly Halloween flicks promise just the right amount of thrills without having to sleep with the lights on. So grab some popcorn and a couple of blankets, and get ready for a cozy, spooky night in with the kids!

 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack’s job is to make sure Halloween goes off without a hitch every year, but he’s tired of the same old routine.

Searching for a holiday-themed horror movie that’s perfect for tweens? Look no further than The Nightmare Before Christmas. But what holiday is it actually about? That’s part of the fun; you get to decide!

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop-motion animated musical with fantastic songs, telling the story of Jack Skellington, a.k.a. the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. Jack’s job is to make sure Halloween goes off without a hitch every year, but he’s tired of the same old routine.

When he stumbles upon Christmas Town, he is captivated and decides to take over as the new Santa Claus to give Christmas his own twist. What could possibly go wrong?

Ghostbusters (1984)

Ghostbusters is hands-down one of the best movies to introduce almost any child to the horror genre. It’s a horror-comedy (so the laughs break up the scary moments), and the effects are fun but just cartoony enough to keep things from getting too intense. With a simple plot, an incredible cast, and its legendary status in pop culture, this classic left a huge mark on society and influenced tons of movies that came after it.

While some parents have mentioned one scene with a risqué ghost moment involving Ray, it’s easy enough to brush past, especially for tweens who might not even pick up on it. If your child is hooked after the first one, they can dive into the sequel! Check out the 2016 reboot with Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, or watch Ghostbusters: Afterlife, where kids finally get a turn with those super cool proton packs!

Coraline (2009)

Neil Gaiman’s book might be way better, but there’s no denying that the stop-motion animation in the film adaptation of Coraline is stunning. It is truly a visual treat! Directed by Henry Selick, who also made The Nightmare Before Christmas, this film is great to watch with the family because, at its heart, it is about the relationship between parents and their kids.

Coraline follows a young girl whose well-meaning but distracted parents are too wrapped up in work to notice her emotional needs. When Coraline discovers a portal to an alternate world, she finds ‘other’ parents who shower her with attention.

Sure, they have buttons for eyes and seem a little off, but what’s the harm, right?

ParaNorman (2012)

Plus, it’s a story about embracing who you are no matter what anyone else thinks.

Monster House (2006)

Monster House is set in 1983 and takes place on Halloween, adding a nostalgic vibe to this kid-friendly horror full of spooky fun and a great message about teamwork and courage.

One thing to watch out for, though: there’s a flashback scene involving an overweight woman who’s cruelly mistreated in a circus sideshow, which can be tough to watch. Since body image can be a sensitive topic for our tweens, you may want to use it to talk about these issues or to see if the fast-forward button offers a better option.

Corpse Bride (2005)

Also known as Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, this Oscar-nominated stop-motion film tells the story of Victor, a nervous young man set to marry a girl named Victoria. But while practicing his proposal, he accidentally recites his vows to a corpse, who says, “Yes!” Yikes!

Corpse Bride is a gentle, ghostly adventure with a mostly calm, almost dreamy vibe. Until the dancing skeletons show up and bring the fun to life. The visuals are stunning, and with almost no real scares, it’s a great intro to spooky movies for kids (as long as they’re okay with its slow pace).

Goosebumps (2015)

Here’s a great horror movie for tweens based on a classic horror book series: Goosebumps, starring Jack Black as the legendary children’s horror author R.L. Stine, is a high-energy dive into the Goosebumps universe.

The story starts when Zach, a new teenager in town, moves next door to Hannah and her unusually protective dad. It turns out that her dad is none other than R.L. Stine himself, and he’s keeping a big secret: he has a terrifying imagination, and everything he imagines comes to life!

For years, Stine has managed to trap his monstrous creations inside his books, living in seclusion with his daughter to keep things safe. But when Zach and his friend Champ break into the Stine house to check on Hannah, all the monsters are accidentally released!

Now the Abominable Snowman of Pasadena, Slappy the Dummy, a haunted car, and even living lawn gnomes are wreaking havoc, and it’s up to R.L. Stine and the teens to quickly get them all back in their books!

The Munsters (2022)

No one expected Rob Zombie, known for his extreme horror, to make a movie adaptation of The Munsters—and a PG-rated one, no less! But here it is, telling the quirky love story of Lily, a vampire, who falls head over heels for a green, square-headed monster. It’s love at first shock for these two ghouls in a classic Transylvanian romance.

Of course, things don’t go perfectly. Lily’s dad has big plans for her future, and they definitely don’t include her bumbling new beau. It is a little heart-wrenching, but surprisingly, the whole thing is pretty charming!

Hotel Transylvania (2012)

Movies where all the classic monsters get together are always fun, and Hotel Transylvania is especially delightful with its adorable monster characters, lovable cast, lighthearted humor, and sweet story.

Hotel Transylvania is equal parts tender and silly, with lots of monster-related silliness! The father-daughter bond between Dracula and his daughter, Mavis, is really sweet. Dracula built Hotel Transylvania as a safe haven to protect Mavis and other monsters from humans.

So, you can imagine his horror when Johnny, a human boy who got lost in the woods, stumbles upon the hotel, and he and Mavis instantly hit it off!

As our kids get older, they are going to date people you might not expect, and Hotel Transylvania shows just how important honest communication is (Mavis does a great job opening up to her dad) and that everyone deserves a fair chance (even if Johnny’s a human and not what Dracula pictured for Mavis). It’s adorable and perfect for all ages!

Scoob! (2020)

Did you know the Mystery Machine gang first came together on Halloween night?

This animated movie explores their origins and then dives into a more fun than scary mystery. Plus, there are plenty of “Easter eggs” for adults who grew up with classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons! If this piques your interest in dog-related mystery-solving, there’s also a live-action Scooby-Doo film that leans more into running from and eventually catching monsters.

The Monster Squad (1987)

But when a real monster like Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, the Gill Man, and Frankenstein’s monster show up, they transform from a club into a monster-fighting squad!

With fantastic special effects, fresh takes on classic monsters (Dracula is both menacing and hilarious), plenty of humor, and some heartwarming moments, the film moves at a pace that will keep your tween hooked!

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)

The Scary Stories books, with their creepy illustrations and gruesome campfire tales, are legendary at tween sleepovers. So, who better to bring them to life then monster master Guillermo Del Toro and directorAndré Øvredal?

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is set around Halloween in 1968 and is loosely based on Alvin Scwartz’s beloved children’s books. While the plot isn’t the main focus, the standout feature of this movie is its amazing special effects, which are inspired by the haunting illustrations of Stephen Gammel that fans know so well.

This film is perfect for tweens because, while they are captivated by the terrifying visuals, you can share that these scary characters come from a book series. And the illustrations in those books are even creepier! Your tween will probably be like, “Wait, what?!” and then want to read the books, giving you a chance to bond over some great reading material.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Things take a dark turn when ‘Audrey II’ starts growing, talking, and then demanding human flesh to survive!

The 1986 film is a theatrical adaptation of the original 1960 movie and is considered one of the best horror movie musicals out there. Young audiences have loved it since its release, though it might leave some younger kids a bit nervous about going to the dentist.

Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)

When it comes to silly movies, they don’t get much goofier than this one. The title says it all, and you know you’re in for a wild ride with a movie called Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

Yes, the plot revolves around evil aliens that look like clowns who land near a remote American village. After a meteorite crash, a giant circus tent mysteriously pops up in the woods, and the klowns (yes, with a “K”) go on a rampage, turning people into cotton candy with their bizarre weaponry. Their goal? To take these ‘human snacks’ back to their planet.

If you have even a hint of a morbid sense of humor, I highly recommend tracking down Killer Klowns from Outer Space. It’s guaranteed to be one of the most bizarre yet fun Halloween films your tween has ever seen!

Choose the Perfect Halloween Flick for Your Tween

If you love scary movies, you’re in luck because there’s no shortage of horror films to choose from!

But if you have kids, slasher flicks are usually way too intense, and even Halloween movies aimed at children can sometimes be a bit much, depending on their age. Remember that it’s always best to look for something short, gentle, and suitable for your tween.

While you can definitely ramp up the scare factor as they get older, I believe it’s always a good idea to pick a Halloween movie that fits your child’s individual comfort level. Happy Halloween!