When it comes to Halloween movies, there’s no shortage of spooky entertainment that’s been made over the years. There are popular films and obscure ones; movies that make you laugh and gore that turns your stomach into knots. But when you add kids to the mix, your roster of choices gets a lot smaller. While films like “Scream” and “Nightmare on Elm Street” are go-to classics, they’re not the best options for the whole family to view and enjoy. Fortunately, streaming platforms like Netflix have a vast array of kid-friendly films that are not too scary but will still get the whole family in the Halloween spirit. In fact, according to the streaming service’s research, 85 percent of parents are interested in finding ways to celebrate Halloween that are less spooky for their children – so Netflix was sure to include plenty of not-scary titles for the holiday.
So if you’re looking for an eerie flick to watch with your family leading up to the spooky holiday that’s tame enough for even your 4-year-old to feel included, we’ve rounded up a list that features movies that are great for every age. Check out Halloween specials and movies – plus a few movies that have Halloween vibes in general – are streaming now. (And if you’re daring, click here to see the horror movies you can stream after your little ones have gone to sleep.)
–Additional reporting by Lauren Harano, Naomi Parris, and Melanie Whyte
Related: These Are the 12 Movies From the ’90s That You Should Watch With Your Kids
Smith Global Media/courtesy Everett Collection / Copyright Everett Collection / Everett Collection
"Gnome Alone"
Netflix’s Description: “After moving into a new house with her mom, high schooler Chloe discovers a troupe of talking garden gnomes who need her help saving the world.”
Ages it’s appropriate for: 8 and up
Stream “Gnome Alone” on Netflix now.
Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
"Nightbooks"
Netflix’s Description: “Scary story fan Alex must tell a spine-tingling tale every night – or stay trapped with his new friend in a wicked witch’s magical apartment forever.”
Ages it’s appropriate for: 8 and up
Stream “Nightbooks”on Netflix now.
Amazon Prime Video / Courtesy Everett Collection / Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
"Hotel Transylvania"
Netflix’s Description: “Hotel Transylvania owner Dracula pulls double duty as an overprotective dad when an unwelcome suitor shows interest in his teenage daughter.”
Ages it’s appropriate for: 8 and up
Stream “Hotel Transylvania” and “Hotel Transylvania 2” on Netflix now.
Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
"Hubie Halloween"
Netflix’s Description: “Hubie’s not the most popular guy in Salem, Mass., but when Halloween turns truly spooky, this good-hearted scaredy-cat sets out to keep his town safe.”
Ages it’s appropriate for: 13 and up
Stream “Hubie Halloween” on Netflix now.
Netflix / Justina Mintz/NETFLIX
Netflix / COURTESY OF NETFLIX
"Scaredy Cats"
Netflix’s Description: “On her 12th birthday, Willa Ward receives a purr-fect gift that unlocks a world of witchcraft, talking animals and so much more with her best friends.”
Ages it’s appropriate for: 5 and up
Stream “Scaredy Cats” on Netflix now.
Netflix
"Bigfoot Family"
Netflix’s Description: “Bigfoot’s now a big deal. So when he goes missing, his shy but tech-savvy teen son must take on an evil CEO to save his family and a wildlife preserve.”
Ages it’s appropriate for: 6 and up
Watch “Bigfoot Family” on Netflix now.
Netflix
"Super Monsters: Dia de los Monsters"
Netflix description: “The Super Monsters celebrate Día de los Muertos in Vida’s hometown with her magical family, some new monster friends and a spook-tacular parade!”
Ages it’s appropriate for: 3 and up
Watch “Super Monsters: Dia de los Monsters” on Netflix now.
Netflix
"StarBeam: Halloween Hero"
Netflix description: “Greedy Captain Fishbeard is stealing everybody’s Halloween treats for himself, but StarBeam and Boost have some tricks up their sleeves to save the day!”
Ages it’s appropriate for: all ages
Watch “StarBeam: Halloween Hero” on Netflix now.
Netflix
"Super Monsters: Vida's First Halloween"
Netflix description: “It’s Vida’s first Halloween at Pitchfork Pines and she’s nervous about all the unfamiliar traditions and different ways of doing things; so it’s up to the Super Monsters to help make her feel more comfortable. When the Super Monsters get invited to celebrate Dia de los Muertos in the Howler backyard, they find themselves in unfamiliar territory. But what starts off as a disaster of an event turns into the discovery of a new tradition they all learn to love.”
Ages it’s appropriate for: 3 and up
Watch “Super Monsters: Vida’s First Halloween” on Netflix now.
Netflix
"The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-Ween"
Netflix description: “When mean Principal Krupp and evil boy-genius Melvin make Halloween illegal and institute ‘Hall-no-Ween,’ George and Harold team up with their friends to hack their favorite holiday, creating Hack-a-ween. The kids wear disguises instead of costumes, carve cabbages instead of pumpkins, and get snacks instead of candy. The hacked holiday is a huge hit, so when Krupp and Melvin make even more trouble, the kids realize that in order to really save Halloween they will have to negotiate with the enemy.”
Ages it’s appropriate for: 6 and up
Watch “The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-Ween” on Netflix now.
Netflix
"True Tricky Treat Day"
Netflix description: “It’s time to collect Plumpkin Day Treats. But when ‘Tricky Treats’ start turning everyone into a Howling Greenie, True and her friends need to figure out how to save the town.”
Ages it’s appropriate for: all ages!
Watch “True Tricky Treat Day” on Netflix now.
