10 family-friendly scary movies to watch this Halloween

by Daniel Falconer | 14 October 2020

Over the past couple of weeks, we've been looking back at the best classic horrors as well as some we imagine you haven't seen many of at all! Now, with family on the mind, we've put together a list of the 10 best scary movies that everybody can watch, no matter their age!

Image courtesy of Pixabay

10. Beetlejuice

Tim Burton's Beetlejuice does a brilliant job of blending comedy and fantasy elements, culminating in one of the best thrill rides a family can experience at Halloween. Michael Keaton gives the performance of his life as the titular poltergeist, who's intent on driving out the spirits of a recently-deceased young couple, who now haunt their former home.

9. Coraline

Neil Gaiman's novel is brought to the big screen in Coraline, which from the outset looks to be a fun and joyous tale, but quickly reveals a dark and sinister secret lurking in the alternate world that the titular character discovers. Scary moments are scattered throughout this masterpiece, which is always worth a rewatch when October 31st comes around.

8. Monster House

Genuinely terrifying at times, Monster House is a beautifully-crafted tale which sees a group of youngsters trying to survive in their neighbourhood, which is terrorised by a sentient haunted home. It's a completely original idea, in that the house knows exactly what's going on, and will happily gobble up and spit out anybody brave (or stupid) enough to get close.

7. Addams Family Values

Much better than the live-action original, Addams Family Values brings a brand new character - Debbie - into the fold. Marrying Uncle Fester, before cutting him off from the rest of his relatives and attempting to steal all of his cash, Debbie is one of the most villainous figures in the franchise's history.

6. Edward Scissorhands

If you fancy watching something completely different to the other family-friendly horror movies this Halloween, then Edward Scissorhands is the film for you! Tim Burton does an incredible job in the director's chair, as this romantic comedy takes you through all the motions.

5. Casper

As the titular ghost is brought to life in CGI for the first time, audiences were left stunned by the brilliant effects allowing this live-action adaptation to be such a success. Standing the test of time, it's hilarious in moments, and utterly tragic in others. A real rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, this is one that's worth a rewatch at any time of the year - but especially Halloween.

4. Goosebumps (2015)

Jack Black steps into the role of R. L. Stine in this movie, which tells the tale of a bunch of kids who must work with the author, to bring his monsters back to the books from which they've escaped. As the franchise's evil terrorises the real world, it becomes a race against time, before the planet changes forever.

3. The Witches (1990)

Some of the best Roald Dahl books didn't live up to the hype when they were brought to the big screen, but The Witches managed to not only meet expectations, but completely surpass them. Anjelica Huston was awesome in the role of The Grand High Witch, serving up nightmares not only to the characters and children she hopes to turn into mice, but the little kids watching! Make sure you keep your little ones close when watching this one; it's not for the faint of heart...

2. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

When it comes to the Wallace & Gromit film series, there are a whole host of brilliant stories that bring joy to all who watch. The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is one of the most-recent, and is another fantastic display of what can be done with the magic of filmmaking. Here, the titular heroes are tasked with helping a village ahead of their annual vegetable competition, who are plagued with an onslaught of villainous rabbits.

1. Hocus Pocus (1993)

Hocus Pocus is without a doubt the best film you can watch on October 31st, whether you're a child or an adult! Disney have rarely done better at bringing characters to life, with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy giving the performances of a lifetime as witches Winifred, Sarah and Mary. When they're brought back from the dead, but must suck the lives out of all of the children of Salem before the sun rises the morning after Halloween, chaos ensues, with hilarious results.