By Shannon Corbeil · October 26, 2023
It’s finally fall. It’s getting colder and darker. The veils between the realms are thinning and all that fun stuff that just makes you want to watch something scary — unless you’re like me and you’re too, let’s say, tender-hearted to creep yourself out like that. Fear not — there are plenty of fun, festive Halloween movies to watch without giving yourself nightmares. In fact, there are dozens, and while I wanted to include classics like the Olsen twins’ glorious Double, Double, Toil and Trouble, this list consists of family-friendly projects that also hold up as great films for mature tastes.
While Hocus Pocus was originally panned by Roger Ebert, it has become a cult classic and beloved Halloween tradition, even inspiring a 2022 sequel (that did not, however, make this list). The witchy story of the Sanderson sisters threatening Salem is led by Bette Midler’s fantastic commitment as Winifred Sanderson and is supported by cute family moments, clever mischief, and lots of festive vibes. I’ve tested Hocus Pocus on boyfriends and parents alike — it’s always a charming (and, with a runtime of 96 minutes, short) hit.
The Addams Family live-action films have no right to be as excellent as they are. Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia’s Morticia and Gonzo Addams are delicious, Christina Ricci’s Wednesday Addams is captivating, and every moment drips with the most enchanting bits of macabre. There are so many one-liners and throw-away jokes that are delivered with precision, making these films fun to watch and re-watch. As a bonus, Addams Family Values offers a Thanksgiving treat in the form of Wednesday’s anti-propaganda monologue which brims with dark humor.
If you haven’t watched Practical Magic in a while, you’re in for a nostalgic treat. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman play sisters raised by their witchy aunts (played by Dianne Wiest and the ever-charismatic Stockard Channing) in a town that doesn’t exactly embrace magic. While Sandra’s story is a romcom and Nicole’s is a spooky thriller, ultimately Practical Magic is a feminist story about our family. It’s sexy, it’s creepy, and it leaves you with the warm fuzzies — and a hankering to move to New England.
The fall is the perfect time to revisit the wizarding world of Harry Potter (books and films). Watch one film a night for an eight-night journey or invite your friends over for a 20-hour marathon. With John Williams’ score, the art design of Hogwarts, and the themes of love and courage triumphant veiled in magic, danger, and adventure, this series is perfect for cold nights and candlelight.
There’s a reason The Rocky Horror Picture Show has played at midnight screenings for nearly fifty years. A young (straight, white, virginal) couple finds themselves with a broken down car in a rainstorm and knocks on the door of a nearby castle for help. There they are greeted by a party of strange inhabitants led by the iconic Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite from Transylvania. What follows is what Roger Ebert eloquently called a “horror-rock-transvestite-camp-omnisexual-musical parody” with come-as-you-are vibes and an epic soundtrack.
Let’s stick with Tim Curry and hit up the best murder mystery film ever created. Sure, it’s a parody, but it nails the format with precision and highly aware humor along with a cacophony of silly and meme-worthy characters. Don’t feel too bad if you can’t predict who actually dunnit — multiple endings were filmed and screened in different theaters without explanation during its original release. Now you can watch all of them one after the other and compare notes — a perfect masterclass for mystery writers!
Ghostbusters is so entrenched in our pop culture that it’s easy to forget that it was created without any preexisting IP yet still managed to become an instant phenomenon. Technically a comedy, Ghostbusters follows a team of budding paranormal investigators and exterminators in a world that has only begun to learn about ghosts. As the paranormal threat builds in scope, our ragtag heroes must save New York City from the apocalypse — and, of course, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. It’s a fun thrill that definitely holds up.
Is it a Halloween film? Is it a Christmas film? Disneyland (and the September through December decorations of The Haunted Mansion) says both. Tim Burton’s hauntingly beautiful stop-motion musical introduces Christmas to Halloween Town, where residents kidnap “the Sandy Claws” and try to “improve” Christmas with the macabre and eerie. Somehow the film manages to uphold the frightful fun of Halloween along with the spirit of Christmas in this visual treat.
I wrote an entire article listing my favorite Halloween episodes of television series, but I’d be remiss if I failed to include the 2023 British series Lockwood & Co. based on the very enjoyable book series of the same name. It features a world where ghosts have begun to haunt Britain and only sensitive children and teens have the Talent to detect and fight them. The soundtrack alone is perfect for your Halloween gatherings, but the vibe of the show is spooky without being too scary while also being incredibly charming.
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Everyone has their own threshold of what is thrilling versus frightening. If horror isn’t your genre but you still like Halloween tricks and treats, then join the club — and please let me know if you’ve got a favorite festive film that I missed!
Happy Halloween!
Shannon Corbeil is a writer, actor, and U.S. Air Force veteran in Los Angeles with appearances on SEAL Team and The Rookie. She was also a 2023 DGE TV Writing Program Finalist and her screenplays have placed in various contests. You can read more about her on her website or come play on Instagram and Twitter!
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