25 Best Family Halloween Movies For 2024: From Wholesome Classics To New Spooky-Fun Hits

As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp this December 13, 2025, the annual quest for the perfect family-friendly Halloween movie marathon begins, demanding a delicate balance between spooky thrills and age-appropriate fun. Finding a film that satisfies both nostalgic parents and easily-spooked children is an art form, especially with new releases and sequels constantly shifting the landscape.

This comprehensive, up-to-date guide cuts through the endless streaming options to deliver the 25 absolute best family Halloween movies, complete with essential age-rating details, a deep dive into new 2024 releases, and the must-watch classics that define the season. Whether you're looking for wholesome Disney magic or a slightly darker animated adventure, your perfect movie night starts here.

The Newest Spooky Treats: 2024 and Must-Know Updates

The Halloween movie landscape is constantly evolving, and 2024 brought a major sequel that has families buzzing. Knowing the content warnings for these newer entries is crucial for a smooth movie night.

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The Big 2024 Sequel: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

One of the most anticipated releases for the 2024 spooky season was the long-awaited sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. While the original 1988 film was rated PG, the 2024 follow-up received an official PG-13 rating, signaling a shift in content that parents should be aware of.

• Age Rating and Content Warning: The PG-13 rating was assigned due to "violent content, macabre and bloody images, strong language, some suggestive material and brief drug use."
• Family Intention: While still a Tim Burton dark comedy, the sequel is best suited for older children, pre-teens, and teenagers (aged 13+) who are comfortable with more intense supernatural themes and macabre images.
• LSI Keywords: PG-13 sequel, Tim Burton macabre, 2024 movie release, older kids Halloween.

Newer, Gentler Animated Options

For the youngest viewers, the selection includes fresh, non-scary content that focuses on the fun and friendship aspects of the holiday.

• Super Monsters Save Halloween (2024 Update): This short, bright, and cheerful animated special is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers (TV-Y). It focuses on the Super Monsters using their powers to help a scared friend, emphasizing kindness and holiday fun.
• Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018): A decent entry into the spooky-lite genre, this film offers a handful of treats for very young audiences, though it received mixed reviews from critics. It’s a good choice for ages 7+.
• The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween (2019): Based on the popular book series, this animated special is pure, silly fun and a great alternative for kids who prefer comedy over genuine scares.

Essential Halloween Classics for Every Family Movie Night

No family Halloween movie marathon is complete without these perennial favorites. They are the bedrock of spooky season viewing, offering a perfect blend of nostalgia and light frights.

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1. Hocus Pocus (1993) & Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

The tale of the three Sanderson Sisters, Winifred, Mary, and Sarah, resurrected in Salem, Massachusetts, is arguably the most beloved family Halloween film of all time. The original film, and its long-awaited sequel, are essential viewing.

• Age Rating: Both films are rated PG.
• Content Warning: The original *Hocus Pocus* is generally not recommended for children under 8 due to low-level violence, scary scenes involving the witches trying to steal the souls of children, and some suggestive slang. Some airings have even been rated TV-14.
• LSI Keywords: Sanderson Sisters, Salem curse, PG Halloween movie, Bette Midler, classic Halloween.

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Is it a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? The debate rages on, but this stop-motion masterpiece is a must-watch for its unique aesthetic and incredible musical numbers.

• Themes: The film explores powerful themes of self-discovery, identity, and finding warmth and togetherness, even in a spooky setting. Jack Skellington's journey is a classic "Home Sweet Home" story told in an unusual, macabre way.
• Visual Style: Tim Burton’s signature stop-motion style can be slightly dark and moody, making it more suitable for slightly older children (8+).
• LSI Keywords: Jack Skellington, stop-motion animation, holiday mashup, Danny Elfman soundtrack.

3. Halloweentown (1998)

A wholesome Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) that launched a successful franchise. It follows Marnie Cromwell on her 13th birthday as she discovers she is a witch and must help save the magical world of Halloweentown.

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• Age Rating: Rated TV-PG.
• Why it Works: It’s a delightful, non-scary, coming-of-age fantasy that is perfect for all ages, especially those who love the idea of a secret world of friendly monsters and witches.
• LSI Keywords: Disney Channel Original Movie, TV-PG, Marnie Cromwell, wholesome fantasy.

Animated Adventures: From Wholesome to Wondrously Weird

Animation offers a safe space for spooky stories, allowing for imaginative worlds and light-hearted takes on classic monsters. These films are perfect for a wide age range.

The Wholesome & Hilarious

• Hotel Transylvania (2012) Series: Starring Adam Sandler as Dracula, this series is a high-energy, colorful, and genuinely funny take on the universal theme of a parent letting go. It is a fantastic choice for younger kids (PG rating) who love fast-paced, slapstick comedy.
• Coco (2017): While not strictly a "Halloween" movie, this Pixar masterpiece is deeply rooted in the Mexican holiday of Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). It’s visually stunning, emotionally resonant, and a wonderful way to introduce children to different cultural traditions surrounding the dead. (PG rating).
• It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966): The quintessential, non-scary Halloween special. This timeless classic is essential viewing for all ages, focusing on Linus’s unwavering faith in the Great Pumpkin. (TV-G).

The Spookier Stop-Motion & Dark Fantasy

• ParaNorman (2012): From LAIKA Studios (the masters of stop-motion), this film tells the story of Norman Babcock, an 11-year-old boy who can see and speak with ghosts. It's a visually stunning, slightly darker adventure involving a 300-year-old witch’s curse. (PG rating).
• Corpse Bride (2005): Another Tim Burton stop-motion gem, this one is a beautiful, gothic love story set between the Land of the Living and the Land of the Dead. It’s a great choice for kids who appreciate a darker fairy-tale aesthetic. (PG rating).
• Frankenweenie (2012): Burton's black-and-white homage to classic horror films, where a boy attempts to bring his beloved dog back to life. It’s a heartwarming story with a unique look, best for ages 8+. (PG rating).

The Cult Favorites and Deep Cuts for Topical Authority

To truly achieve topical authority in your family's Halloween viewing, you need to go beyond the basics. These films offer unique stories and are beloved by those in the know.

The Miniseries Masterpiece: Over The Garden Wall (2014)

Though it's a 10-episode animated miniseries, it functions as a single, cohesive dark fantasy story and is often cited as the best piece of Halloween-themed media ever created.

• Age Rating: It has a PG rating and is designed for all ages, but its grim and bizarre world can be genuinely scary for children under 9.
• Plot: It follows two brothers, Wirt and Greg, as they become lost in a mysterious, autumnal forest known as The Unknown.
• LSI Keywords: Animated miniseries, dark fantasy, Wirt and Greg, The Unknown.

More Essential Entities for Your Watchlist

To round out your marathon, be sure to include these other fantastic family-friendly Halloween entities:

• Casper (1995): A childhood classic about a friendly ghost who befriends a young girl. (PG rating).
• The Addams Family (1991 Live-Action & 2019 Animated): Both versions offer macabre humor and are rated PG, celebrating the wonderfully weird family dynamic.
• Monster House (2006): A thrilling, motion-capture animated film about a group of kids who discover that their neighbor's house is a living, breathing monster. (PG rating).
• Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest (2013): A very gentle option where the beloved monkey investigates the Legend of "No Noggin." (TV-Y).
• Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971): An older Disney classic featuring witches, magic, and animated sequences, perfect for a nostalgic viewing experience. (G rating).

With this definitive list, updated with the latest 2024 information and essential content warnings, you are fully equipped to host the perfect family Halloween movie marathon. Enjoy the spooky season!