If you’re anything like me, you absolutely love Halloween—just not so much the horror movie part. However, many people insist they are essential for October, so I’ve compiled a list of not-too-scary flicks for each day of the month! They are in no particular order, except for the few multi-film series, but you could even use this as a movie-a-day list if you’re up for the challenge!
1. Hocus Pocus (1993)
A 1993 classic, Hocus Pocus focuses on the reawakening of three Salem witch sisters. Teen Max Dennison has to work with his friends to stop the witches from obtaining immortality.
2. Twitches (2005)
Disney Channel queens Tia and Tamera Mowry star in this 2005 film as twin witches, Alex and Camryn, or “twitches,” as the name implies. Follow them on their journey to fight the forces of evil.
3. Twitches Too (2007)
Alex and Cameryn (Tia and Tamera Mowry) are back in this sequel. They have been working together to improve their powers as they are faced with even more challenges.
4. Halloweentown (1998)
One of my personal favorites, Halloweentown follows Marnie and her siblings as they discover their family’s greatest secret and are presented with an important mission.
5. Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001)
Marnie and the gang are called once again to fight the forces of evil as villain Kalabar plans to wreak havoc on Halloween night. The kids must stop his malicious spells from becoming permanent.
6. Halloweentown High (2004)
Students at Halloweentown High swap lives with mortal students as Marnie sets up a Monster/Student Exchange program. These supernatural students have to be careful as to not reveal themselves as magical.
7. Return to Halloweentown (2006)
This finale to the Halloweentown series follows Marnie to college in Witch University in Halloweentown. She must ward off the evil that aims to control her magic.
8. Heathers (1988)
In another Winona Ryder movie, Heathers follows Ryder’s character, Veronica, as she navigates a clique-filled high school and accidentally poisons a classmate.
9. Mickey’s house of villains (2002)
This direct-to-video film is a special based on the Disney Channel series House of Mouse. Disney villains are sabotaging the House of Mouse on Halloween night as they burst into mischievous madness.
10. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
This Johnny Depp classic follows the creation and adventures of the gentle character, Edward Scissorhands, as he is taken in by a suburban family and discovers he has a secret talent.
11. Beetlejuice (1988)
Follow the insidious antics of a poltergeist named Betelgeuse (stylized and pronounced as Beetlejuice) who tries to scare the new tenants of a haunted estate, The Deetzes (Catherine O’Hara, Jefferey Jones, and Winona Ryder.)
12. Addams Family (1991)
Follow the Addams Family as they try to investigate a suspicious individual who is claiming to be a long-lost relative.
13. Addams Family Values (1993)
The Addams Family returns in this sequel as Wednesday and Pugsley plan to be rid of their newborn baby brother.
14. Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Couple Brad and Janet find themselves upon a spooky mansion as they get a flat tire. Entering this mansion in search of help, they meet a band of wacky, musical characters.
15. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Follow the antics of monsters that are sick of the hustle and bustle of avoiding humans, as they vacation at Dracula’s resort and celebrate Dracula’s daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday.
16. Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
Hotel Transylvania is now open to humans and there are family troubles to navigate for the Dracula family.
17. Hotel Transylvania 3 (2018)
Follow the monsters on their summer cruise vacation as Mavis investigates the motives of mysterious Captain Ericka. Watching these three will prepare you for the spooktacular release of the fourth installment of the series this October!
18. Coraline (2009)
Upset about her family’s recent move, a curious Coraline explores her new house for some excitement. She discovers a hidden door that leads to a magical parallel universe.
19. Ghostbusters (1984)
A group of recently unemployed scientists uses their smarts and technology to start a “ghost-busting” business focused on ridding the world of malicious supernatural creatures. (Fun Fact, the library ghost story at the beginning of this movie is based on the legend of Angie Milner’s ghost, who ISU’s Milner Library is named after!)
20. Ghostbusters 2 (1989)
The Ghostbusters set out on a new mission, but public reactions to their previous adventures land them in a court case.
21. Ghostbusters (2016)
This adaptation follows a new band of Ghostbusters, this time portrayed as a group of highly educated and clever women accompanied by their ditzy male companion (Chris Hemsworth).
22. It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966)
In this adorable burst of nostalgia for all ages, Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin to arrive in the nearest pumpkin patch as the doubtful rest of the Peanuts gang go celebrate Halloween.
23. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
During an eclipse, a monstrous plant springs up in an unsuspecting flower shop, and employee Seymour has to navigate the plant’s antics and his feelings for co-worker Audrey.
24. Casper (1995)
Gentle ghost Casper is sought out by a ghost hunter and accidentally catches feelings for the ghost hunter’s daughter…a human!
25. Jennifer’s Body (2009)
High-school Queen Bee Jennifer (Megan Fox) gets possessed by a demon who causes her to thirst for the blood of her fellow classmates, specifically the boys. Jennifer’s bestie (Amanda Seyfried) sets out to stop the madness.
26. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Partially a Halloween film and a Christmas film, The Nightmare Before Christmas highlights Jack Skellington’s life as the Pumpkin King. When Jack discovers Christmas and the existence of Santa Claus, he sets out to capture St. Nick and become the king of both holidays.
27. Scooby-Doo (2002)
Follow the crime-solving pals of the Scooby-Doo franchise to Spooky Island as they investigate the case of some unusual, and as the name suggests, spooky happenings.
28. Practical Magic (1998)
Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) come from a family with a history of magical abilities, but they’ve avoided them until Gillian’s boyfriend dies. They quickly study their magical craft in hopes to resurrect him.
29. The Witches (2020)
In this 2020 film adaptation of a classic Roald Dahl novel, an orphaned boy and his grandmother encounter a group of extravagant and charismatic witches who take them away to later hear the Grand High Witch’s (Anne Hathaway) evil plans.
30. Phantom of the Opera (2004)
A mysterious phantom living beneath a Parisian opera house hears the voice of the opera’s lead soprano, Christine, and falls madly in love with her. He hatches a plot to whisk her away to his underground lair while Christine’s surface-dwelling love interest, Raoul, rushes to her rescue.
31. Paranorman (2012)
Titular character Norman has the ability to communicate with the dead, and he must use his gifts to save his town from the returning of a hoard of zombies.
There are so many other amazing film options for the spooky season, but I hope these 31 picks bring nostalgia, tricks and treats to your screen! So grab some popcorn (or candy corn) and some warm apple cider and cuddle up on the couch in your favorite blanket for a scary good time. Happy watching!
