Spooky Season is here and there’s no better way to celebrate Halloween than watching classic Halloween movies from your childhood! Whether you’re a fan of the hilariously cheesy ’80s and 90’s movies like Beetlejuice (1988) and Ghostbusters (1984), or you like to indulge in animated films from the 2000s like Coraline (2009) and Monster House (2006), these movies are timeless in their spookiness, magic, humour and encounter with the paranormal and supernatural world. Here are 10 Halloween movies that defined your childhood:
1. Hocus Pocus (1993)
Hocus Pocus is a movie I watch on repeat! From a talking black cat to witches flying on brooms and vacuums, the film fantastically intertwines the legends of the witches in Salem, spells and dark magic. It incorporates hilarious musical numbers, perfectly timed jokes and Halloween shenanigans.
2. Ghostbusters (1984)
If the demon-gargoyle statue thing jumping out from Dana’s refrigerator didn’t give you nightmares as a kid, I don’t know what else did! Ghostbusters is action-packed, starring Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver on their hunt to capture the ghosts and monsters terrorizing New York City. With a bumpin’ theme song, “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr. (played at every Halloween party in elementary school), and cheesy ghosts, Ghostbusters is a classic that everyone has seen at least once.
3. Scooby-Doo: Spooky Island (2002) & Monsters Unleashed (2004)
Although you probably watch these iconic Scooby-Doo movies year-round, they have an extra special place in my heart during the days leading up to Halloween. With the stellar cast of Freddy Prinze Jr, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini and Matthew Lillard, watching the gang chase around monsters on Spooky Island and unmasking ghosts in Monsters Unleashed is entertaining and absolutely hilarious! And who doesn’t adore our loveable Scooby?!
4. Monster House (2006)
I question whether or not this should be considered a kids’ movie, given that a house tries to eat children. On top of that, the owner of the house, old man Nebberracker’s wife died and was buried in the basement, so the house comes alive through her thirst for revenge. It’s absolutely terrifying but a classic!
5. The Addams Family (1991)
I can hear the theme song in my head! The Addams Family has a spooky ambience and dark humour! Morticia Addams is the style icon and queen of spooky season!
6. Beetlejuice (1988)
Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Be––oop, I wouldn’t want to say it three times! When I think of Beetlejuice, I immediately think of the dinner-dance scene, where Beetlejuice possesses the Deetz family and their friends with chaotic dancing and singing. Winona Ryder, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Catherine O’Hara and Michael Keaton make this Halloween classic from our childhoods extra special! It’s an all-star cast!
7. Casper (1995)
If you had a soft spot, Casper was the perfect little Halloween movie growing up. Casper the friendly ghost: he’s not scary but funny and heartwarming for sure!
8. Halloweentown (1998)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this movie! It was played on every channel around Halloween, but rightfully so, as it’s packed with magic and everything Halloween-ish––an enchanting film to watch repeatedly!
9. Coraline (2009)
Watching Coraline when I was younger was instant childhood trauma. I don’t think I was the only one terrified of closets and crawl spaces after seeing that spider-hand chase Coraline. It’s a well-made movie––the animation is stunning, but it’s scary. It’s a scary classic!
10. Gremlins (1984)
Although Gremlins made me terrified of the possibility of my stuffed animals turning into gremlins, this cheesy 80’s movie has quite a few great pop-up scares and loveable characters, such as Gismo! And there you have it, 10 Halloween movies that defined your childhood! Enjoy binging these classics this spooky