Disney Plus<\/a>.<\/p>\nBest Halloween Movies for Kids<\/h2>\n What better time of year is there than Halloween to curl up under some blankets on the sofa and indulge in a few frightful films? If you and your child would like to enjoy a spooky\u2014and age-appropriate\u2014movie as part of the Halloween festivities, then the picks below are all sure-fire winners.<\/p>\n
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)<\/h3>\n
“The Nightmare Before Christmas”<\/span><\/p>\nA modern masterpiece from the mind of the gothic maestro Tim Burton, The Nightmare Before Christmas has been captivating adults and kids since its release nearly thirty years ago.<\/p>\n
The film is PG-rated<\/strong> and, duration-wise, comes in at a very kid-friendly hour and a quarter, so it\u2019s the perfect choice to put on as part of a Halloween party or after a bout of trick-or-treating! Children will love the musical numbers, the stunning stop-motion animation, and the misadventures of Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town.<\/p>\nWhen Jack stumbles on Christmas Town, he\u2019s determined to bring the newly-discovered celebration to his own realm\u2026 but the residents of Halloween Town don\u2019t quite get it the festivities. Find out what happens next by visiting Netflix to stream the movie.<\/p>\n
The Addams Family (1991)<\/h3>\n
The Addams Family film of 1991 is a great Halloween movie for older kids. As a PG-13<\/strong>, parents should be especially careful about allowing children aged twelve or younger to view the film\u2014and even for slightly older kids, it\u2019s advisable to watch it first to ascertain its suitability. Much of this will, of course, depends on the temperament and character of the individual child.<\/p>\nWhen con artists try to trick the neighborhood’s most eccentric family, they get more than they bargained for! Kids will love the spooky, goofy antics of this most macabre of families, and the plotline has enough twists and turns to keep everyone interested. Can we tempt you with another slice of movie trivia? Cher really wanted to play the role of Morticia Addams\u2014a part that eventually went to Anjelica Huston.<\/p>\n
The duration of the movie is just under an hour and forty minutes, and it\u2019s available to stream on Hulu.<\/p>\n
The Witches (2020)<\/h3>\n
“The Witches”<\/span><\/p>\nAuthor Roald Dahl was said to have disliked the ending of the previous version of the film, released in 1990\u2014this updated incarnation, while remade with a modern audience in mind, sticks much closer to the book’s spirit.<\/p>\n
A boy and his grandmother run into a coven of glamorous\u2014but despicable!\u2014witches, and learn of the evil global plot they\u2019ve cooked up. Kids aged ten and over<\/strong> will likely be able to watch this scare-fest comfortably; for younger children, some of the CGI frights, and Anne Hathaway\u2019s Grand High Witch character especially, might be a bit much. The movie\u2019s rated a PG<\/strong>, so if in doubt, give it a watch-through yourself first. It has a running time of just over an hour and forty-five minutes.<\/p>\nHead over to Amazon Prime Movie to stream The Witches if it\u2019s your family Halloween film pick!<\/p>\n
Toy Story of Terror! (2013)<\/h3>\n
“Toy Story of Terror!”<\/span><\/p>\nA short film (just twenty-two minutes long) that\u2019s rated a U<\/strong> and suitable for even the smallest members of the family, Toy Story of Terror! is a non-scary mini-movie featuring Woody, Jesse, and the gang that kids will love.<\/p>\nAfter stopping over at a roadside motel for the night, members of the toy group begin to mysteriously disappear\u2014it\u2019s down to Woody to figure out what\u2019s happening and bring back all his friends! Watch to see what unfolds by streaming this short film via the Disney Plus channel.<\/p>\n
Really Scary Movies for Kids!<\/h2>\n And if you\u2019re looking for the scariest movies for older kids and teens\u2014that remain within the bounds of what they can appropriately and safely watch\u2014then try one of the titles from the list below for some frightening Halloween fun!<\/p>\n
Gremlins (1984)<\/h3>\n
“Gremlins”<\/span><\/p>\nThis 1984 classic has a PG-13<\/strong> rating, so it\u2019s best for older kids who aren\u2019t likely to become upset by some of the scary scenes.<\/p>\nA mogwai seems to be the perfect pet\u2014unless it gets wet or you feed it after midnight, that is! Kids will revel in the mischief and mayhem caused by the gremlins, who wreak havoc on a small American town on Christmas Eve. The mix of comedy and horror will have them alternately laughing and hiding behind a cushion\u2014and that goes for the adults, too!<\/p>\n
The film runs one hour and forty-six minutes and can be streamed on HBO Max.<\/p>\n
Beetlejuice (1988)<\/h3>\n
“Beetlejuice”<\/span><\/p>\nAnother smash-hit from the 1980s, and Tim Burton\u2019s second appearance on this list, Beetlejuice is creepier than its PG rating<\/strong> might suggest. The film tells the story of a loving, married couple who, shortly after moving into their dream \u2018doer-upper\u2019 house, perish in a freak car accident. It\u2019s not the end, and the pair return as ghosts to haunt their former home and try to drive out the awful family that has moved in. After several botched attempts at scaring the interlopers off, the couple hires the services of the malignant spirit Beetlejuice to do the job for them\u2026<\/p>\nIrreverent, funny, and visually vibrant, the film also comes in at a crowd-pleasing hour and a half. There\u2019s a bit of bad language that parents should also be aware of. Fun fact, anyone? Of all the films he\u2019s starred in, Michael Keaton cites Beetlejuice as his favorite. You can find this Halloween classic to stream on Hulu.<\/p>\n
Lights Out (2016)<\/h3>\n
“Lights Out”<\/span><\/p>\nLights Out (rated PG-13<\/strong>) is a great gateway movie for younger teens who would like to experience their first horror flick: it\u2019s incredibly eerie without crossing the line into territory that could cause problems.<\/p>\nThis supernatural film focuses on a mom who talks to herself at night and the chilling revelations that arise as the plot unfolds. The tagline? \u2018You were right to be afraid of the dark\u2019\u2014prepare for plenty of creepy thrills\u2014the film is a short but intense one hour and twenty minutes long, making it a perfect little slice of spookiness for a dark fall night!<\/p>\n
Lights Out is ready for you to stream on Hulu now.<\/p>\n
The Birds (1963)<\/h3>\n
“The Birds”<\/span><\/p>\nEven Alfred Hitchcock cited The Birds as the creepiest film he\u2019d ever made\u2014and from the director of the original Psycho movie, this is no small claim! Rated a solid PG 13<\/strong>, and with a run time of two hours, this movie isn\u2019t for young kids, and even teenagers on the younger end of the scale may find it too disturbing.<\/p>\nThe plot concerns a wealthy socialite who travels out of town to the Bodega Bay area\u2014where, without warning, birds of all kinds begin to viciously attack people. Why this is happening is a mystery, and, soon, survival becomes the name of the game.<\/p>\n
Watch The Birds on Amazon Prime Video; if you\u2019re viewing with the kids, you get ten points if you can make it through the movie without saying \u2018they don\u2019t make them like this anymore.\u2019<\/p>\n
How to Watch a Scary Film with Your Child?<\/h2>\nRizar el pixel\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
If you decide to watch a scary film with your child, then there are a few steps you can take to ensure that the experience is a positive experience for everyone!<\/p>\n
Firstly, ensuring that the content is age-appropriate and won\u2019t cause your child long-term distress is vital. As well as checking the age rating of the movie, read reviews, speak to other parents who\u2019ve seen it\u2014especially those given by other parents\u2014and, if you\u2019re at all unsure, view it yourself first.<\/p>\n
Once you\u2019ve picked a film (or have agreed to one your child wants to watch) then it\u2019s important to view it together, especially if this will be your kid\u2019s first scary movie experience.<\/p>\n
Research suggests that watching such a film with adults who model a calm attitude\u2014or express enjoyment at the spooky bits (think about how people often laugh after jumping at a sudden scare in a film)\u2014can help to reduce any fear that children might otherwise fear.<\/p>\n
Having a discussion about the film at some point after viewing can also be really helpful in contextualizing fears and preventing them from building up into wider anxiety. Watching a \u2018making of\u2019 documentary, which details the make-up and special effects used in the movie you\u2019ve watched, can also be a useful way for your child to fully understand the line between reality and fantasy.<\/p>\n
Finally, trust your instincts. You know your child and what they\u2019re ready for better than anyone else, so go with your gut. We\u2019d love to know your experiences: how old was your kid when they watched their first horror flick, and how did it go? Let us know in the comments below!<\/p>\n
The picture on the front page: Evgeny Atamanenko\/Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n\t\t
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