Jordan Peele Has Another Scary Movie Coming Out This Year — and It's for Kids?!
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Jordan Peele Has Another Scary Movie Coming Out This Year — and It's for Kids?!
If you're the type of person who loves the feel a shiver run down your spine, watching an all-time classic scary movie is one of the best Halloween traditions. But it's also one that can be hard to share with your family. When it comes to scary movies for kids, you want them to feel that same little rush of adrenaline you do when you're watching a movie and the characters hear a bump in the night, but you don't want to stay up all hours on nightmare duty.
No matter what your family's appetite for thrills is, these are the best Halloween movies for kids to watch in 2022. Some of them are so gentle they're toddler-friendly, with no monsters, ghosts or ghouls in sight — just an appreciation for wholesome fall fun. Others are the creepy-animated classics, Disney originals and other Halloween movies you may remember watching when you were a kid (but are now always available, thanks to streaming services like Disney+ and HBO Max). And then for the very brave, there are those movies that are for teens and tweens, which are scarier than kid-friendly films, but don't yet have the level of gore or violence you see in horror movies for adults. So this October, you can find your family's scare tolerance and put together a kid-friendly Halloween movie marathon.
Then, after you go to bed, you can check out the scariest movies on Netflix, the Child's Play movies in order, the Purge movies in order, the Conjuring movies in order, the best haunted house movies, the best witch movies or the best ghost movies and scare yourself all over again.
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1) Coming Soon: The Curse of Bridge Hollow
Now that we live in a world where six-foot lawn skeletons are the norm, this family-friendly Halloween movie's premise might have more bite: It centers on a town where Halloween decorations have come to life! A father-daughter team, played by Marlon Wayans and Priah Ferguson, has to come to the rescue. It comes to Netflix on October 14.
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2) Coming Soon: Wendell & Wild (2022)
There are a couple of Halloween movies for kids we can't slot into our official ranking yet, because they haven't come out, but man is the anticipation high. The first is the stop-motion animated film Wendell & Wild, which has a truly impressive pedigree: It's directed by Henry Selick, who made The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline, and written and produced by Nope's Jordan Peele. Still, Netflix calls it a comic adventure about two demons, Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele), who enlist the help of a 13-year-old girl to bring them to the land of the living. It comes to Netflix right in time for Halloween, on October 28.
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3) It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
There's a reason this has stuck around since the '60s. No cartoon better captures Halloween excitement — and possibly disappointment — better than the Peanuts gang.
RELATED: How to Watch 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' Right Now
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4) Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
In this musical hour-long special, daredevil Gonzo accepts what might be his greatest challenge: to spend a night in the Haunted Mansion. The result blends the zany Muppet energy with all the fun moments that makes the Walt Disney World ride such a treasure. (Piggy is "Madam Pigota.") Guest stars include Taraji P. Henson, John Stamos, Yvette Nicole Brown and Darren Criss.
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5) Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
Kiki belongs in the pantheon of the great Good Witches out there: She uses her broom and her flying ability to start a delivery service. An animated film from the famed Studio Ghibli — the same studio that made My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away — this movie works for the little ones, because Kiki doesn't run into much trouble.
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6) Coco (2017)
Miguel is an aspiring young musician who wants to play like Ernesto de La Cruz, Miguel’s idol. Trying to pursue his musical dreams, Miguel finds himself in the Land of the Dead and embarks on a journey where he learns about his family. Although the movie is about the Day of the Dead and is not related to Halloween, it still makes a great movie to watch on Halloween night, the day before the Day of the Dead, to help kids learn about the special holiday.
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7) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Debate always rages about whether Tim Burton's groundbreaking stop-motion animated movie is a Halloween movie or a Christmas flick. The answer: Watch it every year from October through December.
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8) Ghostbusters (1988)
Ghostbusters has plenty of strange ghouls and paranormal bad guys to make it feel like a Halloween movie, but there are also lots of laughs to cut the tension. You can follow it up with the sequel, the 2016 reboot that stars comedic powerhouses Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy or last year's Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which younger viewers might enjoy even more because it adds some kid heroes into the mix.
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9) Coraline (2009)
This sinister movie adapted from the 2002 children's book shows kids that they should be careful what they wish for. The stop-motion animated film is about a young girl named Coraline who discovers an eerie secret about a parallel universe where an alternate version of her family tempts her with big promises. Of course, this seemingly better reality turns out to be more dangerous than expected.
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10) Toy Story of Terror (2014)
When Mr. Potato Head goes missing at a roadside motel, Woody and the rest of the toys go on a spooky and mysterious adventure to find their friend. This 20-minute special features all the warmth, humor, funny references and gags you expect from the best Pixar films.
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RELATED: Pixar Easter Eggs That Probably Went Straight Over Your Head
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11) E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982)
You may remember this movie, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, as more sweet than scary, because of young Elliott's connection to the expressive alien. But there's lots of peril that comes for E.T., and if you're looking for thrills that don't necessarily have ghosts or ghouls, Steven Spielberg's classic could be a suspenseful pick for an intense family movie night.
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12) The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular
In this 22-minute special, done in the style of The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, Mickey is challenged to tell the scariest Halloween tale. When his and Donald's nephews deem his first yarn too tame, it he tells two more, each dialing up the fear factor. And yet, they all have a lot of zany humor to cut the tension.
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13) Spirited Away (2002)
From acclaimed animated movie director Hayao Miyazaki comes this tale of a girl who travels to a world of witches, spirits and other creatures in order to save her parents, who have been placed under an enchantment. The otherworldly beings may be scary for the littlest ones, who might prefer the gentleness of Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro, about a friendly troll-like being (who mostly looks like a woodland creature).
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14) Paranorman (2012)
One thing we know for sure: stop-motion animation goes hand-in-hand with spooky scares. This movie, from the makers of Coraline, follows the story of a boy who can communicate with the dead, and he uses the power to unravel a town-wide mystery.
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15) Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
This comedy-musical-horror film about a flower-shop worker and his man-eating plant has the word "horror" right there in the title, but music by Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman — the guys that did the best Disney songs — lightens the mood. Instead, it has the feel of a '50s B-movie.
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16) Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
This scary-but-not-too-scary movie follows the delightfully British Wallace and Gromit as they try to figure out what's been destroying a town's vegetable gardens. It turns out to be a monster, but not one that you'd expect — it's a were-rabbit, transforming from a bunny to beast.
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17) Gremlins (1984)
Sure, it's set around Christmas, but Gremlins director Joe Dante pulls off a difficult feat in this movie: The creature he makes is so cute and cuddly — but it spins off into critters that are truly terrifying. Their hijinx mix suspense, action laughs and scares in equal measure. (The sequel is definitely tips the scales more towards comedy.)
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18) Young Frankenstein (1974)
This movie is perfect for families who'd rather laugh then get a chill in their bones. The Mel Brooks classic is routinely named one of the best comedies of all time, and Gene Wilder's portrayal of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein will have everyone in stitches (pun slightly intended). Note to parents: There is some profanity an innuendo, so your milage may vary.
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19) Hocus Pocus (1993)
We've already mentioned our anticipation for the sequel, but there's no beating the original. See the witchy Sanderson Sisters wreak havoc over Salem on Halloween night as a group of teens — and some supernatural allies — try to stop them.
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RELATED: See How the Original 'Hocus Pocus' Cast Has Changed Over the Past 26 Years
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20) Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
We've waited almost three decades for someone to light the Black Flame Candle again, and someone finally has! Can a new set of high school students stop the Sanderson Sisters before the night is out?
RELATED: All the Chilling Details About the Sanderson Sisters' Return in 'Hocus Pocus 2' on Disney+
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21) The Book of Life (2014)
Like Coco, this is more of a Day of the Dead movie than a Halloween movie. But it's a charming tale of adventuring through the Land of the Remembered for love, so we'll take it. In it, the rulers of the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten make a bet that has ripple effects over the lives of mortals, especially Manolo, who must travel through the realms to be reunited with his true love.
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22) Beetlejuice (1988)
A movie that makes the living seem like villains and the recently deceased the heroes, Beetlejuice is about a pair of ghosts who want to scare away the family that moved into their house after their death. Another Tim Burton masterpiece, it has outstanding performances from an A-list cast that includes Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin and Winona Ryder.
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23) Halloweentown (2004)
As all '90s kids will attest, Disney Channel Original Movies do it best when it comes to Halloween — and this one starring the late, great Debbie Reynolds is the ultimate. And if it's a hit, all three sequels are available to stream on Disney+.
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24) Labyrinth (1986)
A sneaky way to turn your kids into David Bowie fans, Labyrinth tells the story of a girl who accidentally wishes her baby brother away. He gets sent to the realm of the Goblin King (Bowie), and she has to save him before time runs out and he becomes one of the king's minions forever. Jim Henson's company fills out the Goblin King's world with amazing puppet creatures.
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25) Lego Star Wars Terrifying Tales (2021)
"Terrifying" is definitely an overstatement — this anthology of stories set in the Star Wars universe is definitely more silly than anything else. They come together to form a 45-minute special perfect for little Halloween fans.
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26) Corpse Bride (2005)
This Oscar-nominated stop-motion movie follows a young man who accidentally married a ghost. If you couldn't already guess, the movie is directed by Tim Burton (again), and it's done in his trademark macabre style.
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27) Room on the Broom (2013)
This 25-minute film, an adaptation of the book by Julia Donaldson, stars a witch, but she's by no means scary: She's quick with a smile and a laugh, and kind to the animals who all ask her for a ride. This one's so good, it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
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28) Monster House (2006)
There are haunted house movies. There are monster movies. This one combines the two into a tale where a house is a monster, and three friends have to figure out how to defeat it before it destroys the neighborhood.
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29) The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1950)
If your kids don't already know Washington Irving's classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Disney provides the perfectly scary introduction. Bing Crosby and Basil Rathbone provide some of the voices. The movie also comes with a not-at-all-Halloween-related adaptation of The Wind in the Willows, which can provide comic relief after you watch the scary Ichabod story.
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30) The Munsters (2022)
No one expected that extreme-horror master Rob Zombie would do a movie adaptation of The Munsters — and a PG-rated one at that. But here it is, telling the story about how the vampire Lily fell for a square-headed, green monster.
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31) Cruella (2021)
Cruella isn't specifically a Halloween movie, and it isn't frightening in a goblins, ghouls or witches sense. But it has that Halloweeny goth vibe (mixed with some cool punk fashions that make for great Cruella Halloween costumes). And in delving into the events that turned Estrella into Cruella, some horrifying things happen, explaining how she became one of the all-time great Disney villains. (The events can be violent, so this is a PG-13 film that's more suitable for the older kids.)
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32) Super Monsters Save Halloween (2018)
For the littlest Halloween fans, Netflix offers this Super Monsters half-hour special, which actively shows preschoolers how the holiday's scares are mostly make-believe. The characters explain the tricks behind haunted houses and spooky decorations so they don't seem quite so horrifying anymore. Super Monsters: Vida's First Halloween, one of the many Super Monsters specials, is a good one to watch afterward.
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33) Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
This PG-13 movie is for the in-betweeners: Kids who have aged out of the most family-friendly scary movies, but aren't yet old enough for Nightmare on Elm Street. Based on the series of books that used to terrify you as a child, this movie follows a group of kids who have to investigate a bunch of local legends — before the legends wind up getting the better of them. (Note: This movie is much darker/more mature than a lot of the others on this list — it's really for the older ones.)
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RELATED: Fun Kids' Movies on Netflix That You Can Stream Right Now
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34) Frankenweenie (2012)
This black-and-white, stop-motion movie from director Tim Burton is a clever twist on the classic Frankenstein story. Instead of a human subject, the young scientist in this movie re-animates a pet dog.
Disney - 36/63
35) Mary and the Witch's Flower (2018)
Just when you thought you'd seen every movie about a magic school for new witches, another pops up to add to your list. This one, about a girl who picks a special flower that brings her to the enchanted Endor College, does have some suspenseful scenes where characters are in peril, but it also has a theme of learning to be brave.
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36) The Witches (1990)/(2020)
Angelica Houston steps into the square-toed shoes in this adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Witches. The story follows a boy who happens to stumble upon a convention of witches while staying at a hotel. Can he take them on himself? (Looking for the newer version, directed by Back to the Future's Robert Zemeckis and starring Anne Hathaway? It was removed from HBO Max, but you can still find it on Amazon and iTunes.)
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37) The Addams Family (1991)
Featuring an all-star cast that includes Anjelica Huston (again), Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci, this film update of the iconic TV show exceeds all expectations. Your kids will probably love Cousin It just as much as we do. Once they get hooked, show them The Addams Family Values at Thanksgiving.
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38) Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest (2013)
This one-hour special is perfect for toddlers who want to get in on the Halloween fun, but want no scares whatsoever. In it, George looks for a rumored hat-stealing scarecrow, goes pumpkin-picking and tries to make a costume, so it's all wholesome and gentle.
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39) Nightbooks (2021)
It pays to have a good imagination, right? In Nightbooks, a young boy is ostracized for his love of creating scary stories. Then, he gets abducted by a witch who demands he tell a new scary story every night if he wants to stay alive. As he spins his yarns, he plots an escape with another prisoner. (This one might be better for tweens, and let the real little ones skip it.)
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40) The House With a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
Eli Roth, a director known for ultra-violent horror movies like Cabin Fever and Hostel, tames it way, way down for this family-friendly film. Based on the excellent book by John Bellairs, the story follows a 10-year-old kid who, after he's sent to be watched over by an eccentric uncle (Jack Black) and and his friendly neighbor (Cate Blanchett), is pulled into an ancient rivalry between witches and warlocks.
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41) The Goonies (1985)
This movie shows what teens and pre-teens are like when adults aren't watching — including all the rudeness and profanity that goes with it — and then sets that energy on an adventure to find a lost pirate's treasure. While there may not be too many classic Halloween elements to the story, the danger makes the action feel intense.
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42) Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Drama and hilarity ensues when a human discovers a remote resort for monsters and other mythical creatures run by Dracula, played by Adam Sandler. The movie is from the POV of the monsters (drawn by beloved animator Genndy Tartakovsky), so they come across as the good guys. And, if your kids love this one, there are plenty of sequels that follow: Hotel Transylvania 2, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation and Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, which came out in January of this year.
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43) Spookley the Square Pumpkin (2004)
For preschoolers who just want a hint of Halloween, this musical 47-minute special is just the thing. There's a lesson about acceptance as Spookley has to learn to be proud of his square shape.
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44) Twitches (2005)
This Disney Channel original features Tia and Tamara Mowry as — what else? — twins. Separated at birth, they reunite on their 21st birthday and realize that they have magical powers, which they must use to protect their world from "the darkness." Fans can move on to Twitches Too.
Disney - 46/63
45) A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting (2020)
Kelly Ferguson accepts a babysitting gig on Halloween night — only to have her charge captured by the Boogeyman. Luckily, she learns of a secret society of child guardians who can help her learn to fight monsters.
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46) Goosebumps (2015)
Jack Black returns, this time as R.L. Stine for a movie based on Stine's beloved scary-book series. The plot weaves in lots of details that parents remember from the books and turns them into a whole new story. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween followed in 2018.
Sony Pictures - 48/63
47) King Kong (1933)
Introduce your kids to the world of classic cinema with this groundbreaking movie. You'll have to talk to them about some of the ways this movie is dated (especially the outdated the portrayal of natives), but the special effects look ahead of their time, and the monster-on-monster action is still thrilling today.
Warner Bros. - 49/63
48) Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie (2005)
This is another good choice if you have a toddler in the mix, especially if they love Pooh and all his friends in the 100 Acre Wood. In this one-hour special, Roo is excited to take his friend Lumpy trick-or-treating, but Tigger scares them with a tale of a Gobloon who'll turn revelers into a Jaggedy Lantern if he catches them.
Disney - 50/63
49) Gnome Alone (2018)
When Chloe moves into a new home with her mother, she finds something unexpected: a group of garden gnomes who say the neighborhood is under attack by underground beasts. It’s up to Chloe to help the gnomes save the world.
Netflix - 51/63
50) The Addams Family (2019)
They're creepy and they're kooky, but they're also plenty of fun. This animated take on the Addams clan also looks more like the old Charles Addams cartoons. When it's done, you can watch the road-trip-themed sequel that came out last year.
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51) Scoob! (2020)
Did you know the Mystery Machine gang met on a Halloween night? This animated movie delves into the gang's origins, then solves a mystery that's more fantastic than it is terrifying. (Plus, there are plenty of Easter eggs for parents who might've grown up with old Hanna-Barbera cartoons.) If this sparks an interest in dog-related mystery-solving, there's also a live action Scooby Doo that's more monster-oriented.
Warner Bros. - 53/63
52) Casper (1995)
Christina Ricci — who was basically the It Girl of vintage ghoul movies as a kid — stars as Kathleen Harvey, the daughter of ghost therapist Dr. James Harvey. She's recruited by the friendliest ghost of all time to help him handle some unfinished business.
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53) Don't Look Under The Bed (1999)
In this Disney Channel Original, a young girl is framed for the Boogeyman's pranks. Can she clear her name?
Disney - 55/63
54) Fun Size (2012)
For older kids, this PG-13 Halloween-themed caper comedy feels like a step toward more adult fare — but there's still no ghouls or gore. It's about a teenager who's tasked with babysitting her brother during trick-or-treating, only to lose him in a crowd of kids.
Paramount Pictures - 56/63
55) A Witch's Ball (2017)
Halloween has come again and it’s time for Beatrix to become a witch. She can’t wait to become one but when things take a turn, her pending title is threatened.
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56) Zombies (2018)
This 2018 Disney Channel original musical has a very Halloweeny premise: After a disaster at a power plant turns half the town of Seabrook into zombies, the government invents a device that stops the undead from craving brains, and the zombies have to re-integrate into regular society (including high school). Zombies 2 followed in 2020, and Zombies 3 — now with aliens! — premiered in July.
Disney - 58/63
57) Double, Double, Toil & Trouble (1993)
Throwback to the days when the Olsen twins were direct-to-video superstars with this cutesy Halloween flick. The plot: The family business is losing money and they're at risk of losing their home, until the twins use a little magic to save it.
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58) The Haunted Mansion (2003)
The Haunted Mansion is a beloved theme park attraction because of its mix of spookiness and silliness, and this Eddie Murphy-starring movie tries to capture that blend on the big screen. A remake with Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson and Dany DeVito is planned for next year, so watch this one now to brush up.
Disney - 60/63
59) Little Monsters (1989)
Fred Savage stars as a kid who believes there are monsters under his bed, only to be proven right. Only the monsters are not exactly what he imagined them to be. Howie Mandel co-stars as Maurice the monster.
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60) Spooky Buddies (2011)
For animal lovers who love the spin-off movies from the Air Bud franchise, this Halloween-themed Buddies film comes fifth in the series, after the Christmas-themed Santa Buddies. (Bookmark that one for later.) This time, pups venture through a haunted mansion to stop Warwick the Warlock.
Disney - 62/63
61) Under Wraps (2021)
A remake of another Disney Channel original, this movie follows three kids who accidentally revive an ancient mummy. Chaos and adventure ensues — especially when they discover he needs to be back in his resting place by midnight on Halloween. A sequel, Under Wraps 2, came out in 2022.
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62) The Little Vampire (2000)
Tony tries to help his vampire friend and his family find a special stone that will break their vampire curse and return them back to being human. It stars Jonathan Lipnicki, who charmed audiences in Jerry McGuire. There's also an animated version on Netflix, imported from Europe.
New Line Cinema
