Let’s get freaky with less frightening and light-hearted Halloween movies.

A lot of people associate Halloween with the horror genre, viewing it as the perfect time to dim the lights, grab the bowl of candy, put on a scary flick, and let the good times (and probably heads) roll. However, not everyone vibes with horrifying films like Terrifier, preferring to go to bed with a smile on their face rather than fear in their heart – and hey, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Since we’re all about the love and sharing the trick-or-treat spirit around here, let’s take a look at the more light-hearted Halloween movies that are safe for everyone to watch. We promise to not recommend Adam Sandler’s Hubie Halloween since that’s terrifying in its own right.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Now, the average reader might be thinking: “Why didn’t you go with the original Beetlejuice here, nimrod?” Here’s the sitch: The 1988 Tim Burton film remains phenomenal – a treasure in the troves of cinema, so to speak – but Beetlejuice Beetlejuice feels more Halloweeny and apt for the pumpkin-spiced occasion. Look, it’s understandable since all the major events in the movie take place over All Hallow’s Eve, such as Lydia Deetz’s (Winona Ryder) proposed wedding and Astrid Deetz’s (Jenna Ortega) peculiar party at Jeremy Frazier’s (Arthur Conti) house. There’s also all the regular tomfoolery from Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) as he tries to escape his zombified and murderous ex-wife, Delores (Monica Bellucci), the rules between the undead and the living being about as flexible as a contortionist, and general mischief running amok throughout the film.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Oh, Max Dennison (Omri Katz), what did you do? Do you not understand the history of Salem and what you should and shouldn’t do? But nope, you mess around and find out as you resurrect three vengeful (but hilarious) Sanderson witches – Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary (Kathy Najimy). Kenny Ortega’s Hocus Pocus confirms its place as an annual Halloween movie must-watch with quirky characters and a charming story that spellbinds all who watch it. The 2022 sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, isn’t bad, but it lacks the magic of the original. 

The Monster Squad (1987)

What if someone took the lyrics of Bobby Pickett’s “Monster Mash” and turned it into a live-action film? That’s essentially the premise of Fred Dekker’s The Monster Squad. This delightful cult classic sees a group of young kids dubbed the Monster Squad embark on an adventure to find an amulet before it lands in the hands of Count Dracula (Duncan Regehr) and his team of merry monsters, including Frankenstein’s monster,  the Gill-man, the Mummy, and the Wolf Man. The Verge‘s Keith Phipps perfectly described the movie, writing: “At times, it plays like a prototype for Stranger Things, shot in a style heavily indebted to Spielberg and filled with homages to its source material.”

The Addams Family (1991)

If The Addams Family isn’t one of the first movies added to a Halloween watchlist, may Wednesday Addams (Christina Ricci) deal with you in her own special way. The 1991 Barry Sonnenfeld-directed flick, starring Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia as Morticia and Gomez Addams respectively, ages as gracefully as Thing, who looks fantastic for his age even though he’s severed from his body and proves to be a – ahem – handful. Combining the three Ms – macabre, mayhem, and madcap – the story follows the Addams as they reunite with Gomez’s long-lost brother, Fester (Christopher Lloyd), who disappeared 25 years ago. Is Fester really back, or is someone trying to get their greedy little paws on the Addams’ fortune?

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

“Boys and girls of every age, wouldn’t you like to see something strange? Come with us and you will see. This, our town of Halloween.” Henry Selick’s stop-motion classic The Nightmare Before Christmas, from a story created by Tim Burton, sees the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon), discover Christmas Town and conjures up a way to take over this delightful holiday world. Imaginative and daring, this film pushes the boundaries of creativity to deliver a Halloween movie classic for both young and old. Don’t be surprised to have all the songs stuck in your head after watching.

Ghostbusters (1984)

What’s Halloween without a classic? Forget about the so-so sequels and stick to the O.G. that established itself as a lightning-in-a-bottle movie 40 years ago. Ivan Reitman’s Ghostbusters sees the formation of a team of ghost-catchers who attempt to clean up New York City’s paranormal problem. The supernatural spectacle features the comedic talents of Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson as the ghost-hunting quartet. In addition to this stellar leading cast, Ghostbusters boasts the talents of Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett, who becomes inhabited by the dastardly demonic entity known as Zuul. Hilarious and unforgettable, the film consists of a number of iconic one-liners, such as: “There is no Dana, only Zuul!”

The Babysitter (2017)

Netflix’s The Babysitter doesn’t receive the flowers it deserves, even though it’s a wicked teen horror comedy. The film sees the 12-year-old Cole (Judah Lewis) discover that his babysitter, Bee (Samara Weaving), leads a satanic cult and they want to sacrifice him to the horned one. While it sounds like a scary premise that may require a change of underwear (or two), the McG-directed film proves to be a riotous time thanks to over-the-top performances from the likes of Bella Thorne’s cheerleader character, Allison, and the shirtless-for-no-reason Max (Robbie Amell). It’s more laughs than spooks – promise! The sequel, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, rocks too, if someone fancies one more Halloween movie to watch.