Kids

Hollywood Films to Rewatch With Kids This Halloween

by Nicole Limlengco
October 23, 2026

From Casper to Coraline, these Hollywood films to rewatch with kids tuck real lessons inside the spooks

Millennial parents who grew up in the 1990s had plenty to choose from at the video store, and a surprising number of those favorites hold up on a second viewing. Few were pitched as Halloween releases, but each one carries enough spooks to earn a spot on the October watchlist. The best Hollywood films to rewatch with kids are Casper, Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Beetlejuice, Addams Family Values, and Coraline. Each one trades heavy scares for jokes, heart, and a lesson that lands harder the second time around.

They also make an easy case for a family movie night, one where nobody is hunched over a screen of their own.

Which Spooky Movies Suit Younger Kids?

Start gentle and work up. “Casper,” “Hocus Pocus,” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” are all rated PG with lighter scares. “Beetlejuice” and “Coraline” are also PG, but they run darker. “Addams Family Values” is the only PG-13 title here. Preview the last three before inviting younger viewers.

Casper and Kat’s first meeting
Photo: Universal Pictures

Casper (1995): Kindness Turns Up in Strange Places

A friendly ghost lives in a haunted mansion with three eccentric ghost uncles, which makes this the softest scare on the list. Casper’s gentleness sits right beside the greed of the adults hunting for treasure. The film’s quiet point is that griefGriefThe deep sadness that follows the loss of a loved one, which children experience differently from adults. Parents can help by using honest, simple words, allowing tears and questions, keeping doesn’t have to mean isolation, and that compassion matters more than appearances.

Hocus Pocus (1993): Quick Thinking Beats Flattery

Three resurrected witches wreak Halloween-night havoc in Salem, and it takes friends working together to stop them. The movie also warns against falling for flattery and sweet promises from someone whose motives are plainly suspicious. That’s a handy lesson for kids who will meet a few smooth talkers of their own.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): Be Yourself, Not Someone Else

Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, stumbles into Christmas Town and tries to remake the holiday in Halloween’s image. His mistake shows what happens when you borrow another world’s traditions without understanding them. The better move is to bring your own perspective to the things you love, a good talking point if your kid is copying everything their friends do.

Bettlejuice: The wedding scene where both families – the Maitlands and Deetzes
– acknowledge each other and come together to save Lydia
Photo: Warner Brothers

Beetlejuice (1988): Laughing at the Unknown

Two recently deceased ghosts haunt their own home while a chaotic “bio-exorcist” makes the afterlife even stranger. The film treats death with humor instead of dread. It also cautions against greed, exploitation, and trying to control other people, and it shows that empathy and found family can bridge very different worlds. The humor skews older, so it suits tweens better than toddlers.

Addams Family Values (1993): Odd Is Perfectly Fine

A gothic mansion, macabre jokes, a murderous bride, and summer-camp shenanigans fill this sequel. Beneath the dark humor, the Addamses show that loyalty and acceptance can be a form of love. Nobody should be judged by how “normal” they look, and each family member’s quirks are worth celebrating.

Coraline (2009): Real Love Is Imperfect

A hidden door leads to an eerily perfect “Other World,” complete with button-eyed parents and a sinister Other Mother. Coraline learns to be careful what she wishes for. Real love is imperfect but genuine, and bravery means doing the right thing even when you’re scared. Its director, Henry Selick, also made “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” so the stop-motion eeriness will feel familiar. It’s the creepiest pick here, so save it for kids who handle spooky well.

Pick one, dim the lights, and listen for the line your kid quotes back to you tomorrow morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHICH MOVIES IN THE LIST ARE BEST FOR YOUNG KIDS?

“Casper,” “Hocus Pocus,” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” are the gentlest options. All three are rated PG and lean on humor and heart more than fright.

IS “CORALINE” TOO SCARY FOR KIDS?

It’s rated PG, but its imagery is eerie, especially the button-eyed Other Mother. Watch it yourself first, or pick it for kids who already enjoy spooky stories.

WHAT CAN KIDS LEARN FROM SPOOKY MOVIES?

Across this list, the recurring themes are kindness, being yourself, teamwork, and courage. After the credits, ask your kids what the main character got right or wrong.