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13 Not-So-Scary Halloween Movies for Kids
by: Erin Dower
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Nothing says Halloween like Night of the Living Dead, The Ring, or...well...Halloween. But what about Halloween movies that your kids can watch? We've rounded up our favorite 13 (get it? 13?) not-so-scary Halloween movies just for kids.
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Monsters, Inc.
Rated G
What if the scary monsters that lived under in your closet were actually afraid of you?
Blue-furred Sulley and his one-eyed assistant Mike are employed at Monsters, Inc., a scream processing factory. It's their job to scare human children because their screams help their monster world thrive.
But what happens when a child isn't afraid— and follows the monsters back to their world? They become exiles in her universe, and find some other mythical creatures that are fellow refugees as well.
This popular children's book is now an animated film. Join the kindly witch who invites a host of animals for a ride on her broom. When the animals save her from a terrible dragon, she rewards them with a bigger broom that fits everyone.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, just ask the Boxtrolls! These mischievous and good-hearted creatures have lovingly raised a human boy named "Eggs" in their cavern below the bustling streets of Cheesebridge.
Their peaceful lives are suddenly upended when evil Archibald Snatcher decides to capture the lovable misfits. It's up to Eggs and his friend, Winnie, to save the quirky, box-wearing creatures he calls family.
Hotel Transylvania
Rated PG
No humans allowed in Dracula's luxury resort. Hotel Transylvania is strictly a place where monsters and their families come to play!
One special weekend, Dracula invites all of his friends — Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Werewolf family, and many others — to celebrate his daughter Mavis's 118th birthday. It's all fun and games until an ordinary guy stumbles into the hotel and crashes their party. Sure, Dracula can host monsters, but how in the world can he host a human?
Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Rated G
Wallace and Gromit, the famous stop-motion duo from England, embarked upon their biggest and best adventure when the Curse of the Were-Rabbit film was released in 2005. Just before the big GiantVegetable Competition, the town's produce is threatened by a ravenous, nocturnal beast known as the Were-Rabbit. Can Wallace and Gromit stop the Were-Rabbit before it's too late?
It's Lumpy the Heffalump's first Halloween, and he's scared out of his wits! Pooh and the gang are so frightened of an imaginary monster they call the Gobloon, they determine that they'll need to go out and catch it - scaring themselves silly in the process! Besides its gentle humor and cuddly characters, Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie has some valuable lessons to teach kids about facing their fears.
The Worst Witch
Rated G
The Worst Witch books take place at a school for witchcraft, where students take classes in subjects like charms and potions. (Does this remind you of another children's fantasy series?) This made-for-TV production was based on the first book, and stars Fairuza Balk, Diana Riggand Tim Curry. It's worth a viewing just to see Tim Curry's psychadelic performance of "Anything Can Happen on Halloween."
Charlie Brown's Halloween special is an absolute must at Halloween. Charlie's best friend Linus spends his Halloween night eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Great Pumpkin, a Santa-Claus-like figure Linus thinks visits children every Halloween night. The special airs annually on television, and is also available on DVD.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy play three sisters who are brought back to life 300 years after being convicted of witchcraft at the Salem witch trials. As is usually the case with these matters, their plans to take revenge on society as a whole are thwarted by a band of plucky teens. Since its release, Hocus Pocus has become something of a Halloween tradition, appearing on television throughout the month of October.
How can you be afraid of ghosts when the ghost is small, boyish, and named Casper?
Christina Ricci stars in this oldie-but-goodie about a young girl named Kat who befriends a very friendly ghost.
The story begins with an irritable woman, Ms. Carrigan, who inherits an old, rickety house in New England from her deceased father. She is furious when she finds out the house is haunted by the (not-so-scary) Casper, and employs a "professional ghost exterminator" (played by Dan Ackroyd) to get rid of him. When that doesn't work, she hired a "ghost psychiatrist", who arrives at the house with his daughter, Kat.
Kat and Casper become fast friends as they work to save the home that houses Casper andhis three ghost uncles, from the mean Ms. Carrigan.
Jack Skellington is the king pumpkin king of Halloweentown, but he grows tired of the same old thing every Halloween.until the day he stumblesupon Christmastown. He tries to share the spirit of Christmas with his fellow ghouls, but they don't quite seem to get it. There's only one solution: kidnap Santa Claus and take over Christmas! The Nightmare Before Christmas is a dark fairy tale that is astunning stop-motion masterpiecewith enchanting musical numbers.
The Harry Potter Series
Rated PG and PG-13
On the tail of the explosively popular book series by J.K. Rowling comes the equally popular movie series that follows Harry Potter, a boy wizard, as he balances school with defeating his arch enemy, Lord Voldemort, who is set on destroying the world.
Although the series is wildly popular among all age groups, some of the movies can be a little scary for younger viewers.
