The Best Disney Halloween Movies
Nothing gets you into the Halloween spirit like a scary movie. But if what you’re craving is a respite from the intensity of a horror flick, Disney has a stable of cult films that blend eeriness, kitsch, and more often than not, a whole host of 90’s nostalgia. Here, three essentials to re-watch now.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Rent or buy it: amazon.com
Though it was released more than 20 years ago, Hocus Pocus has become a bona-fide classic. Set in Salem, Massachusetts, the film follows what ensues when a boy named Max and his friends accidentally free a trio of evil witch sisters (played by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker) on a quest to become immortal. Add candles, a book of spells, and a magic black cat to the mix, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a tried and true Halloween flick. (And, to this day, the witches’ outlandish outfits have inspired a host of Halloween costumes every year.)
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Rent or buy it: amazon.com
The brainchild of director Tim Burton, this artful stop-motion film blends two holidays! When Jack Skellington, the aptly named “Pumpkin King” of Halloween Town, discovers a portal to Christmas Town and decides to study and celebrate the holiday, dark hilarity ensues. Plus, the score, written by composer Danny Elfman (who also provided the singing voice of Jack), is a perfect touch.
Related: How to Make a Party Pumpkin:
Twitches (2005)
Rent or buy it: amazon.com
Craving a feel-good Halloween film? Look no further than Twitches, a 2005 Disney Channel Original Movie that transcended its small screen status. Starring Tia and Tamera Mowry of the channel’s 1990’s sitcom Sister Sister, this film about twins who reunite on their 21st birthday—and discover their magical past—is a fun and good-natured Halloween movie night essential.
