52 Non-Scary Halloween Movies Perfect for Getting You in the Trick-or-Treating Mood
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Halloween is often celebrated with a marathon of classic horror movies, riddled with ghosts and goblins, hair-raising murder mysteries, and endless jump scares. And while there’s nothing like snuggling up on the couch with your besties and a big bucket of popcorn, scary movies might not be your thing. If you prefer the witchcraft and wizardry of the Halloween season, as opposed to the gore and guts, there are tons of non-scary Halloween movies that won’t make you peek out from behind your hands the entire time, or keep you up for all hours of the night.
Whether you’re looking for a dose of nostalgia with classic Disney Halloween films, or something more humorous than horrifying like a bewitching rom-com, we’ve found all the best Halloween movies for people who hate scary flicks — or for those nights when you’re just not in the mood to scream. So without further ado, check out these 52 non-scary Halloween movies that will get you ready to trick-or-treat, without scaring you half to death.
The School for Good and Evil (2022)
Based on the 2013 novel of the same name, The School for Good and Evil follows best friends Sophie and Agatha, who attend a magical school for fairy tale heroes and villains, but unexpectedly find themselves on opposing sides of the legendary institution.
Scooby-Doo (2002)
The Mystery Inc. gang comes back together when Scooby-Doo, Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy are summoned to Spooky Island and investigate a string of eerie instances.
The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)
A teenage girl must unite with the most unlikely ally — her father — after she unknowingly unlocks an ancient spirit that causes decorations to come alive and wreak havoc on Halloween.
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
Fascinated by California's bright city lights, an alien makes an unlikely friend during a surprise visit to earth.
Bewitched (2005)
An actor who is set to star in a remake of the beloved sitcom Bewitched believes that his new co-star is in actual witch and tries to figure out the truth.
Coco (2017)
Although technically not Halloween, this sweet Pixar film takes place during Dia De Los Muertos and follows a young boy Miguel who hopes to become a musician against his family's wishes.
Casper (1995)
A young girl befriends a lonely ghost after moving into the very house that he haunts.
Casper Meets Wendy (1998)
Casper and Wendy are such an iconic duo. When the two meet each other while vacationing with their respective families, they become instant besties and team up to take down the evil warlock.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Three-hundred years after being hung at the Salem Witch Trails, the Sanderson sisters return when three kids accidentally resurrect them. Laugh along as the three kids try to stop these witchy sisters from taking over Salem and and killing children in order to stay immortal.
Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprise their roles as Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson, who are (re)resurrected and ready to wreak havoc on the town of Salem after a new group of high schoolers light the Black Flame Candle.
Goosebumps (2015)
A young teenager tries to get R.L. Stein's help when his famous Goosebumps books start coming to life.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Rocky Horror is the ultimate cult classic Halloween flick that you'll want to watch every single year after your first watch. While it might not be super scary, its songs are so catchy that you'll find yourself doing the "Time Warp" for the rest of spooky season.
The Witches (2020)
A young boy uncovers a group of diabolical witches who plan to turn children into mice when he goes to live with his aunt after the death of his parents.
Knives Out (2019)
Knives Out is the ultimate murder-mystery flick for your movie night. After a wealthy crime novelist is found dead in his home following his 85th birthday party, a skilled detective investigates the entirety of the man's eccentric family.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Loved the twists and turns of the first Knives Out movie? Make it a double feature with its sequel, starring an entirely new cast of characters (apart from Detective Benoit Blanc, of course) in a new seaside setting.
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
This horror-comedy, which depicts a high school student whose been possessed by a flesh-eating demon, definitely has some scarier moments — but you probably won’t have to sleep with the lights on.
The Addams Family (2019)
This animated remake follows the spookiest family on their journey after an angry mob disapproves of Gomez and Morticia's wedding ceremony.
Halloweentown (1998)
Obviously Halloweentown is on this list — it's the ideal non-scary Halloween movie. Plus, there are so many sequels, which makes it perfect for a movie marathon.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Of course, we can't have a list of magical and whimsical Halloween movies and not include Harry Potter. Revisit the enchantment of the first film, as Harry receives his letter to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and begins his journey alongside his pals, Ron and Hermione. Need more magic? Make a weekend of it and watch all eight films, plus the 20th anniversary reunion special, on HBO Max.
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble (1993)
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen starred as twin sisters who are fighting to save their family's farm.
Now You See It... (2005)
A young man gets invited to join a competition to find the next greatest magician, but soon finds out that not everything is as it seems.
9 (2009)
A group of small group of rag dolls must try to survive and bring humanity back after a robot wipes out every living thing on earth.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
When Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, finds himself in Christmas Town, he decides to kidnap Santa and take over the holiday, turning the joyous time of year into one filled with shrunken heads and skeletal reindeer!
Corpse Bride (2005)
There are so many Tim Burton movies on this list because he is the king of great Halloween movies. This one is about Victor, who accidentally marries a corpse bride, forcing him to decide between staying married to her or leaving her for his former fiancé, Victoria.
The Little Vampire (2000)
This feel good movie is about a little boy who befriends a vampire as the two search for a magical amulet that can turn the vampire, and his family, into humans.
Girl vs. Monster (2012)
Aspiring singer Skylar sneaks out of her parent's home to attend a Halloween Bash with her besties. When she disables her family's alarm system, she unleashes a monster that preys on the fear of her family, who she later finds are 5th generation, monster hunters.
Warm Bodies (2013)
If you're looking for a Halloween rom-com, look no further than Warm Bodies. It's about a zombie who falls in love with a living girl and it's adorable!
Death Note (2017)
A teenager discovers a mysterious notebook that allows him to write the name of anyone and end their life. But when a special task force forms to find who is behind these strange deaths, he must find a way to not get caught with the help of a death god.
The Addams Family (1991)
They're creepy and they're kooky, they're all together kookie ... so they're perfect for Halloween! The Addams Family is the perfect Halloween comedy for your movie marathon!
Twilight (2008)
Bella Swan moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her dad and get through high school relatively unnoticed — that is, until she meets and falls completely and totally in love with the mysterious Edward Cullen, who just so happens to be a vampire.
Beetlejuice (1988)
After dying in a car crash, Adam and Barbara Maitland learn they have to stay in their house for 150 years, which they're fine with, at least until their house is sold to the Deetz family, whom they take an immediate disliking toward. To remedy the situation, the Maitlands hire Beetle Juice to scare the Deetz away, but Beetle Juice gets distracted when he starts wooing the Deetz daughter in order to marry her and return to the land of the living.
Fun Size (2012)
Fun Size is the perfect Halloween comedy if you're looking to laugh while eating all of your trick-or-treat goodies. It stars Victoria Justice as Wren, who is forced to babysit her little brother on Halloween. When he does missing, she must skip the party of the year in order to find him, but things get super complicated super quickly.
Ghostbusters (1984)
After losing their research grants, Ego, Ray, and Peter, open Ghostbusters and soon find themselves investigating the possession and abduction of a woman that Peter is interested in. And, if you finish this movie and want more, there's always the remake!
The Craft (1996)
Pretty much the spooky version of Mean Girls, The Craft follows Sarah as she enrolls in a new prep school and falls in with three girls who practice witchcraft. Soon, they begin conjuring up various spells and curses against those who even slightly anger them and, obviously, chaos ensues.
Practical Magic (1998)
Sisters Sally and Gillian Owens were born into a magical family as witches, however they largely avoided potions and spells their entire life. But when every man they've ever loved has died because of an evil curse set on their family, and a detective begins to grow suspicious of them, Sally and Gillian decide to take matters into their own hands.
Twitches (2005)
Twitches is an all time Disney classic starring Tia and Tamara Mowry of Sister, Sister fame. Camryn and Alex were separated at birth when their home was taken over by the darkness. On their 21st birthday, the two find each other and learn of their magic powers. Together, they try to save their world before it's too late.
Twitches Too (2007)
Reunite with twin witches Alex and Camryn in Twitches Too, as they set out on an adventure to find their biological father.
Invisible Sister (2015)
Molly and Cleo may be sisters, but they're total opposites. When Molly starts to go invisible thanks to Cleo's science experiment, Cleo must try to figure out how to reverse the affects before they turn permanent at midnight.
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Dracula runs a hotel for monsters with his daughter, Mavis, but when Jonathan, a human comes to stay there, Dracula tries to kick him out, only to realize Mavis and Jonathan have fallen in love.
Super Monsters Save Halloween (2018)
These pint-sized buddies fight to get their neighbors in the Halloween spirit while encouraging a fear-filled friend to enjoy the spooky holiday.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Although the Peanuts classics debuted decades earlier, it seems that no holiday is complete without a viewing of Charlie Brown and whatever escapades he, Linus, Lucy, and the rest of the gang have gotten into. Maybe this year Linus will finally get to greet the Great Pumpkin.
Matilda (1996)
All foster child Matilda wants is to go to school, but her foster parents won't let her. Finally, after a string of unlucky events, they find a school for her with a very mean headmaster. It is there that Matilda learns she has telekinetic powers and she must learn to use them for good in order to survive school and her foster parents.
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
On their way to a family vacation, Jim Evers has his family check out a mansion he's trying to sell, but when a storm keeps them from continuing their journey, they must stay the night. That's when they encounter two former lovers who died before they get married and the Evers must help them, and the other ghosts in the house, to break a curse.
Coraline (2009)
Coraline spends a lot of time alone at home after her parents move from Michigan to Oregon. It is in her new house that discovers the Other World, which includes Other Mother and Other Father, who spend more time with her than her own parents. When Coraline realizes, though, that the Other World is not as it seems, she must attempt to make her way back home to her real parents.
Zombieland (2009)
In an attempt to survive a zombie apocalypse, Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) travels with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) fighting zombies and attempting to find some sort of relief from the chaos.
As a bonus, if you watch Zombieland this Halloween season, you'll be prepared to watch Zombieland: Double Tap.
Don't Look Under the Bed (1999)
It may be considered the scariest DCOM of all time, but let's be honest, as you get older, the jump scares get a little more manageable.
ParaNorman (2012)
Norman doesn't really have many friends, preferring to hang out with the ghosts he could see and talk to, but when a witch's curse threatens his town, he must jump into action to save everyone.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
This October, stream the film that inspired the Sarah Michelle Gellar-led series of the same name. Buffy Summers is a typical high school cheerleader, but everything changes when she meets Merrick Jamison-Smythe and learns that she is her generation’s destined vampire slayer.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Before you watch Timotheé Chalamet portray the role of the zany chocolatier in the upcoming film Wonka, catch the first film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved story.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
The Tim Burton-directed film follows Jake, a young boy who moves into Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, where students boast magical abilities too extravagant for the outside world.
Hubie Halloween (2020)
Hubie Halloween boasts an all-star cast, including Adam Sandler, Noah Schnapp, Julie Bowen, Maya Rudolph, Kenan Thompson, and Kevin James. Sandler plays Hubie Dubois, the unlikely hero of his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, after people start disappearing and he sets out to solve the mystery.
Monster House (2006)
Driven by their curiosities, three friends enter an abandoned, hair-raising house in the neighborhood — only to find out that a murderous, mysterious monster lives inside.
You Might Also Like
