While Halloween is certainly all about having an excuse to eat loads of extra candy and dressing up in costumes for parties and trick-or-treating, the spooky holiday really wouldn't be the same without the movies. Luckily, not every Halloween movie marathon has to feature psychopathic killers and terrifying monsters. You might want to take in the changing leaves with a cozy fall movie, or maybe watch a holiday romance with a Hallmark Halloween flick. There are plenty of family Halloween movies out there, but sometimes, a good old-fashioned Disney movie is just what you need to make your All Hallows' Eve extra special.
Some of these choices are right on the nose, taking place on Halloween night (or even in magical alternate dimensions), and some are centered around the holiday's main themes of ghouls, goblins and witches that are an equally satisfying way to lead up to October 31. The best part is, regardless of your age, none of these films are scary like a classic slasher or other supernatural scares that are best for adult eyes only.
If spooky and scary isn't your jam, stream these classic Disney films for a fun (and family-friendly) Halloween movie night.
Lonesome Ghosts (1937)
Disney
Who's in it: Billy Bletcher, Pinto Colvig, and Walt Disney
Where to stream: Disney Plus
Watching Mickey, Donald, and Goofy dodge a few prank-happy ghosts brings back all the nostalgia. The trio of ghostbusters is hired to remove a group of "lonely and bored" spooks from a haunted house—but they're not quite prepared for all the trouble they get into. With tons of pranks and silly hijinks, this short film will have viewers of all ages giggling.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Disney
Who's in it: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy
Where to stream: Disney Plus, Prime Video and Apple TV
Get ready for some classic witchy hijinks when three Salem sisters—Winifred (Midler), Sarah (Parker), and Mary (Najimy)—are accidentally resurrected in modern-day Massachusetts. As they wreak havoc on the town and try to suck out children's lives so they can live forever, it's up to a brave trio of teens and one talking cat to put an end to the sisters' misdeeds. And add the sequel to your watchlist! It (finally) came out in 2022.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Getty/Disney
Who's in it: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, and Catherine O'Hara
Where to stream: Disney Plus, Prime Video and Apple TV
Tim Burton's musical masterpiece is a must-watch for any Halloween movie marathon. After the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town discovers Christmas Town, he decides to bring back some of that holiday magic to his own world. But not everything goes as planned, and his citizens realize they've taken on more than they bargained for.
The Black Cauldron (1995)
Disney
Who's in it: Grant Bardsley, Freddie Jones, and Susan Sheridan
Where to stream: Disney Plus, Prime Video and Apple TV
This lesser-known animated Disney tale follows an orphan named Taran, who's on a quest to save the world from the Horned King. Armed with his group of misfit pals, the boy is determined to get his hands on the all-powerful Black Cauldron before the king does. While it doesn't have all the pumpkins and ghosts of other Halloween movies, this dark fairytale adventure features tons of fantastical elements that will get you in the spooky spirit.
Halloweentown (1998)
Disney
Who's in it: Debbie Reynolds, Kimberly J. Brown, and Judith Hoag
Where to stream: Disney Plus and Prime Video
This beloved Disney Channel Original Movie follows a teenager named Marnie (Brown) as she makes the startling discovery that she's a witch. With the help of her grandmother Aggie (Reynolds), they embark on a magical mission to save Halloweentown from the evil forces that threaten to destroy it. Be sure to add its three sequels—Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge, Halloweentown High, and Return to Halloweentown—for a quadruple-movie treat.
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Disney/Pixar
Who's in it: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi
Where to stream: Disney Plus, Prime Video and Apple TV
What could be more fun than a monster-filled Halloween? This hilarious Pixar adventure follows two monsters, Sulley and Mike, as they make the horrifying discovery that children aren't as toxic to their kind as they thought.
Mom's Got A Date With A Vampire (2002)
Disney
Who's in it: Matt O'Leary, Laura Vandervoort, Myles Jeffrey, and Caroline Rhea
Where to stream: Disney Plus and Prime Video
Two kids set up their mother on a blind date with a handsome yet mysterious stranger. What could go wrong? Well, as it turns out, the stranger is a vampire. And now, the kids have to save their mom and stop the creature from taking over their town.
Spooky Buddies (2011)
Disney
Who's in it: Tucker Albrizzi, Diedrich Bader, and Ameko Eks Mass Carroll
Where to stream: Disney Plus and Prime Video
This doggone adorable adventure follows five talking pups on a mission to stop Warwick the Warlock before he takes over the world. Cute dogs in even cuter Halloween costumes? What more could you ask for?
Frankenweenie (2012)
Disney
Who's in it: Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Martin Short
Where to stream: Disney Plus, Prime Video and Apple TV
When a young boy named Victor Frankenstein figures out how to bring his beloved bull terrier, Sparky, back to life, his small town is turned upside down. With its Tim Burton-esque visuals and some familiar voices, this stop-motion animation is a must-watch for Halloween enthusiasts of all ages.
Into The Woods (2014)
Disney
Who's in it: Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt, and James Corden
Where to stream: Disney Plus, Apple TV and Prime Video
This modern musical brings beloved fairytales to life. Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack from the Beanstalk all find themselves caught in a spellbinding web of wishes and curses. With its clever plot twists and enchanting performances from an all-star cast, Into The Woods is a great alternative to the usual Halloween fare.
Maleficent (2014)
Disney
Who's in it: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, and Sharlto Copley
Where to stream: Prime Video and Apple TV
This spine-tingling retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty story follows a powerful fairy who puts a curse on the king's infant daughter after he betrays her. When the child grows up, the fairy realizes that she may be the only person who can bring peace back to the kingdom.
Coco (2017)
Disney/Pixar
Who's in it: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, and Benjamin Bratt
Where to stream: Disney Plus, Prime Video and Apple TV
This heartfelt journey to the Land of the Dead is hard to watch without shedding a tear. Unwilling to accept his family's ancestral ban on music, Miguel searches for his great-great-grandfather in the afterlife to achieve his dreams of becoming a musician.
Cruella (2021)
Laurie Sparham/Disney
Who's in it: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, and Joel Fry
Where to stream: Disney Plus, Prime Video and Apple TV
Was there a villain more awful than 101 Dalmatians' puppy-wearing Cruella? This live-action comedy tells the backstory of how a talented young grifter named Estella turned into the notorious Cruella de Vil. With her iconic two-toned hair and fishnet stockings, the mark she's determined to leave on the fashion world is almost as iconic as her wicked ways.
—
So, there you have it—a whole list of Halloween Disney movies to choose from! Whether you're continuing a fall tradition or just looking for a spooky escape from the summer heat, these films are a must for a fantastically frightful movie night.
