25 Best Netflix Shows and Movies for a Halloween Family Fun Night

Finding fun Halloween movies and shows for the whole family that will get the kiddos in the spooky season spirit but won’t send them climbing into your best at 1:00 AM in the morning can be quite the challenge. But, it’s not impossible to find Halloween movies and shows that are crowd-pleasers for kids, tweens, teens, and adults alike if you know where to look. We know exactly where to look, however, the amazing catalog of titles on Netflix!

From animated, kid-friendly horror movies and shows to live-action fantasy movies, there is no shortage of amazing Halloween content over at Netflix. You might be trying to plan a scary movie marathon or you might just be looking for something that will have the kids ready to throw on their costumes and roam the neighborhood, pillowcase in hand. Most of us know that Halloween is one of the best holidays and you can easily indoctrinate your child into believing the same by celebrating the season with some excellent Halloween TV shows and movies that they will love. Check out our picks below!

Scaredy Cats

This Halloween show for the whole family has good and evil, black cats, witches, and magic. It’s imaginative, with quirky kiddos learning about a new world. Yes, there are cats. And, yes, there will be shapeshifting!

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

If you grew up watching Nickelodeon, as so many of us did, Are You Afraid of the Dark? is the exact fix your family needs to get a little spooky (and a bit nostalgic) this Halloween season. This revival of the classic 90s staple arrived in 2019 and, without a doubt, it holds true to the original.

Liar, Liar, Vampire

When Caitlyn, the most popular girl in school, mistakes new kid Davis for a vampire, he gains instant star status. Davis enlists the help of his next-door neighbor, Vi, to dial up his vampire act. Together, will they fool the school? This one is silly and lighthearted and a lot of fun for children of all ages.

The Little Vampire

Rudolph, a kid obsessed with learning about the dead, meets and befriends an unusual friend. Together, Tony and Rudolph join up to keep Rudolph and his family safe from a group of vampire hunters. This is another one of the animated films on the list that has some remarkable animation that will leave your entire family in awe.

Nightbooks

The film follows Alex, a boy obsessed with scary stories, who is imprisoned by an evil young witch in her New York City apartment. The more youthful bookworms in your life will love this Halloween movie that blends legendary spooky tale-telling with a wicked witch’s scrutiny.

The Worst Witch

Here is a fun Halloween series for kids that the whole family can binge together. it’s not easy being a witch which is particularly true for Mildred Hubble, the bumbling heroine of Jill Murphy’s popular books who finds herself at a school for witches. She may be a witch-in-training, but that’s where all great witches start!

The Boy Who Cried Werewolf

When a family inherits an old mansion in Romania, kids Hunter and Jordan can’t wait to hop on a plane to visit. But they soon discover that this is no ordinary house when old secrets and the dark history of the mansion are finally revealed. With some hoping to discover monsters, they eventually appear too close to home.

Dark Shadows

Here’s a great film that’s tons of fun for kids who are tweens and teens. Tim Burton knows a thing or two about Halloween movies, and his 2012 gothic romp is no different. A centuries-old vampire returns to his run-down estate where he discovers his descendants who are a bit more up-to-speed with modern society than he is. Chaos ensues for your viewing pleasure.

La Leyenda de la Nahuala

This movie takes place in the year 1807 in the city of Puebla, New Spain. Leo San Juan, a timid 9-year-old boy, lives with his grandmother and his older brother, Nando. Leo is always frightened, due to the legend of the Nahuala that his brother told him about. The legend speaks at an old abandoned house, in which “La Nahuala”, a witch, lives. This one is real fun for all.

Hubie Halloween

A choice for mature tweens and teens, Hubie Halloween is a real treat for all. What really makes this a terrific Halloween family movie is the comedic mixed with creepy, as Adam Sandler’s goofy and charming Hubie saves his town on Halloween night. A few scares and plenty of laughs all around with this pick.

Monster Island

When a young boy named Lucas finds out he’s not really a human; the news changes his entire world. This is especially true since his first monster transformation happened in front of the most popular kids at school. The animation in this one really is remarkable. You just might find yourself rooting for a monster or two!

A Witches’ Ball

This movie follows a young witch, Beatrix, who is eager to start learning her new craft. It’s full of important lessons about not giving up when the going gets tough. For parents who are/were fans of NSYNC, you will be pleased to learn that Joey Fatone stars in this fun film for kids.

Spookley the Square Pumpkin

Spookley looks different than all the other pumpkins, but with the help of a scarecrow and a spider, he overcomes his feelings of insecurity. In this charming Halloween cartoon, your kids will learn that being different is actually a superpower.

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The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants: Hack-A-Ween

Melvin tries to cancel Halloween, but he can’t take the fun out of the holiday when Harold and George make their own plans for a spooky event. To you and your kids’ surprise, you likely will find that their own counter-Halloween programming is a big success.

Stranger Things

So, most definitely not for younger children, Stranger Things could be the right option if you have got some teens who want in on the Halloween fun. Over the course of four seasons audiences of been treated to a host of monsters and supernatural activity. Again, this is a very scary series so make sure your kids are mature enough to handle it.

StarBeam: Halloween Hero

StarBeam: Halloween Hero is an adorable, not very spooky pick for young children about the greedy Captain Fishbeard, who is robbing everyone’s Halloween candy. It’s up to StarBeam to put a stop to it and save the day. Watch as your kids cheer StarBeam on!

True: Tricky Treat Day

If your children are big fans of True and the Rainbow Kingdom, they’ll love this Halloween special, where True and her friends have to save the day from a hungry Yeti. It’s a great option for those younger kiddos.

DreamWorks Spooky Stories

We all still love Shrek, right? This spooky-fun series contains three hilariously eerie episodes, including the classic “Scared Shrekless” and a “Monsters vs. Aliens” short. You’ll hear some members of the original voice cast (like Mike Myers and Antonio Banderas) and the whole vibe is perfect for a fun family Halloween watch.

Spooky Stories 2

Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, and Hugh Laurie headline the sequel to Spooky Stories which will most likely have you feeling more laughed out than freaked out. This second installment is the best way to keep the Halloween party going after you finish the first one.

A Go! Go! Cory Carson Halloween

As most parents and kids likely know, king-sized candy bars are a winning prize while trick-or-treating. The crew in A Go! Go! Cory Carson Halloween gets it. In order to get to them, they have to venture out to the spooky part of town. This Halloween special is short and sweet and the perfect thing for your younger children.

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting

This movie tells the story of a very intelligent teen babysitter, Kelly Ferguson (Tamara Smart) who discovers that there are boogeymen and monsters set out to scare children at night. And as the title implies, she learns to hunt them. The monsters are a bit scary and a bit offbeat. Tweens and teens will love this one.

Okko’s Inn

In this entry from Japan, a magical bond forms between a young girl and a ghost who lives in her grandmother’s inn. This movie is more than just friendly ghosts, though, it’s about family, friendship, and grief. This movie is only slightly spooky but it will lodge itself into your heart. You might surprise yourself when you find yourself getting teary-eyed watching it.

Super Monsters

One of the most fun Halloween shows for younger children is a Netflix original called Super Monsters. It’s about preschoolers trying to get a grip on their superpowers that they inherited from their famous monster parents. It’s so cute you will probably enjoy it too.

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Super Monsters Save Halloween

If your kiddos enjoyed the first Super Monsters, keep that ball of fun rolling with this installment. The lovable characters are going to save Halloween by getting their friends and neighbors into the Halloween spirit.

Monster House

Monster House follows the story of three teens who are convinced a creepy house in their neighborhood is actually a scary living creature, and they set out to destroy it. The movie was produced by none other than Steven Spielberg, and Steve Buscemi voices an eccentric child-scaring neighbor. Watch this with your kid once and they will want to watch it for every Halloween that follows.

There you go! Now, you know all of the great Halloween content that Netflix has to offer for a (slightly) freaky family fun night. If you are looking for Halloween movies for older children, tweens, and teens, keep reading. We have more to share with you!

Frankenweenie

Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie is an endearing animated classic that’s a dose of fun with a splash of horror thrown in. This movie is rated PG and will not be too scary at all. It’s a great option for tweens or even younger kids. This film is streaming on Disney+.

The Witches

This classic adventure film based on Roald Dahl’s book is considerably scarier than Frankenweenie. Who could forget Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch? The scene with her taking off her skin is seared into our memory. You can your tween can find this movie streaming on Netflix.

The Monster Squad

Dracula, the Wolf-Man, the Gill-Man, the Mummy, and Frankenstein’s monster all appear in this Halloween classic. Start your own Monster Club with your kids this year! This film is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

The Little Vampire

The Little Vampire is a family-friendly movie that’s not very scary at all. There are some scenes of horror, but overall this is a lighthearted affair. You can find this movie streaming on Amazon Prime.

Beetlejuice

Another classic Tim Burton film, Beetlejuice is delightfully weird and is slightly scary at times. The cast of this film, alone, is reason enough to revisit it. We think kids will love Michael Keaton’s unhinged performance in this fun horror film. You can find it streaming on NBC’s Peacock service.

Jaws

We’re getting into to slightly more scary territory now. Jaws might be about a shark, but that doesn’t mean it won’t give a child nightmares. This is Steven Spielberg at his finest and you might as well introduce your kid to a true 1970s gem. You can find this film streaming on HBO Max.

Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia is a black comedy disguised as a horror film. If you or your kids are the least bit squeamish about spiders, go ahead and skip this one. For a kitschy wild ride, rent this movie and watch with your tween this Halloween.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a delightful horror film about the human race being replaced, one by one, by clones devoid of emotions. Don’t you want to relive Donald Sutherland doing that face again? You can find this horror flick streaming on Amazon Prime.

Poltergeist (1982)

The original Poltergeist is pretty darn scary, but we think tweens can probably handle it. Be sure to skip this movie if you’re currently having an in-ground pool dug. The original is much better than the remake so be sure to go back to the OG. This movie is available to rent.

The Others

A thrilling piece of Gothic horror, The Others is a haunting film starring Nicole Kidman. Like Poltergeist, this movie is a true chiller so take a moment and think about some of the scarier moments in this one before unleashing it on your child. You can find it streaming on HBO Max.

The Birds

We recommend this classic Hitchcock film with a warning: it’s scarier than you remember. We recently rewatched this movie for the first time in years and it’s surprisingly scary. If your tween is a budding cinephile, be sure to show her The Birds.

I Am Legend

If you want to really lean into the post-apocalyptic moment we’re living through, go for I Am Legend. Will Smith is incredible in this action thriller with mutants. The monsters in this movie are particularly terrifying so think hard before choosing it. This film is available to rent.

The Sixth Sense

If you’ve got a little know-it-all, consider seeing if they can figure out the twist before the big reveal in The Sixth Sense. If you have not seen this classic in a while, you’re going to love the strong performances by Toni Collette and Haley Joel Osment. Reminder: the opening scenes of this movie are pretty graphic. It’s currently streaming on Showtime.

Cloverfield

Found footage horror has a bad reputation because most of it is, indeed, horrible. Cloverfield is a rare example of the format working out. This brisk horror movie will surely delight your tween. You can find it streaming on Showtime.

Trollhunter

If your kid(s) ends up loving Cloverfield, the next rational step would be to show them Trollhunter. The film hails from Norway and is a whole lot of fun. You can find it streaming on Tubi TV.

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The Mothman Prophecies

Yours truly was a tween when The Mothman Prophecies came out in 2002. It’s very tense and chilling! Some might find the “based on true events” a bit unnerving, but if your tween can accept that we live in a world with a lot of unexplained stuff, they should be fine! This movie is available to rent.

A Quiet Place

As you can tell, we’re getting into very scary territory! Just a note: because a movie is only rated PG-13 does not mean it’s appropriate for young teens or tweens. Use good judgment and be sure to screen movies first when you can. A Quiet Place is such a suspenseful film and there’s not a ton of gore. It’s all just suspense which makes it a good choice! You can stream it on Hulu.

It (TV miniseries)

The original It miniseries premiered on ABC in 1990. It’s very, very scary, and deals with tweens coming of age so it might be thoroughly enjoyed by your own. The first Stephen King property to make the list, we think your tween will be freaked out, but not overwhelmed by that very creepy clown. You can rent the miniseries.

Insidious

Director James Wan sure knows how to cook up a scary horror movie. 2010’s Insidious delivers the scares and might not be best for every tween. This one is pure nightmare fuel so think about that ghost with the red and black face before showing it to the kids. You can find it streaming on Netflix.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The 1992 film, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a little less scary than some other recent entries but there is a good deal of adult language. It’s a campy romp that would be a perfect choice for your tween. It’s streaming on Hulu.

The Ring

The Ring is an extremely scary movie with imagery that really sticks with you. That may or may not be a dealbreaker. Naomi Watts is phenomenal in this frightening film. The first several minutes of this movie are some of the scariest of any! Find it streaming on Showtime.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is unlike any vampire movie you’ve ever seen. For starters, it’s shot in black and white. Secondly, it’s subtitled and Persian is the language spoken. The tense and atmospheric film isn’t terribly gory or scary. What gets viewers is waiting for the “shoe to drop.”

It’s a romantic and beautiful movie, but there is a good deal of illicit drug use. If that’s something you’d prefer to keep from your kids, skip this with them but watch this gem for yourself. This movie can be found streaming on Mubi.

The Babadook

The Babadook is terrifying. Don’t let the name of the monster fool you. It terrorizes a mother and her young son. Part psychological horror, part supernatural thriller this film can really get under your skin. Did we mention it’s very, very scary? The film is unrated, but we’d venture to guess it would get a PG-13? If you think your tween can handle it, show them this Australian horror movie. It’s available to rent.

Under the Shadow

Another Persian language film, Under the Shadow proves a frightening and powerful film. While it shares a similar premise as The Babadook: a mother and young child are haunted in a home. The films are about completely different things. The Babadook mines mental health and at its core, grief. Whereas Under the Shadow is a commentary on The Iran-Iraq war. It’s an exceptional film! It’s available to rent.

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Eyes Without a Face

Les yeux sans visage is the original French title for this completely chilling classic. This film is unrated but there is a particular scene of surgery that might and later a mask being removed that will might turn you off. This movie is a masterclass in how to build tension in storytelling and makes this film one that’s studied in many film schools across the world. You can find this French exemplar streaming at HBO Max.

There you go! The best PG-13 horror movies! Or at least tween-friendly horror movies. Remember: you’re the parent and you have certain standards that might vary from our own. Be sure to watch these movies first to make sure they’re okay for your tween or teen. We hope you enjoy a Halloween movie marathon with these awesome choices!