Halloween Movies that Aren’t Scary
HALLOWEEN MOVIES THAT AREN’T SCARY
I’m an absolute wuss when it comes to movies. Perhaps it’s because my horror obsessed sister made me watch too many movies that gave me nightmares in my youth that I refuse the genre in my adulthood. There are a few exceptions though. For anyone out there like me who prefers a milder form of entertainment in the pumpkin season, here is a list of my favourite halloween movies that aren’t scary.
FEATURE LENGTH HALLOWEEN FILMS
STOP MOTION ANIMATION HALLOWEEN MOVIES
MAD MONSTER PARTY (1967)
Just like the claymation / stop motion animation Christmas specials we’ve all come to love, Mad Monster Party is a Halloween classic. Head over to the Isle of Evil for an epic party with all the classic monsters. An additional accidentally invited guest, Felix, is a normal boy who doesn’t realize the dangerous situation he’s found himself in. Featuring Phyllis Diller AND Boris Karloff. EDIT: Sadly, the movie has been taken down but I suggest checking archive.org periodically to find it.
NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)
Some may argue that this is really a Christmas movie but in truth, I think it’s both. And since it’s a double holiday film, it makes my list. Do I even need to describe this movie? It came out 20 years ago and still feels as relevant as ever. Pop in an old VHS tape or subscribe to Disney+ I guess.
MOVIES ABOUT WITCHES
THE WITCHES (1990)
FORGET THE REMAKE, I guarantee you that the 1990 version is better. The Witches is based on the Roald Dahl classic book of the same name. While parts of this film are supremely creepy, thanks to the genius that is Jim Henson, (sadly this was his last movie) it’s still very family friendly. Anjelica Huston as the head witch is oscar worthy – in my opinion. Watch The Witches trailer for a taste.
TEEN WITCH (1989)
Teen Witch is worth watching if only for such musical hits as I Like Boys, most Popular Girl, or the Top That rap, this movie has IT ALL. Would you be surprised to find out that this was one my fave films as young child? It must have been the hot saxophone blaring on the Never Gonna Be the Same Again song. I taped all the songs with my boombox against the tv so I could enjoy the hot tunes on the go. Just watch the Teen Witch trailer and you’ll understand.
HOCUS POCUS (1993)
All the heavy hitters are in this one – Bette Midler, SJP, and THORA BIRCH! When I was a child, this movie was terrifying, specifically when Winifred cut open a glass window with her fingernail! However, there is more comedy than their is terror plus the costumes and musical numbers are not to be missed. Watch the Hocus Pocus movie trailer.
DOUBLE DOUBLE TOIL & TROUBLE (1993)
As an Olsen Twin mega fan, I have seen all of their made-for-tv movies. This one is ranks high for their earlier work. Join the twins on this halloween adventure where they discover their Great Aunt Sophia has been cursed by her witch twin sister, Agatha. Can they save the day??? As an adult, I realize the not-so-hidden joke in the title – double double for the two sets of twins.
BEDKNOBS & BROOMSTICKS (1971)
I have made my affinity for this movie well known over the years – starting in my Disneyland Paris post from over a decade ago. Not only is it packed with epic musical numbers, but the plot is truly absurd in the best way. Miss Price (Angela Lansbury) is a single woman living in rural England during WWII and taking correspondence courses to become a witch. The local authorities task her with boarding a group of children fleeing their home in London, the main target of the blitz bombings. Watch the full Bedknobs and Broomsticks movie via archive.org.
THE CRAFT (1996)
VAMPIRE MOVIES
THE LOST BOYS (1987)
Between the unhinged (but inspiring) outfits, the sexy saxophone player closeups, and the over the top eightiesness of it all – The Lost Boys continues to be a top shelf horror movie for me. Two brothers recently moved to a Californian seaside town only to discover that the local bad ass biker gang are actually vampires. Older brother Michael becomes a vampire while trying to get closer to his crush, Star. Yes that’s her name. His younger brother Sam and his new amateaur vampire hunting friends are on a mission to save him. Watch The Lost Boys movie via archive.org.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1992)
The epic movie predates the tv series and quite frankly is a stand alone work of art. Imagine if Cher Horowitz was a vampire slayer in Clueless, that is what this movie is. And Luke Perry is her love interest! In addition to that, Paul Reubens aka Pee Wee Herman is a lead vampire and performs the campiest death scene worthy of an oscar. Watch the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie trailer.
NOSFERATU (1922)
Yes this is a silent black and white film but the practical effects and the overall art direction is incredible. It’s truly a feast for the eyes. Everyone needs to see this at least once! Watch the full Nosferatu movie.
GHOST MOVIES
CASPER (1995)
Christina Ricci and Devon Sawa, need I say more? It’s almost as good as their romance in Now & Then…. except the Backstreet Boys made an homage to Casper in one of their music videos. This features YET another house I wanted to live in as a kid. With that said, the “can I keep you?” scene is still very creepy at least there’s a fun Ghostbusters crossover joke. Watch the Casper movie trailer.
MUPPETS HAUNTED MANSION (2021)
GHOSTBUSTERS (1984)
Watch the Ghostbusters save Manhattan from the mayhem of ghoulish phantoms! Even the mention of the movie makes me want to bust out my McDonald’s happy meal toys from the sequel. Anyone else own the slimer bike horn? Watch the original Ghostbusters movie via archive.org. The video quality is that of a VHS, just so you know.
CULT CLASSICS
THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991)
As a child I sat entranced watching this movie wishing I could move into their macabre mansion. One of my best friends wanted to be Wednesday Addams so bad, she even slept with her arms crossed as if she were in a coffin. This is one of the many reasons we are still close friends after 20 years. Watch The Addams Family movie trailer.
BEETLEJUICE (1988)
Beetlejuice has been in my life for as long as I can remember, firstly via the short lived cartoon series. Recently I even featured the Melt x Beetlejuice Full Collection. Much like Lydia, I too am strange and UnUsUaL. Also… WINONA FOREVER! Watch the entire Beetlejuice movie via archive.org.
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990)
Much like the other Tim Burton film, Nightmare before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands is both a halloween and christmas film. An MLM lady trudges up a hill from her pastel mid century suburb to a decaying gothic mansion only to discover a man with scissors for hands. He descends the mountain and is accepted into the community once everyone sees his work as a arborist artist (and hair stylist) until things go awry. Watch the Edward Scissorhands movie trailer.
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975)
Frank-N-Furter is having a get together to celebrate the completion of his latest creation but a real square couple threaten to ruin his good time when they show up unannounced due to car trouble. Watching this at home will never be quite as good as the full theatre experience, however, the musical numbers are too good to deny! If the music doesn’t grab you, the costumes surely will. I’ve even dressed up as two characters a few years ago. Check out my Columbia costume and DIY Magenta costume. Watch the campy madness of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in full via archive.org.
COMEDY HORROR
SCARY MOVIE (2000)
A parody of every horror movie imaginable with humour that will bring you right back to the popular culture of the millenium. Waaazzzzzzzzuuuuupppppp? Join the ghost masked killer from Scream as they terrorize the town while simultaneously ridiculing every horror trope you’ve ever encountered. Unfortunately, there are no cameos from Matthew Lillard. Watch the Scary Movie trailer.
IDLE HANDS (1999)
This is a classic 90s stoner movie with a dash of horror. And as with all teen movies of that era, there is a musical guest appearance during a school dance. Like Letters to Cleo in 10 Things I hate About You and Britney Spears in Drive Me Crazy, Idle Hands leans into being ~alternative~ with Offspring as the band. Dexter Holland, the singer, even acts a bit! Watch the Idle Hands movie trailer.
ELVIRA MISTRESS OF THE DARK (1988)
If you like campy 80s cheesy movies, then without a doubt you will appreciate how ridiculous this movie is. Weird romance, drooling madness, and awesome monsters awaits you. Watch the Elvira Mistress of the Dark movie trailer.
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974)
A campy version of the Frankenstein story in black & white. Excellent physical comedy and character acting. Watch the full Young Frankenstein movie via archive.org.
ERNEST SCARED STUPID (1991)
Is this movie stupid? Yes. But who doesn’t want to see Ernest struggle to stop the troll he accidentally set loose in town. Will you learn anything? No. Will you be entertained? Maybe. Watch the Ernest Scared Stupid movie trailer.
HALLOWEEN SHORT FILMS & EPISODES
This category includes halloween shorts that can’t quite be considered a movie – anything under an hour. And of course, a few halloween tv episodes for good measure.
HALLOWEEN SHORTS
GUMBY – MERRY-GO-PUMPKIN (1988)
Clocking in at 6 minutes and 30 seconds, this Gumby episode packs a lot of ridiculousness in a short amount of time. The blockheads even make an appearance. Watch Gumby – Merry-Go-Pumpkin short.
SILLY SYMPHONIES – THE SKELETON DANCE (1929)
Late at night this windy graveyard comes ALIVE with grooving skeletons who perform choreographed dances set to typical silly symphony music. It’s short but potent. Watch The Skeleton Dance.
THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW (1949)
TRICK OR TREAT (1956)
Continuing on my Disney tangent, Donald Duck is the Disney character I enjoy the most and this is some of his finest work. Yes, the music in this movie also slaps, tell me it isn’t catchy: “Every post is a ghost if you’ve got a witches brew!” If these songs were on spotify, they would 100% be on my halloween playlist. Watch Trick or Treat.
LONESOME GHOSTS (1937)
A group of local ghosts get bored and call the Ajax Ghost Exterminators Co. (the original Ghostbusters) pretending to be a human that needed their services. It’s all a guise in the service of providing the ghosts entertainment for the evening. Watch the Lonesome Ghosts via archive.org. The version on Disney’s YouTube channel has redubbed the voices with new actors and it’s not good.
MICKEY MOUSE – THE HAUNTED HOUSE (1929)
Thought to be the sequel to The Skeleton Dance, Mickey is in a haunted house and is forced to play piano by the undead so they can have a party – a pretty solid premise. Watch The Haunted House.
CLAYMATION COMEDY OF HORRORS (1991)
A 30 minute goofy little horror special with monsters. I completely forgot it existed but it all came back to me watching it again. Plus this stream includes commercials from the era so it feels even more authentic. Watch the full Claymation Comedy of Horrors movie.
HALLOWEEN SPECIALS
IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN (1966)
THE FLINTSTONES MEET ROCKULA & FRANKENSTONE (1979)
This is one of those television specials that really holds up after all these years. Or maybe it’s my nostalgia telling me it’s great. You be the judge. Watch The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone via archive.org.
THE SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORRORS (1990 – 1994)
Apparently the Simpsons Treehouse of Horrors is STILL ongoing (and is almost as old as me!) With that said, I can only vouch for the first 4 years 1990-1994 which I remember enjoying. The Shining spoof and The Raven were among my favourites.
GARFIELD’S HALLOWEEN ADVENTURE (1985)
Garfield continues to be more relatable with each passing day. His interest in sleep and lasagna speaks to me on another level the older I become. As mentioned previously, the link to the movie includes commercials from the 80s as well as a the Peanuts special afterwards. Watch Garfield’s Halloween Adventure.
Halloween Movies that Aren’t Scary
Though this is not a complete list of Halloween movies that aren’t scary, I will continue to add films as I remember more of them. Did I miss one of your favourites? Please let me know in the comments below as I love to be reminded of old movies or recommended new ones. As for halloweenie tv series, those will be getting their own separate post which I will be sure to link upon completion.
Happy Halloween!
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