46 BEST KIDS HALLOWEEN MOVIES

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46 BEST KIDS HALLOWEEN MOVIES

Looking for a scary movie to watch with the kids and family? Or a horror movie that won’t necessarily send you scrambling beneath the covers, with a 6,000 watt night light plugged in? Then you’ve come to the right ghoulish place with our guide to some of the best children’s movies for Halloween!

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46 BEST KIDS HALLOWEEN MOVIES

There’s something for everyone, from the very young (It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Coco) to the…well, still young, but we bet they think they’re so grown-up (The Addams Family). We’ve got animated funhouses (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, Monster House),

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46 BEST KIDS HALLOWEEN MOVIES

’80s fantasies and creepfests (The Dark Crystal, Return to Oz), and ’90s classics present and accounted for (The Witches, Hocus Pocus, Casper).

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46 BEST KIDS HALLOWEEN MOVIES

But what’s a little mayhem for the young mind without some Steven Spielberg productions like Poltergeist and Gremlins? Or the maestro of palatable twisted dreams: Tim Burton, who’s represented by Beetlejuice.

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46 BEST KIDS HALLOWEEN MOVIES

Meanwhile, modern-day fare like Goosebumps, The Addams Family, and the long-awaited Hocus Pocus sequel will keep the torch burning well into the years. In the end, we kept the list to PG and below, before we sorted the list by Tomatometer, 

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46 BEST KIDS HALLOWEEN MOVIES

with Certified Fresh films first. Whatever scary family movies you’re looking for, the ones you need are in our guide to the essential kids Halloween movies! —Alex Vo

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COCO (2017)

Critics Consensus: Coco's rich visual pleasures are matched by a thoughtful narrative that takes a family-friendly -- and deeply affecting -- approach to questions of culture, family, life, and death.

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COCO (2017)

Synopsis: Despite his family's generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de...  Starring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach Directed By: Lee Unkrich

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SPIRITED AWAY (2001)

Critics Consensus: Spirited Away is a dazzling, enchanting, and gorgeously drawn fairy tale that will leave viewers a little more curious and fascinated by the world around them. Synopsis: 10-year-old Chihiro (Daveigh Chase) moves with her parents to a new home in the Japanese countryside. After taking a wrong... 

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SPIRITED AWAY (2001)

Starring: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Marsden, Susan Egan Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

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GHOSTBUSTERS (1984)

Critics Consensus: An infectiously fun blend of special effects and comedy, with Bill Murray's hilarious deadpan performance leading a cast of great comic turns. Synopsis: After the members of a team of scientists (Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray) lose their cushy positions at a...

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GHOSTBUSTERS (1984)

Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver Directed By: Ivan Reitman

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MONSTERS, INC. (2001)

Critics Consensus: Clever, funny, and delightful to look at, Monsters, Inc. delivers another resounding example of how Pixar elevated the bar for modern all-ages animation. Synopsis: Monsters Incorporated is the largest scare factory in the monster world, and James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) is one of...

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MONSTERS, INC. (2001)

Starring: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi Directed By: Pete Docter

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WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT (2005)

Critics Consensus: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a subtly touching and wonderfully eccentric adventure featuring Wallace and Gromit. Synopsis: ...  Starring: Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Peter Kay Directed By: Steve Box

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THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)

Critics Consensus: The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stunningly original and visually delightful work of stop-motion animation. Synopsis: The film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual...

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THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)

Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey Directed By: Henry Selick

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THE SECRET OF NIMH (1982)

Critics Consensus: The Secret of NIMH seeks to resurrect the classical style of American animation and succeeds, telling a mature story with rapturous presentation. Synopsis: Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman), a widowed mouse, must move her children out of their home in a field before the...

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THE SECRET OF NIMH (1982)

Starring: Elizabeth Hartman, Derek Jacobi, Dom DeLuise, Shannen Doherty Directed By: Don Bluth

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THE WITCHES (1990)

Critics Consensus: With a deliciously wicked performance from Angelica Huston and imaginative puppetry by Jim Henson's creature shop, Nicolas Roeg's dark and witty movie captures the spirit of Roald Dahl's writing like few other adaptations.

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THE WITCHES (1990)

Synopsis: While staying at a hotel in England with his grandmother, Helga (Mai Zetterling), young Luke (Jasen Fisher) inadvertently spies on...  Starring: Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling, Jasen Fisher, Rowan Atkinson Directed By: Nicolas Roeg

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CORALINE (2009)

Critics Consensus: With its vivid stop-motion animation combined with Neil Gaiman's imaginative story, Coraline is a film that's both visually stunning and wondrously entertaining.

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CORALINE (2009)

Synopsis: While exploring her new home, a girl named Coraline (Dakota Fanning) discovers a secret door, behind which lies an alternate... Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French Directed By: Henry Selick

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PARANORMAN (2012)

Critics Consensus: Beautifully animated and solidly scripted, ParaNorman will entertain (and frighten) older children while providing surprisingly thoughtful fare for their parents. Synopsis: Young Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee) has the ability to speak with the dead -- and he often prefers their company...

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PARANORMAN (2012)

Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck Directed By: Chris Butler, Sam Fell

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FRANKENWEENIE (2012)

Critics Consensus: Frankenweenie is an energetic stop-motion horror movie spoof with lovingly crafted visuals and a heartfelt, oddball story. Synopsis: Young Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) is a science nerd and outsider at school, but he does have one good friend:...

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FRANKENWEENIE (2012)

Starring: Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan Directed By: Tim Burton

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POLTERGEIST (1982)

Critics Consensus: Smartly filmed, tightly scripted, and -- most importantly -- consistently frightening, Poltergeist is a modern horror classic. Synopsis: Strange and creepy happenings beset an average California family, the Freelings -- Steve (Craig T. Nelson), Diane (JoBeth Williams), teenaged...

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POLTERGEIST (1982)

Starring: Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Beatrice Straight, Dominique Dunne Directed By: Tobe Hooper

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GREMLINS (1984)

Critics Consensus: Whether you choose to see it as a statement on consumer culture or simply a special effects-heavy popcorn flick, Gremlins is a minor classic. Synopsis: A gadget salesman is looking for a special gift for his son and finds one at a store in Chinatown....

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GREMLINS (1984)

Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Frances Lee McCain Directed By: Joe Dante

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BEETLEJUICE (1988)

Critics Consensus: Brilliantly bizarre and overflowing with ideas, Beetlejuice offers some of Michael Keaton's most deliciously manic work - and creepy, funny fun for the whole family. Synopsis: After Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die in a car accident, they find themselves stuck haunting their...

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BEETLEJUICE (1988)

Starring: Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones Directed By: Tim Burton

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TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE (2005)

Critics Consensus: As can be expected from a Tim Burton movie, Corpse Bride is whimsically macabre, visually imaginative, and emotionally bittersweet. Synopsis: Victor (Johnny Depp) and Victoria's (Emily Watson) families have arranged their marriage. Though they like each other, Victor is nervous...

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TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE (2005)

Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman Directed By: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson

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THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (2008)

Critics Consensus: The Spiderwick Chronicles is an entertaining children's adventure, with heart and imagination to spare. Synopsis: Of the three Grace children, Jared (Freddie Highmore) has always been thought of as the troublemaker. So when strange things...

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THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (2008)

Starring: Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Mary-Louise Parker, David Strathairn Directed By: Mark Waters

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THE BOXTROLLS (2014)

Critics Consensus: While it's far from Laika's best offering, The Boxtrolls is still packed with enough offbeat wit and visual splendor to offer a healthy dose of all-ages entertainment. Synopsis: Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), an orphan, lives with the Boxtrolls -- a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who inhabit a cavern...

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THE BOXTROLLS (2014)

Starring: Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette Directed By: Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable

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GOOSEBUMPS (2015)

Critics Consensus: Goosebumps boasts more than enough of its spooky source material's kid-friendly charm to make up for some slightly scattershot humor and a hurried pace. Synopsis: Upset about moving from the big city to a small town, young Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) finds a silver lining...

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GOOSEBUMPS (2015)

Starring: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Ryan Lee Directed By: Rob Letterman

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THE DARK CRYSTAL (1982)

Critics Consensus: The Dark Crystal's narrative never quite lives up to the movie's visual splendor, but it remains an admirably inventive and uniquely intense entry in the Jim Henson canon. Synopsis: Jen (Stephen Garlick), raised by the noble race called the Mystics, has been told that he is the last survivor... 

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THE DARK CRYSTAL (1982)

Starring: John Baddeley, Stephen Garlick, David Buck, Barry Dennen Directed By: Jim Henson, Frank Oz

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MONSTER HOUSE (2006)

Critics Consensus: Monster House welcoms kids and adults alike into a household full of smart, monstrous fun. Synopsis: No adults believe three youths' (Mitchel Musso, Spencer Locke, Sam Lerner) assertion that a neighboring residence is a living creature...

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MONSTER HOUSE (2006)

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mitchel Musso, Spencer Locke Directed By: Gil Kenan

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IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN (1966)

Critics Consensus: Performed and animated with the comics' signature melancholy warmth, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! celebrates the spooky season in true Peanuts style. Synopsis: Linus waits in the pumpkin patch for the  elusive Halloween symbol to appear. ...

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IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN (1966)

Starring: Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, Sally Dryer, Chris Doran Directed By: Bill Melendez

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THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD (1949)

Critics Consensus: This Disney two-fer may not be the most reverent literary adaptation, but it's remarkably crafted and emotionally resonant. Synopsis: Two animated adaptations of classic literature make up this Disney film. In "The Wind in the Willows," wealthy Mr. Toad...

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THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD (1949)

Starring: Eric Blore, Pat O'Malley, John Ployardt, Colin Campbell Directed By: Jack Kinney, Clyde Geronimi, James Algar

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TOY STORY OF TERROR! (2013)

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. Synopsis: ...  Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Carl Weathers Directed By: Angus MacLane

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SCOOBY-DOO ON ZOMBIE ISLAND (1998)

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. Synopsis: Scooby (Scott Innes) and the rest of the Mystery, Inc., crew encounter creepy characters at a haunted house on a...  Starring: Scott Innes, Billy West, Mary Kay Bergman, Frank Welker Directed By: Jim Stenstrum

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NIGHTBOOKS (2021

Critics Consensus: Its contents may be a bit busy and overly familiar, but Nightbooks offers a fun -- and actually fairly scary -- gateway to horror for younger viewers. Synopsis: Alex (Winslow Fegley) is a creative boy with a strong passion for writing scary stories. But when he's labeled weird...

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NIGHTBOOKS (2021

Starring: Winslow Fegley, Lidya Jewett, Krysten Ritter Directed By: David Yarovesky

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HALLOWEENTOWN (1998)

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. Synopsis: After learning she is a witch, a girl (Kimberly J. Brown) helps save a town full of other supernatural creatures.... Starring: Debbie Reynolds, Judith Hoag, Kimberly J. Brown, Joey Zimmerman Directed By: Duwayne Dunham

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LABYRINTH (1986)

Critics Consensus: While it's arguably more interesting on a visual level, Labyrinth provides further proof of director Jim Henson's boundless imagination. Synopsis: Teenage Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) journeys through a maze to recover her baby brother (Toby Froud) from a goblin king (David... 

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LABYRINTH (1986)

Starring: David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud, Shelley Thompson Directed By: Jim Henson

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LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS (2004)

Critics Consensus: Although it softens the nasty edges of its source material, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a gothic visual treat, and it features a hilariously manic turn from Jim Carrey as the evil Count Olaf.

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MUPPETS HAUNTED MANSION (2021)

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. Synopsis: The Great Gonzo – world famous daredevil artiste, has done it all, seen it all, and survived it all. But...  Starring: Darren Criss, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Eric Jacobson Directed By: Kirk R. Thatcher

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THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991)

Critics Consensus: The movie is peppered with amusing sight gags and one-liners, but the disjointed script doesn't cohere into a successful whole. Synopsis: When a man (Christopher Lloyd) claiming to be Fester, the missing brother of Gomez Addams (Raul Julia), arrives at the...

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THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991)

Starring: Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Dan Hedaya Directed By: Barry Sonnenfeld

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THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS (2018)

Critics Consensus: An entertaining PG detour for gore maestro Eli Roth, The House with a Clock in Its Walls is a family-friendly blend of humor and horror with an infectious sense of fun. Synopsis: Ten-year-old Lewis goes to live with his oddball uncle in a creaky old house that contains a mysterious ticktock noise....

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THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS (2018)

Starring: Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Owen Vaccaro, Kyle MacLachlan Directed By: Eli Roth

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HOCUS POCUS 2 (2022)

Critics Consensus: Hocus Pocus 2 is basically a boiling cauldron of nostalgia, but that's just enough for this belated sequel to cast a reasonably effective spell. Synopsis: It's been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters, and they are looking... 

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HOCUS POCUS 2 (2022)

Starring: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Doug Jones Directed By: Anne Fletcher

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HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION (2018)

Critics Consensus: Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation delivers exactly what fans will expect - which means another 97 agreeably lightweight minutes of fast-paced gags and colorful animation. Synopsis: Your favorite monster family boards a luxury cruise ship so Dracula can take a summer vacation from the hotel. It's...

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HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION (2018)

Starring: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James Directed By: Genndy Tartakovsky

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SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (1983)

Critics Consensus: True terror and typical Disney wholesomeness clash uncomfortably in Something Wicked This Way Comes. Synopsis: Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce) brings his traveling carnival to a small Midwestern town and grants wishes, for a price.... Starring: Jason Robards, Jonathan Pryce, Diane Ladd, Pam Grier Directed By: Jack Clayton

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HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 (2015)

Critics Consensus: Hotel Transylvania 2 is marginally better than the original, which may or may not be enough of a recommendation to watch 89 minutes of corny, colorfully animated gags from Adam Sandler and company. Synopsis: Now that Dracula (Adam Sandler) has opened

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HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 (2015)

the Hotel Transylvania's doors to humans, things are changing for the better; however,... Starring: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James Directed By: Genndy Tartakovsky

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RETURN TO OZ (1985)

Critics Consensus: Return to Oz taps into the darker side of L. Frank Baum's book series with an intermittently dazzling adventure that never quite recaptures the magic of its classic predecessor. Synopsis: Dorothy discovers she is back in the land of Oz, and finds the yellow brick road is now a pile...

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RETURN TO OZ (1985)

Starring: Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie Directed By: Walter Murch

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CASPER (1995)

Critics Consensus: A meandering, mindless family movie that frequently resorts to special effects and transparent sappiness. Synopsis: Casper (voiced by Malachi Pearson) is a kind young ghost who peacefully haunts a mansion in Maine. When specialist James...

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CASPER (1995)

Starring: Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle Directed By: Brad Silberling

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THE WATCHER IN THE WOODS (1980)

Critics Consensus: The Watcher in the Woods boasts plenty of spooky atmosphere and a typically strong performance from Bette Davis, but it builds to a conclusion so dissatisfying that it undermines all that came before. Synopsis: A teenager (Lynn-Holly Johnson) and her younger sister

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THE WATCHER IN THE WOODS (1980)

 learn their eerie landlady's (Bette Davis) secret at an English country manor.... Starring: Bette Davis, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Carroll Baker, David McCallum Directed By: John Hough

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SCOOBY-DOO AND THE WITCH'S GHOST (1999)

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. Synopsis: Scooby and friends investigate creepy goings-on and a mystery involving a famous horror writer in a small Massachusetts town....  Starring: Mary Kay Bergman, Kimberly Brooks, Jennifer Hale, Scott Innes Directed By: Jim Stenstrum

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HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA (2022)

Critics Consensus: Much like the trio of films it follows, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is middling family viewing -- relatively painless, but overall rather uninspired. Synopsis: Drac and the pack are back, like you've never seen them before in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. Reunite with your favorite...

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HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA (2022)

Starring: Brian Hull, Jim Gaffigan, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez Directed By: Derek Drymon, Jennifer Kluska

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THE ADDAMS FAMILY (2019)

Critics Consensus: The Addams Family's starry voice cast and eye-catching animation aren't enough to outweigh its saccharine handling of the delightfully dark source material. Synopsis: Members of the mysterious and spooky Addams family -- Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday, Uncle Fester and Grandma -- are readily...

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THE ADDAMS FAMILY (2019)

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard Directed By: Conrad Vernon, Greg Tiernan

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HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (2012)

Critics Consensus: Hotel Transylvania's buoyant, giddy tone may please children, but it might be a little too loud and thinly-scripted for older audiences. Synopsis: When monsters want to get away from it all, they go to Count Dracula's (Adam Sandler) Hotel Transylvania, a lavish...

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HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (2012)

Starring: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James Directed By: Genndy Tartakovsky

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HOCUS POCUS (1993)

Critics Consensus: Harmlessly hokey yet never much more than mediocre, Hocus Pocus is a muddled family-friendly effort that fails to live up to the talents of its impressive cast. Synopsis: After moving to Salem, Mass., teenager Max Dennison (Omri Katz) explores an abandoned house with his sister Dani (Thora Birch)...

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HOCUS POCUS (1993)

Starring: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz Directed By: Kenny Ortega

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THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2 (2021)

Critics Consensus: Altogether ooky, and not in a good way. Synopsis: Everyone's favorite spooky family is back in the animated comedy sequel, The Addams Family 2. In this all new movie...  Starring: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Bill Hader Directed By: Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon

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THE HAUNTED MANSION (2003)

Critics Consensus: Neither scary nor funny, The Haunted Mansion is as lifeless as the ghosts in the movie. Synopsis: Workaholic real estate agent Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) is accused by his wife, Sara (Marsha Thomason), of neglecting his son... Starring: Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, Wallace Shawn, Marsha Thomason Directed By: Rob Minkoff

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THE LITTLE VAMPIRE (2017)

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. Synopsis: Rudolph, a 13-year-old vampire, meets Tony, a mortal boy his age who loves old castles, graveyards and vampires. Tony helps...  Starring: Rasmus Hardiker, Jim Carter, Joseph Kloska, Phoebe Givron-Taylor Directed By: Karsten Kiilerich, Richard Claus

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