Ten Halloween Movies for Kids

Among all the other Halloween stuff that you will be doing this month, do not forget about Halloween flicks. Here, in no particular order, is my list of fun holiday kids movies.

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
The classic animated film by Charles M. Schultz is something that is a tradition to watch each year. It surely isn't Halloween without Halloween pumpkins. So, this is top on the list. Snoopy battling the Red Baron, Linus and the ever elusive Great Pumpkin are always a treat.

Hocus Pocus
If you are in the mood for some Halloween Witches this would be the flick to see. Three of the most evil witches, ever, Winifred(Bette Midler), Mary(Kathy Najimi), and Sarah(Sarah Jessica Parker) were hung in 1693 for the death of Thackery Binx's sister. Thackery was turned into a cat, and Winnie's spell book promised that they would return once the black flame candle was lit. Hilarious with magic, adventure and a touch of romance. Love the scene when the witches come to the dance and sing putting a spell over the parents.

Monsters, Inc.
Monstropolis is an amazing place, they thrive on the screams of children, but they cannot come into contact with one for fear of being contaminated. James P. Sullivan(Sulley) and his friend Mike Wazowski are the main characters. Sulley is the one who accidentally lets a two-year old girl who they call Boo in, and they have to get her back without anyone knowing. Two villains, their boss Mr. Waternoose, and Randall who Boo is afraid of, get in their way. Another Disney winner.

The Witches
This is another Halloween treat. A young boy recently orphaned moves with his grandmother to England. He stumbles upon a witch convention and is turned into a mouse, but he still has to stop them because they have an evil plan to rid the entire world of children. Great movie, another one of my favorites about Halloween witches.

My Neighbor Totoro
This is not a traditional Halloween flick, but it does have trolls. This is a film directed as well as written by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle) and produced by Studio Ghibli. It is in the late 1950's and Mr. Kusakabe, a university professor, moves his family, daughters Satsuki and Mei to a rural place in Japan so they can be closer to his wife who is ill in the hospital. The house they move into is an old one, and is infested with 'Soot Sprites'. One day while he is working and Satsuki is in school, Mei explores their property and follows a creature with two rabbit ears. They turn out to be two and she chases them down to a place where a giant Totoro is sleeping. She befriends it, and her sister later gets to see him and when something terrible happens later in the film, Satsuki turns to Totoro, the only one who can help her. Great music, and movie.

Bedknobs And Broomsticks
An old Disney film that I have not seen televised in a very long time. It's England and during WWII when three children Charlie, Carrie and Paul Rawlins are sent to live with an apprentice witch Eglantine Price(Angela Lansbury). When one of the children threatens to blackmail her, for her practices, she gives them the knob from a post from her fathers bed that allows them to travel. Ms. Price is seeking a special spell so she can participate in the war effort. To find it, they have to deal with a suspicious character. This was one of my favorite movies when I was little.

Coraline
I've read the book by horror/fantasy author Neil Gaiman. It was good, so I assume the movie, done in stop motion animation is just as good as it brings the pages to life. Coraline and her parents move into an old house that has four other flats occupied by other people. Her parents are always busy, so Coraline meets her quirky neighbors and explores the house and finds a locked room. She opens it and is taken into another apartment which looks mysteriously like her own. There she finds other parents who have button eyes. Coraline has fun there, but it is quickly over when the other mother tells her she can stay as long as she sews buttons on her eyes. She escapes back home, only to find her real parents missing. Of course, she has to go back to that other world to save them. Gaiman is good at creepy, this will not disappoint you.

Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie
It would not be Halloween without the lovable Pooh bear. Lumpy, Roo's new friend is excited about his very first Halloween until Tigger tells him about the Gobloon who turns you into a lantern if he catches you. If you catch the Gabloon, though you get to make a wish. Cute, fun and full of laughs.

The Black Cauldron
Another Disney film. A boy and his group of friends which include a magical pig, go on a quest to find the powerful magic cauldron before the evil horned king gets it so he can rule the world. Full of adventure.

Monster House
The best movie about Halloween haunted houses, and Halloween ghosts I've seen in a long time. A house that has a life of it's own! D. J. is convinced that his neighbor, old Mr. Nebbercracker is the one who is responsible for his wife that has been gone for many years. Any toy that lands on his property disappears, and nobody believes him, including Chowder his buddy. Things take a swift turn when it turns out D. J. is telling the truth, but worse than they've ever imagined. I really love this movie. It's become one of my Halloween traditions to watch every year.