11 Kids' Halloween Movies Adults Can Love, Too

Halloween movies with blood, zombies, supernatural terrors, and masked killers chasing people around in the woods are always fun, but sometimes you just need something a little less intense — something less gory and heart attack-inducing and more silly and heart-warming. Oct. 31 isn't just about haunted houses and getting the crap scared out of you — it's about fun-loving costumes, crazy adventures, delicious candy and, of course, Halloween movies that kids and adults can both enjoy.

Some adults don't want to admit that they don't like scary movies because it makes them "less of a grown up." To them I say, "pay no attention to all those haters." If Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Jason Voorhees terrify you, stand proud and own the fact that you're a wimp, because there are plenty of non-scary Halloween movies that you can watch instead. Sure, many of these films were made for kids, but why let them have all the fun? You be you. Enjoy all the G and PG-rated scares that your heart desires.

The list below of Halloween movies that kids and adults can both enjoy range from the fantastical (Beetlejuice) to the traditional ( It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown ) to the classic (The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad). Adults love these movies not only for the nostalgia factor, but also because they are genuinely good films for the holiday. It also proves that a Halloween movie doesn't have to be horrific torture porn in order to fit the genre. Here is a list of Halloween-centric films, both old and new, that adults can enjoy just as much as kids.

Casper (1995)

If you grew up in the era of Christina Ricci movies, then Casper was definitely in your collection of VHS tapes. Based on the classic cartoon, the puberty-driven film was anything but scary because Casper is the friendliest ghost you'll ever know.

Frankenweenie (2012)

Tim Burton, the king of family-friendly darkness and spookiness, remade his original 1984 live-action version of this movie into a stop motion animated feature. The movie made bringing a dog back from the dead the most adorable thing ever.

Halloweentown (1998)

Halloweentown epitomized Disney Channel movies of the '90s, which would probably explain why it has retained such a cult following and spawned sequels. The movie, about a budding witch defending her town from the supernatural, also starred Debbie Reynolds, which is good enough to make it one of the most relevant Halloween movies ever.

The Worst Witch (1986)

This obscure TV movie follows Mildred Hubble, who is the worst student at a prestigious witch academy. She's clumsy, has terrible luck with spells, and just gets herself into sticky situations. Based on the children's book by Jill Murphy and starring Tim Curry, the movie has all the camp and nostalgia you need for the perfect Halloween entertainment.

The Addams Family (1991)

If they aren't already, the Addams family should be considered the first family of Halloween. Filled with all the creepy quirks and charm of the original TV series, The Addams Family is the essence of the holiday.

The Witches (1990)

Based on the Roald Dahl book, The Witches teeters on the line of terrifying, but the story about a boy and his grandmother infiltrating a witch convention passes for family friendly. But you might want to cover your children's eyes when Anjelica Huston's character transforms into a witch. It's not a pretty sight.

Monster Squad (1987)

It's kind of like Ghostbusters, but with a smaller budget and a band of misfit pre-teens. The Monster Squad was a new take on the legendary monsters of Hollywood and remains one of my favorite Halloween cult classics.

ParaNorman (2012)

The title character can talk to dead people, but it's not really a Sixth Sense situation. It's more about Norman changing from the town outcast to town hero.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

It's not necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to Halloween movies, but one of the most exciting scenes happens during Halloween. Plus, do you really need an excuse to watch E.T.?

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

As another one of Tim Burton's opus of fantastical spookiness, The Nightmare Before Christmas combined two of the best holidays to become one of the most iconic movies ever. Jack Skellington is essentially the grand marshal of Halloween!

Hocus Pocus (1993)

This movie is the epitome of Halloween. If they even dare remake this masterpiece, then I shall boycott it.

Hopefully, none of these will give you nightmares. Happy Halloween, scaredy cats!

Images: Walt Disney Pictures, Giphy (2)