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40 Classic & Vintage Halloween Movies and Cartoons for Kids
There’s nothing quite like cozying up for a Halloween movie night with a bowl of popcorn, a blanket, and some family-friendly Halloween fun.
Long before today’s CGI blockbusters, studios like Disney, Warner Bros., and Rankin/Bass were crafting kids Halloween films and shorts that mixed silly humor, spooky vibes, and a dash of vintage magic.
Whether you’re introducing your children to your childhood favorites or just want nostalgic movies for kids that bring back the Halloween spirit, this list of classics will help you celebrate Halloween with style.
From Charlie Brown waiting for the Great Pumpkin to the Sanderson Sisters in Hocus Pocus, these are some of the best Halloween movies to enjoy during the season.
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Classic Animated Shorts & Specials
1. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
This Peanuts TV Halloween special first aired in 1966 and became an annual tradition. The story follows Linus waiting in the pumpkin patch for the mythical “Great Pumpkin,” while Charlie Brown and friends go trick-or-treating.
The mix of childhood innocence and gentle humor makes this a family-friendly pick that’s perfect for Halloween.
2. Donald Duck: Trick or Treat (1952)
In this short, Donald tries to prank his nephews instead of giving them candy on Halloween night. Witch Hazel comes to their rescue, casting a little spooky magic their way. It’s classic Disney mischief wrapped in tricks and treats.
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy try their hand at ghost-busting but quickly get outsmarted. The short is full of slapstick humor and a little spooky fun. It’s a vintage cartoon that still works for younger kids.
This Silly Symphony shows skeletons dancing in a graveyard in time with the music. It’s one of the first ever Halloween-themed shorts and remains iconic today. For kids, it’s a little spooky without being too scary.
5. Pluto’s Judgement Day (1935)
Pluto dreams he’s being judged by ghostly cats in a spooky courtroom.
The nightmare setting makes it darker than most Pluto shorts, but it’s still playful and kid friendly. A perfect Halloween night watch for Disney fans.
6. Mickey’s Haunted House (1929)
This black-and-white cartoon sees Mickey explore a haunted house filled with skeletons and eerie gags. It’s early Disney at its spookiest. Great for showing kids how far animation has come.
7. Betty Boop’s Halloween Party (1933)
Betty hosts a Halloween party, but a mischievous ghost interrupts the fun. With music and surreal imagery, it captures the 1930s animation style.
It’s a cult classic for vintage cartoon lovers.
8. Casper the Friendly Ghost (1945)
Casper debuted in this short as a young ghost who peacefully haunts but longs for friendship instead of scares.
His gentle nature made him a friendly Halloween staple for generations. Today, Casper remains one of the most family-friendly Halloween movies for kids and family.
9. Bugs Bunny’s Howl-oween Special (1977)
This TV special combines old Looney Tunes shorts with new Halloween animation. Bugs crosses paths with Witch Hazel and other classic characters. It’s silly, timeless Halloween fun.
10. Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985)
Garfield and Odie go trick-or-treating but end up in a haunted house with ghostly pirates.
With songs, jokes, and some genuinely creepy moments, this kids Halloween cartoon is both funny and spooky. It’s perfect for Halloween movie marathons.
Vintage Disney & Early Cartoons
11. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
This Disney anthology includes “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” a retelling of Washington Irving’s tale.
The chase with the Headless Horseman remains one of Disney’s scariest moments. If your kids love spooky tales, Ichabod Crane’s adventure is the Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad segment to show them.
Mickey gets trapped in a haunted house where skeletons demand he play the organ.
It’s eerie but funny, one of Disney’s earliest ventures into the macabre. A perfect Halloween short for classic animation fans.
Mickey dreams that a mad scientist captures him and Pluto. The creepy lab setting feels like an old Frankenstein movie brought into animation. It’s darker than most Mickey shorts, making it a little scary but still great vintage fun.
Created by Ub Iwerks, this short shows skeletons clowning around in a graveyard. It echoes Disney’s Skeleton Dance but with a slightly zanier tone. It’s harmless, spooky season viewing for kids.
This surreal Betty Boop-era short drags Bimbo into underground rituals.
It’s weird, unsettling, and not for the youngest kids. But older children who enjoy strange vintage cartoons may find it fascinating.
16. Popeye Meets the Ghosts (1939)
Popeye explores a haunted house full of gags and ghostly surprises.
As always, spinach saves the day. A good pick if you want a family movie that’s equal parts funny and spooky.
17. The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966)
Don Knotts stars as a timid reporter who must spend the night in a haunted mansion. With silly humor and eerie sets, it’s a great family-friendly Halloween choice. This one feels like a family movie night classic.
18. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
The comedy duo stumbles into Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man. It’s both funny and atmospheric, perfect for older kids who want to see classic monsters.
This remains one of the most cult classic monster comedies.
19. The Munsters’ Revenge (1981)
The Munsters return in this TV movie to clear their names after being framed for crimes. It’s a silly, supernatural romp. Fans of Uncle Fester, Morticia, and other spooky sitcom families will appreciate the same era of humor.
Based on the children’s book, this movie tells the story of Marnie — a clumsy witch in training at a boarding school. It’s campy, musical, and full of Halloween magic.
With Tim Curry’s outrageous song number, it’s a perfect Halloween cult gem.
Mid-Century & Family Films
The Sanderson Sisters wreak havoc on Salem when accidentally resurrected on Halloween night.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy star as the comical witches. With a sequel (Hocus Pocus 2) released decades later, this remains one of the most iconic family-friendly Halloween movies.
This Disney Channel classic follows Marnie, who discovers she comes from a family of witches and journeys to Halloweentown.
With creatures, spells, and a whimsical setting, it’s pure Halloween fun for kids. The king of Halloweentown vibes make it a nostalgic favorite.
23. Return to Halloweentown (2006)
The fourth film in the series sends Marnie to Witch University. While lighter on Halloween imagery, it still delivers plenty of magical antics.
It’s a Disney Channel favorite that completes the series.
This animated TV special shows a witch helping kids become real monsters for Halloween. Her spells backfire, causing chaos in town. Its quirky animation makes it a cult classic for Halloween collectors.
A Disney TV movie about a family moving into a haunted house and meeting the ghostly Mr. Boogedy. It mixes light scares with campy humor. It’s a kid friendly introduction to haunted house tales.
26. Bride of Boogedy (1987)
The sequel continues with the Davis family facing more ghostly pranks. It’s silly and fun, with the same campy charm. A family-friendly ghost story with Disney flavor.
Rankin/Bass created this stop-motion animated movie with Dracula, Frankenstein, and other monsters.
They gather for a party after Dr. Frankenstein announces his retirement. It’s stop-motion animated comedy that became a cult classic.
Based on Ray Bradbury’s book, this animated film follows kids on a journey through time and cultures to discover the origins of Halloween.
Narrated by Bradbury and starring Leonard Nimoy as Moundshroud, it’s spooky and educational. It remains one of the best Halloween tree stories in animation.
29. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton, this stop-motion animated classic stars Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King.
Jack tries to take over Christmas, creating eerie but whimsical results. This film is equal parts Christmas and perfect Halloween movie, loved by all ages.
30. Coraline (2009)
This creepy Tim Burton-style stop-motion film (though directed by Henry Selick) tells the story of Coraline discovering a parallel world.
The “Other Mother” turns out to be terrifying, making it a better fit for older kids. With its eerie visuals, it fits the Halloween vibe perfectly.
Classic Monster & Spooky Films
This CGI Halloween movie follows kids who discover a house that’s actually alive. With spooky visuals and adventurous action, it’s perfect for Halloween.
A great mix of scary movie tension and family-friendly Halloween fun.
Mel Brooks’ parody brings back the legend of Frankenstein with Gene Wilder starring as the doctor’s grandson. It mixes spooky sets with comedy.
Best suited for teens and families on family movie night.
33. Dracula (1931)
Bela Lugosi stars as Dracula in this Universal horror masterpiece. The gothic atmosphere set the tone for vampire films to come.
It’s tame by today’s standards, but still great for Halloween.
Boris Karloff stars as the Monster in this Universal classic. The chilling lab sequences and tragic ending still pack power.
It’s a must for anyone building a Halloween movie night list.
35. The Mummy (1932)
Boris Karloff plays the resurrected mummy Imhotep searching for his lost love. Its atmospheric sets and eerie tone make it stand out.
A piece of vintage horror for spooky season.
Lon Chaney Jr. stars as a man cursed to become a werewolf. It established much of modern werewolf lore. Classic black-and-white horror for Halloween night.
37. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
This underwater monster film introduced the Gill-Man, who became a classic Universal monster.
It’s suspenseful but not too intense, making it a good choice for kids and family. A cult classic in the Universal monster lineup.
Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, and the Wolf Man appear together in this monster mash. It’s fun, spooky crossover entertainment.
Great for writing scary stories inspiration during the Halloween season.
39. Son of Frankenstein (1939)
The son of Dr. Frankenstein revives the Monster in this stylish sequel. Bela Lugosi plays Ygor, adding depth to the story.
A vintage scary movie that shaped monster cinema.
40. Beetlejuice (1988)
Many kids in the 90's grew up watching Halloween with a Tim Burton cult hit about a mischievous ghost wreaking havoc. A real classic!
More Family-Friendly Halloween Picks
If you’ve already worked through the list above and still want more movies for kids, here are other popular titles that fit the Halloween spirit and are perfect Halloween picks:
- The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family 2 (2021) — A spooky but comical Addams tale featuring Morticia, Uncle Fester, and the whole clan.
- Hotel Transylvania (2012) — An animated favorite where Dracula runs a haunted mansion–style hotel for monsters.
- Goosebumps (2015) and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018) — Adam Sandler isn’t here, but Jack Black plays R.L. Stine, bringing scary stories to life.
- Frankenweenie (2012) — A Tim Burton stop-motion about a boy who brings his dog back to life.
- Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School (1988) — A Scooby-Doo Halloween adventure with classic monster kids.
- Curious George: Boo Fest (2013) — A Curious George Boo Fest cartoon that’s a little spooky but fun for younger kids.
- Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) — The Muppets join the Halloween lineup in this Muppets Haunted Mansionspecial.
- Ernest Scared Stupid (1991) — A goofy comedy where Ernest faces off against trolls.
- Hubie Halloween (2020) — An Adam Sandler Netflix comedy that’s silly and set on Halloween night.
- The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018) — A fantasy tale about a teenage daughter living with her uncle in a mysterious house.
- Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) — Not a Halloween film exactly, but Count Olaf makes this series of unfortunate events adaptation feel creepy.