40+ Not So Scary Halloween Movies & Shows for Young Kids & Up

Even your youngest child will enjoy this Halloween themed special from Sesame Street with classic characters like Elmo. This is one of those Halloween tv specials that may even help your child feel less scared about classic Halloween objects like monsters and Jack-o-lanterns. 

Curious George stars in both of these adorable not-so-scary Halloween movies: A Halloween Boo Fest and Spooky Fun. These DVDs are worth the investment because it's one of those that your kids may end up watching throughout the rest of the year as well.

I had to include a Thomas on this list. My boys would watch anything if it had Thomas in it (and I mean anything). These short tales will bring a little bit of Halloween to your child’s favorite train-filled show. You get a double feature with this DVD: Thomas & Friends: Thomas Gets Tricked and Thomas' Halloween Adventures.

Max and Ruby are always a toddler favorite, my youngest used to always have Max and Ruby on as his comfort show when he was sick because the stories are so simple. Max and Ruby's Halloween will get your toddler in the Halloween spirit without scaring them.

In Cat and the Hat Knows Halloween , The Cat and the Hat takes Nick and Sally on a wild, Halloween-filled ride. If your children are lovers of Dr. Seuss, they'll love this Halloween special. 

If you’ve never watched The Wiggles, be ready for a cheesy song-filled episode of Halloween goodness. Wiggly Halloween is perfect for your littlest monsters. 

A few Halloween-themed episodes from favorite childhood characters. I love this DVD because the episodes aren’t long so you can play just one or the whole thing. It includes episodes from Barney, Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina, Fireman Sam, Thomas and Friends, Kipper, and Fifi and the Flowertots.

This giant purple dinosaur is still exciting little ones today thanks to streaming and DVDs. Check out Barney in this family-friendly Halloween spectacular: Barney's Halloween Party. I wouldn't try to make an older child watch this with their little sister or brother, this is one of those that is meant just for toddlers and is perfect to put on when you need to get some work done.

The Halloween Stories from Scholastic is wonderful for any time of year. It contains of 18 classic children’s books that we absolutely love in our house. Each children's book, with a Halloweenish theme, has been turned into an animated film perfect for children of all ages.  

Peppa Pig is always a great option for family-friendly laughs. You don't have to worry about nightmares with this Peppa Pig Halloween special: Pumpkin Pig. 

So while this Halloween special won't give your child nightmares, it may give you nightmares. I suggest leaving this one for Grandma or the babysitter so that you don’t have to be subjected to the whining that is Caillou. Whether you're a fan or not, Caillou's Halloween is a favorite for many little kids.

My children were enthralled with Dinosaur Train when they were younger. If your little ones are fans, this will help get them in the Halloween mood. Buddy and family head out on a night train to learn about nocturnal animals.

Sid’s Spooky Halloween explains some of the science behind some Halloween themed topics such as how bats eat mosquito. Sid is so different than the other shows and movies on the list because he focuses on teaching children about science.

Your favorite Winnie the Pooh characters from Hundred Acre Wood come together for a Halloween movie: Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie. It is suggested for children ages three and up. There is another Winnie the Pooh Movie called Spookable Pooh that is great, too, but really hard to find. 

If your child loves Madeline, this DVD set is perfect for Halloween since it includes a few Halloween episodes. The little girl Madeline has captured hearts for many years and continues to be popular among young children. There seems to be a debate over the age appropriateness of these episodes - some say as young as 2 while others say to wait a bit older. So I would suggest checking it out first to determine how your child would do.

Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin is one of those classic Halloween movies my family has to watch every single year. This one’s like a right of passage for kids and Halloween. It's a short movie that is perfect to throw on after trick-or-treating or on a random afternoon. When my children were younger, we would watch it multiple times during the fall season.

Disney's Favorite dogs are back in this Halloween-themed movie adventure. The friends travel to a mysterious mansion where something doesn't seem right and results in an adventure with new friends. Spooky Buddies isn’t scary, the storyline just may be a little too complicated for younger children.

Eloise is geared towards children slightly older. This not to scary special takes place at none other than the plaza where Eloise is trying to convince others that something is spooky happening there.

Don’t miss Sponge Bob and his friends down in Bikini Bottom in this Halloween special.If you loved old 90’s cartoons, bring some nostalgia to your kids this Halloween. 

This DVD is filled with Halloween specials from your favorite Nicktoons. Join Tommy and Chuckie, Arnold, and more as they go on Halloween adventures. 

Beetlejuice, the original movie, inspired these great cartoons from the late 80’s early 90’s. This DVD set includes the Halloween-themed episodes. With the second Beetlejuice movie release, these cartoons have grown in popularity again.

Alvin and the Chipmunks have stood the test of time as a kid’s show. In the cartoon collection, Alvin, Simon and Theodore, will get you in the Halloween mood.

Your favorite Toy Story characters are here for a not-so-spooky Halloween special. This is one that even adults love (including my Mom). I personally showed it to my children when they were about 6 but some people feel it is better for children 8 and up - I would preview it first to decide based on your own child's level of fear. 

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad it based on the legend of sleepy hollow. It's a classic Disney movie from 1949 that is perfect for Halloween time. And thankfully since the headless horseman is a cartoon, he's not so scary.

Scared Shrekless takes the classic Shrek characters to to the screen for a cute Halloween adventure. 

Hotel Transylvania is a monster-filled movie that will definitely get your kids in the spirit of Halloween. Adam Sandler brings his typical humor to this animated feature. It's perfect for children 8 and up - even you pre-teens/teens can get into this one (even my husband and I love it). We watch it every Halloween season as a family. 

If you liked the first, you’ll want to check out the the others as well. Hotel Transylvania 2 and more follow the same classic monster movies characters in cartoon form in another adventure. Plus, it includes a star-studded voice cast like Selena Gomez as the female main character.

Casper isn’t a “Halloween” movie per say but it’s about a friendly ghost which fits right in during the Halloween season. This live-action movie is based on the classic children's cartoon. It may be scary for children who are afraid of ghosts.

Hocus Pocus is my second favorite “scary” movie as a child. It’s become a cult classic that is a must-watch for older children. The Sanderson sisters played by the very famous Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker, are after children to steal their youth and keep them alive. The witch sisters may be a bit scary for younger children but it is rated PG and perfect for older kids through older teens and even adults. 

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is the perfect movie for family Halloween movie night because it can be enjoyed by older children through adults. Thanks to this movie, Tim Burton gave us this now classic Halloween character, Jack Skellington, Sally, and more. 

For our next movie, we've got another Tim Burton film for this next movie, Corpse Bride. This stop-motion movie brought to you by the people that did The Nightmare Before Christmas, doesn’t disappoint. This love story it’s not technically a “Halloween” movie but it’s a great watch in October.

The Addams Family (based on the original television show), is sure to interest your older children while taking you back to your childhood. The second movie, Addams Family Values is another great option.

Are you more interested in animated movies? Then check out this animated version of the classic scary yet sweet Addams family. 

Ghostbusters was on our list of movies our kids must watch because it was one of our favorite movies growing up. While you may want to rush to show this one to your little ones, wait just a bit because there are some slightly scarier parts that I think we often forget about.

I’m going to be honest, I never watched The Witches until I was older (despite being a huge Roald Dahl fan). It would be great to read the book and then watch the movie (and begin teaching your child how movies, although good, are never as good as the book).

Halloweentown was a Disney Channel original movie that has become a go-to Halloween movie for many families. 

If your kid’s have ever been on either of the Haunted Mansion rides, they’ll love this movie or the original live action version of the movie revolving around the tale of a haunted house. You have two different choices with two different story lines based on the ride.  

This is one of the most controversial Disney movies out there due to it’s dark storyline. But, the Black Cauldron is a perfect choice for spooky season.

This is one of the most controversial Disney movies out there due to it’s dark storyline. But, the Black Cauldron is a perfect choice for spooky season.

In this animated fantasy comedy, Monster House, three teens discover the house next door is a monster. In this adventure, the children are trying to destroy the house before trick or treaters head its way. 

These cheesy cult-classic is my all-time favorite scary childhood movie as a child. My twin sister and I forced our friends to watch this over and over again (I am still sorry about that). But it’s awesome cheesiness is a great introduction to scary movies for kids. Did anyone else watch this one as a kid?