Halloween is a fun holiday, but not everyone is into horror movies. Luckily, for those looking for something to watch doesn’t involve ghosts or slashers, Disney has a great lineup of films to get you in the spooky spirit without keeping you up at night.
Of course, there are the obvious options. Everyone turns to Hocus Pocus and The Nightmare Before Christmas (I’ll throw The Haunted Mansion on the list of exclusions as, well, it’s not popular but it’s a little on the nose). This list will provide some alternative options.
1. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
It’s not often you get the opportunity to see an animated and not-so-scary version of a horror icon like the Headless Horseman. The second segment of this two-part animated classic features a story based on “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” a classic spooky story. Plus, as an added bonus, the first segment features Mr. Toad — a Disneyland staple.
2. Monsters Inc. (2001)
Monsters from another dimension base their society on the energy received from breaking into children’s rooms and terrifying them into screaming fits. If that’s not the plot of a Halloween movie, I don’t know what is. This beloved Disney-Pixar animated hit if a perfect fit for the spooky season.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
The classic Disney Parks attraction has become one of the most successful film franchises of all-time, and coincidentally one (or I suppose five) of Disney’s best Halloween movies. The Curse of the Black Pearl involves a hero teaming with a pirate anti-hero to take on a crew of cursed, undead pirates. Spooky, but not too spooky.
4. Frankenweenie (2012)
This Tim Burton-ized retelling of the classic story of Frankenstein is the perfect fit for a Disney Halloween marathon. While many will be watching The Nightmare Before Christmas (which wasn’t actually directed by Burton), you can enjoy this Burton creation instead.
5. Coco (2017)
If you don’t mind shedding a few tears, Disney-Pixar’s 2017 hit Coco is a perfect fit for Halloween. This touching story and beautiful animation will transport you to the land of the dead. It’s also a prefect option if you’re watching your Halloween (or Dia de los Muertos, as it were) movies with your family.
Honorable Mention: Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
This one serves a double purpose. Wreck-It Ralph is filled with candy (I mean, how many movies have a character named King Candy?) and let’s be honest, candy is everyone’s favorite part of Halloween. Plus, you can use this opportunity to brush up before the November 21 release of the sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet.
Which Disney movies do you like to watch on Halloween? Let us know in the comments below.