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There are two kinds of Halloween people.

The ones who want to watch something absolutely terrifying…

And those of us who would rather curl up under a blanket with a bowl of popcorn and watch witches, friendly ghosts and a little not-too-scary Halloween magic.

I’m definitely in the second group.

Give me pumpkins glowing around the house, candles burning, something yummy in the oven and a nostalgic Halloween movie we’ve already watched approximately 47 times.

That’s my kind of spooky season.

So if you’re planning a family movie night, girls’ night, date night or just want an excuse to stay home on a chilly October evening, I’ve put together 13 cozy Halloween movies—plus something fun to make for each one.

Some are classic Halloween movies, some are nostalgic favorites, and a couple simply have that wonderfully witchy, autumn feeling that makes me want to light every candle in the house.

Grab the blankets. Make the snacks.

Halloween movie season has officially begun.

1. Hocus Pocus

Can you even have a cozy Halloween movie list without Hocus Pocus?

I don’t think it’s allowed.

The Sanderson Sisters, Salem, black cats, pumpkins, witches and all that wonderfully cheesy ’90s Halloween magic make this one an October tradition in our house.

Make: Halloween Popcorn

Make a big bowl of popcorn and toss in pretzels, chocolate candies and whatever Halloween candy you have hiding in the pantry.

For something extra fun, drizzle melted white or dark chocolate over everything and add Halloween sprinkles.

Easy, messy and perfect for eating straight from the bowl.

2. Halloweentown

If you grew up watching Disney Channel movies, you already know.

There’s just something about Halloweentown.

Pumpkins everywhere, witches, skeletons, magic and that perfectly cozy late-’90s/early-2000s Halloween feeling.

It’s one of those movies I could put on in the background every October.

Make: Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

Make your favorite hot chocolate and stir in a spoonful of pumpkin puree with a tiny pinch of pumpkin pie spice.

Top with whipped cream and cinnamon. Or my new favorite, Fika Spice!

Bonus points if everyone drinks it out of ridiculously oversized fall mugs.

3. Practical Magic

Okay, this one is for the grown-ups.

Practical Magic isn’t exactly a traditional Halloween movie, but the witchy New England house, herbs, gardens, candles and cozy fall atmosphere earn it a permanent spot on my October watch list.

And that kitchen?

I would move in tomorrow.

Make: Midnight Margaritas

You knew this was coming.

Make margaritas for the adults—or make a fun alcohol-free lime mocktail version so everyone can join in.

Turn up the music while you’re making them for the full experience.

4. Beetlejuice

Weird?

Yes.

A little creepy?

Definitely.

But Beetlejuice is such a classic that it deserves a Halloween movie night at least once every October.

Make: Mummy Hot Dogs

Wrap hot dogs in thin strips of crescent-roll dough and bake until golden.

Add tiny mustard or ketchup eyes after baking.

They’re ridiculously easy and somehow much more fun to eat when they’re wrapped like tiny mummies.

5. Casper

Now THIS is cozy Halloween nostalgia.

A giant old mansion.

A friendly ghost.

Christina Ricci.

1990s everything.

Casper still has just enough spooky atmosphere to feel like Halloween without being particularly scary.

Make: Ghost Hot Chocolate

Make hot chocolate and pile whipped cream or marshmallows on top.

Add two little chocolate chips for ghost eyes.

Done.

Sometimes the easiest ideas are the cutest.

6. Coraline

I’ll admit…

Coraline might be slightly creepier than “cozy.”

But the stop-motion animation, fall atmosphere and wonderfully strange story make it such a good October movie.

This one may be better for older kids depending on what your family is comfortable watching.

Make: Button Cookies

Make your favorite sugar cookies and use a straw or skewer to poke four little holes in the center before baking so they resemble buttons.

If you’ve seen the movie…

You know.

7. The Addams Family

They’re creepy and they’re kooky…

And somehow also one of the most wholesome families on television.

That’s what I love about the Addams family.

They’re completely bizarre, but they absolutely adore each other.

Make: Witch Finger Cookies

Shape sugar-cookie dough into long fingers, use a knife to make little knuckle lines and add an almond for the fingernail.

A tiny bit of red jam around the almond makes them wonderfully gross.

The kids will love them.

You’ll question why you made them.

Perfect Halloween snack.

8. Hotel Transylvania

If you’ve got younger kids, Hotel Transylvania is such an easy Halloween movie-night pick.

You’ve got Dracula, Frankenstein, mummies, werewolves and monsters without turning movie night into something genuinely scary.

Make: Monster Brownie Bites

Bake your favorite brownies and cut them into small squares.

Add candy eyeballs, colorful frosting or little chocolate monster faces.

You don’t need them to look perfect.

Actually, the wonkier the monsters look, the better.

9. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

This one is pure nostalgia.

It’s short, sweet and feels like childhood Halloween.

Watching Linus wait for the Great Pumpkin is one of those little seasonal traditions that never really gets old.

Make: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

If you’ve recently carved pumpkins, save those seeds!

Clean them, toss with a little oil and salt and roast until crispy.

You can keep them classic or experiment with cinnamon sugar, garlic, ranch seasoning or a little smoky paprika.

It’s basically the ultimate Great Pumpkin snack.

10. Monster House

This one has just enough creepiness for a fun Halloween night.

A haunted house that is literally alive?

Yes, please.

And I’ll happily watch it while sitting on my couch eating snacks.

Make: Haunted House Quesadillas

Cut tortillas into simple house or pumpkin shapes—or don’t make your life difficult and just make normal quesadillas.

No judgment here.

Serve with salsa, guacamole and sour cream.

Sometimes movie night needs actual dinner instead of another bowl of candy.

11. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Is it a Halloween movie?

Is it a Christmas movie?

Yes.

That’s the only answer I’m accepting.

This is especially fun toward the end of October when we’re starting to get that tiny itch to think about Christmas but aren’t quite ready to pack away the pumpkins.

Make: Jack Skellington Cookies

Use round sugar cookies with white icing and draw Jack’s face using melted chocolate or black decorating icing.

Simple and instantly recognizable.

12. Ernest Scared Stupid

Now this is peak nostalgic Halloween.

If you grew up in the ’90s, there’s a good chance you remember Ernest accidentally unleashing a seriously creepy troll on Halloween night. It’s silly, spooky, completely ridiculous—and somehow still one of those movies that instantly feels like October.

And can we talk about how genuinely creepy that troll was as a kid?!

Make: Troll Toes

Make easy little “troll toes” using refrigerated breadstick or crescent-roll dough. Shape them into chunky toes, add an almond slice for the nail and bake until golden.

Serve them with warm marinara for dipping.

They’re weird.

They’re slightly gross.

They’re perfect for Halloween movie night.

13. The Haunted Mansion

A haunted mansion, ghosts, secret passageways, spooky graveyards and plenty of humor—The Haunted Mansion is exactly the kind of movie I want for a cozy October night.

It’s spooky without turning movie night into something I’m going to regret watching when I have to walk through the dark house later.

Make: Haunted Mansion Graveyard Brownies

Bake your favorite brownies and cut them into rectangles.

Stick a little cookie into each brownie for a tombstone and use icing to write RIP. Add crushed chocolate cookies around the bottom for “dirt” and a few candy pumpkins if you want to make them extra cute.

They don’t have to look Pinterest-perfect.

They’re supposed to be a graveyard, after all.

Make a Halloween Snack Board

Can’t decide what to make?

Don’t.

Make a little bit of everything.

A Halloween movie-night board could have popcorn, apple slices with caramel, pretzels, cheese and crackers, mini cookies, grapes, candy corn, brownie bites, pumpkin seeds and a little Halloween candy.

This is especially fun for family movie night because everyone can pick at it throughout the movie.

And it looks impressive even though you basically just opened a bunch of packages and arranged them on a cutting board.

My favorite kind of entertaining. 

For a More Old-Fashioned Halloween Movie Night

You definitely don’t have to buy a bunch of Halloween-themed stuff to make the night feel special.

Pop some popcorn on the stove.

Make apple cider.

Bake cookies.

Turn down the lights.

Light a few candles.

Pile blankets on the couch.

Put pumpkins around the room.

Then tell everyone to put their phones away.

Okay…

That last one might be the scariest part of the entire evening.

But there’s something really nice about making an ordinary night at home feel special.

A Few Cozy Extras for Movie Night

Shop Our Cozy Movie Night Favorites

Cozy Throw Blanket → HERE

Popcorn Popper → HERE

Oversized Fall Mugs → HERE

Halloween Pajamas → MY FAVS HERE

Mini Movie Projector → HERE

Make a Night of It

I think sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to create big seasonal memories that we forget how much kids—and adults—love the simple stuff.

You don’t need an elaborate Halloween party.

You don’t need expensive decorations.

You don’t even need matching Halloween pajamas.

Although I will admit they’re pretty cute.

Pick a movie.

Make something yummy.

Turn off the lights.

Grab every blanket in the house.

Light a candle or two.

And settle in together.

Because years from now, nobody is going to remember whether your Halloween snack board looked Pinterest-perfect.

They’ll remember watching the same silly Halloween movie every October and eating way too much popcorn together.

And that’s exactly the kind of seasonal tradition I want more of.

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