Home Depot sold out of its massive 12′ Halloween skeleton, pumpkin inflatables litter suburban front yards in early September, and there was a line around the block for free fall drinks at Starbucks in my neighborhood this week. Spooky Season is more than Halloween. It’s one of the most festive times of the year. And, like other festive holiday seasons (ahem, Christmas), I like to celebrate it snuggled under a fleece blanket on my couch watching the season’s best TV.
And while the streaming networks seem to be promoting an all-out scare-fest this year, there is plenty of fun family spooky season entertainment, too. Check out our 2023 Spooky Season Binge-Watching Guide:
Best for Pre-Schoolers
Super Monsters: Dia de los Monsters (Netflix)
Netflix’s fun Super Monsters are here to teach young minds about Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of loved ones who have passed. It’s presented in an age-appropriate way that’ll keep your youngest spooky season fans entertained. Currently streaming on Netflix.
Mickey & Friends Trick or Treats (Disney+)
Disney+ is launching a new Halloween special this year starring Disney’s OG cast. Mickey and friends stop at a spooky mansion while trick-or-treating and crazy things start happening. The special premieres Oct. 1 over the air on the Disney Channel. It’ll start streaming Oct. 2 on Disney+.
Best for school-aged kids
Hocus Pocus & Hocus Pocus 2 (Disney+)
The Hocus Pocus movies have become a modern classic! The original story of the Sanderson Sisters debuted in 1993. Then last year Disney released Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+. There are rumblings of a Hocus Pocus 3 in the works, but so far we don’t know when it will be released — certainly not in time for the 2023 spooky season.
Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney+)
This ’90s classic still reigns supreme for kids who want something fun and creepy, but not really scary. The Tim Burton film regularly ranks high on Disney+ throughout the Halloween movie season.
Best for Teens
Wednesday (Netflix)
Last year’s instant Halloween favorite about Wednesday Addams will be back for Season 2, although Netflix hasn’t given us a release date just yet! We hope it’ll be in time for the 2023 Spooky Season, but even if we don’t see it this fall, Halloween is still a good excuse to re-watch the first season of the show.
Ghostbusters (Peacock)
There are several newer remakes and sequels, but I suggest going with the classic 1984 comedy starring Bill Murray. The story of a group of guys who start a ghost-hunting business in New York City is iconic. It’s perfect for family movie night, but you should know there is a bit of strong language and a couple of scenes that could be deemed inappropriate. Streaming now on Peacock.
Best for Kids That Want a Scare: Wendell & Wild
The first thing you need to know is that Wendell & Wild is rated PG-13, so proceed with caution. It’s about a teenager who makes a deal with demons to bring her dead parents back to life. It isn’t exactly a lighthearted family film, but it is fun and could work well for older kids who are into scary stuff but aren’t quite ready for real horror movies. Now streaming on Netflix.
What We’re Still Waiting For: Haunted Mansion (Disney+)
Disney released a new Haunted Mansion film in theaters over the summer. Our fingers are crossed that we’ll see it released to streaming on Disney+ before Halloween. The new film has a star-studded cast including LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto. It got mixed reviews in theaters so we’ll have to judge for ourselves when it streams to Disney+.
Your Family Favorites Spooky Season
Streaming Guide
Disney+
Mickey & Friends Trick or Treats (2023)
Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Cruella (2021)
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Werewolf by Night (2022)
Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
Monsters, Inc (2001)
Maleficent (2014)
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
Descendants & Descendants 2 (2015), (2017)
Coco (2017)
Frankenweenie (1984 & 2012)
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror
Halloweentown (1998)
Moms Got a Date with a Vampire (2000)
Under Wraps (2021)
Ghost Hunters (2019-2020)
Girl vs. Monster (2012)
Gravity Falls (2012-2016)
LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales (2021)
Mr. Boogedy (1986)
Spooky Buddies (2011)
Netflix
Scooby-Doo!:Mystery Incorporated
The Worst Witch
The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween (2019)
Spookley The Square Pumpkin (2004)
Gnome Alone (2018)
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Super Monsters (series – 2017)
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Munsters (2022) – September 27
Wednesday (2022)
A Tale Dark & Grimm (series – 2021)
MonsterHouse (2016)
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (series – 2017)
Phantom Pups
Shrek’s Swamp Stories (2008)
Hubie Halloween (2020)
A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting (2020)
Igor
The Curse of Bridge Hollow
Goosebumps (series – 1995)
Are You Afraid of the Dark? (series)
The Good Witch (series – 2015)
Scaredy Cats (2021)
Hulu
Halloweentown (1998)
Beetlejuice (1988)
Monster House (2006)
Jumanji (1995)
Hotel Translyvania (2012)
Monster House
Edward Scissorhands
Madacascar: A Little Wild: A Fang-Tastic Halloween (2020)
Sabrina The Teenage Witch (series- 1996)
Blippi’s Spooky Spells Halloween
Max
Harry Potter Series
Monsters vs Aliens (2009)
Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! (2009)
Fantastic Beasts
Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters II (1989)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Coraline (2009)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Matilda (1996)
King Kong (1993)
Prime
The Addams Family (2019)
Casper
Clue
Gremlins
Monster House
Sesame Street: A Magical Halloween Adventure
