One of the things I love about Fall is PUMPKINS! Going to the pumpkin patch is one of my favorite things ever (you can see my post about it, and info on our local pumpkin patches in Snohomish and King County here: https://accidental-education.com/2026/08/17/local-attraction-pumpkin-patches/)
So, when it comes to movies or DVDs that are pumpkin related, you want to have options for your kiddos. But also, what if you want some Halloween/spooky options, too?! Here I have a selection that should not drive you bonkers, separated into younger kids vs. older kids.
Ages 5 & Younger
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. (Did you NOT expect me to start with this one? But be prepared if it has been a while since you have seen it…some of those kids are MEAN…especially Lucy…even though she still takes care of her little brother, Linus. Odd dynamic. Also, lots of mentions of slugging (hitting) people. Times have changed, so good opportunity to have a conversation, if so desired.)
Max & Ruby: The Perfect Pumpkin
Maggie and the Ferocious Beast: Recipes for Trouble (Episode: Recipe for Trouble)
Doozers: Spookypalooza
Halloween Treats: The Runaway Pumpkin & Pumpkin Heads (Both based off books)
Berenstain Bears: The Complete Collection (Episodes: Trick or Treat, The Haunted Lighthouse, The Prize Pumpkin,
Peppa Pig: Pumpkin Party
Pumpkin Time (Based on the picture book by Erzsi Deak)
Curious George: A Halloween Boofest & Spooky Fun
Pooh’s Halloween Heffalump Movie (Stinking adorable. Lumpy and Roo are perfect buddies)
WordWorld: Kooky Spooky Halloween
Dinosaur Train: Buddy’s Halloween Adventure
Little Bear: Halloween Stories
Spooky Buddies (The Halloween edition of the “Buddies” movies)
Halloween Town (Debbie Reynolds is a witch and this Halloween her granddaughter finds out she is too, which leads to a mystery to solve, danger and an unexpected trip to Halloween Town)
Ages 6 & Up
Nightmare Before Christmas (Epic, dark Disney spookiness. Good for Halloween AND Christmas. Catherine O’Hara, Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Paul Reubens)
The Worst Witch (1986 version. There is also a modern Netflix TV series, but it’s not quite the same camp and epicness)
Monster House. (Steve Bushemi, Kathleen Turner, Kevin James, Maggie Gyllenhal, Jason Lee…the animation was ground-breaking for the time. Now it is highly stylized and the story is still great. Definitely for older of the older kids. Brief mentions of violence, drinking, teenagers, etc.)
Coraline. (Based off the book. Claymation, Dakota Fanning, Keith David, Jennifer Saunders. Spooky and classic)
Igor (Highly overlooked. Star studded cast including John Cusack, Molly Shannon, Jay Leno, Steve Buschemi, Suzie Izzard, Sean Hayes, Jennifer Coolidge and more. Featuring music of Louis Prima)
Kubo and the Two Strings (Star studded cast. Amazing story. Fantastic animation and style. I love this movie.)
Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space (I really tried not to like this show but it’s oddly entrancing)
The BoxTrolls (British, underrated, claymation movie with a darker tone, but I absolutely love the trolls)
Hotel Transylvania (Kooky and sweet. Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Steve Buschemi, Ceelo Green and more!)
Casper (A little raunchy (ghosts with bad manners) but also sweet. Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman.)
The Addams Family (Lots of over-exaggerated suggestion of violence, just like the tv show. Lots of gags. Dark humor. Angelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, and more)
Ghostbusters (The classic with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Rick Moranis, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, Harold Ramis…some suggestive content (one scene really, but I didn’t even understand it until I was in my TWENTIES!)
Disney’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow (I would watch this and Night on Bald Mountain every year as a kid)
Coco (Probably my favorite. I’m including it even though it is about Dia de los Muertos/Dia de Muertos because of shared traditions and timing)
The House with a Clock in the Walls (based off the book by John Bellairs. LOVE this film)
Disney’s Haunted Mansion (There are two different movies with the same name. I like this one with Rosario Dawson over the Eddie Murphy version).
Spiderwick Chronicles (Also a book series)
Hocus Pocus (I know, I should have loved it straight off, but I didn’t. HOWEVER, it grew on me.)
Honorable Mentions:
Not my personal favorite but one of my co-workers LOVES this one, and I told her I would include it:
ParaNorman
Have a favorite I didn’t include? Put it in the comments!
