Non-scary Halloween movies to watch
You prefer “Boo!” over “You’re going to die tonight”, a dancing pumpkin-headed scarecrow over bloody corpses, and the cinnamon treats over blood-curdling screams. We get it. Not everyone is built for Halloween movies like The Exorcist or The Conjuring.
So, if you’re planning a Halloween movie marathon with just a whiff of spooky – think magical schools and cauldrons, instead of demonic possessions and jumpscares – turn on one of these 20 not-so-scary Halloween movies that won’t leave you needing therapy after.
Table of Contents
- Non-scary Halloween movies to watch
- 1. The Addams Family (1991)
- 2. Coraline (2009)
- 3. The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
- 4. Hocus Pocus (1993)
- 5. Phantom of the Opera (2004)
- 6. Coco (2017)
- 7. Corpse Bride (2005)
- 8. We Have A Ghost (2023)
- 9. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
- 10. Practical Magic (1998)
- 11. Zombieland (2009)
- 12. E.T. (1982)
- 13. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
- 14. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
- 15. Warm Bodies (2013)
- 16. Ghostbusters
- 17. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
- 18. Scooby-Doo (2002)
- 19. The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)
- 20. Casper (1995)
1. The Addams Family (1991)
Image credit: The Guardian
No family would love Halloween more than the eccentric Addams family – a clan whose life practically oozes macabre and spooky.
The ‘90s film is a cult classic that follows the kooky clan as they reconnect with the long-lost Uncle Fester, but no one can be sure if he is the real thing or not. No jumpscares, just lots of dark, deadpan humour and eccentric but lovable characters.
Where to watch: Netflix Malaysia
2. Coraline (2009)
Image credit: Netflix
More enchanting than eerie, stop-motion fantasy film Coraline teeters on the line between fairy tale and a creepy bedtime story – it’s creepy and cosy all at once.
Based on Neil Gaiman’s 2002 children’s novel, the animation follows a girl named Coraline who discovers a small door in her parents’ new house, which leads her to a parallel universe that seems more sinister than it appears.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
3. The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
Image credit: The New York Times
Tick tock, it’s Halloween o’clock. The House with a Clock in Its Walls is a mouthful of a title, but it’s a relatively new one that’s perfect for a light fright night.
After losing his parents in a car crash, young Lewis moves in with his quirky Uncle Jonathan and his neighbour-friend Mrs. Zimmerman, and finds mysterious things happening around the house. There’s a mystical mansion, grumpy griffins, evil pumpkins, as well as Jack Black and Cate Blanchett summoning magic – what’s not to like?
Where to watch: Netflix Malaysia
4. Hocus Pocus (1993)
Image credit: Hocus Pocus Wiki
Just like how there’s no fall without pumpkin-spiced lattes, Hocus Pocus is that essential of a Halloween ritual watch.
The Sanderson sisters are the stars of the show – as villainous and as cackly as any good witches are – and when the tricky trio are resurrected in modern-day Salem, they hatch a plan to reclaim their youth by stealing the souls of children.
Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar
5. Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Image credit: Rotten Tomatoes
Halloween is all about the mystery, the theatrics, and the flair – and the very haunting Phantom of the Opera delivers all of that with a full orchestra.
The ghost in this movie is not some terrifying entity, but a love-sick masked musical genius living under a 19th-century Paris opera house. Obsessed with a young and beautiful soprano, he becomes murderous with rage when she plans to wed another.
You’ll not only be getting gothic unhinged romance and masked balls, the dramatic love scores and their ominous notes will be playing in your head for days after.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
6. Coco (2017)
Image credit: IMDb
Coco may take you on a journey through the Land of the Dead, but it isn’t here to give you the spooks. In fact, it brings more laughter, tears, flowers, and neon lights than the scaries.
The animated Pixar film tells the story of a young Mexican boy, Miguel, who gets transported to the afterlife and seeks out his late great-great-grandfather, who was once a famous musician. As they find the way home, Miguel rediscovers the power of music and his love for it.
Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar
7. Corpse Bride (2005)
Image credit: IMDb
Tim Burton’s hauntingly whimsical Corpse Bride is a favourite Halloween viewing with the film’s beautiful gloom aesthetics and its tender and tragic story.
A soon-to-be groom, Victor, finds himself married to a corpse bride when he mistakenly reads his vows out loud in the cemetery, and he works to reverse what has been done and to get back to his real bride, who is very much still alive.
Where to watch: Netflix Malaysia
8. We Have A Ghost (2023)
Image credit: IMDb
In this age and era, anyone can be a TikTok star – including a ghost in We Have A Ghost.
Kevin’s family moves into a large abandoned house where he discovers Ernest the Ghost in the attic, who is awkward, silent, and does not remember his past life. Upon posting a video of Ernest online, the family becomes a social media sensation overnight, and eventually, they become targets of the CIA.
Man, even ghosts can’t have their peace.
Where to watch: Netflix Malaysia
9. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Image credit: IMDb
In case it wasn’t already obvious, Kiki is a witch in Kiki’s Delivery Service. She isn’t here to cast dark magic on anyone. She’s here to deliver baked goods on time, on her handy flying broomstick, and with her charming black cat. And when she isn’t busy with her delivery services, Kiki is trying her best to deal with her new life as a teenage girl in a new town.
Where to watch: Netflix Malaysia
10. Practical Magic (1998)
Image credit: NPR
Nothing says spooky season quite like witchy sisters, family baggage, and whispered incantations.
Practical Magic tells of the two Owen sisters who live with their aunt in a small town, with the gift of practical magic which they inherited from their parents, along with the curse to be loveless. This one is a soft one that’ll warm your soul as much as that warm cup of chai latte.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
11. Zombieland (2009)
Image credit: Datebook
Nothing more Halloween than a zombie apocalypse, and better yet, when the movie doesn’t take these free-roaming undead too seriously.
Zombieland is a horror-comedy at its best, that’s wickedly funny with lots and lots of gore. In a now-destroyed America, four jaded individuals reluctantly join forces and carpool across the zombie-filled country. The film is weird, wonderful, and a whole lot of fun, you’ll almost want to join in on the party – almost.
Where to watch: Netflix Malaysia
12. E.T. (1982)
Image credit: The Washington Post
It’s honestly the tender and slightly eerie magic that hits harder than any jump scare. The classic E.T. film is the ultimate comfort blanket that’ll get you through the spooks of Halloween. We’ve got our lovable alien that has been stranded on Earth and a troubled child who gives his all to help the creature return to its home planet. Plus, we’ll never get enough of that BMX bicycle soaring across the moon.
Where to watch: Netflix Malaysia
13. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
Image credit: Film Stream
You don’t need a deranged slasher or a haunted doll to steal the show when it comes to Halloween movies. Sometimes, you just need Jim Carrey in full villain mode and his shifting personas to make you feel delightfully disturbed.
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events has three kid orphans taken in by their conniving uncle after losing their parents, and they discover that their uncle is actually after their inheritance and plotting murderous schemes.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
14. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Image credit: The Guardian
A monster mash that’s bound to make you laugh out loud, Hotel Transylvania brings the bats and fangs without the nightmares. Instead of biting necks, Count Dracula is biting his nails with worry, trying to keep his teenage daughter away from humans, and gets exceptionally overprotective when a human boy is found within the premises of his high-end resort.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
15. Warm Bodies (2013)
Image credit: The Guardian
Can love bring one back from the dead? Warm Bodies says yes.
R is a zombie, yes, but he is a real softie who falls in love with a human girl after rescuing her, and the two form a bond. Think romcom, but with some brain-eating action.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
16. Ghostbusters
Image credit: Screen Rant
Be it the 1984 classic with a theme song that still slaps, or the 2016 version with that girl gang power, Ghostbusters will have you all psyched when the crew shows up clad in their jumpsuits and gadgets to shoo the ghosts, slimes, and demons off. In the midst of all that action, you’ll get all the laughs as well.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
17. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Image credit: Vox
Forget the gore, and go for a softer peanuts-and-pumpkins route this time round with the American animated Halloween television special, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Charlie Brown preps excitedly for a Halloween party, while Linus skips on the festivities to wait for the mythical Great Pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.
The animation is cute, charming, timeless, and a cosy nostalgia that truly brings out the best of the season – sans the frightening stuff.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
18. Scooby-Doo (2002)
Image credit: Buzzfeed
The live-action masterpiece of Scooby-Doo pays a loving tribute to the franchise with its perfectly cast ensemble, playful humour, and Halloween-esque vibe of the film.
The movie starts with the break-up of Mystery Inc. after a heated argument, and years later, the gang is invited to solve a mystery on a horror-themed tropical resort named “Spooky Island” at the behest of its proprietor Emile Mondavarious, who believes the guests have fallen under a demonic curse.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
19. The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)
Image credit: IGN Southeast Asia
For some pure Halloween mayhem – we’re talkin’ Halloween-decorations-trying-to-kill-you chaos – The Curse of Bridge Hollow literally brings to life the neighborhood’s animatronic horrors after teenage girl Syd accidentally releases an ancient spirit on Halloween. There are zombified scarecrows, possessed pumpkins, and freaky inflatables, so Syd must team up with her father to put things right again.
Where to watch: Netflix Malaysia
20. Casper (1995)
Image credit: SYFY
And of course, no list of not-so-scary Halloween movies would be complete without the mention of everyone’s favourite friendly ghost, Casper – the only paranormal entity who wants a hug, and not to haunt.
The 1995 film follows the tiny ghost who peacefully haunts a manor and befriends a teenage girl named Kat, who happens to be the daughter of a paranormal investigator tasked to get rid of the otherworldly inhabitants of the mansion.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Halloween movies for the faint-hearted
Let the daredevils have their horror marathons. We’re here for the autumn vibes, and these Halloween movies are perfect to get yourself into the festivities – no gore, no zombies crawling out of our screens, just a charming ghost or a talking black cat or two.
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Cover image adapted from: IMDb, Netflix & Rotten Tomatoes