The 10 best Halloween movies on Disney+ for family-friendly frights

Chris SnellgroveTue, October 13, 2026 at 4:44 PM UTC

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‘Werewolf by Night’; ‘Frankenweenie’; ‘Hocus Pocus’Credit: Marvel Studios; Simon Jacobs/Disney; Andrew Cooper/DisneyFrom wicked witches to lovable monsters, these spooky favorites offer plenty of tricks and treats.

For many horror hounds, Halloween is a holiday celebrated year-round. The good news is that there is no shortage of freaky movies to choose from on streaming. The bad news is that many of them are too scary for families looking for a little spooky fun.

If that’s your concern, fear not: Disney+ has you covered. While the streamer isn’t exactly known for its scares, there are several films available that capture autumnal vibes while serving up just the right amount of menace for younger viewers.

Ready for the streaming equivalent of the neighbor who gives trick-or-treaters full-size candy bars? Keep reading to discover the 10 best Halloween movies on Disney+.

01 of 10

Cruella (2021)

Emma Stone in ‘Cruella’Credit: Laurie Sparham/Disney

In recent years, Disney has taken a lot of flak for live-action reboots of animated films that don’t really change any of the core characters or plot. Fortunately, Cruella is more in the vein of the subversive Maleficent, painting a sympathetic (and often hilarious) portrait of its titular villain. Emma Stone plays Estella, an orphaned aspiring fashion designer who adopts the glam persona of Cruella as she uncovers shocking secrets about her past and lashes out against the world.

On paper, Cruella shouldn’t work. The original incarnation of the character was wicked beyond redemption, and these live-action franchise reboots are decidedly hit-or-miss. Fortunately, Stone imbues the character with both pathos and power, and her chemistry with costar Emma Thompson is out of this world. Plus, the combination of killer needle drops and eye-popping ‘70s fashion turns a tired concept into a bona fide punk-rock revolution.

Where to watch Cruella: Disney+

Director: Craig Gillespie

Cast: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser

02 of 10

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Johnny Depp in ‘Edward Scissorhands’Credit: Twentieth Century Fox Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

Director Tim Burton’s career has spanned everything from high-flying vigilantes to vulgar undead exorcists. Amid such outsized characters, it’s easy to overlook one of his more intimate creations: Edward Scissorhands, a quiet masterpiece about a gentle Frankenstein’s monster (Johnny Depp) who falls in love with a beautiful young woman (Winona Ryder). Unfortunately, their love is threatened by the town’s growing hostility toward Edward, particularly that of Kim’s jealous boyfriend, Jim (Anthony Michael Hall).

Edward Scissorhands is a movie that really fires on all cylinders. It features a beautifully understated performance from Depp, breathtaking designs, and a haunting soundtrack courtesy of frequent Burton collaborator Danny Elfman. It’s also astoundingly personal. As EW’s critic noted in their 1990 review, “Edward is, of course, Burton’s surreal portrait of himself as an artist: a wounded child converting his private darkness into outlandish pop visions. Like Edward, he finds the light.”

Where to watch Edward Scissorhands: Disney+

Director: Tim Burton

Cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall, Kathy Baker, Vincent Price

03 of 10

Frankenweenie (2012)

‘Frankenweenie’Credit: Disney

In its own way, Frankenweenie is director Tim Burton’s most self-indulgent film. After all, it’s a remake of a 1984 short he made for Disney. The studio shelved the original because it was deemed too scary for children, and Burton departed soon afterward. Nearly three decades later, the feature film fully explores the tale of Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) resurrecting his dog Sparky (Frank Welker) after the pup is killed by a car. When his classmates steal this pint-sized Prometheus’ secrets, they accidentally unleash a small army of monsters on unsuspecting suburbia.

Frankenweenie is a glorious, stop-motion love letter to an entire genre. As EW’s critic underscored in their review, the film is “exquisite, macabre mayhem and a kind of reanimation all its own.” Fortunately, the director finds both the heart and the humor amid the horror, delivering a killer film that can only be described in two words: “IT’S ALIVE!”

Where to watch Frankenweenie: Disney+

Director: Tim Burton

Cast: Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Winona Ryder

04 of 10

Halloweentown (1998)

(Left to right) Judith Hoag, Joey Zimmerman, Kimberly J. Brown, Emily Roeske, and Debbie Reynolds in ‘Halloweentown’Credit: Everett Collection

The first film in the popular Halloweentown franchise focuses on a teenage girl (Kimberly J. Brown) who learns a family secret from her wacky grandmother (Debbie Reynolds): she’s a witch! But with her great powers come great responsibilities. Namely, protecting the titular Halloweentown and its colorful residents from the sinister schemes of the town’s evil mayor (Robin Thomas).

Halloweentown has long been popular with audiences of all ages because of its (ahem) magical charm. After all, it has the kind of vibe you’d get if you smashed Harry Potter and The Nightmare Before Christmas into one tricky little treat. Plus, the life lessons it imparts are downright universal. As EW previously noted, one reason to revisit Halloweentown is that “just like Marnie learns to be the witch she always wanted to be, you’ll probably learn a thing or two about yourself when you’re free to unleash your inner passions.”

Where to watch Halloweentown: Disney+

Director: Duwayne Dunham

Cast: Debbie Reynolds, Judith Hoag, Kimberly J. Brown, Joey Zimmerman, Phillip Van Dyke

05 of 10

Haunted Mansion (2023)

‘Haunted Mansion’Credit: Disney

Disney has long looked to its theme park attractions for movie inspiration, with mixed results. While 2003’s The Haunted Mansion brought everyone’s favorite ghosts to life, 2023’s Haunted Mansion is the best adaptation of the beloved attraction. It’s about a mother (Rosario Dawson) moving herself and her son into a New Orleans manor filled with scary specters. Instead of moving out in this housing market, she assembles some ghostbusters (including Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, and LaKeith Stanfield) to send these spooks packing.

Haunted Mansion does an impressive job of balancing nostalgic thrills with an engrossing story. We get great chemistry from the entire cast, with Stanfield in particular giving a powerful performance that helps to ground these supernatural shenanigans. With cool effects and additional stars like Danny DeVito and Jamie Lee Curtis, this movie is more than a haunted house; it’s a haunted home.

Where to watch Disney’s Haunted Mansion: Disney+

Director: Justin Simien

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Cast: LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto

06 of 10

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker in ‘Hocus Pocus’Credit: Buena Vista Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

Hocus Pocus is a vintage spooky classic featuring three 17th-century witches who are accidentally resurrected in the ‘90s. They come back to life on Halloween; fortunately, this film is more treat than trick because the trio of magical ladies is played to perfection by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. They help bring this hilarious cauldron of a script to bubbling life, with a little help from Doug Jones, the undisputed master of monster acting.

Forget the onscreen spells: the real magic of this film is the killer chemistry between its wildly wacky witchy women. The movie also boasts a deep bench of awesome supporting characters and a show-stopping musical number (admit it, you’re humming it right now!). Throw in the immaculate fall vibes, and it’s no surprise that fans love to revisit this family-friendly favorite each Halloween.

Where to watch Hocus Pocus: Disney+

Director: Kenny Ortega

Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, Thora Birch

07 of 10

Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker in ‘Hocus Pocus 2’Credit: Matt Kennedy/Disney+

The spell so nice they cast it twice! Nearly three decades after the first film, Hocus Pocus 2 gave fans a taste of the old magic. It reunites the three witches from the earlier movie (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) on a new adventure as they are once again whisked into the present day on Halloween. This time, they are brought back by two unsuspecting teenagers who spend the rest of the film trying to keep these hexy ladies from carrying out their sinister plans for Salem.

While Hocus Pocus 2 hasn’t achieved the same cult-classic status as its predecessor, the nostalgic reunion between these talented actors is a treat in itself. Plus, it’s downright fun getting lost in this familiar world of kooky characters and magical musical numbers. Throw in powerful themes of sisterhood and you have a movie that appeals to audiences of all ages.

Where to watch Hocus Pocus 2: Disney+

Director: Anne Fletcher

Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Sam Richardson, Doug Jones

08 of 10

Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)

Gonzo in ‘Muppets Haunted Mansion’Credit: Mitch Haaseth/Disney

How do you make a familiar film concept seem fresh and fun? Simple: add the Muppets! With a premise reminiscent of House on Haunted Hill, Muppets Haunted Mansion follows Gonzo (Dave Goelz) as he attempts to survive a night in the titular macabre manor. He’s there to mark the 100th anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of his magician idol, The Great MacGuffin. Meanwhile, Pepe the King Prawn (Bill Barretta) just wants to party with celebrities. Along the way, we get fun cameos from Danny Trejo, John Stamos, and the late, great Ed Asner.

There aren’t too many surprises here: this is mostly the Muppets reenacting moments from the Haunted Mansion ride and riffing on the wackiness around them. Fortunately, the riffs are really great and the characters are genuinely charming. Plus, the combination of sincere messages and manic musical numbers is sure to bring a smile to anyone, dead or alive.

Where to watch Muppets Haunted Mansion: Disney+

Director: Kirk Thatcher

Cast: Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Eric Jacobson, Matt Vogel, Peter Linz, David Rudman

09 of 10

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’Credit: Disney

The Nightmare Before Christmas is both trick and treat, serving as both a Christmas and Halloween movie, all rolled into one. The plot involves Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon), the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who has grown tired of scaring people. After discovering Christmas Town, he decides to take over the holiday himself, despite the protests of Sally (Catherine O’Hara), a rag doll who secretly loves him. Unfortunately, Jack’s plan goes disastrously awry, and Santa Claus winds up in the clutches of the frightening Oogie Boogie (Ken Page).

Directed by Henry Selick from a story by spooky maestro Tim Burton, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a grab bag of all your favorite things. It features jaw-dropping animation, mesmerizing creature designs, and side-splitting line deliveries. If that’s not enough, it even has a beautifully gothic romance that has inspired generations of Hot Topic-loving paramours. Ironically enough, this not-so-scary “nightmare” may be the sweetest dream ever put on screen.

Where to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas: Disney+

Director: Henry Selick

Cast: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, Ken Page

10 of 10

Werewolf by Night (2022)

Gael García Bernal as Jack Russell in the Disney+ ‘Werewolf by Night’ TV specialCredit: Marvel Studios

Exhausted by the constant slew of Marvel movies but don’t have the bandwidth to binge a series like Daredevil: Born Again? Kevin Feige and crew have you covered with Werewolf by Night, a bite-sized standalone special set in the MCU. After a famous monster hunter dies, a group of his colleagues (including Gael García Bernal and Laura Donnelly) gather to compete in a weird competition for possession of a powerful relic. However, one of the hunters has a secret plan of his own, one that may ultimately put them all in danger.

Available in both black-and-white and color, Werewolf by Night is a fun slice of monster-mashing adventure. It eschews heavy Marvel lore and colorful superheroes, instead embracing the darker, stranger world of classic monster movies. The result is an engaging romp that you’re sure to enjoy all “fright” long!

Where to watch Werewolf by Night: Disney+

Director: Michael Giacchino

Cast: Gael García Bernal, Laura Donnelly, Harriet Sansom Harris, Kirk R. Thatcher

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