There’s no secret that I have a love of horror movies, but as a parent, I can’t really justify allowing my toddler or even teenager to watch Maniac Cop or Slumber Party Massacre, even if I saw them when I was 8 years old! Times are different, and while my parents were totally comfortable allowing us to watch those and so I have never been scared, my kids are different people with different personalities.

During October, especially Halloween night, as a kid I loved to see Elvira on tv or watch marathons of the black and white Addam’s Family or The Munsters on TVLand. And the movies! Don’t you remember some of the amazing films you watched when you were younger and how much they meant to you? Hello! Hocus Pocus is a Millennial classic (well it’s an everyone classic really!) Sharing those nostalgic movies with your kids is a great way to bond with them on a fun family Friday!

Note: The movies listed while they are ones that I have seen and have no issue showing my children, I recognize not everyone is the same. So please be sure to use your own judgment or view beforehand to determine if these are okay for your family!

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Name a better trio than the Sanderson Sisters? Of course, this tops our list because let’s face it, Hocus Pocus is a Halloween Classic! In Disney’s Hocus Pocus, pranksters conjure up three wild witches from seventeenth-century Salem for a night of zany fun and comic chaos.

Teen Witch (1989)

If you haven’t rapped “Top That” at least once in your life are you even a millennial? Seriously, I will say this is the best suburban rap battle of all time.

A 1989 teen fantasy, Teen Witch is a somewhat corny, music-filled film about love, magic, and truth. Most teenagers dream of having the power to make anything happen. According to local mystic Madame Serena (Zelda Rubinstein), that’s just what’s going to happen to Louise (Robyn Lively) on her 16th birthday when she receives her powers as a witch. The once shy and unpopular Louise takes full advantage of her new abilities and is soon enjoying being the most popular girl in school, dating the star of the football team (Dan Gauthier), and terrorizing a particularly insensitive teacher (Shelley Berman). What Louise is slower to learn is the wisdom of being careful what she wishes for, that wishes sometimes have unintended consequences, and that when it comes to love, magic can cloud the truth. In the end, Louise will have to make a very personal choice between magic and truth and come to terms with the fact that, like spells, happiness gained by magic wears off.

The Burbs (1989)

Did you know that Tom Hanks really was a comedian? I mean, maybe not in the traditional sense, but The Burbs was definitely an early favorite of mine! I remember my grandmother taking us to this in theaters in New York when I was a kid! Plus it features one of the Corey’s and is just pure fun to watch!

Not to mention as an adult, I can totally relate to everything in this movie now!

An overstressed suburbanite and his neighbors are convinced that the new family on the block are part of a murderous Satanic cult.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

Don’t you remember thinking it would be so cool if you were able to shrink down to the size of an ant and explore the world through the lens of a teeny-tiny creature? That’s what happens in this 1989 classic. No, it’s not a Halloween movie, but this one makes for a great family movie night. And what’s scarier than being shrunk and relying on your siblings and dad to get you back to normal!

Rated: PG

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, a fun-filled musical fantasy of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who discovers the joy of Christmas Town and decides to fill Santa’s boots — with hilarious results. Featuring a marvelous mix of characters and 11 ghoulishly captivating songs by Danny Elfman — it’s frightful fun for the whole family!

Rated: PG

Twitches/Twitches Too (2005)

The innate connection between twins is a strange but very real phenomenon, so it’s no surprise that when 21-year old twins Camryn (Tamera Mowry) and Alex (Tia Mowry) bump into one other in a clothing shop, they feel an instant connection with one another even though they were separated at birth. What is a surprise is that the two girls are really powerful witches from another dimension who were spirited away to escape the destructive force known as the “Darkness.” Kept safe for the last 21 years by two quirky protectors Karsh and Ileana, the girls are now destined to combine their respective gifts of sight and knowing with their newly discovered magical powers in order to save their own mother and her entire dimension from the invading Darkness. The biggest difficulties for the girls prove to be learning to trust in themselves and their powers, agreeing upon their combined role in the fight, and focusing their powers against the Darkness. Based on the book The Power of Two, this 86-minute Disney Channel Original Movie features a convincing and enthusiastic performance by Disney Channel’s Sister, Sister stars Tia and Tamara Mowry and some other-worldly special effects.

Labyrinth (1986)

An imaginative 16-year old girl is given 13 hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by the Goblin King. 

Clue (1985)

Was it Professor Plum in the study with the rope? Or maybe it was Miss Scarlet in the conservatory with the knife? Either way, it’s a mystery! Based on the classic board game, this 1985 ensemble mystery comedy was a true work of genius and starred huge Hollywood stars such as Tim Curry and Christopher Lloyd.

Rated: PG

Nothing But Trouble (1991)

Chevy Chase, Demi Moore, and John Candy star in a screwball comedy about a vacation to Atlantic City that goes madly awry. High-rolling financier Chris Thorne just wants to impress Diane Lightston when he invites her on a trip out of town. But when he is pulled over for a traffic violation in a bizarre small town, the couple and their wealthy Brazilian traveling companions become enmeshed in trouble—more trouble than they can handle.

Rated: PG-13

The Witches (1990)

A young boy stumbles onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse. Based on a book by Roald Dahl.

Rated: NR (not rated)

The Addams Family (1991)

Another great film based on an old cartoon, this supernatural black comedy will be a family favorite immediately. We love watching Anjelica Huston as Morticia Addams and Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams. It never gets old!

Ghostbusters II (1989)

Rated: PG-13

In 1984, we were introduced to Ghostbusters, however, that movie was probably not appropriate for kids. The second one had fewer sexual innuendos which mean less explaining for mom and dad during this film! Plus how can we forget this legendary cast!

Rated: PG

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

When Clark Griswold decides to take his family on a road-trip vacation, you know hilarity is about to ensue. The first iteration of this ’80s comedy classic is still one of your favorite movies, and your kids will probably get it!

Rated: R

Beetlejuice (1988)

Michael Keaton stars in this Tim Burton comedy-horror film, and it’s still a fan favorite. It’s a little scary, but kids over the age of 10 will probably love its kooky antics and all of the gross-out prop humor.

Rated: PG

Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead (1991)

This movie was the one! I can’t tell you how many times I have seen this over years. Once again, not a Halloween movie, but it certainly makes for an awesome family movie night! Mom has taken a trip, leaving the kids with a babysitter. There’s only one problem – she just died! Now the kids can have a summer full of fun – or can they?

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Journey back to the magic and adventure with E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, the beloved masterpiece from director Steven Spielberg. Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, and Robert MacNaughton star in the unforgettable story of a lost alien and the 10-year-old boy who helps him find his way home. Digitally remastered for optimal picture and sound, this astounding story is sure to thrill viewers of all ages again with its timeless message of trust, courage, and the overwhelming power of friendship.

Rated: PG

Halloweentown (1998)

On her 13th birthday, Marnie learns she’s a witch, discovers a secret portal, and is transported to Halloweentown — a magical place where ghosts and ghouls, witches and werewolves live apart from the human world. But she soon finds herself battling wicked warlocks, evil curses, and endless surprises.

Mars Attacks (1996)

This movie was hilarious. There are some scenes that may make you wince, but overall this was just a really fun movie to watch.

Honorable Mentions: AKA Parental Advisory

This category of films is for those families with older teens. To be transparent, my kids have seen these movies. While for some they may be on the scarier end of the spectrum, I highly advise parents to check these out before showing their teens.

Death Becomes Her (1992)

Aging actress Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep) is persuaded to take an elixir that brings her eternal life. Her rival for her husband Ernest’s (Bruce Willis) affections, Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn), has taken the same potion, and when the two of them try to kill each other, their bodies prove to be irritatingly indestructible.

Rated: PG-13

Coraline (2009)

So I actually could not decide if I should include this. Coraline is a bit…frightening. I mean those button eyes…creepy as heck. I remember taking Alyssa to the theater to see this when she was 4, and we actually had to leave because she was so scared! Dakota Fanning is the voice of Coraline Jones, who discovers an alternate dimension that at first seems better than her real life, but turns out to be something far more sinister. If you are. a parent and you haven’t seen this yet, I highly recommend watching it first.

The Craft (1996)

Four high school misfits who experiment with witchcraft must deal with the consequences of their newfound abilities

Having just moved to Los Angeles, Sarah (Robin Tunney) is an outsider at St. Benedict’s Academy until she meets three other social outcasts. Nancy (Fairuza Balk), Bonnie (Neve Campbell), and Rochelle (Rachel True) will never fit in with the “in” crowd. But together with Sarah, they learn that being an outsider has its own kind of power. Nancy, Bonnie, and Rochelle dabble in the occult, and when they notice Sarah has the powers of a natural witch, they talk her into joining their coven. With the addition of a fourth witch, they find they can cast spells they couldn’t before, and the teenage witches are suddenly not only able to get the attention, praise, and love they have long been denied but also to exact vengeance on classmates, parents, and boyfriends. They learn, however, that everything comes with consequences.

The Lost Boys (1987)

The Lost Boys is one of 80’s cinema’s iconic vampire films about two new-in-town brothers who discover a local gang of motorcycle youths are more undead than alive. Younger brother Sam works hard to eradicate the ghouls but his older brother falls in love with the group’s lone female. Soon, he finds that he’s gradually becoming a vampire himself

The Faculty (1998)

When some very creepy things start happening around school, the kids at Herrington High make a chilling discovery that confirms their worst suspicions: their teachers really are from another planet. As mind-controlling parasites rapidly begin spreading from the faculty to the student’s bodies, it’s ultimately up to the few who left an unlikely collection of loners, leaders, nerds, and jocks to save the world from alien domination.

Poltergeist (1982)

“They’re here,” – seeming almost whimsical at first, playing stack-the-chair games in the Freelings kitchen. Then things turn darker. A storm erupts, a tree attacks, and little Carol Anne Freeling is whisked into a spectral void. As her family confronts horrors galore and fights to bring the youngster back, something else is here too: a new benchmark in Hollywood ghost stories.

Older Teen Honorable Mentions: Since these films feature killing I am just going to mention these in a blurb. These films are more suited for 16 and up. SCREAM (1996), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Urban Legend (1998), Ginger Snaps (2000).