With Halloween just around the corner, many plans and events have already been set in stone or have come and gone. For people without any plans and not much time, why not spend that time with one of these movies or specials?
Halloween is commonly known as the scary season, but for those that don’t like horror, here are some less scary alternatives that you can watch. These films and shows offer a different mood for the season that might be an interesting tradition to watch every October.
“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982)
“E.T.” shows the growing friendship between the alien E.T. and boy Elliot (Henry Thomas), as they face challenges from government agents.
“E.T.” might not be what’s ordinarily thought of as a Halloween movie, but with the majority of the plot taking place on Halloween, it’s a great pick to get into what the spirit of being a kid on Halloween is like.
It’s a feel-good movie that effectively handles both heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments, making it perfect for those who don’t want to be overly frightened on Halloween. It can be watched on Netflix.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” follows Pumpkin King Jack, the ruler of Halloweentown, as he discovers Christmastown and decides to throw his own version of Christmas after growing disillusioned with doing the same thing over and over for Halloween.
With its hybrid nature as a “Halloween movie” and a “Christmas movie,” it could even be watched a few days after Halloween as a transition to the following holidays. It can be watched on Disney+.
“Hocus Pocus” (1993)
“Hocus Pocus” focuses on the Halloween tradition of witches. Directed by Kenny Ortega of “High School Musical” fame, the Disney film follows three kids as they accidentally resurrect three evil witches and race against time as they try to stop the witches from becoming immortal.
More recently, a sequel, “Hocus Pocus 2” was released in 2022, and a third movie has been greenlit, so if you like this movie, there’s more where that came from, all of which can be watched on Disney+.
“Over the Garden Wall” (2014)
“Over the Garden Wall” is a television mini-series that masterfully blends genres like fantasy, adventure and mystery, offering a unique experience for audiences during fall. It follows two half-brothers travelling through a strange and mysterious forest called the Unknown in search of a way home. Along the way, they encounter unusual circumstances, like pumpkin-headed villagers.
This mini-series offers a relatively short journey into an entirely new world, perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit, and can be found on Hulu.
“It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (1966)
If you don’t have time to watch a full movie, “It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is a classic that features the Peanuts gang as they celebrate Halloween.
From trick-or-treating (featuring consistently unlucky Charlie Brown only getting rocks) to parties to the “Great Pumpkin,” it has both familiar and unfamiliar concepts and activities. The “Great Pumpkin” has been parodied and alluded to across other shows, from “The Simpsons” to “The Middle,” highlighting its enduring nature.
The special can be watched on Apple TV+.