18 Movies To Watch If You Love Halloween But Hate Scary Movies

    Halloween is the spookiest time of year, but this list is for people who are looking to avoid scares at all costs.

    Blake Harper
    by Blake Harper

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Halloween is the time of year when people actively seek out the thrill of getting spooked through haunted houses, seances, and, of course, watching a lot of scary movies.

    Turner Classic / Via giphy.com

    But for a large chunk of the population, the notion of sitting down and watching something with the goal of being terrified sounds absolutely terrible.

    So in solidarity with the proud scaredy-cats of the world, I've compiled a list of movies and specials you can stream right now that still capture the spirit of Halloween but won't force you to stay up all night holding a kitchen knife while anxiously staring at your bedroom door.

    1. Ghostbusters (1984)

    Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray pointing their weapons
    Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    After losing their jobs as professors at Columbia by trying to present evidence of ghosts, Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) form the Ghostbusters, a paranormal investigation and elimination service. The beauty of the premise is in its simplicity, as it is undeniably fun to watch three comedy titans fire off quips as they battle ghouls and spirits all around New York City. And even if you are a total scaredy cat, you should be able to handle Ghostbusters, so long as your greatest fear isn't a giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man roaming the streets.

    Watch it on Hulu.

    2. Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)

    Gonzo and Pepe looking frightened
    Disney / YouTube

    In order to prove his bravery for the millionth time, Gonzo (along with his wisecracking sidekick, Pepe) decides to spend a night in the haunted mansion where his favorite magician, the Great MacGuffin, disappeared 100 years ago. Of course, things go wrong, and he encounters a series of spooky spirits played by the likes of Danny Trejo, Ed Asner, and Chrissy Metz. But this is the Muppets we're talking about, after all, so things never get too intense in the scare department, and it's a fun movie that the whole family can enjoy.

    Watch it on Disney+.

    3. Hocus Pocus (1993)

    Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker looking excitedly at a book
    Buena Vista Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Hocus Pocus was a flop with critics and a pretty mild success financially, but in the nearly 30 years since, it's become the dictionary definition of a cult classic, developing a dedicated fanbase that grows with each year (the enthusiasm is so intense that it's even sparked a highly anticipated sequel). This cult reaches peak enthusiasm at this time of year and it's not hard to see why, as the story of a trio of witches who have to suck the life out of a child by sunrise takes place on Halloween. Despite the somewhat gruesome plan, the witches' attempt to hunt down children is almost entirely played for laughs.

    Watch it on Disney+.

    4. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

    Tim Curry smiling at Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon
    20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Another movie that has no actual association with Halloween but has unofficially earned a spot in the Halloween canon. While it's technically set in November, everything about this movie feels like the spooky but fun aura of Halloween. Even as Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon) stumble upon Dr. Frank-N-Furter's (Tim Curry) mansion, it feels like they're accidentally crashing the weirdest and wildest Halloween party ever thrown. Throw in a few alien invaders, plenty of costume changes, and the creation of life, and it's no wonder that there are screenings of Rocky Horror Picture Show all around the country every Halloween.

    Watch it on Hulu.

    5. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

    Linus, Sally, and Snoopy standing in a pumpkin patch
    Lee Mendelson Film Productions/ Courtesy Everett Collection

    A Charlie Brown Christmas may get most of the attention, but this Halloween-themed feature is every bit as entertaining. As Charlie Brown's attempt to go trick-or-treating goes every bit as poorly as you'd expect, Linus and Sally spend their night in a pumpkin patch awaiting the arrival of the Great Pumpkin. Linus's sincere belief in this mythical creature that almost nobody else has even heard of is legitimately heartwarming, as is Lucy showing a rare moment of sisterly care when she discovers her little brother never made it home. And with a 25-minute runtime, kids won't get bored or distracted halfway through, while you get to enjoy Vince Guaraldi's iconic score.

    Watch it on Apple TV+.

    6. The Witches (1990)

    Jason Fisher looking at a laughing Anjelica Huston
    Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, The Witches is a delightfully odd story about a young boy named Luke (Jason Fisher) who accidentally stumbles upon a witch convention while on vacation with his grandmother. It's up to him to stop the witches from successfully pulling off their plan to turn all the children in the world into mice. Don't bother with Robert Zemeckis's extremely forgettable remake, as Dahl's weird and cynical charm is on full display in the original film version. Anjelica Huston's performance alone as the Grand High Witch makes the entire thing worth watching, and in a just world, she would have won an Oscar for it.

    Watch it on HBO Max.

    7. Coco (2017)

    Miguel (voice: Anthony Gonzalez) holding his guitar while watching TV
    Walt Disney Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Miguel dreams of playing guitar, but his family lives by the law of Footloose and has banned all music. Through a series of mishaps, Miguel ends up cursed on the Day of the Dead and has to return to the Land of the Living by sunrise or he will become one of the dead. This movie explores the mystical and historical origins of Halloween, showing the importance it holds for many cultures. For my money, this is the best Pixar movie since the golden era of Finding Nemo and The Incredibles, and if you don't cry when Miguel plays "Remember Me" for his abuela, you may want to check your pulse to see if you've crossed over to the Land of the Dead.

    Watch it on Disney+.

    8. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)

    Henry Thomas and E.T. looking up at the sky.
    Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Alien invasion movies usually revolve around the idea of extraterrestrial beings trying to either enslave humanity or take over the world. But E.T. goes in the opposite direction, with director Steven Spielberg telling the story of a kindhearted alien who develops a bond with a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas) after he is accidentally left behind by his fellow martian botanists. This movie won't scare you, but there's a decent chance it will make you cry, as Elliott and E.T.'s devotion to each other embodies everything good about humanity, despite the fact that one of them technically isn't human.

    Watch it on Peacock.

    9. Warm Bodies (2013)

    Nicholas Hoult looking at Teresa Palmer, who is pointing her gun offscreen
    Summit Entertainment / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Zombies are notoriously hungry for brains, but R (Nicholas Hoult) discovers that it's the heart of a human that he hopes to capture when he falls for Julie (Teresa Palmer), one of the few surviving humans left after the zombie apocalypse. This clever take on one of the most played-out genres in horror is less interested in fear and more interested in exploring how even the undead can feel alive when they fall in love. Warm Bodies is a sweet, funny love story that feels like the love child of Romeo & Juliet and Shaun of the Dead, with forbidden, potentially impossible love forming between a human and a zombie.

    Rent it on Prime Video.

    10. Young Frankenstein (1974)

    Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, and Marty Feldman onstage.
    20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

    We all know the story of Frankenstein, but Young Frankenstein focuses on Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder), a physician who is desperately trying to escape the complicated legacy of his grandfather. But once he travels to Transylvania to inherit his family's estate, Dr. Frankenstein can't help getting himself involved in the family business. Directed by comedy icon, Mel Brooks, Young Frankenstein remains one of the most beloved comedies of the last 50 years and is easily the funniest iteration of the Frankenstein story ever told. While the film pays homage to the original book and films that came before it, Young Frankenstein uses the conventions of horror only for laughs.

    Watch it on HBO Max.

    11. Clue (1985)

    Christopher Lloyd and Tim Curry arguing over the body of Lee Ving
    Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

    With all due respect to Knives Out, there has never been a funnier whodunit than Clue. What makes this murder mystery so much fun to watch is that it isn't really that interested in the mystery of the murder of Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving), the man who invited six strangers to his home in an attempt to blackmail them. Instead, the fun of Clue is found in the characters and the constant chaos that ensues anytime the amateur sleuths try to get any closer to solving Mr. Boddy's murder. And watching comedy legends like Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd, and Madeline Kahn at the height of their powers is just a delight.

    Watch it on Prime Video via Showtime.

    12. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

    Jemaine Clement, Jonathan Brugh, and Taika Watiti talking at the table
    The Orchard / Courtesy Everett Collection

    We all know about vampires hunting down humans and battling with the Van Helsings of the world. But What We Do in the Shadows asks what these immortals are up to the rest of the time. And it turns out that the answer mostly boils down to going out on the town, stalking former lovers, and trading insults with the local werewolf gang. From the brilliant minds of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, this mockumentary is so damn funny that it inspired a TV show of the same name that, for my money, is the funniest thing on television right now.

    Watch it on Kanopy.

    13. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

    Rick Moranis cowering behind an angry Steve Martin
    Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Another movie that technically has no connection to Halloween but still manages to capture the spirit of the holiday perfectly. An alien plant that has an insatiable desire for human flesh? Check. Elaborate song-and-dance numbers? Check. Steve Martin cosplaying as a leather-daddy dentist? Check and check. All of these elements combine to make Little Shop of Horrors is the epitome of a Halloween musical, even if its watered-down ending takes a little bite out of this hilariously dark love story.

    Watch it on HBO Max.

    14. Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

    Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint screaming
    Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    The Sorcerer's Stone has developed a reputation as a Christmas movie, which I have always found strange, as it really has nothing to do with Jesus's birthday other than a pretty quick sequence involving Harry opening up presents for the first time in his life. It's a much more natural fit as a Halloween movie, for extremely obvious reasons — namely that the entire franchise is about a kid attending a ghost-infested school where you major in witchcraft and wizardry. There's literally a Halloween scene that includes a cave troll invading Hogwarts. So keep watching it at Christmas if you'd like, but don't forget that the first Harry Potter movie is a great Halloween watch as well.

    Watch it on Peacock.

    15. Hubie Halloween (2020)

    Adam Sandler smiling while holding up a sign that says 'ghost.'
    Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    When people begin disappearing from the town of Salem, it's up to Hubie (Adam Sandler) to figure out what's going on and save the day. That may sound like a horror movie, but this movie is not at all interested in trying to scare you, instead playing the horror conventions for laughs. And while Hubie Halloween may not be at the top of anyone's list of all-time great Sandler movies, the movie is a perfectly good time that delivers consistent laughs, with Sandler's usual suspects delivering some genuinely funny moments (Steve Buscemi is especially great). And, most importantly, the legendary comedic actor actually seems invested in the movie he's making, as opposed to using it as an excuse for a vacation.

    Watch it on Netflix.

    16. Addams Family Values (1993)

    Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia sharing a romantic moment.
    Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

    The first Addams Family movie was a surprisingly well-made reboot of the beloved '60s spooky sitcom but its sequel kicked things up a notch. While Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) are sent away to camp after they keep trying to murder their new baby brother, Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) falls in love with the family's new nanny even though she hopes to make him her latest dead husband. All of the Addams Family shenanigans are far more wacky than scary, as they're a pretty sweet group underneath their slightly homicidal tendencies.

    Watch it on Pluto.

    17. House (1977)

    Yoko Minamida lifting her hands and smiling menacingly.
    Janus Films / Courtesy Everett Collection

    On paper, House sounds like a pretty standard horror movie, as a schoolgirl known as Gorgeous (Kimiko Ikegami) travels with six of her friends to her aunt's country home only to find it is inhabited by an evil spirit. But the Japanese film never feels interested in scaring its audience; instead, the tone of the film feels more like a fantastical dreamscape where things don't fully make sense but it doesn't really matter because the vibes are outstanding. House does not function as a scary movie, as its stunning visuals and bizarre yet compelling effects make it an entirely enjoyable watch even for the biggest horror hater.

    Watch it on HBO Max.

    18. Beetlejuice (1988)

    Michael Keaton smiling menacingly.
    Warner Brothers / Courtesy Everett Collection

    A recently deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) hire a bio-exorcist named Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) to drive out the family moving into their former home but he turns out to be a crude and vulgar being who they can't seem to get rid of. While this is arguably Burton's best film, it's impossible to overestimate Keaton's titanic impact on Beetlejuice's success. What's amazing is that Keaton's actual time onscreen is relatively short, but he makes the most of it, delivering a hilariously unhinged performance as the sleaziest spirit you've ever had the misfortune of crossing paths with. In a just world, this would have landed Keaton an Oscar.

    Watch it on HBO Max.