The countdown to Halloween is on, kids prepare for a night of trick-or-treating, the entire family can gather round and enjoy a month filled spooky scares. With a packed library that includes titles like Loki, The Mandalorian, American Born Chinese, and more, Disney+’s content catalogue also boasts an impressive collection of films perfect for a Halloween movie marathon.
In addition to the handful of titles that make the ‘Best Halloween Movies Streaming on Disney+’ list, subscribers can also get into the spirit of the season via the streamer’s Hallowestream event. The annual Halloween streaming celebration features a mix of titles already available to stream on Disney+ and upcoming premieres, including Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Twitches. The Hallowstream event will also see the premiere of the streamer’s Goosebumps series, the latest adaptation of R.L. Stine’s book series of the same name. The show will premiere simultaneously on Hulu on Oct. 13.
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You can get streaming with Disney+ through one of the available subscription plans. The streamer offers an ad-supported Disney+ Basic plan for $7.99 per month ($79.99 annually). An ad-free tier, dubbed Disney+ Premium, is also available for $13.99 per month. Subscribers can bundle Disney+ with ESPN+ and Hulu for $12.99 per month with ad-supported viewing or $19.99 per month for ad-free viewing. You can sign up for a subscription by clicking here. Keep scrolling for a look into some of the best Halloween movies currently streaming on Disney+.
‘Frankenweenie’
Runtime: 1 hour, 28 minutes
Starring: Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan
Synopsis: “From Disney and creative genius Tim Burton (ALICE IN WONDERLAND; THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS) comes the hilarious and offbeat FRANKENWEENIE, a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life — with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.”
Why it makes the list: With an 88% critics score and a 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Frankenweenie is a beloved film that became an instant Halloween classic upon its premiere in 2012, not to mention, it offers an interesting twist on the classic Frankenstein tale.
‘Hocus Pocus’ and ‘Hocus Pocus 2’
Runtime: 1 hour, 36 minutes;
Starring: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy
Synopsis: Hocus Pocus – “Conjured up by some unsuspecting pranksters, a tricky trio of 300-year-old witches set out to cast a spell on the town and reclaim their youth.”
Hocus Pocus 2 – “It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century Sanderson sisters, and they are looking for revenge.”
Why it makes the list: Hocus Pocus is quintessential Halloween time viewing, offering a bit of everything we love about the season – witches, zombies, and even a talking cat! Although he film was a theatrical flop when it was released back in 1993, Hocus Pocus has since become a cult classic and remains one of most popular Halloween movies today. Making things even better, after a near 30-year wait, Hocus Pocus 2 debuted last month, meaning fans can get a back-to-back double dose of the Sanderson sisters.
‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’
Runtime: 1 hour, 19 minutes
Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherin O’Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens
Synopsis: “Bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, Pumpkin King Jack Skellington longs to spread the joy of Christmas.”
Why it makes the list: While there still may be some debate on whether Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas qualifies more as a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie, there is one thing nobody can deny: The Nightmare Before Christmas is essential Halloween viewing every spooky season.
‘Halloweentown’
Runtime: 1 hour, 24 minutes
Starring: Debbie Reynolds, Judith Hoag, Kimberly J. Brown, Joey Zimmerman, Phillip Van Dyke, Emily Roeske
Synopsis: “Marnie and her younger siblings travel with their estranged grandmother, who is a good witch, to Halloweentown-a place where creepy creatures lead very normal lives. On her 13th birthday, Marnie gets a supernatural surprise when she discovers that she, too, is a witch. Marnie will have to learn how to use her broomstick if she hopes to stop an evil force from taking over Halloweentow.”
Why it makes the list: Released in 1998, this Disney Channel Original Movie was peak Halloween viewing for kids throughout the ’90s and beyond. Offering plenty of whimsy and adventure, it’s a perfect view for the entire family. If just a single dose of Halloweentown isn’t enough, the follow up movies Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge, Halloweentown High, and Return to Halloweetown are also streaming on Disney+
‘The Haunted Mansion’
Runtime: 1 hour, 29 minutes
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, Nathaniel Parker, Marshs Thomason, Jennifer Tilly, Wallace Shawn
Synopsis: “With the help of supernatural psychic Madame Leota, a real estate agent and his family must battle to break Gracey Manor of its age-old curse.”
Why it makes the list: The Haunted Mansion is among the most popular rides at Dinsey theme parks, so it comes as little surprise that the 2003 comedy, an adaption of the ride, has been a fan-favorite movie ever since its release. Not only does The Haunted Mansion offer plenty of family-friendly scares, it is packed full of adventure, and it has aged timelessly over the years.
‘Under Wraps’
Runtime: 1 hour, 33 minutes
Starring: Malachi Barton, Christian J. Simon, Sophia Hammons, Melanie Brook, Brent Stait, Jordana Largy
Synopsis: “Three friends accidentally revive a mummy they find in a neighbor’s basement. Hey name him Harold and must rush to return him to his resting place before midnight on Hallloween.”
Why it makes the list: Under Wraps has been on Halloween movie lists for years ever since its release in 1997, and with the recent premiere of Under Wraps 2, Disney+’s sequel to the film, adding Under Wraps to your viewing list seems like a no brainer.
‘Z-O-M-B-I-E-S’
Runtime: 1 hour, 37 minutes
Starring: Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Trevor Tordjman, Kylee Russell, Carla Jeffrey, Kingston Foster
Synopsis: “Now that the government has created a device that stops zombies from craving brains, Seabrook High-a school focused on uniformity, traditions and pep rallies -faces student integration with the Zombietown kids. As the human and zombie students struggle to coexist, a budding friendship between cheerleader Addison and zombie Zed could unite their high school and community for good.
Why it makes the list: Z-O-M-B-I-E-S clearly did something right, because not only is it a favorite viewing option throughout October, its initial success led to an entire franchise, with Zombies 2 and Zombies 3 also available to stream on Disney+.
‘Coco’
Runtime: 1 hour, 44 minutes
Starring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, Renée Victor, Jaime Camil
Synopsis: “In Disney/Pixar’s extraordinary adventure, a boy who dreams of becoming a great musician embarks on a journey to uncover the mysteries behind his ancestors’ stories and traditions.
Why it makes the list: While Coco isn’t exactly a Halloween movie, but rather a movie about Dia de Los Muertos, which is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2, the movie is still considered to be one of the best seasonal films and a perfect, albeit emotional, watch for the entire family to conclude the month of October.
Honorable Mentions
Twitches
Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire
Don’t Look Under the Bed
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Into the Woods
The Avevntures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
