Halloween is just around the corner, making this the perfect time to give up on ordering various things online for that costume you’ve been planning since September (come on, you’re not actually going to assemble it) and celebrate the advent of spooky season in a much chiller way: on the couch, with your feet up and a pumpkin-flavored beverage in hand, as a good old-fashioned scary movie plays on the TV or laptop screen in front of you.
Personally, I’ve gotten a little sick of Netflix and Hulu’s horror offerings, especially since I’m a coward who really only wants the scary-movie vibe without any actual fear. Luckily, that’s where Disney+ comes in; below, find a roundup of the very best Halloween movies currently available on the streaming service, most of which are suitable to watch with kids (or stoned adults, if those are your people).
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
This ’70s musical classic (starring the late, great Angela Lansbury) isn’t necessarily a Halloween staple, but it’s about a witch, so it clearly should be.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
It’s a little disconcerting how many times I’ve seen this movie, given that it came out the year I was born. I recapped it here, but head to Disney+ to familiarize yourself with the original source material.
Halloweentown (1998)
This is a real, live Disney Channel Original Movie, meaning that it won’t feel quite complete without ad breaks and your parents telling you it’s time to go to bed—but who wouldn’t want to relive those pre-teen glory days? (Also: Debbie Reynolds!)
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
With hysterical voice work from Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Jennifer Tilly, and more, it’s a classic for a reason!
Twitches (2005)
Tia and Tamera Mowry as (you guessed it) teen witches? Could there be a more appropriate seasonal treat for a once-devoted viewer of Sister, Sister?
Frankenweenie (2012)
Is it even Halloween without a Tim Burton movie?
Maleficent (2014)
Disney’s villains are clearly way more fun than the princesses, so why not dive into this live-action ode to evil-queen energy—starring Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning—this Halloween? (A Maleficent costume is also a lot less predictable than Sleeping Beauty or Belle.)
Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
Kermit and the Muppet gang get a slightly spooky, ghostly makeover in this recent film, which challenges Gonzo to spend the night in (yep!) the Haunted Mansion.
Haunted Mansion (2023)
This newly released, Justin Simien-directed film revolves around a woman and her son who enlist so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of ghosts. With stars including LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, and Dan Levy, it has the ring of an instant classic.
