Halloween Movies & TV Specials Every ’90s Kid Can Watch With Their Kids

‘Double, Double, Toil and Trouble’

Is this Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movie as good as you remember, or is it so bad it's good? We're leaning toward the latter now that we aren't tweens obsessed with all things Olsen sisters. Still, it's cute and wholesome and basically a rite of passage in your fam (or at least it will be now!). 

‘Under Wraps’

Under Wraps should have a special place in ‘90s kids hearts if only because it was the first (ever!) Disney Channel Original Movie. That’s right — the series that gave us classics like Cadet Kelly and The Cheetah Girls might never have existed without Under Wraps bravely paving the way.

So, watch it for the legacy, or watch it because a group of kids helping a friendly mummy named Harold survive Halloween will always be a good time (and we’re sure your kids will agree).

‘Doug’: Doug’s Halloween Adventure

During this Halloween TV special, Doug and Skeeter finally do that thing we've all been waiting for: scare the living daylights out of Roger the bully. It's a perfectly spooktacular comeuppance, not to mention a great way to introduce your kids to Doug, Porkchop and the gang. 

‘Halloweentown’

Can we all just go ahead and agree that this Disney Channel original movie will never get old? No matter that it originally debuted way back in 1998. Solid family fun, Halloweentown has everything you'd expect from '90s Halloween gold: witches, spells, a reluctant mother and a town where trick-or-treating is always welcome. 

Plus, is there any more fitting way to pay tribute to the late, great Debbie Reynolds than to introduce one of her most beloved characters to a new generation? 

‘Casper’

They just don't make 'em like this anymore, do they? While there's plenty of sweetness and innocence to make you happy as a parent (first love is always precious), your kids will get a few solid scares, too. It may not be the special effects they're used to, but the story of Dr. Harvey, his daughter, Kat, and a friendly ghost will charm them regardless. 

‘The Addams Family’

Da na na na num, dum dum, da na na na num, dum dum… you know how it goes. This isn't the retro TV show your parents probably passed on to you. This movie marks the beginning of one of the greatest '90s Halloween movie series ever: The Addams Family, Addams Family Values and Addams Family Reunion. OK, so maybe that last one isn't the best, but you get the picture.

This one may be a bit too creepy for super-young kids, but once they get a little older, they'll be begging you to watch Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Lurch and, of course, Thing.

‘Don’t Look Under The Bed’

This sweet ‘90s flick is best watched with kids on the younger side — especially any with imaginary friends, who play a huge role in Don’t Look Under the Bed.

When the town of Middleberg starts being hit with strange disturbances, Frances turns to imaginary friend Larry for advice on how to stop it, who tells her the Boogeyman is to blame. What follows is a series of Boogeyman-catching hijinks, a trip into the Boogeyworld dimension, and a heartwarming lesson on keeping childhood wonder alive.

‘Rugrats’: Candy Bar Creep Show

Ah, who didn't love those adorable, rascally Rugrats? We definitely did. So, of course, we can't wait to once again watch Tommy, Chuckie, Phil and Lil, Angelica and Susie summon up their courage for their parents' haunted house. To be honest, we'd totally brave monsters and more if it meant finding our own stash of Reptar bars. 

‘Hocus Pocus’

Clearly, we weren't going to make a list of the best '90s movies (or anything) without including this timeless tale of the Sanderson sisters! Doesn't everyone watch Hocus Pocus at least three times every October? If they don't, they're just not doing life right. 

There are a few parts that may terrify the super-little ones (Billy Butcherson coming out of the grave springs to mind), so enjoy counting down the minutes until your kids are old enough to share your Hocus Pocus love. 

‘The Witches’

Anjelica Huston’s The Witches is an iconic spooky ‘90s movie: and even if it doesn’t technically mention Halloween, there are witches, costumes, and frights aplenty.

When little Luke stumbles upon the Grand High Witch’s annual convention — and uncovers their plot to turn all little children into mice — he and his grandma plot to stop them in their tracks. It’s a Roald Dahl classic, and a Halloween must-watch.

‘Practical Magic’

Put this right up at the top of the list alongside Hocus Pocus. Never will a Halloween go by without Practical Magic being played in heavy rotation, and for good reason. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman shine as the Owens sisters, who make us all believe in things like sibling love and, you know, magic. 

Again, this may be a bit mature for the kindergarten set, but once you hit elementary school you're probably good to go. If not, we've been parenting wrong. 

‘The Simpsons’: Treehouse of Terror

Take your kids back in time to the "Treehouse of Terror" installment that started them all. More than two decades later, The Simpsons still does it up right with one of these Halloween-themed specials each year. They consist of three episodes, and yep, they can get pretty gory. But, really, if you let your kids watch The Simpsons, some animated carnage probably doesn't stress you out too much. Hello, Itchy and Scratchy, right? 

And while there are plenty of nods to more adult horror movies, they're embedded in the standard Simpsons way. In other words, they'll fly right over your kid's head. 

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’

Praise be to Tim Burton for gifting '90s kids (and the world) with one of the most beloved cult characters ever: Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, responsible for bringing all things spooky to Halloween Town. Because, as we all know and your kids will soon find out, ol' Jack has a heart of gold, and that heart wants to celebrate Christmas, too. 

Do you know what that means? You're well within your rights as a "vintage millennial" parent to make The Nightmare Before Christmas mandatory viewing in both October and December. You are welcome.

‘Tower of Terror’

Tower of Terror is the perfect ‘90s movie in every way: it’s a made-for-TV Disney special based on a theme park attraction at Disney World, and it stars a 15-year-old Kirsten Dunst. 

In the movie, Dunst and her uncle Buzzy Crocker help an elderly woman unravel a mystery from 1939, which of course involves ghosts, a curse, and a bolt of lightning. What could be better?

‘The Sixth Sense’

You’ll want to wait until your kids are on the older side for this (it’s rated PG-13, for reference). While it’s not an overly violent film, there are certainly gory flashes — but if you’re dealing with young teens, they’re pretty much guaranteed to love this, right down to the classic Shyamalan twist.

Young Cole finds himself with a unique problem: he can see and hear dead people around him. Bruce Willis’s Malcolm, a child psychologist, is enlisted to help him work through these visions and help the ghosts with their unfinished business.

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