If you are anything like me, your Halloween weekend will consist of warm cider, pumpkin carving, and a Halloween movie marathon. Nothing beats snuggling up to watch spooky and Disney classics like Hocus Pocus, The Haunted Mansion, and Disney channel original movies like Halloweentown. Let’s get your spook on with these Halloween Disney movies to add to your watch list.
When a Halloween movie night is mentioned, many people immediately think of the unique gothic art of Tim Burton films, but there are classic Disney movies, Disney animated movies, and my favorite – Disney Channel Original movies that should also be considered.
As a 90s nerd, I love rewatching those made for tv movies that were such a pivotal part of my childhood. The Thirteenth Year, Gotta Kick It Up! and The Luck of the Irish, and more were all Disney Channel Original Movies I loved. Lucky for us, some of these movies were scary, adding to our Disney treasure trove of spooky Halloween movies to choose from.
Under Wraps
Three kids and an ancient mummy, what could possibly go wrong? Under Wraps was a 1997 Disney Channel Original Movie that chronicled the story of a mummy named Harold that was accidentally brought back to life. The teens in this film are tasked with returning Harold to his sarcophagus by midnight on Halloween night in order to put him back at rest.
Oh, and they also have to help him blend in with general society in the meantime. Watching an ancient mummy incognito navigate the 1990s is a pretty funny movie.
Fun Fact: Under Wraps was actually the first ever Disney Channel Original Movie!
Phantom of the Megaplex
A celebrity-filled red carpet night at the Megaplex Movie Theatre goes horribly wrong when a mysterious villain wreaks havoc around the theatre. Teen Pete Riley takes his job at the theatre very seriously and works to investigate the mysterious happenings while ensuring that the show goes on. I’ll never forget that cute catchphrase from the trailer for this film, “The Phantom of the Megaplex Strikes Again!”
I will never stop talking about this classic Disney movie, and I watch it on repeat each Halloween. Released in 1949, the movie is composed of two short films. While the Wind in the Willows with Mr. Toad has its scary moments, the creepiest of the two short films is definitely The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Superstitious schoolmaster Ichabod Crane competes for the hand of beautiful and wealthy Katrina Van Tassel but is ultimately scared out of his wits and out of town by his rival Brom Bones. Or maybe he was spirited away by the Headless Horseman himself.
Halloweentown
This Disney Channel Original Movie is a Halloween staple for so many millennials. The adventures of teen witch Marnie and her sweet witchy grandma, played by the late great Debbie Reynolds, were so popular it became a series. Halloweentown II, Halloweentown High, and Return to Halloweentown were all hits we love. The first Halloweentown will always be my favorite as it shows off some scary-looking characters in a very friendly light as they go about their daily business in town. This is a great movie to watch with school-aged kids.
Mom’s Got A Date With A Vampire
Meeting your mom’s boyfriend is never fun, but mom’s dating life becomes even more spooky when her date turns out to be a vampire! This Disney Channel Original Movie starred celebrities, Caroline Rhea and Charles Shaughnessy. Follow three kids as they set out to reveal the truth to their mom and save her before she, too, is turned into a vampire by her blood-sucking date in disguise!
Hocus Pocus
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Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy likely had no idea the cultural staple they were about to create when they joined the cast of the 1993 film Hocus Pocus. Decades later, this movie is a quintessential Halloween classic that strikes the perfect balance of a scary movie and a funny film.
It’s the perfect length and has plenty of nostalgic 90’s cultural references that millennials will enjoy. Join Winnie, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson on Halloween night as they set out to find their book and get the better of Max, Dani, and Allison. Hocus Pocus is undoubtedly one of the best Halloween movies.
Don’t Look Under the Bed
Are you afraid of the Boogeyman? Of course, you are. Chances are that if you are also a Disney buff, you may have developed this fear after watching the Disney Halloween movie Don’t Look Under the Bed. This movie also touches on some big issues, like childhood cancer and the emotional trauma of having to grow up too fast.
The main character Frances struggles to fit in as a smart kid that started high school a year early. When she is framed by the Boogeyman and bonds with an imaginary friend that offers to help with the situation- things get crazy. The shots of the Boogeyman were truly terrifying as a kid, and I was surprised to learn earlier concept drawings of the Boogeyman were even SCARIER than the final product!
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
It may have all started with a mouse- but this story actually starts with a bedknob…an enchanted bedknob, that is. It’s 1940 in Great Britain where three children are sent to a rural village to live with a woman named Miss Price to take shelter from the war. A kind witch-in-training studying via a correspondence course, Miss Price’s spells don’t often go according to plan. Lucky for the children Charlie, Carrie, and Paul, they get to tag along with Miss Price to some pretty incredible magical locations.
Other classic Disney films are good creepy options. The Ghosts of Buxley Hall, That Darn Cat! and Escape to Witch Mountain all have their creepy parts and plotlines that make them awesome movie choices for the spooky season!
Nightmare Before Christmas
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Jack Skellington is now an iconic part of Halloween, thanks to Tim Burton. Memorable music, incredibly detailed stop-motion animation, and adorable touches make this movie a Halloween classic. When The Pumpkin King, Jack Skellingtondiscovers Christmas Town, things get crazy fast when he decides to take over Christmas for the year.
Watching this movie as an adult means you’ll enjoy the adult humor even more. The two-faced mayor of the town that laments, “I’m only an elected official; I can’t make decisions by myself!” is a hilarious detail my family loves.
Don’t forget, you can stream all these movies on Disney+. So, whether you are dressed in your Halloween costume, carving pumpkins, or curling up fireside in the nights leading up to Halloween, check out this list of the best Halloween movies in your downtime.
