Halloween for Weenies: The Best Spooky Movies to Watch if You’re Afraid of Everything

The world would have you think that to celebrate Halloween you have to be scared out of your mind. That is frankly not true. There are plenty of fun, safely creepy Halloween movies for weenies — sensible people who hate having nightmares — to watch and still feel like they are participating in the holiday.

You just have to know where to look. There are family-friendly films, childhood classics, Halloween romances, and horror comedies. The Messenger has compiled a list of Halloween movies that are safe for scaredy cats and horror weenies to watch and enjoy so they can still feel like they are celebrating the season.

Check out the movies below, grab yourself some candy, and have a spooky but scream-free night of watching!

The classic Halloween movies

The Nightmare Before Christmas

This Tim Burton film is a classic kick-off to the holiday season because it counts as both a Halloween and Christmas movie (with a brief cameo from Thanksgiving). We're assuming you've watched it multiple times over the years, but with the exception of an Oogie-Boogie scene or two, this is a great family or chill movie to get you in the mood for haunting stuff.

Where to watch: Disney+

Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus and The Nightmare Before Christmas sit at the same lunch table as far as iconic but safe for scaredy cats Halloween movies are concerned. Make it a double feature since they are both available on the same streaming service (along with the Hocus Pocus sequel, but we won't push that one). The Sandersen sisters are waiting for you to join them for a fun night of hunting children and finding virgins to light candles.

Where to watch: Disney+

Casper

Casper literally has friendly in his title. He's the friendly ghost. So, nothing in this adorable '90s movie can harm you. In fact, one of the most recognizable romantic scenes of the decade comes from this family-friendly movie. Why would you want to be haunted by anyone else?

Where to watch: Netflix

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

If you want something super short and sweet, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is the ultimate non-horror spooky season mood boost. You can watch it as many times as you want if you have an Apple TV+ subscription, or make sure you get it in this weekend when it's available to stream Oct. 21-22.

Where to watch: Apple TV+

Disney Channel Original Movies

Halloweentown

Four Halloweentown movies are currently streaming on Disney+, including the 1998 original that became one of the best DCOMs of all time. Kimberly J. Brown plays Marnie Piper, a young woman who discovers she comes from a family of witches who live in the alternate universe of Halloweentown. The four films follow Marnie and the magical citizens of Halloweentown as they reconnect with the human realm. It's guaranteed wholesome fun.

Where to watch: Disney+

Twitches

Take Sister, Sister, make it witchy and you have Twitches! The Mowry sisters once again play twins separated at birth, but this time Tia and Tamera are witches from a magical realm sent to Earth to protect them from a mysterious force known as The Darkness. They finally reconnect on their 21st birthday, discover their true identities, and work together to save their home realm. If you fall in love with this DCOM, don't forget to check out the sequel, Twitches Too.

Where to watch: Disney+

Zombies

The Zombies franchise are DCOMs for Gen Z, but they have the same charm and wholesome quality as the best DCOMs from the '90s and early 2000s. They're musicals, and the songs are insanely catchy, so don't be surprised if you find yourself singing along while munching on trick-or-treat candy. There are three of these movies so far, all of which star Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly as the delightful zombie-human-duo of Zed and Addison.

Where to watch: Disney+

The romantic Halloween movies

Practical Magic

Imagine creating the perfect man with a spell, and then he just shows up at your front door. It's unfortunate that he shows up at your door to investigate you and your sister for murder, but he's there nonetheless. This tale of love and magic is best enjoyed with margaritas and your favorite coven of witches.

Where to watch: Hulu

Warm Bodies

Who doesn't love an opposites attract love story? The problem with this film is that the opposite thing for the main couple is that one of them is alive and one of them is dead. We will also warn that if you're extra squeamish about blood, this isn't the best choice, but no part of the movie is actively trying to be scary. It's an undead romance, and it'll get even the coldest hearts beating again if you can stand a little zombie munching on human flesh.

Where to watch: Max

Horror comedies

Shaun of the Dead

Zombies but make them fun and relatable! This is also a skippable movie for those that can't deal with blood, but overall, Shaun of the Dead asks what would happen if normal people were faced with a zombie apocalypse. The answer is a lot of screaming, homemade weapons, and freaking the hell out. Simon Pegg is the ultimate everyman in this film, and it makes zombie killing seem fun instead of bone-chilling.

Where to watch: Hulu

Scary Movie

This movie was made to make fun of formulaic horror movies, and it definitely brings the laughs by turning the scariest slashers into punchlines. You may also want to check out the sequels if you have unresolved trauma from watching The Ring at too early an age. Samara gets the beatdown she deserves, and it may help you be able to sleep in a room with a TV again.

Where to watch: Max

Bodies Bodies Bodies

This movie is not for the total and complete weenies. You do have to be able to stomach some suspense and slasher film violence, but there are no contorting ghosts or horrifying images. It's largely a fun thriller about a group of friends stuck in a mansion when they realize that one of them is a killer. It's a very high-stakes game of Mafia but overall a super fun watch with a great cast including Pete Davidson, Amandla Stenberg and Lee Pace.

Where to watch: Paramount+ with Showtime

For other Halloween viewing ideas, check out Freeform's full 31 Nights of Halloween schedule, Hulu and Disney+'s Halloween schedule, and Peacock's full Halloween lineup.