35+ Halloween Movies Organized by Age (Plus What Scared Us as Kids)

Send Caitlin a Text!It's October, and you're trying to find Halloween movies that won't bore you to tears or traumatize your kids. Every family has different thresholds for "too scary," and you're looking for that sweet spot between cozy and creepy. We've done the work for you—breaking down Halloween movies by age group, sharing our childhood scares (E.T.’s fingers, anyone?), and giving you permission to skip the ones that don't work for your family.Stop scrolling through streaming services hoping to find age-appropriate Halloween content—hit subscribe and get our curated movie list organized by age, plus hot takes on classics you might have missed.Stay connected: Subscribe to our newsletter!—Who Should ListenThis episode is for parents trying to navigate Halloween movie season without causing nightmares, and anyone looking for nostalgic movie recommendations that hold up (or hilariously don't).—What You Get In This EpisodeWhy Common Sense Media ratings are guidelines, not rules—you know your kid bestSafe, sweet picks for toddlers and littles (Curious George, Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Pooh's Heffalump)Late elementary and middle school classics (Labyrinth, Beetlejuice, Coraline, Corpse Bride)Actually scary picks for brave preteens (Monster House, The Witches, Goosebumps)Nostalgic Universal Monster Movies and 80s/90s cult favoritesMust-watch classics for preteens and beyond (Ghostbusters, Hocus Pocus, The Addams Family)TV show recommendations (Super Monsters, Halloween Wars, Wednesday, Stranger Things)Bonus movies that aren't technically Halloween but belong on the list (Batman Returns, E.T., The Craft)How to build simple Halloween movie traditions without the pressure—BiosCaitlin brings her signature blend of humor and practical advice to help overwhelmed moms navigate the challenges of adulting and parenting—including finding Halloween movies that won't cause therapy bills. With Ariella Monti (ariellamonti.com), novelist and author of Roots in Ink, who brings her love of fantasy, creepy aesthetics, and The Crow to the conversation.—Sources & Mentions35+ Halloween movies for kids, by age | By Edward Shepard and Diva Anwari for MotherlyFreeform's "31 Nights of Halloween" Schedule 2025Common Sense Media ratings referenced throughoutThe Threads fam for chiming in!Use promo code CKANDGK for 20% off Roots in Ink at ariellamonti.comComing up next week: The history of Spirit Halloween and how one guy accidentally invented the seasonal pop-up business model. Subscribe so you don't miss it!Welcome to Not Quite Grownup. Let's do this.  Subscribe to join other Not Quite Grownups here >>>Follow on Instagram and Threads @not_quite_grownup.Please, rate, review, and subscribe for more Not Quite Grownup stories. Love you, mean it. Support the showVisit notquitegrownup.com for more content and the latest updates. Or connect on social media @not_quite_grownup on Instagram and Threads.