Disneymovies have a way of making us feel nostalgic and bringing out our inner child. For movie fans who want to get immersed in all the autumn vibes but don’t necessarily love horror films, Disney Halloween movies are a perfect choice. With a wide variety of stories to pick from — from sisters who are secretly witches inHocus Pocusto a hidden magical world where goblins, skeletons, and vampires roam free — there is a spooky Disney film for everyone.
Update August 22, 2025: Halloween is fast approaching, and that means it is time to start making plans, so this article has been updated by Amira Abdel-Fadil to include even more Disney films to check out this Halloween.
11Monster, Inc. (2001)
Monster, Inc.was directed and co-written by Pete Doctor. The Oscar-winning film zooms in on Monsters Incorporated, a scare factory that harnesses energy from the screams of children by going through portals back and forth. However, the city of monsters is separated from the city where humans reside. One day, top scarer Sullivan accidentally arrives with a baby girl named Boo, who is not supposed to be in the Monsters world.
Related:10 Most Essential Autumn Movies, Ranked
With children known to be toxic and dangerous for the monsters upon physical contact, is this really a good thing? On top of that, with Sullivan having rivals and evil lurking in the corner, Sullivan and his best friend, Mike, must make sure she gets back home safely. Warm, funny, and inventiveMonster, Inc.is a beautiful take on facing one’s fears and facing capitalism.
10Maleficent (2014)
In 2014, Disney releasedMaleficent, the classic tale ofSleeping Beautytold from the titular villain’s perspective. Angelina Jolie stars as the equally evil and misunderstood fairy who is set on cursing a child, Aurora, portrayed by Elle Fanning. This film is beautiful and just spooky enough to be considered a Halloween movie as well as being perfect for audiences who like iconic Disney stories. In addition to Jolie’s impressive performance, the film has whimsical costumes and sweeping music, includingLana Del Rey’s coverof “Once Upon a Dream.”
9Cruella (2021)
Another fan-favorite Disney story remade from the villain’s point of view was the 2021 comedy/crimeCruella. Emma Stone is one of the most successful and beloved actresses of her generation, winning her first Academy Award for her role inLa La Landat just 28 years old. Her involvement inCruellaheightened expectations for the entire project, and her performance of the youthful and determined Cruella de Vil did not disappoint.
Cruellawas nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling, winning in the former category. The movie was such a hit that a sequel,Cruella 2is currently in the works. Halloween is all about lavish costumes, andCrulleawill certainly inspire some great Halloween looks while embracing one of Disney’s best villains.
8Twitches (2005)
Tia and Tamera Mowry star as the iconic twin witch sisters, Alexandra Fielding and Camryn Barnes in Disney’sTwitches.The film follows the two girls who were separated at birth and finally meet one another on their 21st birthday. If finding out you have a secret twin sister wasn’t weird enough, the young women also must come to terms with the fact that they were born in an alternate magical universe and witches are very much part of their reality. Alexandra and Camryn go on a wild and dangerous journey to save their birth mother and discover their birthright.
7Under Wraps (1997)
InUnder Wraps, three 12-year-old friends discover a three-thousand-year-old Egyptian mummy and accidentally revive it in the days before Halloween. While they initially feel terrified of what they’ve done, they discover that the mummy is kind and really needs their help. They must return him to his sarcophagus before midnight on Halloween, or else he will completely vanish and will be unable to reunite with his long-lost love.
Related:11 Spooky British Horror Shows to Prepare for Halloween Season
The friendship and banter between the three friends are entertaining, and the mummy’s encounters with the humans are interesting and fun. This movie is not without some gore, but it’s warm and adventurous, which makes it a perfect Halloween pick this season!
6Phantom of The Megaplex (2000)
Phantom of The Megaplexis an amusing movie that is a spin on the classicPhantom of the Operastory but inside a movie theater. A young man has recently started working at a cinema and gets excited about a night where they will premiere a major feature film which celebrities will be attending. He also invites his friends over.
However, on the night, bizarre occurrences started to happen. Will they find the mystery behind the broken popcorn machine and disappearing staff? With a bit of suspense, comedy, and characters who feel like family to each other,Phantom of the Megaplexis a Disney classic that’s perfectly suited for Halloween.
5Frankenweenie (2012)
Directed and co-written by Tim Burton,Frankenweenieis about a boy willing to go to great lengths to revive his dead dog (Sparky). A science nerd at heart, he teams up with his science teacher to carry out an experiment aimed at resurrecting his dog. However, even though the experiment proved to be successful despite Sparky looking eerie, their secret experiment gets revealed, and now others are carrying it out too, but this time, it has disastrous consequences. The stylish black and white animation is atmospheric, with some creepy character designs that fit right into the Halloween mood.
4Haunted Mansion (2023)
Haunted Mansionis the latest take on the classic ride fans know from the Disney resorts. While the film was previously made in 2003 as The Haunted Mansion, the latest incarnation that was released in theaters in July 2023 and will arrive on Disney+ in October 2023 is a great Halloween watch for the whole family. It serves as a good introduction to the horror genre for young kids as it is spooky and can get very dark but is never too scary. With a great cast that includes LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Danny DeVito, and Jamie Lee Curtis,Hantuned Mansionwill likely be a Halloween classic for years to come.
3Hocus Pocus (1993)
Hocus Pocusis, without a doubt, one of the most beloved Disney Halloween movies ever. From the story to the costumes and the incredible cast, which includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, and Thora Birch. It’s incredible to think that the tale of the Sanderson sisters came out almost 30 years ago, in 1993. The story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, and follows three evil witches, the Sanderson sisters, who try to wreak havoc on Halloween night. A sequel to thefilmHocus Pocus 2,directed by Anne Fletcher, was released on Disney+ in September 2022.
2The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
With a 95% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 82% score on Metacritic,The Nightmare Before Christmasis arguably one of Disney’s most critically acclaimed Halloween movies. The stop-motion animated film directed by Henry Selick was originally released in 1993 and stars Danny Elfman andSchitt’s Creekstar Catherine O’Hara as Jack Skellington and Sally.
One of the most exciting and interesting parts of this film is that it could be considered both a Halloween and Christmas movie since it is centered around both holidays. The project has been so popular it has been rereleased in theaters during Halloween for years and will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year.
