Vote up the underrated movies that any ghoul, ghost, or child would enjoy.
Every fall, the changing of the seasons ushers in one of the most fun and quintessential times of the year. The leaves change, the air gets crisp, and kids who are back in school are grateful for each and every weekend. Days are spent picking pumpkins, going on hayrides, and sitting at home with a cup of hot cocoa or warm apple cider. Another big thing that happens in fall (and let's be honest, maybe the best thing) is everyone's favorite holiday: Halloween.
While many kids might say that costumes and trick-or-treating is the best part of the celebration, parents know that the real treat is cuddling up at home to have a movie night with the family. While horror movies might get most of the credit during this season, real Halloween fans gather around family-friendly Halloween movies that take them back to childhood. Each and every year new ghost and ghoul-filled movies hit streamers, but some movies will always be underrated classics. (Hey, who says Hocus Pocus deserves all of the credit?)
Classic movies like Bedknobs and Broomsticks and newer films like Girl vs. Monster are the perfect end to a fun fall day. These are the most underrated Halloween movies fit for the whole family. Maybe you're watching them for the first time, or maybe you're showing your family you're favorite film from your childhood - either way all of these movies are perfect for a little slice of magic. All of these and more are now streaming on Disney+.
This sponsored list was created with the participation of Disney+.
At this point, she might be more known for being Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, but Angela Lansbury has a lesser-known Disney adventure in the form of Bedknobs and Broomsticks. The movie musical, released in 1971, blends live-action and animation for a timeless Halloween classic.
In London during the Blitz of 1940, three children, Charlie, Carrie, and Paul, are all moved to a small village called Pepperinge Eye. The children are placed with Miss Eglantine Price, who is secretly a witch in training. Once the children learn of her real identity, Charlie tries to blackmail her. To ensure his silence, Miss Price casts a spell on a bedknob which, when attached to their bed, will travel anywhere Charlie asks. Soon, the kids are off on a fantastical adventure taking them to a fantasy land where trouble is, of course, still afoot.
The film was regarded well critically but didn't quite gain the widespread popularity of some of the studio's fully animated releases. With time, however, appreciation for the film has only gotten bigger and better.
Many people know and are fans of Disney's wide vault of animated features films. Somehow, The Black Cauldron is one film even the most die-hard Disney fan might have missed. The movie marks the 25th animated feature for the studio and is their first PG-rated animated feature. Based on the book series The Chronicles of Prydain, the movie sticks to much of the same lore.
In the land of Prydain, a young pig herder named Taran dreams of one day becoming a knight. One day, one of Taran's magical pigs is kidnapped by an evil being, the Horned King. The King intends to use the magical pig and a mythical black cauldron to awaken an army of the undead. Taran teams up with Gurgi, a friendless woodland critter, and the lovely Princess Eilonwy to stop the King before he hatches his evil plan. In the process, Taran might just prove himself to be worthy of being a knight after all.
Nowadays, young adult book-to-movie adaptations are a dime a dozen, partly because Disney paved the way for the practice. One prime example is the beloved 1975 film Escape to Witch Mountain.
The sci-fi movie follows twins Tony and Tia, who are orphaned and also possess different sets of psychic powers. Tony can move objects with his mind, while Tia can telepathically communicate with animals. They both experience premonitions and fragments of flashbacks, helping them piece together their mysterious childhood. When they use their powers to save Lucas Derenian from harm, he learns their secret and begins posing as their uncle. He takes Tony and Tia out of the orphanage, to the home of wealthy millionaire Aristotle Bolt. The children quickly surmise that Bolt has nefarious intentions for them and the two try to escape from his house. As the children flee they overcome a series of obstacles leading them toward Witch Mountain, and the truth about their past.
Escape to Witch Mountain remains one of the most popular children's sci-fi movies of all time and will always have a, let's just say, other-worldly charm.
Muppets Haunted Mansion is a fresh take on the classic Disney attraction, combing the ride with the beloved Muppets. On Halloween night, Gonzo and Pepe decide to skip the Muppets' Halloween party to try and see Gonzo's favorite magician, the Great MacGuffin. Once there, the duo realized they've been duped and must pass a supernatural test. Gonzo, known for being a daredevil, is challenged to spend a night inside the Haunted Mansion.
If they can't make it through the night, Gonzo and Pepe will be trapped inside for all eternity. The pair tackle their biggest fears and overcome adversity in this 50-minute Halloween special that is sure to delight. The film also pulls in Easter eggs from the Haunted Mansion rides, so any true Disney fan is sure to be in for a trick and a treat.
Tim Burton is no stranger to Halloween films, with one of his brainchild The Nightmare Before Christmas having instantly reached cult classic status. But some of the other Burton-branded films, particularly his stop-motion films, deserve a bit more credit. Frankenweenie in particular. The movie is based on Burton's short film of the same name and draws heavy inspiration from the original Frankenstein.
This film is a bit more kid-friendly. The main character as a nerdy outsider named Victor Frankenstein. One day, Victor loses his only friend in the world, his dog Sparky. Determined to get him back, Victor hatches a plan with the help of his science teacher, and Sparky comes back to life. Quickly, though, the other kids at school learn of Sparky's resurrection and are eager to bring their dead pets back to life as well. From there, everything goes awry and poor Victor must make the hardest choice of all, between doing what's right and losing Sparky again, or doing what is easy. The movie is a stop-motion wonder that has a heartwarming, almost universal story to match.
What happens when three 12-year-old kids discover a real Egyptian mummy in the basement of an abandoned house? Hijinks of course. The movie Under Wraps is as zany as it is mysterious. While poking around the basement of a “dead” man's house, three friends stumble upon a mummy named Harold, who soon comes alive thanks to an ancient amulet and the moon's position in the sky. The trio soon learns that not only is Harold friendly, but he's also in need of their help.
As it turns out, the “dead” man who owns the sarcophagus isn't dead after all, and is trying to sell Harold to the highest bidder. Also, if Harold doesn't get back into his coffin by midnight, he will cease to exist. The gang outrun evil henchmen and even help Harold fall in love in this classic Halloween adventure where the story, and Harold, are both wrapped up nicely.
