Halloween this year is a time for tricks, treats and filling the long hours before all that trick-or-treating can start.
While it's great for all fans of Halloween that the spooky, candy
-filled holiday falls on a Saturday this year, with no school or work the next morning, it does present a dilemma for most parents: How do you keep your kids from climbing the walls the long day before trick-or-treating?With no school Halloween parades to distract them on Oct. 31, kids might enjoy celebrating the season with these Halloween TV specials, TV shows and movies. And while there's a time and a place for "Hocus Pocus," "Beetlejuice" and even horror movies when kids are tweens and above, there are also toddlers and preschoolers who might not be ready
for those "family" movies that are aimed at more mature children.
Enjoy our guide to Halloween TV and movies for all ages and stages. And if you're looking for some more grown-up recommendations, see our movie guides for horror fans and scaredy-cats.
Best Halloween TV and movies for toddlers
"A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular" (Disney+): One of many Mickey Halloween specials and TV episodes, this one in particular will be enjoyed by fans of "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse."
"Room on the Broom" (available for digital purchase): Based on the Julia Donaldson picture book this rhyming and rhythmic short film is just the thing for the youngest viewers.
"Curious George A Halloween Boo-Fest" (PBS Kids YouTube): Simple festive and not too scary, toddlers will love the colors and costumes.
"Blippi's Spooky Spell Halloween" (Hulu): The familiar kids' entertainer has a very sweet Halloween special.
"Daniel Tiger" and other PBS Halloween episodes (PBS Kids): The wonderful and education shows on PBS, including "Daniel," "Pinkalicious" and "Carl the Collector," all have age-appropriate Halloween specials, accessible from their website.
Best Halloween TV and movies for preschoolers
"Cars: Spooky Halloween Adventure" and "Toy Story of Terror" (Disney+): These Pixar shorts bring favorite characters back for some silly and spooky Halloween-themed fun.
"Sing: Thriller" (Netflix): If your kids prefer the musical "Sing" to Pixar films, it also has a Halloween short available.
"Wild Kratts: Creepy Creatures" (PBS): This fun and educational PBS Kids series goes all in on scary science for its Halloween special, exploring the weirdest animals in the world.
"Vampirina" (Disney+): This series for young kids isn't specifically about Halloween, but follows young Vampirina, or "Vee," as she moves from Transylvania to Pennsylvania. High jinks ensue.
"Kiki's Delivery Service" (HBO Max): For littles who are ready for full-length movies and want something seasonal but not at all scary, there's no better choice than this Hayao Miyazaki classic about a witch-in-training.
Best Halloween TV and movies for elementary schoolers
"Are You Afraid of the Dark?" (Paramount+): Your bigger kid might be ready for the sometimes very real scares from this Nickelodeon classic, and find their new favorite TV show to boot.
The "Halloweentown" movies (Disney+): Millennial parents will also enjoy revisiting these Disney Channel original movies about a magical world where it's Halloween everyday (just maybe skip "Halloweentown High").
"Double Double Toil and Trouble" (available for digital purchase): To round out the nostalgia, try this cute and silly Olsen twins film.
"Over the Garden Wall" (Hulu): This gem from Cartoon Network is a TV miniseries is a whimsical sweet story about two half-brothers who must travel through a mystical forest to journey home.
"The Nightmare Before Christmas" (Disney+): Tim Burton's holiday favorite is good now, or you can wait until Christmas season to enjoy the scares.
Best Halloween TV and movies for the whole family
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (Apple TV): There's not a toddler, teenager or grown up who doesn't love this Peanuts classic. Don't miss the season to watch it.
"Is it Cake? Halloween" (Netflix): Kids (and many adults) cannot look away from the delectable deceptions of Netflix's "Is it Cake?" where bakers try to make cakes look like real items. Enjoy this Halloween edition, with spooky treats.
"Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire" (Disney+): This campy classic is silly and tame enough for little kids but funny enough for the bigger ones to enjoy.
"Coco" (Disney+): A great and heart-wrenching Pixar movie that introduces Dia de los Muertos and has wonderful music to boot.
"Muppets: Haunted Mansion" (Disney+): This 2021 TV special has all the Muppet characters your kids love plus some famous cameos for the grownups, including Will Arnett, John Stamos and Darren Criss.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The best family-friendly Halloween TV specials and movies to watch
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