Looking for scary movies to watch on Halloween that won't creep you out for days? Check out these spooky flicks the whole family will love.
There's no shortage of really scary films to watch on Halloween, but they are often too frightening for children or faint-of-heart adults. Suspense, fantasy, and dark comedy genres are full of alternatives to the typical horror flicks. From Harry Potter to Young Frankenstein, here are 10 of the best family-friendly thrillers that won't give you nightmares all of November.
1. Ghostbusters
Whether you prefer the original 1984 version starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd or the all-girl Melissa McCarthy-led reboot, Ghostbusters is great for the whole family. This popular comedy franchise, centering on paranormal enthusiasts fighting an otherworldly invasion, is full of action, wacky humor, and amazing special effects.
2. Phantom of the Opera
Gaston Leroux's Gothic novel about a disfigured composer living under the Paris Opera house is the perfect combination of romance and suspense. This classic thriller has been adapted many times, including the popular 1990 mini-series. The 2004 version, based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, stars Gerard Butler as the Phantom and Emmy Rossum as Christine Daae.
3. Edward Scissorhands
This offbeat 1990 fantasy drama about a tender man with (well, duh) scissor hands, who's adjusting to a new community after living in isolation, stars Johnny Depp in the first of his many successful (and some not-so-successful) collaborations with creative visionary filmmaker Tim Burton. Winona Ryder kills as Edward's love interest, Kim.
4. Corpse Bride
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton re-teamed for this imaginative 2005 animated drama, in which a deceased young woman rises from the grave when she hears a young groom practicing his vows and thinks he has married her. Voicing Corpse Bride is another frequent Burton collaborator and his estranged wife, Helena Bonham Carter.
5. Rear Window
Just about anything from The Master of Suspense is a good choice for Halloween viewing. One of Hitchcock's greatest films is this timeless 1954 mystery thriller starring icons Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. It's about a photographer convinced a man across the courtyard has murdered his wife. He uses a wheelchair and spies on his neighbors.
6. Young Frankenstein
This unique and hilarious take-off on Mary Shelley's horror classic is a perfect alternative to the scarier adaptations. The 1974 Mel Brooks comedy was co-written by Gene Wilder, who stars as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of the infamous scientist. Peter Boyle (Everybody Loves Raymond) plays Fredericks' reanimated monster.
7. The Harry Potter Series
Return to Hogwarts with the phenomenally successful adaptations of J.K. Rowling's family fantasy adventure novels, starring Daniel Radcliffe as the orphaned wizard. This franchise, which began with 2001's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, continues to be popular among viewers of all ages, in case you've been living with your head in the sand for about a decade.
8. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Washington Irving's classic folktale centering on Ichabod Crane's investigation of the Headless Horseman murders is always popular this time of year. The numerous adaptations include Tim Burton's 1999 feature starring Johnny Depp and the awesome Christina Ricci, as well as the Fox TV series starring Tom Mison.
9. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
This 1947 romantic mystery set in 1900-era England stars Gene Tierney as young widow Lucy Muir, who moves into a haunted seaside house with her daughter. The ghost, an ornery sea captain played by Rex Harrison, forms a unique relationship with Lucy. Their friendship is tested by Lucy's engagement to a caddish author.
10. The Addams Family
This hit film franchise, which followed the popular TV series, captures the fun of Halloween with its ghoulish but somehow lovable family of eccentrics based on Charles Addams' classic comic strip. Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, and Halloween movie favorite Christina Ricci star in the original 1991 comedy and the 1993 sequel Addams Family Values.