20 best Halloween movies and shows for folks who hate scary stuff

xx all-time Halloween movies and shows for folks who detest scary stuff

(Paradigm credit: FX; Disney; Peanuts)

Confession: I'm a wimp who doesn't like scary movies or TV shows. Last year, I forced myself to watch Midsommar and had brightly-lit, bloom-laden nightmares for days. Unsolved Mysteries gives me anxiety. I've never seen a single episode of American Horror Story.

If you lot're like me, you won't be streaming any horror movies on Netflix or creepy series on Halloween. But if you want to rampage scout something this holiday weekend, hither are the top 10 not-likewise-scary, Halloween-adjacent recommendations ranging from lighthearted comedies to supernatural teen dramas to animated romps.

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What We Practise in the Shadows

Watch What We Do in the Shadows — (Image credit: FX)

The mockumentary-style series was created past Jemaine Clement based on the 2014 film he co-wrote with Taika Waititi (available on Amazon) – so its comedic heritage is sterling. The story follows three vampires (plus an energy vampire) living in Staten Island with a much-put-upon human familiar. What Nosotros Exercise in the Shadows is wickedly, drily funny but it also has a surprising amount of heart.

Where to spotter: Hulu (free with subscription)

Information technology's the Groovy Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown — (Image credit: Peanuts)

The honey blithe special aired on broadcast television for decades — until this twelvemonth, when Apple Television receiver Plus took it hostage. On the bright side: the streaming service is making information technology free for anyone, including non-subscribers, from October. xxx through November. 1. Information technology's not the aforementioned, but in 2020, what is? The Great Pumpkin specially resonates correct at present, with its melancholy tone and themes of despair and delusion. Oh, and you know, assertive in conspiracy theories.

Where to watch: Apple Boob tube Plus (free, no subscription required until Nov. 2)

Halloween is the perfect time to rewatch Steven Spielberg's classic film. Not but does it include the the holiday itself — East.T. dresses up equally a ghost, think? — but it'southward perfect to swallow with all the Reeses Pieces you can find. More than that, information technology captures the wonder and mystery and excitement that you felt as a kid trick-or-treating with friends on Halloween.

Where to watch: Peacock (free with subscription) | Amazon , Apple tree (for rental or purchase)

Hocus Pocus

The premise of this 1993 cult classic is pretty dark: A trio of witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy) want to suck the souls out of kids so they can live forever. But Hocus Pocus winds up being campy and absurd, thanks to the kooky outfits and performances of the lead actresses.

Where to lookout man: Disney Plus (with subscription) | Amazon , Apple (for rental or purchase)

Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! Summon Tim Burton'southward horror-one-act, which stars Michael Keaton as the eponymous demon who'due south trying to haunt a family abroad from their home. While there are some creepy moments, the moving-picture show is more funny than frightening and Beetlejuice ends upward being more charming than monstrous.

Where to watch: Amazon , Apple (for rental or purchase)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Halloween episodes

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Halloween Heist episodes — (Paradigm credit: NBCUniversal)

Many long-running sitcoms have annual holiday episodes, like Friends did with Thanksgiving. Brooklyn 9-9 has their hilarious annual Halloween Heists, which pit the officers of the precinct against each other in a battle to steal a certain object. The winner is named Ultimate Detective/Genius. There are seven heists, one for each season, and all of them volition make you LOL.

Where to sentry: Hulu (with subscription)

Coco

Pixar's gorgeous, middle-tugging movie is literally next to Halloween — on the calendar. It centers on Dia de Los Muertos, the Mexican holiday on Nov one that honors loved ones who take passed abroad. A boy named Miguel goes on an adventure in the State of the Dead to find a style to reverse his family'south ban on music. Immature kids may find some parts slightly scary but overall, Coco is a reaffirming, inspiring and soaring tale.

Where to scout: Disney Plus (with subscription) | Amazon , Apple tree (for rental or purchase)

Shaun of the Expressionless

Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright's witty take on a zombie flick is a perfect Halloween spotter for wimps. It'south got monsters and thrills, only it's also droll, sarcastic and uproarious. There'southward no time to be scared when you're laughing at all the jokes that Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis and the remainder are throwing around equally they fight for survival in the local pub.

Where to watch: Cinemax Get (with subscription) | Amazon , Apple (for rental or purchase)

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Another Tim Burton classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas celebrates two holidays in one story! Information technology follows Jack Skellington, the king of Halloweentown, who stumbles into Christmas Town and decides to take over from Santa Claus. The movie is sometimes creepy and macabre, but in an endearing way, and ultimately uplifting and even touching.

Where to spotter: Disney Plus (with subscription) | Amazon , Apple (for rental or buy)

The Vampire Diaries

Put bonny vampires, werewolves and witches into a teen romance setting and you get a pretty and pretty addicting issue. Some of the characters are monsters because they drink blood; others are monsters because they're, similar, bad boyfriends. For a exciting potion of the supernatural and love triangles, binge the eight seasons of The Vampire Diaries.

Where to lookout: Netflix

The Addams Family unit

The eccentric family unit featured in a new blithe flick last yr, but my middle lays with the 1991 version with Raul Julia and Anjelica Houston as Gomez and Morticia Addams. Each and every family member — from Uncle Fester to Cousin Itt to Lurch — is weird and foreign, simply they're all lovable oddballs. While the plot doesn't involve Halloween at all, The Addams Family are the true essence of the holiday.

Where to sentry: Netflix | Amazon , Apple (for rental or buy)

Honorable mentions

Coraline (Amazon, Apple)
The Craft: Legacy (VOD)
Hubie Halloween (Netflix)
iZombie (Netflix)
The Magicians (Netflix)
Rocky Horror Moving-picture show Evidence (Hulu)
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (Hulu)
Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix)
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? (HBO Max)
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes (Disney Plus)

Kelly is a senior writer covering streaming media for Tom's Guide, so basically, she watches Television receiver for a living. Previously, she was a freelance amusement writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she'southward not watching Television and movies for piece of work, she's watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.