One of the best parts of spooky season is curling up on the couch with a big bowl of candy corn for family movie night. What’s even better is when the movie you pick can be paired with the original story it was based on! Here are five of the best Halloween books-turned-movies that you and your kids will love.
Coraline, by Neil Gaiman
This award-winning dark fantasy children’s novella is one of my favorites for this time of year. It’s about a girl named Coraline who discovers what is behind the secret 14th door in her family’s new home…and how she will ever get back home. Just the right amount of spooky without being too scary for younger kids, this is a Halloween classic!
The Nightmare Before Christmas, by Tim Burton
What many people don’t know about this beloved movie is that it was actually based on a poem written by Tim Burton when he worked as a Disney animator. You can find the poem here; it’s a great one to read to your kids before bedtime!
Goosebumps, by R.L. Stein
This iconic series of children’s books finally came to the big screen in 2015. While it wasn’t based off of any of the books in particular, it combines many elements from the books in a fun film that will excite Goosebumps fans everywhere!
Room on the Broom, by Julia Donaldson
Based off the hugely popular children’s picture book, Room on the Broom is now a short animated film on Netflix that your kids will fall in love with.
Harry Potter, by JK Rowling
Of course, what would a Halloween roundup be without the Harry Potter series. Witches, wizards, magic…it has everything the best Halloween stories have, with a storyline that you’ll love all year long. Plus, you can almost always find one of these movies playing on TV during this time of year!