Halloween is undeniably one of the most beloved holidays. One night to eat all the candy in the world with no judgment and dress up as your favorite character is pretty hard to beat. This holiday has created some of the best movies for the genre of horror, but Halloween has also produced some of the most beloved children’s movies that people still love and watch as cult classics even into their adult years. Here are some of the most loved children’s Halloween movies. 

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) is the true blend of holidays: Christmas and Halloween.  The Tim Burton classic follows Jack, the king of Halloween Town, on his adventure of taking over Christmas Town. The peculiar style has become beloved and a staple in Tim Burton’s work. The soundtrack is spooky and adds to the ambiance of the movie. Jack and Sally have become popular halloween costumes because of how wonderfully the characters are constructed. All in all, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” has all the attributes that makes it the beloved Halloween classic that it has become. 

“Ghostbusters” (1984) undeniably has one of the catchiest and most memorable theme songs of any movie franchise. This Halloween classic follows a group of dorky professors on their fight against the ghosts of New York City. The movie is a comical and goofy take on the typical scary outlook on ghosts that solidified “Ghostbusters” its seat as a Halloween classic. While some scenes are absurd and borderline cringey, the impact of “Ghostbusters” has had on generation after generation is undeniable. It has seen countless remakes, some worse than others, but any “Ghostbusters” movie tends to be a fun watch centered around funny characters and silly looking ghosts. 

“Coraline” (2009)  tends to be a movie either passionately loved or despised; one rarely has an opinion in the middle. This stop-motion animation based on Neil Gaiman’s novella follows a troubled Coraline who has recently moved houses and finds another universe where everything is familiar, except better, but they all have button eyes. “Coraline” has a huge fan base and has become beloved for the aesthetic aspect. Many people are seen with Coraline merch or trying to recreate the dark style the movie so well captures. The film has been analyzed endlessly because of its incredible use of hidden easter eggs that fans love to dissect and find their hidden meanings. “Coraline” has become a beloved cult classic to Gen Z that it is recognized yearly, but makes a big mark during the spooky season. 

Movies play an important role during the Halloween season, and this genre of Halloween movies caters more towards children, but ultimately all serve different purposes. Some of the movies can creep one out, send an important message or are just simply meant to make one laugh. Obviously Halloween is known for its typical jumpscare horror genre which is such a staple during the season, but sometimes it is fun to go back to childhood roots and watch something that gives you the perfect feel of Halloween and nostalgia. 

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