Meredith McCalmon | “Halloweentown”
The perfect blend of spooky and heartwarming, “Halloweentown” captivated me as a child. I loved the idea of flying away to a fantasy world where everybody is unique — whether they be a goblin, witch or ghoul. Marnie’s discovery of her own special powers fascinated little me, and even though I can’t do telekinesis, her character inspired many games of pretend.
Libby Zuck | “Harry Potter” series
I grew up with the “Harry Potter” series being a staple in my house, with the back-and-forth battle between whether or not it was a Halloween or Christmas movie, and I always felt it was more fitting to watch Harry defeat Voldemort curled up with a blanket and red leaves outside.
Kyra Case | “Where’s God When I’m S-Scared?”
Growing up in a Christian household, VeggieTales was a constant. My parents were a fan of the spooky, so when Halloween rolled around, they would often put on “Where’s God When I’m S-Scared?” Thanks to this movie, I will always be jamming out to “God is Bigger than the Boogie Man.”
Lilly Crist | “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”
You can never go wrong with the Peanuts. As a kid, my family would watch this movie every year. It’s a comforting classic filled with lovable characters. The soundtrack also beautifully pairs with the movie and is great to listen to throughout the fall season.
Grace Parks | “Monster House”
My favorite Halloween movie from my childhood is “Monster House.” This movie absolutely terrified me, and I still get that scared kid feeling inside every time I think about this movie. “Monster House” truly embodies that early 2000s spooky vibe.
Jenna Fiscus | “Casper the Ghost”
A family favorite at my house growing up, watching this movie is always nostalgic for me. As a younger kid, I loved the creativity and paranormal aspect of the film; now, as a graduating senior, it is fun to see how much technology has evolved and brought about more realistic scenes and imagery.
Greta Klein | “Spookley the Square Pumpkin”
During grade school, we would always end up watching this movie during the Halloween season. While lots of Halloween movies are scary, this one consists of the lovely, cozy fall aesthetics, which I love.
Jolie Shultz | “ParaNorman”
Growing up, “ParaNorman” was always my favorite Halloween movie. I loved the animation style, the plot and the twists and turns that get you to the movie’s resolution. I love the characters’ dynamics and how realistically they act during the entirety of the movie.
Haley Smith | “Hocus Pocus”
“Hocus Pocus” was my favorite Halloween movie when I was a kid. I never liked super scary movies. “Hocus Pocus” made me laugh more than anything and will forever be a classic for me.
Emma Lazarczyk | “Spooky Buddies”
For any holiday or time of year growing up, the “Buddies” movie was my go-to. I remember watching “Spooky Buddies” and laughing with my friends as a little kid. This light-hearted movie offers a ‘spooky’ theme perfectly mixed with fluffy humor.
Mekaila Rickert | “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit”
“Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” is one of the first movies I remember watching as a kid. It was a cozy movie I would watch year-round, but it was the best around Halloween. The film truly stands the test of time, still being a fun movie for kids to watch around the Halloween season.
