Top 10 Halloween Specials

Halloween is a fun time for kids and families alike, and many times cable and broadcast TV stations show Halloween specials. However, you may not be able pick out which family friendly ones to watch (I know I can’t always), and that is why we will be listing the top 10 Halloween picks for any age group to watch. So let us begin with number 1.

1: It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

Perhaps one of most wide known and popular Halloween special that is still being shown. This cute and original special takes a twist that might help remind you just how close Halloween is to the holiday season. It features all of the beloved Peanuts characters all giving their own takes on the Great Pumpkin and if, indeed, the Great Pumpkin even exists. You have to watch it and see if the Great Pumpkin is as real as Linus believes that it is. This one will be a great little cartoon that is baby and toddle friendly, yet something anybody can enjoy.

2: The Nightmare Before Christmas

The title of this Tim Burton original may mislead you, yet it is indeed a movie all about Halloween. The characters are fit for Halloween; in fact, the bulk of the movie takes place in a town that prepares for the big event that happens on October 31st every year. Yet their pumpkin king, Jack Skellington, wants a break from Halloween and wants to celebrate something new. So he finds a new town that celebrates another holiday, and he brings back the new one to his Halloween town. Yet the town’s people take this new idea and make it their own. Find out how the pumpkin king takes this and see if the town’s people stick to the true theme of either holiday. Be warned, though, this is not something kids younger than 7 should see!

3: Boo To You Too! Winnie the Pooh

This cute and toddler friendly cartoon is a cute special that features the loveable characters of Winnie the Pooh getting ready for Halloween. This is another great option for the whole family to watch and something that will not scare the kids. In that sense, you could say that this is much like The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown special.

4: Casper

This movie came out in the 1990s, and while it is not an animated one, it is still a good option for all ages. It does not count as a scary movie or as a cartoon, but it is still a great option for Halloween. It is the story of Casper and his friend Wendy, whom Casper crushes on so much that he wishes to be human again. A great movie that will touch the whole family…and it has humor in it, which always helps.

5: The Addams Family

This movie is not considered a traditional Halloween movie, but it still is a cute take on scary themes. The movie has a fun take on the old TV show and features all of the funny yet spooky themes of horror. It features the whole strange and wacky family, which includes Uncle Fester. They did make 2 Addams Family movies, but the first one is much more of a Halloween film than the sequel was. Again, this would make an awesome family friendly film.

6: A Scooby Doo Halloween?

Here is another cartoon Halloween special that will not cause any fright to young kids. This Halloween episode from the Scooby Doo series is all about the Halloween adventures that Scooby Doo finds himself in. It is another great option for the whole family to see and enjoy without any major horror or ghost involved.

7: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

This old Disney classic may not be shown very often on TV, but you can buy the DVD of this take on the Sleepy Hallow story. This take on the classic story has Ichabod in a much more lighthearted mode and is a perfect adaptation of this Halloween classic. Disney takes this story and turns it into a cute Halloween must see for those who want to show young kids the Sleepy Hollow tale.

8: Garfield’s Halloween Adventure

Again, this little special is not shown on TV anymore but you can buy the DVD of this cute and rare gem of a Halloween special. Garfield and Odie take on Halloween and face some spooky parts of trick or treating. It is a cute take on Halloween, and while it may be an older special, it can still lead to plenty of laughs for the whole family and is great for little kids to watch, as well.

9: The Haunted Mansion

This Halloween-themed comedy is a take on the famous Haunted Mansion attraction that Disney has. This cute movie is more humorous than scary and thus makes it something that nobody would have nightmares over. Eddie Murphy does a great job in this film, as he does in more family friendly movies. This one can still be caught on TV around Halloween.

10: Scared Shrekless

This spin-off of the hit Shrek films has Fiona and Shrek, along with rest of the fairy tale creatures, go to Lord Farquaad’s castle and tell scary tales. This would be a better option for those older kids than young children. You can count on the typical Shrek style humor and, of course, some scary tales thrown into the mix (but they are not too scary).

These are a few of the best family friendly Halloween shows that whole families can watch together without any worries about age groups. All of these can be bought as DVDs if they’re not on TV and provide a great amount of entertainment. None of them are too scary, which should assure most parents that they will not have to deal with nightmares after watching any of these specials. Of course, some of these can be replaced by your own favorites, but this list is supposed to be used as a base for your own.