Family-FriendlyNo. 6966 · The 2026 edition
Fear not! 10 Halloween movies for scaredy cats
Spooky fun for the whole family! Dive into these 10 Halloween movies that won't leave you trembling but will make your heart race.
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at cbc.ca.
Looking for a thrilling night in? These 10 Halloween movies are perfect for those who love a good scare without being too frightened. From classic horror to modern thrillers, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
About this
A CBC Life listicle recommending 10 Halloween films for people who don't like horror, spanning comedy, romance, mystery and mild thriller. Each pick includes where to stream it and a short take on plot, cast and scare level, with a few Canadian titles included. The writer frames the list around wanting seasonal fun without real frights during a stressful year.
The list
-
01
Hubie Halloween 2020
Adam Sandler stars as Salem's mocked Halloween superfan turned hometown hero; humour over horror.
-
02
Knives Out
Campy A-list whodunit with suspense but no real frights; Chris Evans' iconic sweater steals scenes.
-
03
Pumpkin Movie 2018
Sophy Romvari documentary short: friends carve pumpkins over Skype and swap stories of creepy encounters.
-
04
Ghostbusters 2016
All-female reboot; page suggests marathon with original and Ghostbusters II on Crave first.
-
05
Blood Quantum
Jeff Barnaby's gory Mi'kmaq zombie film; commentary on Indigenous issues in Canada.
-
06
Hocus Pocus 1993
Family-friendly Salem classic about resurrected 17th-century witches and a catchy spell song.
Disney+ Watch ▸ -
07
October Kiss 2015
Hallmark-style romance with nanny Poppy, harvest festival, homemade costumes, cookies, pumpkin carving.
-
08
Evil Eye
Blumhouse thriller: superstitious mother believes daughter dates her reincarnated violent ex.
-
09
Backcountry
Northern Ontario slow-burn thriller; urban couple camping are hunted by a predatory black bear.
-
10
What We Do in the Shadows
Waititi and Clement mockumentary on vampire flatmates doing chores; spawned acclaimed FX series.
Where to watch: Netflix: Hubie Halloween, Ghostbusters (2016), October Kiss · Amazon: Knives Out, Evil Eye · CBC Gem: Pumpkin Movie, Backcountry · Crave: Blood Quantum, plus original Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II · Disney+: Hocus Pocus · iTunes and Amazon Prime Video (rent): What We Do in the Shadows
