Halloween is around the corner, and we have some delightful Disney+ picks to prepare you for the spooky holiday. From The Muppets to bewitching tales, the productions will give a warm chill down your spine. In essence, we try hard not to hand over the scarifying stuff just yet in case young kids still might be sensitive to the content.
Whether it's watching this weekend, or in a five-night-period, we have the treats for your family to enjoy as we count down to Halloween!
5 Disney+ Halloween shows and movies to watch with family
Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
Muppets Haunted Mansion has Gonzo and Pépe visiting the spiritually-entombed house for a night. During their tour, the friends encounter famous faces, strange phenomena, and Gonzo's soul becoming entrapped within the Mansion's walls, revealing a somewhat scarier version of him.
The 2021 installment additionally hatched Easter Eggs from the 1970s The Muppet Show with the ballroom skit and Kermit the Frog hosting. It's pretty nostalgic in that respect, and we appreciate Disney taking the opportunity to embed the material. What's more, is that Muppets Haunted Mansion educated the audience on how facing your fears could solve problems and project confidence. In Gozo's case, he had to face his fears of losing his friends so that Pépe could be rescued. Gono's heroism exemplifies unselfishness and thinking others before yourself is meritable.
Toy Story of Terror (2013)
Toy Story of Terror is another classic you should watch with your kids. It places our favorite characters in an unfavorable situation, but together, Woody, Buzz, Slinky, Rex, Hamm, and Mr. Pricklepants come together to ease Jesse's fear of boxes. As it turns out, it was Jesse who helped her friends get away from being sold online. With a small group of other lost toys, including a GI Joe-type action figure, Jesse was able to save her friends and combat her fear.
Frankenweenie (1984 & 2012)
Frankenweenie was mentioned in our Disney Dogs piece, but it deserves a spot in our Disney+ list. Why? In both film incerations, Victor just wants his beloved American Bull Terrier, Sparky, back after losing him to an accident. The hopeful scientist made it possible to reunite with him, but the deed also influenced other children to resurrect their lost animals It's a horrible, forever-gnawing pain to lose a family member, one that I know all too well, so it's understanding why Victor and his friends wanted to bring theirs back.
In 1984, Tim Burton released the live-action version of Frankenweenie, which had all the components of its 2012 stop-animated remake. Like the stop-animation, the film's black-and-white setting gives it that blood-chilling feeling.
I'd do anything to bring my animals back, even it means experimenting with humane science.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
It's just a book and a bottle of Hocus Pocus. Or is it? In this bewitching tale, the Sanderson sister-witches from 1693- are resurrected and wreak havoc in Modern-Day Salem. It's up to a trio of kids and a talking black cat to stop Winifred, Mary, and Sarah from absorbing children's souls and living eternally.
On the plus side, you have Bette Midler singing "I Put A Spell On You" and the hauntingly beautiful landscapes of Salem. Having been there on my Massachusetts trips, I am constantly amazed by its historical and spiritual auras. It's no wonder why Hocus Pocus director Kenny Ortega took a different approach to filming, as he envisioned making the Halloween classic as authentic as possible.
Cruella (2021)
In the Oscar-winner Cruella, fashion designer Cruella De Vil's backstory is unveiled. Set during London's 1970s Punk Movement, Cruella's early life is chronicled, from orphan to petty thief to face of haute couture. Cruella's personality is reimagined, as she has a soft spot for dogs and bestows a more empathetic angle, which sits well with the audience. The equation extracts her villainous demeanor and adds the component of the antihero.
Cruella discovers dark secrets regarding her past, taking on clever approaches to avenge those who wronged her and finding her place in London Society.
Along with these treats, there are plenty others to check out on Disney+ for your Halloween entertainment.