The release of Hocus Pocus 2 sparked excitement from many Halloween fans, especially when it was announced that the sequel to the popular 1993 flick will be available to stream on Disney+ from the 30th of September.
This spooky franchise began with a tale about three quirky but vengeful witches and turned into much more through its ability to transport viewers to Salem to begin the countdown to October 31st. The spine-tingling sequel is expected to please both Horror and Disney fans as it indulges in the gothic era but here are ten Disney flicks guaranteed to give you the same frightening feels before its release later this month!
Lonesome Ghosts (Disney+)
Lonesome Ghosts is one of the earliest Halloween-themed Disney movies to be made as well as one of the shortest, with a run time of 9 minutes. The movie follows Mickey, Donald Duck, and Goofy as they battle four ghosts who have occupied a haunted house and made their presence known by tricking Mickey and his gang.
The film stays true to the wholesome vibes associated with Mickey Mouse by remaining playful whilst still containing ghosts, cobwebs, and lighting, all of which are commonly related to Halloween. Lonesome Ghosts does a lot within its short run time and has remained a favorite due to its high-quality animation that shocked viewers for its time as well as its charming story that never fails to get fans in the mood for Halloween and make them laugh.
Maleficent (Disney+)
Maleficent is one of Angelina Jolie's best movies as she embodies a heartbroken fairy who seeks revenge on the very man that scorned her by cursing his daughter (who was actually played by Angelina Jolie's own child). The movie offers a different point of view of the much-loved story of sleeping beauty, encouraging fans to empathize with the terrifying femme fatale.
Despite being beautiful in real life, Angelina Jolie's appearance as Maleficent disturbed some viewers as they were entranced by her piercing eyes and threatened by her sharp horns. Ultimately the movie isn't listed as a Halloween watch, but her wicked appearance and vengeful ways, including many of the movie's fantasy elements, lean towards supernatural and mythical events synonymous with other Halloween flicks.
Haunted Mansion (Disney+)
Nothing symbolizes Halloween like a haunted house and Eddie Murphy's Haunted Mansion brings that to life by making the confident realtor doubt his love for his job when he and his family visit the possessed property.
Haunted Mansion embodies the very essence of Halloween through its gothic location, low-key lighting, and its use of pathetic fallacy, which mirrors the fear the family feels. The movie employs a wide range of special effects to create freaky figures that encourage viewers to look out for the Evers family as they battle a series of cobwebs and jump scares, making it a must-watch movie for the spooky season.
Monsters Inc (Disney+)
Monsters Inc is one animated movie viewers aren't scared to say made them emotional, with Mike and Sully proving that even terrifying monsters can have big hearts. The dynamic duo takes their work as scarers very seriously until they meet Boo on one of their shifts and soon lose all desire to create terror.
Monsters Inc may not have been marketed as a Halloween watch, but its menacing monsters led to it being pulled out on October 31st in many homes across the world. The lighthearted nature of its animated characters made it a relaxing movie for those easily scared fans. Its intricate animation design left some younger fans fearing that their wardrobe door would be opened by a monster not so nice as Sully or Mike!
Twitches (Disney+)
Twitches is one original movie that dominated Disney Channel every October and is a much-loved movie for many 2000s kids who became entranced by twins Camryn and Alexandra. Based on the book, the sisters reunite after being separated for many years and soon discover they are capable of magic, allowing them to save their mum and kingdom.
Although many of the effects within the film look dated now, the movie is littered with flashy transitions that invite its audience to accompany the twitches as they navigate their newfound powers. The film's mystical location perfectly captures its eerie plot that left many viewers questioning whether they themselves had magical powers, situating Twitches as a memorable staple in Disney's Halloween history.
Coco (Disney+)
Despite being one of the few animated movies to deal with serious issues, Coco is also the perfect film for a Halloween-themed movie night. The main character Miguel loves to sing and defies his family's ban on music by continuing to create sweet harmonies, but that soon lands him in the land of the dead, where he learns some valuable lessons.
The movie explodes onto viewers' screens with its bold colors and energetic main character, hooking viewers in from the offset before honoring the celebration known as Día De Los Muertos. Although Coco wasn't meant to be a Halloween film, it certainly delivers a spooky yet soulful story that pleases Halloween fans through many candlelit scenes, ghost-like figures, and warm orange tones.
Frankenweenie (Disney+)
Tim Burton is known for producing gothic stories littered with unique-looking characters and Frankenweenie is no exception to that, with the stop-motion animation living up to fans' already high expectations. The film tunes into the love owners have for their beloved pets when Victor brings back his dog by a bolt of lightning and a cleverly put-together laboratory.
The film pays homage to the Halloween classic Frankenstein and received high ratings from fans who stated that the movie helped to reimagine the typical spooky flick by creating a storyline they could relate to. Frankenweenie warmed viewers' hearts whilst staying true to Tim Burton's ghoulish film style by being filmed in black and white and still giving many fans the creeps.
Halloweentown (Disney+)
Halloweentown continues to be well remembered and much loved by 90s children who were treated to this Halloween flick when it was released on Disney Channel before the introduction of its streaming service a few years ago. The nostalgic movie tells the story of a group of siblings who discover that their favorite Grandma is capable of magic that goes beyond just cookies.
Halloweentown was praised by many fans for its ability to combine humor with scare tactics to produce a family-friendly freaky flick, sparking the start of the franchise. The movie caused many fans to feel nostalgic and reminisce over their own youth whilst also giving those perfect fall vibes through orange tones that were synonymous with its witchy storyline that showcased a love for all things velvet.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney+)
The Nightmare Before Christmas is terribly creepy despite being a children's movie and comes from the king of creepy himself, Tim Burton. There is a lot of controversy about whether the movie is a Christmas flick or a Halloween one, but considering that the main character's name is Jack Skeleton, who happens to be from Halloweentown.
The movie is one of Disney's most gory movies to date, with many of the characters taking themselves apart and others having worms coming out of their eyes. It is considered a popular watch for many horror fans due to its unique plot, interesting claymation and haunting soundtrack, The Nightmare Before Christmas may have given many fans nightmares but certainly earned its title as one of Disney's best Halloween movies.
Hocus Pocus (Disney+)
Hocus Pocus is the ultimate Halloween flick, and with its reboot being released this month, the original is expected to be rewatched by many childhood fans. The movie follows three witches who are accidentally resurrected by a young boy called Thackery and begin tormenting the town of Salem, but years later, the three sisters meet their match.
The film creates the perfect spooky atmosphere by employing low-key lighting that mirrors the autumnal colors and textures seen in the character's costumes. Hocus Pocus toys with many staples of Halloween, including witches, black cats, and magic, to create a spooky flick with a fall-like ambiance that has proven to maintain a loyal fanbase.