Top 10 Halloween Movies to Watch While We Handle Your Toronto Fall Leaf Cleanup 

Rounding out the list is a pure dose of nostalgia for ’90s kids. Halloweentown was a Disney Channel original movie that became an annual Halloween tradition. The story follows Marnie, a 13-year-old who discovers she comes from a family of witches and sneaks off to a secret world called Halloweentown – a magical community where it’s Halloween every day and all manner of witches, goblins, and friendly monsters live normal lives. This charming film is brimming with goofy costumes, wholesome adventure, and kid-friendly frights (no nightmares here). Halloweentown’s light, festive tone makes it perfect background fare while you decorate the house with fake tombstones or enjoy a slice of pumpkin pie. It’s a reminder that Halloween can be more sweet than scary. And when the credits roll, you’ll be glad your yard is leaf-free and ready for trick-or-treaters – all thanks to a little real-life magic from our team outside.

“They’re heeeere!” Steven Spielberg and Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist remains one of the most famous haunted house tales – and it’s a PG-rated fright-fest the whole family can handle (if the kids are a bit older). The story centers on a suburban family whose cozy home suddenly becomes the playground of some not-so-friendly spirits. Even now, if you say “They’re heeere” in a creepy voice, people will shudder – thanks to this film about a house possessed by angry ghosts. Poltergeist delivers classic ghostly thrills: objects move on their own, a child converses with the TV static, and a supernatural mystery unfolds under the calm facade of a neat neighborhood street. It’s an ideal movie to have on in the background while you’re curled up under a blanket (with the lights low for ambiance). Just be warned: you might start side-eyeing that old tree outside your window on windy nights in Mississauga… but remember, any rattling at your door is probably just the wind or a Clover crew cleaning up those leaves!

A modern classic that mixes scares with smarts, Scream revitalized horror in the ’90s with its self-aware style. Director Wes Craven crafted a slasher that cleverly pokes fun at horror tropes while delivering legit suspense. The film follows a group of teens terrorized by a masked killer “Ghostface” in the small town of Woodsboro, and it keeps you guessing with its whodunit twists. Scream’s characters famously know the “rules” of horror movies, and the film’s meta-humor subverts clichés in ways that are both funny and genuinely terrifying. That blend of lightheartedness and fright makes it great for a laid-back Halloween watch. You can chuckle at the in-jokes one moment and jump the next. Put on Scream during your Halloween get-together (you’ll recognize the party scene vibes) – it’s the perfect mix of trick and treat on a fall night in.

You can’t have a Halloween movie list without, well, Halloween itself. John Carpenter’s low-budget 1978 slasher defined the genre and still sends shivers down spines. In this iconic film, the masked Michael Myers stalks babysitters through a quiet suburban neighborhood on Halloween night – a premise so simple yet so eerie. Halloween is as classic as they come, featuring an unstoppable boogeyman and an atmospheric synth score that’s worth the watch alone. Horror buffs can enjoy the suspenseful build-up and scream-worthy moments, while more squeamish viewers might keep it on as a not-too-gory seasonal backdrop. If nothing else, the movie’s depiction of fall – with jack-o’-lanterns on porches and leaves blowing in the streets – will make your living room feel like a haunted house (minus the actual danger!). Lock the doors, dim the lights, and let Michael Myers make you appreciate the safety of the couch while we handle the rustling leaves outside.

For many families, it’s simply not Halloween season until they’ve watched this Peanuts animated special. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a short, sweet dose of nostalgia following Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy and the gang on Halloween night. As Linus eagerly awaits the mythical Great Pumpkin in a sincere pumpkin patch, the others go trick-or-treating (“I got a rock…”). This charming cartoon, with its jazzy Vince Guaraldi score and autumnal visuals, perfectly captures the wholesome spirit of an October night. It’s light enough to play in the background during a cozy family gathering or while you’re bagging up candy – and it will delight kids and grown-ups alike. This classic reminds us that some traditions (and childhood hopes) never fade, even as the leaves keep falling.

They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky and utterly lovable. The Addams Family movie brings Charles Addams’ cartoon creations to life in a comedy that’s equal parts macabre and heartwarming. Join Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley and Uncle Fester for a series of hilariously morbid misadventures in their gothic mansion. From Wednesday’s deadpan one-liners to a riotous school play scene, the film is packed with gags that land even if you’re only half paying attention. The Addamses’ cozy brand of spookiness is great for setting a Halloween mood. Put this on while you relax; their kooky antics will make you smile knowing your own household chores aren’t so hair-raising by comparison!

Is it a Halloween movie? A Christmas movie? Who cares – this stop-motion gem is a yearly ritual for many. The Nightmare Before Christmas offers a trip into Tim Burton’s fantastical world where Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, tries to bring Christmas to Halloween Town. The film is a sheer delight from start to finish, filled with imaginative visuals and catchy songs that capture the spirit of both spooky season and the holidays. Its whimsical, gothic charm makes a perfect backdrop for a fall evening. You can carve pumpkins or sort candy with Jack and Sally’s romance and Oogie Boogie’s mischief playing in the background. (Why not watch it again come December, too?)

Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice is a gleefully ghoulish romp that plays out like a Halloween party on screen. This quirky classic follows a recently deceased couple haunting their own New England home – until a devious bio-exorcist named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) joins the fun. With its stop-motion creatures, haunted house hijinks, and dark humor, Beetlejuice serves up spooky-season cheer without ever getting too scary. The movie’s loopy, “creepy but hilarious” tone makes it ideal for light background viewing. Don’t be surprised if the famous “Day-O” dinner party scene gets you singing along while you hear real autumn winds and rustling leaves outside.

Who ya gonna call for some supernatural fun? Ghostbusters has become a timeless Halloween favorite, enticing viewers with its blend of supernatural comedy and urban adventure. Set in a bustling New York City, this film follows a team of quirky parapsychologists-turned-ghost hunters as they rid the city of pesky poltergeists. It’s more comedy than horror – perfect background entertainment as you sip a pumpkin spice latte. From the giant marshmallow man to the iconic theme song, Ghostbusters brings enough goofy ghost action to keep the whole family entertained, all while you stay warm indoors and the leaves get cleaned up outside.

This Disney favorite is a must-watch every October. Hocus Pocus is a Halloween comedy classic the whole family can enjoy year after year. Bette Midler and her on-screen sisters cackle and scheme as resurrected 17th-century witches wreaking havoc in modern Salem on Halloween night. With its campy humor, magical hijinks, and immaculate autumnal atmosphere, Hocus Pocus delivers cozy fall vibes. It’s the kind of light-hearted spooky film you can half-watch while snacking on candy corn – and still laugh when the Sanderson Sisters run amok (amok amok amok)!