Witches, Skeletons, and Black Cats
The best way to spend a cozy October night is watching a Halloween movie, preferably accompanied by a warm blanket and the lights turned down, to capture the full spooky effect. No other Halloween movies carry as much nostalgia and warmth as Disney Channel ones do. Below is a non-comprehensive list of some of my favorite Disney Channel Halloween movies to watch during spooky season.
Twitches
Starting off this list is a classic, Twitches. Starring twins Tia and Tamera Mowry as Alex and Camryn, this movie is a story about twin witches, just as the title suggests. They have to reclaim their lost lives and save the world from the encroaching Darkness. As is often the case with movie twins, the two have opposite personalities and skills that are at their best when they come together. This movie embodies warmth and love. Though the story and special effects are cheesy, given that this is both a Disney Channel movie and it was made in the early 2000s, I believe that this is part of its charm. Additionally, the story is entertaining and the movie has many great characters, my favorite being the two sidekicks of the magical kingdom who have such a great bickering relationship. This is a must-watch Halloween movie for some warm and fuzzy feelings.
Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus is a movie that I am new to, considering that it is a bit darker and I would have definitely been too scared to watch it as a child (I was very easily scared). However, this is one of my favorites on this list! It is about three witches, the Sanderson sisters, from olden-day Salem who are reawakened by a boy, Max. In order to stay alive, the evil witches must take the youth of children, and it is up to Max, his sister, and his friend to stop them. The premise of this story as well as some of the visuals are a little darker than other Disney Channel Halloween movies, but the movie is full of visual comedy and funny dialogue which offsets the premise. Seeing the witches from 1693 forced to adjust to and interact with the modern world is utterly hilarious. There is plenty of slapstick humor, an entertaining song and dance scene by the lead witch, and amazing costumes. The dynamics between the three sisters, and the iconic screeches of the leader witch, Winnie, are hilarious and their acting is incredible. Complete with a talking cat named Thackery Binx, an old cottage and witches’ brew, and a devious plan to thwart, this movie was so enthralling.
Invisible Sister
Invisible Sister is the only newer movie on this list because surprisingly, Disney Channel has not made many notable Halloween movies in the last few years. The movie takes place in New Orleans and follows the lives of two sisters: the scientist Cleo and the lacrosse player Molly. On Halloween day, Cleo accidentally turns Molly invisible, and they have to figure out how to make her visible again before it’s too late. Since it is more recent, the special effects in Invisible Sister are pretty good. This movie is full of humor, misunderstandings, and sisterly love that brings in the wholesome aspects of a Disney Channel movie. I really enjoyed the premise of this movie. While invisibility is a common trope in supernatural stories, I have never seen it showcased at the forefront of a movie like this, framed from a scientific perspective and as a curse.
Freaky Friday
While Freaky Friday is not outwardly a Halloween movie, it is on this list because it has supernatural elements that make it perfect for this spooky time of year. In Freaky Friday, a mother and a daughter who cannot see eye to eye switch bodies, and lives, and have to go about the others’ day and see what the other’s life is like. This movie is a quintessential early 2000s movie, starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, and filled with teen angst, confusion, humor, a makeover montage, and two amazing songs (yes, the band does rock out, and yes, it is awesome). This movie is not perfect by any means; it is a product of its time. It is really fun getting to see Jamie Lee Curtis act like a teenager navigating the lifestyle of a busy mom and therapist and Lindsay Lohan act like a responsible mom while having to go through a day in high school. Like many Disney channel movies, Freaky Friday has an emphasis on familial relationships and the importance of empathy in realizing that people may be struggling with things that you cannot see. Bring some 2000s flair to Halloween with this film!
Halloweentown
Halloweentown is such a cute and heart-warming movie, and it is perfect to watch with a younger family member. In this movie, three siblings learn of their real home and heritage as a magical family in Halloweentown. They follow their grandmother back to their home only to learn that residents are disappearing and that they must save the town from the encroaching forces of evil. The grandmother in this movie reminded me of a Mary Poppins figure and the differences in the three sibling’s personalities and receptions of Halloweentown made the characters the best part of the movie for me. The younger sister, Sophie, and her habit of silently summoning things she wanted was especially hilarious. The common 90s archetypes of the angsty teenager, smart-aleck, and quirky younger sister add to Halloweentown’s nostalgic nature and make it a comforting watch for a rainy October night.