The top 5 Disney movies to watch this Halloween

The transition to fall means more than just crisp leaves and pumpkin-spice everything―it marks the start of Disney’s Halloween movie marathons. This switch to all things spooky has been dubbed by Disney as “Monstober,” which includes reruns of classic Disney Channel Original Halloween-themed movies.

1. Halloweentown

“Halloweentown,” seems to be the most popular among students. This 1998 film follows the adventures of Marnie, Dylan, and Sophia Piper in their search to conquer the dark force which has invaded Halloweentown, where their grandmother lives.

Erica Hefnawy ’15 loves all the characters, especially the quirky grandmother, Aggie, who trains Marnie to be a witch.

“I just really like ‘Halloweentown,’” Hefnawy said. “I like to think that it’s always Halloween somewhere.”

Avery Wallace ’15 agrees that “Halloweentown” was one of her favorites when she was younger.

“I thought the plot was really creative because as a kid I didn’t realize that it was fictional so I thought it was really cool,” Wallace said.

2. Twitches

This humorous, yet action-packed film tells the story of identical twins, Alex and Camryn, who were separated at birth and finally reunite on their 21st birthday only to discover they are both witches. They work to master their new-found powers and learn the values of family and friendship through their conquest to save the magical kingdom known as Coventry.

According to Cassie Cohen ’16, the greatest aspect of “Twitches” is the mystery and adventure. The plot is gripping, and Tia and Tamara Mowry help bring the story to life.

3. Hocus Pocus

“Hocus Pocus” begins with the chilling tale of teenager Thackery Binx who unintentionally resurrects 3 witches, known as the Sanderson Sisters. They lure his sister into the woods in order to use her youth as a source of life preservation. When Thackery fails to save her, the witches transform him into an immortal black cat. When finally captured, the witches cast an evil spell on the town. Three hundred years later, a teenager named Max has to deal with the repercussions of moving to this cursed town.

Sarah Duvall ’15 found the concept of “Hocus Pocus” intriguing.

“I also liked the film because of Sarah Jessica Parker,” Duvall said. “She played one of the witches, and I think she’s a great actress.”

4. Frankenweenie

Based on the film “Frankenstein,” this spooky 2012 remake of the original 1984 “Frankenweenie” is different from most Halloween movies. It’s black-and-white, 3-D, and the film is entirely stop-motion. However, in this version, the resurrection is of a lovable dog, Sparky, rather than of the monster in “Frankenstein.”

“Frankenweenie” has been the most recent Halloween-themed movie released by Disney.  Even so, it blends incredibly well with the classics of “Monstober.”

5. Nightmare Before Christmas

Critics have praised this popular 1993 film, produced by Tim Burton, for its “eerie” and “unexplainable” feel. The special effects are spectacular and, like “Frankenweenie,” this film is also stop-motion.

Because this movie can be categorized under both Halloween and Christmas, it is played during October and replayed later in December.

The story takes place in “Halloween Town,” where Jack Skellington opens a portal to “Christmas Town” and struggles to understand the concept of the holiday. Throughout his journey, he faces evil consequences in several unlikely scenarios.

Halloween Disney movies are enjoyable whether you’re alone or with family and friends; they get you in the holiday spirit and bring you back to your childhood. So get cozy, gather your candy, and turn on the TV ― odds are one of these Monstober classics is playing!