Halloween is just around the corner – actually, it’s in 19 days, but who’s counting? – and the first thing that always comes to mind (after trick-or-treating of course) is movies! It’s time to kick back with a few Halloween classics. So grab a warm blanket, some popcorn and some friends, because these films will definitely get you in the mood for a good throwback marathon.

In 1993, an iconic movie was released to the world: The Nightmare Before Christmas. The flick became a childhood staple at this time of year, and the musical theme of the film appeals to children and parents alike. Jack Skellington (aka “the Pumpkin King”) lives in Halloweentown and spends every year prepping plenty of scares for the “real world.” However, this year he happens upon Christmas Town, a quaint little village that annually brings joy into the world. Deciding that he wants to take over this holiday, Jack kidnaps Santa Claus and does exactly that. Now, I know the plot sounds out there, but if you watched it as a child, you too would understand just how amazing this movie truly is.

Continuing down the cheesy movie track, Halloweentown, made in 1998, is our next stop. The story is about a young witch, Marnie Cromwell who has no knowledge of her witchy heritage, and her adventure in the mystical town that she discovers. All Marnie wants to do is go to a costume party that everyone will be at. However, her mother wants her to be as isolated as possible from all things Halloween for fear that she will discover her powers. That’s when Marnie’s grandmother Aggie comes for a visit, bearing bad news about Halloweentown. People have started disappearing and she asks for her daughter’s help in stopping it. Marnie and her siblings overhear this conversation, and while their mother rejects Aggie’s plea for assistance, they decide to sneak onto the bus with Aggie and travel to Halloweentown. When they arrive, they are startled and amazed by the magic and creatures they see. The rest of the movie follows the path to the town’s salvation, coming to a (spoiler alert) heart-warming ending.

Moving on to a movie that always gave me the chills as a child, Monster House was released in 2006 (in the summer, strangely enough). The movie involves three friends who are slightly too meddlesome and curious for their own good, and discover that the ramshackle house down the street isn’t really a house after all. It’s a living, breathing monster. Of course, they couldn’t just run away and never speak of it again. That would be too simple, and where would we be then? Without an interesting storyline for the movie, that’s for sure. The kids get sucked into the house and have to battle it out before the trick-or-treaters come around and get devoured as well. And, like most children’s movies, it ends on a happy note where the evil house is destroyed and the children get to trick-or-treat with everyone else.

After writing this, I’ve suddenly been overcome with the urge to bundle up and watch all the old favorites. It’s always enjoyable to take the time to revisit movies from your childhood, and who knows? Maybe this article reminded you of the great movies that you’ve forgotten.