Not everyone is a fan of horror movies.
Even if you are there are times in our lives when we’re not in the mood for scares or gore.
If that describes you or the current season you find yourself in, then here are ten fun but not necessarily scary movies for your Halloween viewing pleasure.
While this list spans many decades, I notice that the main theme running through them all is they all parody or otherwise make fun of previous horror movies.
Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
If you’re going to do a fun scary movie list, you better start with the classic.
And you can’t get any more classic than Bud Abbot and Lou Costello meeting Frankenstein’s monster.
In the movie Count Dracula, with Bela Lugosi reprising the role, has become partners with Dr. Sandra Mornay.
Dracula requires a “simple, pliable” brain to reactivate Frankenstein’s monster.
Dracula discovers that the “ideal” brain belongs to Wilbur Grey who is of course portrayed by Lou Costello.
Wilbur is wooed by Dr. Mornay to the operating table, despite the warnings of Lawrence Talbot (played by another Universal monster icon, Lon Chaney Jr..
Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein has fun playing with the tropes established in the Universal monster movies 1930s and 1940s, much like Blazing Saddles would do in the 1970s to Hollywood’s westerns.
Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957)
Plan 9 from Outer Space is a funny movie that wasn’t intended to be funny.
Produced, written, directed, and edited by Ed Wood, Plan 9 stars Gregory Walcott, Mona McKinnon, Tor Johnson, and Bela Lugosi in his final film role.
It is widely considered to be one of the worst films ever made because of its low production values, bad acting, and nonsensical plot.
That said, Plan 9 gained a cult following over the years due to its campy charm and its unintentional humor.
In 1994, Tim Burton made the a biographical movie Ed Wood with Johnny Depp playing the title character.
Ed Wood covers the period in Wood’s life when he made his best-known films as well as his relationship with actor Bela Lugosi, played by Martin Landau.
If you can’t handle Plan 9 From Outer Space, watching Ed Wood would make an acceptable substitute.
Munster, Go Home! (1966)
I don’t know about you but I love The Munsters!
I used to watch re-runs of The Munsters on weekend afternoons when I was growing up.
Munster, Go Home! is theatrical movie sequel to the TV show.
It came out just as the show was cancelled and was so popular, it had a sequel movie: The Munsters Revenge.
In Munster, Go Home! Herman Munster inherits Munster Hall in England.
The Munster family then travels to England to claim their new home, but are met with resistance from the locals, who are not happy to see them town.
The Munsters also discover their English relatives are involved in a counterfeit ring and of course campy hi-jinks ensue!
Young Frankenstein (1974)
How could Young Frankenstein not be on this list? Right?
Young Frankenstein is a Mel Brooks parody of the classic Universal Monsters movies, most notably 1931’s Frankenstein.
The movie stars Gene Wilder as Frederick Frankenstein, a young American doctor who inherits his grandfather’s castle in Transylvania. Wilder also co-wrote the screenplay with Brooks.
When Frederick arrives at the castle, he meets Igor, his grandfather’s hunchbacked assistant played by Marty Feldman.
He also meets Inga his buxom housekeeper and Frau Blücher a mysterious woman who causes the horses to whinny whenever she is mentioned.
Frederick is reluctant to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, but he is persuaded by Igor and Inga to
The new monster created turns out not to be a mindless killing machine, but a gentle giant as eager to please as he is to learn.
This is one of the best scenes in the movie!
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978)
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! is a parody and spoof of campy B movies.
The story involves tomatoes becoming sentient by unknown means and revolting against humanity.
It follows a group of people who come together to stop the killer tomatoes, including a scientist, a soldier, a housewife, and a pizza delivery boy.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! is full of cheesy humor and low-budget special effects. It is a cult classic praised for its self-awareness and ability to make fun of itself.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Beetlejuice revolves around a recently deceased couple who, as ghosts haunting their former home.
The contact Beetlejuice, an obnoxious and devious “bio-exorcist” from the Netherworld. to help scare away their home’s new inhabitants.
The movie is known for its dark humor, gothic visuals, and great performances, particularlly Michael Keaton’s portrayal of the title character.
Beeteljuice is considered a must-see for fans of horror comedy and dark humor.
Tremors (1990)
Tremors follows two handymen (played by Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward who are trying to leave the small desert town of Perfection, Nevada
Of course that’s when when they happen upon a series of mysterious deaths and a concerned seismologist studying unnatural readings below the ground.
With the help of an eccentric couple played by Reba McEntire and Michael Gross, the group fights for survival against giant, worm-like monsters hungry for human flesh.
It also features the PG rated expletive of “Mother Humper.” Then again you couldn’t have the dad from Families Ties dropping the F bomber!
Here’s the first 10 minutes of Tremors for you!
Hocus Pocus (1993)
When I asked people what their favorite fun scary movie might be, this was the most common response.
Hocus Pocus stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as a coven of witches who are accidentally resurrected by a teenage boy in Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween night.
The movie also features musical numbers that are memorable and catchy.
“I Put a Spell on You” and “Come Little Children” are both iconic and have been covered by many artists.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
I love this movie!
Shaun of the Dead British zombie comedy horror film directed by Edgar Wright and written by Wright and Simon Pegg.
Pegg also stars in the film as Shaun a slacker who works as a salesman at an electronics store. One day, he wakes to find the world is in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.
Shaun’s first instinct is to go to a local pub and have a pint. He is joined by his best friend Ed, his girlfriend Liz, his mother Barbara, and his step-father Philip.
The group of friends soon realize that they are trapped in the pub and must find a way to survive the zombie apocalypse.
This scene shows a hungover Shaun not noticing or catching the attention of the zombies.
Zomieland (2009)
And I’ll close this list out with another fun zombie movie that I also love.
Zombieland follows four survivors of a zombie apocalypse (this sounds familiar) who go by the names Columbus , Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock, as they make their way to a rumored safe haven in Los Angeles.
Columbus is a timid and nerdy college student who has survived by following a strict set of rules, such as “cardio” and “seat belts.”
Here’s an early scene where Columbus explains his rules and brings us up to date.
Tallahassee is a grizzled and cynical Texan who is on a quest to find the last Twinkie in the world.
Wichita and Little Rock are two con artist sisters who are always looking for a way to get ahead.
The four survivors eventually team up and travel together across the country to make their way to a rumored safe haven in Los Angeles
Along the way they face off against zombies and other dangers. They also develop a close bond with each other and learn to rely on each other for survival.
And if you like Zombieland, please check out Zombieland 2. I like the sequel better than the first, but they must be watched together.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of 10 Not So Scary Movies for Halloween.
But if you’re looking for something that does scare the heck out of you, any of these on my Scary Movies for a Spooky Halloween list should do the trick.