Last Halloween, I gave you a ranking of the top 10 Disney Channel Halloween Specials. This year, I’m back again, but instead with a ranking of the Disney Channel Original Halloween Movies (DCOM).
We’ve got a lot of movies to watch, so cozy up and get ready for cheesy Halloween goodness.
18. Invisible Sister
Airdate: October 9, 2015, Watch on Disney+
When working on her science project, a teenager accidentally creates a solution for invisibility, which inadvertently affects her sister’s visibility.
I watched this movie for the first time for this article, and there wasn’t much about it that I particularly enjoyed. I placed it last because I asked myself if I would watch this movie again, and I likely wouldn’t. A huge pet peeve I had with the movie was a plot where one sister spends the day pretending to be her now invisible sister. But… they don’t look alike. They both have brown hair and a similar skin tone, and that’s where the similarities end. The fact that everyone believed she was her sister was more unbelievable than the idea of her sister turning invisible.
17. Zombies 3
Airdate: August 12, 2022, Watch on Disney+
Seabrook has become home to all kinds of monsters, and it’s time to expand that peace to other places, like Mountain College. Then, the aliens land, and no one knows where this journey will take them.
I had also never seen any of the Zombie movies before creating this ranking. The other Zombie movies are yet to come, but by the time I got to Zombies 3, I was tired of Addison. I saw the cover art and immediately knew that she would once again claim an identity. Whether this identity is the correct one or not, I’ll let you discover. The “monsters” in this movie are also aliens, and there were so many other mythological creatures they could have used before aliens. Like, maybe, mermaids?
16. Zombies 2
Airdate: February 14, 2020, Watch on Disney+
Zombies and Humans have learned to live together, but when Werewolves show up, the harmony is disrupted, and everything is put into question.
Chandley Kinney saves this movie for me. “We Own the Night?” Yes, please. I’ll take 14 of them. That is its saving grace.
15. Girl Vs. Monster
Airdate: October 12, 2012, Watch on Disney+
A teenager with no fear discovers she comes from a long line of monster hunters. When the monsters break free, she must defeat them and her inner demons.
As someone who deals with fear and anxiety, stories that center around being scared always stick with me more. I really appreciate how they explore the concept of fear and confronting one’s fears in this movie.
14. Zombies 4
Airdate: July 10, 2025, Watch on Disney+
Zed and Allison find themselves in the middle of two warring monsters: the Vampires and the Daywalkers. They all must work together to ensure a better future for all monsterkind.
I preferred this movie over Zombies 2 and 3 for a couple of reasons.
- It was setting up a new couple and crew. Passing the torch, as it were.
- I like the music more as a whole in this movie. Give me Keresone again and again.
Also! I was actually unsure how the movie would end, particularly for Zed. They had me going, and I was invested.
13. Under Wraps 2
Airdate: September 25, 2022, Watch on Disney+
Three friends work together to keep their mummy friends safe from a centuries-old enemy.
I was surprised by how much I liked both the remake and its sequel. We didn’t need a sequel, but it also wasn’t useless. I also have a soft spot for the found family relationship between Harold and Marshall. Plus, GAY WEDDING.
One pet peeve is that they researched the mummy that’s after Harold and Rose, their story, their relationships, and even know his real name (Sobek). So, THEY WOULD KNOW THE REAL NAMES OF HAROLD AND ROSE. And I need to know what they are.
12. Phantom of the Megaplex
Airdate: November 10, 2000, Watch on Disney+
It’s a rumor that a phantom haunts the local megaplex. When strange occurrences begin to happen, three teenagers work together to unmask the truth behind the rumor.
As a theatre kid, this movie immediately gets bonus points for being named so similarly to The Phantom of the Opera. It’s also got a pretty good level of goofy and spooky.
11. Don’t Look Under the Bed
Airdate: October 9, 1999, Watch on Disney+
Weird things are happening around town that seem to all lead to Frances. She must confront her past and challenge her beliefs about the supernatural to put an end to it all.
What was Disney doing when they made this movie? This movie is properly spooky. I fear it scarred all of us. Before Disney+ existed, I purchased this movie because I just had to see if it was as scary as I remembered or if it was all a fever dream. Can confirm, it was spooky.
10. Zombies
Airdate: February 16, 2018, Watch on Disney+
For the first time, zombies and humans are attending school together, but not everyone is happy about it.
As mentioned, I just watched this movie for the first time. While I am not the intended audience, I liked it well enough to immediately watch the remainder of the series. My biggest gripe with new Disney musicals is the overproduction of the music. There’s just no way that these people naturally burst into song, and it really takes me out of the moment. But also, Milo Manheim.
9. Under Wraps
Airdate: October 1, 2021, Watch on Disney+
Three friends discover a mummy who then comes back to life. They must keep him safe and get him back to his sarcophagus before it’s too late.
I was surprised by how much this remake stayed true to the original. It felt like a true remake. There were some differences in the story, but they didn’t ruin it for me. I would happily watch either version.
8. Twitches Too
Airdate: October 12, 2007, Watch on Disney+
The darkness has been vanquished, but something is still lurking in the shadows. The twins must decide if all the shadows hold is bad.
This movie undoubtedly makes me angry each time I begin watching it. Why, so soon after literally finding each other and vanquishing the literal darkness, are they at each other’s throats? I have never understood. That being said, she’s a classic Halloween DCOM. Also, Dimitri? Love that name.
7. Return to Halloweentown
Airdate: October 20, 2006, Watch on Disney+
Marnie is off to college in Halloweentown, but as the history of the town begins to unearth, she finds herself shrouded in a centuries-old conflict.
Sighhhh. Listen. This movie doesn’t exist. This movie is not canon. I refuse. How can you recast your lead for LITERALLY NO REASON? Also, the plot is… something. But we get more Lucas Grabeel and the iconic Jesse McCartney song “Right Where You Want Me.” And yes, though it doesn’t exist (and isn’t a true Halloweentown), I still choose to watch it.
6. Under Wraps
Airdate: October 25, 1997, Not available on Disney+
Three friends discover a mummy who then comes back to life. They must keep him safe and get him back to his sarcophagus before it’s too late.
The first official Disney Channel Original Movie was a Halloween movie. You’ve got to love it. With that being the case, it’s wild that this movie is not on Disney+. I couldn’t find an official answer as to why, though some speculate that it’s due to rights issues or to help promote the remake. Perhaps there’s a totally legal upload of the movie on some other video sharing platform.
5. Halloweentown 2: Kalabar’s Revenge
Airdate: October 12, 2001, Watch on Disney+
Marnie and Grandma Aggie are back in Halloweentown to investigate strange occurrences. Nothing in Halloweentown is what it should be, but can Marnie and Aggie fix it and make it back to the mortal world before midnight?
Yes. Halloweentown High (yet to be seen on this list) is higher than Halloweentown 2. This is the correct order in my opinion. While this movie does take place mostly in Halloweentown, it is not the Halloweentown we know and love. It’s a gray version. Also, it was filmed in a different location, and I just can’t get over that. It’s not MY Halloweentown.
A fun fact that many of you likely know: Kimberly J. Brown (Marnie) and Daniel Kountz (Kal) are married in real life! They didn’t form a relationship until years later when they reconnected for another filming project.
4. Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire
Airdate: October 13, 2000, Watch on Disney+
Siblings set their mom up on a date in order to get her out of the house, but there is something a little off about this fanged man.
A spooky classic. There is such a difference between Halloween DCOM’s of the late 90’s/early 2000’s. It feels like there are actual stakes (pun not intended). You don’t know if something is going to go horribly run. Will Dimitri kill the mom by sucking her dry? Will the kids get out alive? Nobody knows.
3. Twitches
Airdate: October 14, 2005, Watch on Disney+
Two twins who were separated at birth meet and discover they both have magical powers. They must work together and use their powers to overcome the darkness in both their worlds.
Twitches takes its rightful place in the top 3 of this list. Who didn’t want to discover they had a twin AND magical powers when they were younger? It certainly wasn’t just me. I already felt like a witch (thank you Halloweentown), but when Twitches came out, I was all in. As a kid who loved to write, I immediately felt like I was the real-life Alex and took to my notebook to begin writing spells.
2. Halloweentown High
Airdate: October 8, 2004, Watch on Disney+
The portal is open, but is the human world safe for Halloweentown residents? Marnie initiates an exchange program to put this to the test.
While Halloweentown High takes place mostly in the mortal world, we get to meet so many Halloweentown characters. Yes, they look like humans most of the time, but that’s beside the point. I love the energy each of these new characters brings into the world. Even the little pot-stirrer that is Ethan Dalloway. But honestly, the Marnie/Ethan romance should have started here.
Also, we get Lucas Grabeel and Olesya Rulin before High School Musical!
1. Halloweentown
Airdate: October 17, 1998, Watch on Disney+
On her thirteenth Halloween, Marnie discovers that she comes from a long line of witches. Now, she has to work with her family to stop evil from taking over Halloweentown.
No one is surprised that Halloweentown is number one on this list. Not if you know me. Halloweentown falls at number two in my full Disney Channel Original Movie Rankings (the hardest decision of my life) and is, in general, one of my all-time favorite movies. I even watch it on my birthday every year. It is the perfect mix of a good story and 90’s nostalgia.
We’re introduced to a whole new world full of fun and quirky characters. Benny the taxi driver? Hilarious! We also have an ultimate reveal, which, as adults, is pretty easy to see coming. But as a child? What do you mean the mayor was the bad guy all along? I was SHOOK. Halloweentown is hands down, without a doubt, the best Halloween DCOM.
That is my ranking of the Disney Channel Original Halloween Movies. There are other spooky-adjacent Halloween movies that I either haven’t seen or didn’t make the list, so just know that they are out there. Though I believe this list is superior, I am always open to hearing other (wrong) opinions. Let me know your ranking of Halloween DCOMs.
I’m Abbie from the Daily Planet, and you’re reading about Disney Channel (bum bum bum bum).
