Retro Halloween Specials & TV Movies: Where to Watch

Prompted by the challenge of finding a clean version of The Worst Witch and frequent requests for alternatives to YouTube – which unfortunately is the best source besides the Internet Archive. This list groups retro Halloween specials and TV movies by where they can actually be watched: streaming services, YouTube, Internet Archive or digital rental.

Jump to: Streaming • YouTube • Internet Archive • Rent/Buy • Sleepy Hollow

1) Streaming (subs or free w/ ads)

Apple TV+
  • It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Disney+
  • Mr. Boogedy (1986)
  • Bride of Boogedy (1987)
  • Halloweentown (1998)
  • Don’t Look Under the Bed (1999)
  • Disney’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (1949 segment; packaged with Ichabod & Mr. Toad)
Tubi (free)
  • The Halloween Tree (1993)
  • The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1999 Hallmark TV movie)
Plex (free)
  • Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985)
Pluto TV (free)
  • Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977)
  • Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985)

2) YouTube (full uploads commonly available)

Quality varies; availability can change.

  • The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976)
  • The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t / The Night Dracula Saved the World (1979)
  • Under Wraps (1997, original DCOM)
  • Tower of Terror (1997)
  • The Worst Witch (1986)
  • The Midnight Hour (1985)
  • The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1980, Jeff Goldblum TV movie)
  • Rankin/Bass: Jack O’Lantern (1974)
  • Bugs Bunny’s Howl-Oween Special (1978)
  • Halloween Is Grinch Night (1977)
  • The Devil and Daniel Mouse (1978)
  • Mad Monster Party? (1967) (intermittent)
  • The Flintstones Meet Rockula & Frankenstone (1979) (intermittent)
  • The Smurfs – All Hallowseve (1983)

3) Internet Archive (preservation copies)

Great for TV edits or out-of-print titles.

  • Raggedy Ann & Andy: The Pumpkin Who Couldn’t Smile (1979)
  • The Flintstones Meet Rockula & Frankenstone (1979) – full version
  • A Disney Halloween (1983)
  • Disney’s Halloween Treat (1982)
  • Halloween Hall o’ Fame (1977)
  • The Worst Witch (1986)
  • The Midnight Hour (1985)
  • Halloween Is Grinch Night (1977) – audio is low
  • Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985) – color corrected copy!

4) Rent/Buy Digital

Watch it year round!

  • Mad Monster Party? (1967) – Apple TV, Prime, Google & YouTube
  • The Devil and Daniel Mouse (1978) – Prime
  • It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) – Apple TV

Now this list ABSOLUTELY does not cover all the Halloween shows nor does it get into the 2000s – it’s just a simple starter list for some favorite and forgotten specials.

Some classic Disney compilation specials (including A Disney Halloween, Disney’s Halloween Treat, and Halloween Hall o’ Fame) aren’t on Disney+. The original Under Wraps (1997) is not on Disney+ (only the 2021 remake appears there).

The Peanuts specials stream on Apple TV+, which will be FREE Oct 18th and 19th BUT it’s available to watch on The Internet Archive. Any special that’s on YouTube is probably on the Internet Archive as well but the Internet Archive does seem to have better upload quality.

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