Halloweentown is a classic spooky holiday movie for kids. It has magic, heart, comedy, and a few lessons about growing up thrown into the mix. It’s a Disney Channel movie from the ’90s that remains a classic even two decades later, and rewatching it has become an annual tradition for many fans of the franchise. Starring Kimberly J. Brown, Debbie Reynolds, Emily Roeske, Judith Hoag, and Joey Zimmerman as the Cromwell family, each character brought their own individual personalities, quirks and all, to the table. From the energetic Marnie to her wet-blanket brother, there is a character that everyone can relate to.
- It’s been nearly 25 years since Halloweentown was first released, yet it remains one of the most significant Halloween movies for Disney fans from the 90s and 2000s. With the recent release of Hocus Pocus 2, 29 years after the original, there may be hope for those fans who are looking for a fifth Halloweentown movie, or some other continuation of the cult classic franchise.
The film contained plenty of hilarious moments, but also life lessons as well, which are derived from some of the character’s best quotes. These movie quotes have touched viewers for decades and will not easily be forgotten by those who love the series.
Halloween Is Like Made For Her.
Marnie’s Friend
While Dylan is perfectly content in the mortal world, Marnie has always veered toward the strange and unusual, suggesting that some part of her knew about her lineage even if her conscious mind didn’t. After all, Gwen admitted to covering up Marnie’s bursts of magic when she was a child.
Audiences don’t learn much about Marnie’s friends, but they have certainly known her long enough to get a feeling for who she is at heart. As her other friend mentions, Marnie daydreams and doodles supernatural creatures in class. These comments make it clear how much Marnie does belong in Halloweentown, despite being half-mortal.
My Mom’s [Powers] And My Grandma’s … Might Do It.
Marnie Piper
Marnie begins Halloweentown believing that she is an adult, capable of making choices on her own. However, she quickly learns that she is one of the least powerful members of the Cromwell family and that working together is the only way to be sure that she will succeed.
This growth can be seen best in this line during the climax. While Kalabar mocks Marnie for thinking she’s strong enough to fight him, she proudly calls on each of her family members, whose abilities complement her own. She learns that she doesn’t need to be a solo hero, because she can rely on her family to support her and give her the strength she needs.
Mortals See, Mortals Do.
Agatha Cromwell
Aggie tells the children that things are very different in Halloweentown from what they might have learned in the human world, but she also suggests that mortals mirror what they see supernatural figures do. The mortal holiday of Halloween is a mimicry of everyday life in Halloweentown, and each of the holiday’s traditions comes from supernatural culture.
Mortals dress in costumes similar to supernatural fashion or biology, and they carve and light jack-o-lanterns because of Halloweentown’s famous pumpkin. Because of this, even the children can understand Halloweentown because it’s just a more complex version of the world they know.
Nobody Around Here Appreciates My Taste In Weird Stuff.
Marnie certainly has a refined taste, but it’s not necessarily the same as everyone else in her household, especially Dylan. Although, as she later comes to find out, her weird tastes aren’t so weird after all, considering she’s a witch with a grand heritage as a Cromwell.
Marnie jumped the gun a little by stating this famous quote; by the end of the movie, her tastes were better understood by those around her, and she got to explore her heritage and embrace who she really was.
There Are Things About Halloween You Don’t Understand.
Gwen Piper
Gwen is very protective of her children—especially where it concerns Halloween and anything that might reveal Gwen’s past as a witch or Halloweentown itself. While her words are somewhat ominous, they end up being almost prophetic, considering Kalabar had some dastardly plans.
Soon, her three kids would be preparing the potion needed to light up the talisman that they’d use to defeat the town’s villain. Marnie even admits later on that her mother was right and that she has more to learn, a big step from the over-confidence she had in the beginning.
I Don’t Have Powers! I’m The Normal One In This Family!
Dylan Piper
Dylan isn’t short on sarcastic comments or wit throughout the film, constantly giving his older sister a hard time for her weird tastes and interests. He refuses to believe what is right before his eyes, as he struggles with the reality of Halloweentown and his connection to it.
However, in the final showdown between his family and Kalabar, Dylan is shown to have powers, and he finally accepts them, helping his family defeat Kalabar and restore peace. Still, it’s quite funny that Dylan, even with his fingers sparking before him, tried to dismiss it as static electricity.
Somebody’s Coming…
Sophie Piper
While Marnie ended up becoming the face of the Halloweentown franchise, her sister Sophie had the most accessible magic in the first film. Her first three lines were spent insisting that somebody was coming, and that ended up being her grandmother Aggie. Sophie’s precognition becomes more relevant in the sequel, where she repeats this line after sensing Kal in Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge.
While it can seem like a minor detail, it’s the first sign that all is not normal in the Piper household, despite Gwen’s desperation to make her family strictly human. It’s also a sign that audiences should pay attention to Sophie who, like House of the Dragon’s Helaena, knows far more than others give her credit for.
I’m Thirteen, Okay? I’m Practically A Grown-Up!
Halloweentown echoes the eternal struggle between parent and child, especially in the case of Gwen and Marnie. Marnie is angry with Gwen for not allowing her to go out on Halloween, and the above quote is her central argument.
Marnie had to grow up quickly to deal with the trouble in Halloweentown, especially after her grandmother and mother were sidelined, but she’s still a kid. In the end, she came to realize that there was a lot about Halloween that she didn’t understand—just like her mother had said.
Didn’t Occur To Me They Couldn’t Eat Them. No Heads!
Harriet
Harriet runs into Aggie as the latter gets off the bus from the mortal world, and her exchange with her friend is pretty humorous. Harriet is clearly a sweet lady and enjoys her volunteer work, but she made the silly mistake of baking muffins for the headless shelter.
This is a sprinkle of dark humor in the beloved holiday film, and it never ceases to be comical. The simple absurdity of life in Halloweentown makes for a great escape from normal life.
You Can’t Tell A Monster’s Heart By Looking At Them.
Aggie’s quote is a good life lesson. It’s about not judging a book by its cover, instead seeing everyone for who they are on the inside. It’s a good lesson for the kids, not just in Halloweentown, but also in the human world.
Aggie didn’t want her grandchildren to judge anyone simply by their looks; her wisdom in this quote is unparalleled and is a lesson the kids will always remember. Marnie certainly applied it to Luke in the end, even offering him a kiss for helping her once Kalabar’s spell had worn off and Luke was once again his true self.
If You Want To Give Up Your Roots, That’s Fine. I Don’t.
Marnie truly showed wisdom beyond her years in this quote. Her mother insists that since Marnie’s father was human and they live in the human world, they should live like mortals. That lifestyle involves Marnie giving up her powers.
However, Marnie has a point. No two people make exactly the same decision, and trying to force someone to live a life they don’t want to is definitely unfair. Marnie acts like the teenager she is throughout the movie, but she has her moments where she truly acts like the adult she thinks she is.
I’ve Always Said The Movies Can Teach Us About Life.
Generally speaking, citizens of Halloweentown scorn the human world for its ignorance about their lives and cultures. However, Aggie praises human movies like 1941’s The Wolf Man for their use of the pentagram. It’s unclear how much Halloweentown relies on signs and symbols, but the quote seems to suggest that pentagrams do have something to do with werewolves in Halloweentown.
On top of that, this is just a great quote for movies in general. Children’s movies often have messages about morality and growing up, and they can be educational at times. For a star like Debbie Reynolds to make this comment, adult audiences can expect that Halloweentown itself is intended to teach viewers about life.
Magic Is Simple. Want Something And Let Yourself Have It!
If only magic existed outside of Halloweentown! Aggie’s quote is well-known among fans, and it’s actually the perfect way to describe magic to Marnie. Marnie remembers this advice throughout the film, especially when she goes against the evil warlock Kalabar.
Marnie’s late to her training as a witch, but this advice is the perfect introduction to how magic works, and it proves to be a lifesaver for all. When Marnie stops holding herself back, she finds that she really can change the world.
Being Normal Is Vastly Overrated.
Gwen and her mother Aggie clash often, primarily over their very different lifestyles. Gwen longs for normalcy and has given up her life as a witch, while Aggie doesn’t understand Gwen’s wishes, and often works against them.
The thing is, for the Cromwell family, normal is overrated from time to time. There has to be a balance between their normalcy and their witchcraft, especially when it comes to the kids. Aggie’s point stands, though. Normal can get boring, and it definitely can be “vastly overrated.”
