‘Susie Q’: The Forgotten Disney Channel Halloween Movie That Keeps Coming Back

By Trevor Decker | August 31, 2025 | Movies

5 mins read

Every Halloween season, certain nostalgic titles make their way back into the spotlight—but few do so quite like Susie Q. The 1996 Disney Channel film doesn’t resurface through official marathons or streaming libraries, but instead through word-of-mouth, fan uploads, and social media nostalgia. Its rare, almost “underground” status has only made it more intriguing, turning it into a Halloween tradition for those who remember catching it on TV in the 90s.

For many, the draw comes from seeing Amy Jo Johnson—already beloved as the original Pink Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers—in a completely different kind of role. And just like other forgotten Disney Channel releases of the mid-90s (such as Wish Upon a Star, which starred both Katherine Heigl and Halloween’s Danielle Harris), Susie Q continues to spark conversations decades later.

The story follows Susie Quinn, a 1950s high schooler played by Johnson, who tragically dies in a car accident on the night of her prom. Decades later, her ghost returns to help a modern-day teenager unravel unfinished business and bring peace to her family’s legacy. The movie blends lighthearted comedy, heartfelt emotion, and a touch of supernatural charm, making it a unique entry among Disney Channel’s programming at the time.

Why Susie Q Isn’t Part of the Official Disney Channel Original Movie Canon

One of the biggest reasons Susie Q feels “forgotten” is because it doesn’t technically qualify as a Disney Channel Original Movie. When it aired in 1996, Disney Channel was still in a transitional period. The network didn’t begin branding its made-for-TV productions as DCOMs until 1997, when Under Wraps premiered.

That first official DCOM set the tone for what would become a powerhouse era of teen and family movies, spawning beloved hits like Halloweentown, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, and The Luck of the Irish. Because Susie Q fell just before that shift, it’s grouped instead with an earlier generation sometimes referred to as “Disney Channel Premiere Films.” As a result, it’s been excluded from Disney’s official DCOM marathons and streaming collections.

The Production Backstory and Rights Complications

Unlike later DCOMs, Susie Q wasn’t developed entirely in-house by Disney. It was produced by Libra Pictures and Shavick Entertainment, with Disney Channel serving as the distributor. That arrangement meant Disney didn’t retain full ownership of the movie, which makes its long-term availability more complicated than titles created under the DCOM banner.

There’s also the issue of music licensing. Like many 90s TV movies, Susie Q included period songs and incidental music cleared only for broadcast in the mid-90s. Extending those rights to cover DVD, Blu-ray, or digital streaming would require expensive renegotiations. That extra hurdle has likely discouraged Disney (and the original production companies) from investing in a re-release.

The combination of split production rights and unrenewed music clearances helps explain why Susie Q has never made its way onto Disney+—despite the wave of nostalgia for 90s programming.

The Amy Jo Johnson Factor

What has kept Susie Q alive in the cultural memory is Amy Jo Johnson. By the time she starred in the film, she was already beloved as Kimberly Hart, the Pink Ranger. Fans were eager to see her in something outside of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and Susie Q gave her the chance to show a softer, more dramatic side. For many kids of the 90s, stumbling upon the movie during its Disney Channel runs left a lasting impression.

Other “Pre-DCOM” Films That Slipped Through the Cracks

Susie Q wasn’t the only Disney Channel movie of the 90s that’s been left in a gray area because it predates the official DCOM era. A few others that aired around the same time include:

• Wish Upon a Star (1996) – A body-swap comedy starring Katherine Heigl and Danielle Harris (best known for playing Jamie Lloyd in the Halloween series). Produced by Leucadia Film Corporation and distributed by Disney Channel, the film has become another cult favorite.
• The Paper Brigade (1996) – A coming-of-age comedy about suburban kids running a paper route, made by Leucadia and Shavick Entertainment.
• Northern Lights (1997) – A family drama with Diane Keaton, originally broadcast on Disney Channel.

Like Susie Q, these films aren’t usually counted in Disney’s official DCOM lineup and face similar hurdles with rights ownership and music clearances.

A Halloween Tradition That Won’t Fade

Even without official recognition or easy access, Susie Q has carved out its place in pop culture. Every October, conversations about the film bubble up on social media, with longtime fans reminiscing and younger audiences curious about the “lost” Disney Channel ghost movie. Its hard-to-find status only adds to the mystique, making it a prized piece of 90s nostalgia.

Nearly 30 years later, Susie Q remains one of the most fascinating examples of how a TV movie outside the official canon can still leave a lasting mark. Sitting in the shadow of Under Wraps, the film stands as a bridge between eras—part of the experimental stage that paved the way for the golden age of Disney Channel Original Movies.