Trick Or Treat
Besides candy and costumes, one of the best parts about Halloween is watching spooky movies, but what to choose? Some great Halloween movies are terrifying, while others are hilarious. However, Halloween is all about being scared silly while having fun simultaneously, and the best movies know how to do both.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
The most common Halloween symbol is the Jack-o'-lantern, and the character most associated with it is none other than the Headless Horseman. One of Tim Burton’s best films, Sleepy Hollow, expands on the legend of Ichabod Crane as a constable investigating three small-town murders. However, this isn’t the only movie with an avenging spirit.
Paramount, Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Candyman (1992)
The original Candyman tells the story of a grad student who ends up summoning the spirit attached to the urban legend she’s summoning. It’s a fantastically creepy film with a terrifying, yet sympathetic villain who sells the scares with a series of dedicated practical effects.
A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street follows a group of friends as they’re stalked in their dreams by one of cinema’s most iconic villains, Freddy Krueger. It spawned several sequels, but this first movie remains an undisputed classic. Still, there’s another famous horror street on this list.
New Line, A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The Fear Street Franchise (2021)
In three parts, the Fear Street trilogy shows different points in history exploring the curse on a small town. Each movie brilliantly plays off of horror tropes to create unique slashers that are both spooky and fun. It goes to show that when meta-horror is done properly, like in a few other movies, audiences eat it up.
Netflix, Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2001)
Scream (1996)
The first in a beloved horror franchise, Scream is a love letter to slashers while still being a great horror film on its own. It follows another set of friends trying to survive a series of murders. However, with plenty of references and meta-jokes, it’s far more than the average slasher.
The Cabin In The Woods (2012)
Through films like The Evil Dead, Cabin Fever, or Creep, the “cabin in the woods” trope has become a staple of horror. This film not only parodies this trope, but a dozen others and even provides an origin for them all. It’s another love letter to horror that features so many classic movie monsters including, like this next film, a killer clown.
Lionsgate, The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
It (2017)
Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, It follows a group of misfits who fend off an evil that resurfaces every 27 years. While its sequel wasn’t received as well, the first part landed as an unexpectedly enjoyable and frightening remake of the already beloved mini-series.
Coraline (2009)
Halloween is for everyone, which means having some movies that the whole family can enjoy. Coraline follows the eponymous girl who finds a mysterious door leading to a world that seems perfect—at first. Of course, movies made by Laika Entertainment tend to be perfect for Halloween.
Corpse Bride (2005)
Another Tim Burton masterpiece, this film perfectly captures his gothic, melancholic vibe. It tells the story of a man who inadvertently resurrects an undead bride, and accidentally marries her. Naturally, zombies are one of the monsters that are most synonymous with Halloween.
Warner Bros., Corpse Bride (2005)
Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island (1998)
The majority of Scooby-Doo content is more fun than actually scary, however, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is one of the first—and best—to blur that line. Beginning with a grounded premise where the Mystery Gang broke up, they then reunite to investigate a haunting that seems more authentic than they’re used to.
Warner Bros., Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
This wasn’t the first zombie movie, but it was horror legend George A Romero’s first, and it reinvented how we see zombies today. It’s a simple plot following a gang of survivors during an undead invasion. However, this timeless classic popularized zombies as mindless, flesh-eating monsters instead of the thralls of previous films.
Image Ten, Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
The Evil Dead (1981) & Evil Dead II (1987)
Sam Raimi’s iconic franchise is a wonderful mix of scares and humor. While the first installment is straight horror, following a group of friends who summon an ancient evil to their cabin, the second still has scares but with much more comedy. However, the summoning of evil is not unique to this film.
New Line, The Evil Dead (1981)
Beetlejuice (1988)
One of Tim Burton’s films that leans more toward comedy, Beetlejuice follows a ghostly couple as they hire a spirit to scare the new family out of their old home. It’s hilarious and features bizarre, surrealist imagery that made it into an iconic piece of Burton’s filmography.
Warner Bros., Beetlejuice (1988)
The Conjuring (2013)
The Conjuring is a breath of fresh air as the concept of good against evil is shown in a grounded, wholesome, and emotional way. It follows the Perron family as they suspect their new house is haunted, and enlist a pair of paranormal investigators to help. Still, this is far from James Wan’s first successful horror film.
Warner Bros., The Conjuring (2013)
Insidious (2010)
James Wan has started several franchises, with one of the best being the terrifying Insidious movies. It begins again with a family in a new house who experiences strange occurrences. However, they soon realize the house may not be the problem. Obviously, many of the best Halloween movies are centered around ghosts.
Poltergeist (1982)
The pinnacle of haunted house movies, Poltergeist is about a family who experiences a haunting that seems friendly—at least, at first. With an innovative story that would inspire many future movies, this film cemented its legacy in its subgenre of horror. Still, every ghost needs someone to catch it.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters not only has an all-star cast and an amazing soundtrack—it also oozes Halloween vibes. It follows four men as they use ghost-catching technology to build a business and discover why New York is so haunted. It’s a film that defined the ‘80s and is an endlessly entertaining watch for everyone.
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Inspired by the Disneyland ride of the same name, The Haunted Mansion captures the ambiance of the ride with a story that is spooky, hilarious, and surprisingly macabre. It stars Eddie Murphy as a realtor who brings his family to an old mansion he’s hoping to sell, only to realize its dark secret. However, this isn’t Disney’s only Halloween movie.
Walt Disney, The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Halloweentown (1998)
For Halloween fans who are obsessed with everything associated with the celebration, Halloweentown is the perfect family movie franchise. The first movie follows a girl who discovers that she comes from a family of witches, and must stop an evil from destroying a place called Halloweentown. Strangely, though, this isn’t the only town of Halloween.
Walt Disney, Halloweentown (1998)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Of all the Tim Burton movies, this film about a skeleton from Halloween Town trying to take over Christmas is naturally the most Halloween-centric. Though, some would argue that it’s more of a Christmas movie—why can’t it be both? Evidently, some of the best Halloween movies actually take place on Halloween.
Touchstone, The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Monster House (2006)
Monster House is one of those movies whose style and rating don’t seem too heavy, but in actuality is just as dark and terrifying as some of the most popular horror movies. It follows three friends as they investigate the strange events surrounding their spooky neighbor's house. Horrifyingly, though, there is an even scarier haunted house than this.
Columbia, Monster House (2006)
Hell House LLC (2015)
Somewhat of a hidden gem of horror, this has been called one of the best found-footage films in cinematic history. It’s framed as a documentary about a mysterious incident at a Halloween haunted house attraction, and the events leading up to it. With few jump scares, the creativity of this movie’s horror sets it apart from others like it.
Cognetti, Hell House LLC (2015)
Halloween (1978)
Of course, no list of Halloween movies would be complete without arguably the most memorable of them all: John Carpenter’s Halloween. It follows Michael Myers, who slayed his sister on Halloween night when he was six years old, and who is returning to his hometown 15 years later. However, many movies set on Halloween are much more fun.
It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
While this is really more of a short special than a movie, it’s earned its place on this list from just how iconic it is. There’s not much to it other than the Peanuts gang celebrating Halloween and waiting for the Great Pumpkin. It’s a simple, fun, and wholesome special that many fans watch yearly as the spooky season rolls around.
CBS, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
This may not be the first thing people think of as a Halloween movie, but aside from it being surprisingly frightening, it also takes place during Halloween—there’s even trick-or-treating. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial follows a boy as he tries to help a lost alien return home, resulting in an instant classic. However, ET isn’t the only off-putting trick-or-treater.
Universal, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Trick ‘R Treat (2007)
Trick ‘R Treat isn’t a traditional horror movie but an interwoven anthology of five stories on one Halloween night. It’s an underrated gem that is a favorite of many for its clever narrative and overall celebration of Halloween.
Warner Bros., Trick 'r Treat (2007)
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Another movie that many fans make a permanent part of their Halloween marathon, Hocus Pocus is a clever and campy classic. It tells the story of a brother and sister who move to Salem, and accidentally bring a trio of executed witches back to life. Naturally, witches are everywhere in Halloween media.
The Witches (1990)
While not explicitly Halloween-based, The Witches is a spooky, hilarious adventure that centers around one of Halloween’s most famous monsters. It follows a boy who accidentally discovers a convention of witches and has to stop their evil plans, despite being turned into a mouse.
Warner Bros., The Witches (1990)
The Craft (1996)
The Craft is a movie about witches that, instead of making them magical villains, makes them a group of angsty high schoolers. The film follows a girl who begins at a new school and joins up with a trio of witchcraft-practicing outcasts. It’s a coming-of-age movie that, despite the magical subject matter, many fans find relatable.
ParaNorman (2012)
In the face of a small town curse placed by a vengeful witch, a boy who can speak to the dearly departed must find a way to save everyone in ParaNorman. It’s a perfect Halloween movie that not only provides laughs and spooks but a deeper message too. However, there’s a much more recent Halloween stop-motion movie.
Wendell & Wild (2022)
A great film for everyone, Wendell & Wild follows an orphaned girl sent to a boarding school in her hometown, where she accidentally summons two demons into the world. The stellar performances and spooky imagery mask a poignant exploration of grief and guilt while still being fun. Still, there are many great Halloween movies concerning demons.
Netflix, Wendell & Wild (2022)
The Exorcist (1973)
Being the most famous possession movie in cinema, The Exorcist is often touted as the scariest movie in history. It tells the story of a girl slowly being possessed by a demon and the lengths everyone goes to to save her. This film is perfect for those who want to forego the fun aspect and delve straight into horror.
Warner Bros., The Exorcist (1973)
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014)
The Paranormal Activity franchise is one that’s been around for a while and one that began to peter out as it went on—at least until The Marked Ones. Featuring a fresh take on the overarching story, it follows brand new characters in a Latino community, including a boy who gets caught up in all the demonic activity.
Paramount, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014)
What We Do In The Shadows (2014)
From found-footage to a mockumentary, What We Do in the Shadows follows a documentary crew as they explore the lives of three vampires living in modern-day New Zealand. It’s a hilarious horror comedy made up of iconic quotes and references, including that of this next movie.
NZFC, What We Do In The Shadows (2014)
The Lost Boys (1987)
The Lost Boys is the story of two brothers who, after moving to a new town, become involved with a gang of vampires when one of them is bitten. It’s unabashedly ‘80s and full of humor, camp, and a truly rocking soundtrack that prompts some to call it the perfect Halloween movie. Of course, what goes better with Halloween than vampires?
Warner Bros., The Lost Boys (1987)
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
There have been many adaptations of the Dracula story, but some call Bram Stoker’s Dracula the best of all. Its updated and innovative visuals certainly have an advantage over its predecessors, and Gary Oldman’s performance is one for the record books. Now, not every Dracula appearance has to be a serious thriller.
Columbia, Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
The legendary comedy duo, Abbott and Costello, had several specials where they met famous figures in horror, with this one being a consistent fan-favorite. This riot of a comedy featured not only the titular monster but Dracula and the Wolfman as well. However, there are a few more modern films that play off of the Frankenstein story.
Universal, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
A gothic horror comedy for the modern era, Lisa Frankenstein has all the ‘80s camp that anyone could ask for. It follows a high schooler who tries to find love with the reanimated body of her crush. Both Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse act their hearts out and give hilarious performances that make the film all the more charming.
Universal, Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Many Halloween movies are low-budget cult classics, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show may be king of them all. Playing loosely with the Frankenstein story, it features a newlywed couple who find a spooky castle after their car breaks down. It has a colorful cast led by the incomparable Tim Curry and a timeless soundtrack that cements its musical legacy.
Twentieth Century, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
The Crow (1994)
A stunning cult classic about love, loss, and revenge, The Crow is both a gritty superhero movie and a dark Halloween thriller. It tells the story of Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) as he is resurrected the night before Halloween to exact revenge on the men who caused the demise of him and his lover. Of course, returning from the grave is fairly common in Halloween movies.
This movie takes the spookiness a bit further with the tragic real-life events that occurred behind the scenes—Brandon Lee lost his life on-set when a malfunction with a prop gun resulted in him being fatally shot. While that story is now infamous, few people know that, even more chillingly, Lee's demise has an eerie connection to his father, Bruce Lee's, final film. In Bruce Lee's last film, Game of End, his character is an actor who gets hurt when prop rounds are exchanged with real ones. This mirrors what happened to Brandon Lee—minus the malicious intent in the fictional tragedy.
