There’s nothing quite like watching Halloween movies this spooky season. Indeed, the best horror movies provide the perfect amount of fright that people seek this Halloween.
People enjoy the Halloween season in different ways. Many like to have parties as they listen and dance to the best Halloween songs all night long. On the other hand, some people may prefer having a movie marathon for their Halloween party.
You might find it overwhelming to narrow down your list of what to watch for your Halloween movie marathon. Fret not! This guide provides a list of Halloween movies that will bring the spook on. All you need to do is grab your popcorn and get ready for a good fright with these scary movies.
Classic Horror Movies
When it comes to Halloween movies, you can never go wrong with classic horror movies. These films are classics for a reason. Not only do they star talented actors, these movies also have the best plots that will surely have you watching them over and over again.
Among the timeless scary movies you must watch this Halloween season include:
The Shining
Of course, what’s a Halloween movie list without including a film based on the work of the great horror author, Stephen King? More than a film, The Shining is an artistic masterpiece that showcases both violence and paranormal forces, making for a great Halloween story. This classic 1980 film is directed by Stanley Kubrick who is recognized worldwide as one of the best filmmakers in history.
The Shining is one of the most recommended Halloween movies on Netflix, and rightfully so with its haunting story and terrifying scenes. Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same title, The Shining is about a man hired to be a hotel caretaker of a hotel establishment that is known for its haunted nature. As the story progresses, the film features a lot of scary and disturbing imagery that will give you nightmares for days on end.
Sinister
Sinister is a scary movie directed and written by Scott Derrickson, with C. Robert Cargill as a co-writer. Known for its twisted and dark plot, this film will make you want to keep your lights on when you sleep at night.
The plot of this movie revolves around the story of Ellison Oswalt, a crime writer who is conducting research for his new novel. Eventually, Oswalt and his unsuspecting family move into a home. Little do they know that the house has a sinister past.
This is the kind of movie that will have you screaming your head off thanks to its dark, eerie scenes and sudden loud noises. It’s the perfect film to watch when you’re looking for a good scare.
Parasite
If you are looking for Halloween movies on Hulu, Parasite is the film for you. This Korean thriller garnered both public and critical acclaim. Parasite made history winning four Oscar awards in Directing, International Feature Film, Best Picture, and Original Screenplay. Even though this film was only released in 2019, it is expected to be a classic due to its excellent screenplay and award-winning actors.
The story of Parasite revolves around the Kim family. They may not be the richest family, but they are strategic and brilliant. They eventually work for the household of the rich Park family. As the story unfolds, more and more dreadful truths about their past and even present lives are unearthed. It is undoubtedly a masterpiece that captures the horrors of not paranormal creatures, but unsettling societal truths instead.
Child’s Play
This 1988 film is one of the best scary movies you must watch if you want to scream your heart out this spooky season. Child’s Play is known for its iconic murderous character, Chucky. He has remained to be one of the most popular Halloween icons to this day.
As you watch Child’s Play, you will enjoy its suspenseful plot as more horrors begin to unfold. Chucky alone is creepy enough, but his murderous nature makes the story even more terrifying. Indeed, Child’s Play will make you wish you watched Toy Story instead.
You won’t have any regrets watching this, aside from the possibility of scaring yourself out of your wits. True enough, watching Child’s Play can be a great way to spend your Halloween night — if you’re not looking to sleep anytime soon, that is.
Kids Halloween Movies
This year, why not skip the tricks and opt for treating the kids with some good Halloween movies? The spooky season is a great time to bond with children and even the young-at-heart. Halloween allows for a wonderful opportunity to not only scare but also to inspire.
There are a lot of scary movies that kids will enjoy and learn from. Here are some of the best kids Halloween movies that you can watch with the youngsters this spooky season:
Ghostbusters
This 1984 film is undeniably one of the top Halloween movies that both children and adults have come to love. Ghostbusters is a family-friendly film that features a lot of paranormal and ghostly creatures. It makes for a great balance between the horror and comedy genres.
Ghostbusters stars famous actors Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd who give the movie more life and fun. The adventures of their characters will have kids screaming their heads off while also laughing on the side.
Ultimately, Ghostbusters isn’t the kind of film that will give you nightmares. However, you’re most likely going to find yourself singing “Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!” for a couple of days before completely getting it out of your system. Aside from that, the film promises a lot of fun and laughs for everyone to enjoy.
Casper
Without a doubt, this is one of the best Halloween movies that appeal significantly to a lot of kids. Casper will surely have every child wishing that they had a ghost for a best friend.
Even though Casper features a ghost for a protagonist, the movie itself isn’t all that scary. This makes it the perfect film for kids, especially toddlers. It gives off a lighter Halloween vibe compared to other kids Halloween movies. Moreover, kids can learn the value of family and friendship through this movie.
Monster House
This animated horror film is another addition to the list of best kids Halloween movies. Dating back to 2006, Monster House has constantly been aired on various television channels, both during and even after the Halloween season — and understandably so. The film might be a bit scary or spooky, but it also features moral values and life learnings that can be relevant at any time of the year.
Monster House is filled with jump scares and eerie imagery that are not too frightening for children either, especially for tweens. As the story unfolds, you will discover the haunting origin of the Monster House that brings terror into the lives of the main characters. Nevertheless, a lot of character development arcs and some humorous lines are also to be expected from this charming film. These aspects make Monster House not only spooky, but also morally substantial and enjoyable.
Funny Halloween Movies
Who said Halloween can’t be a season for laughs? There is always room for some comedy in whatever month we’re in. Indeed, a few giggles can help ease our throats from constantly screaming over the scariest movies of all time.
Take a break from frightening films that bring nightmares with these funny Halloween movies:
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Among the best classic Halloween movies is The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Although the film features some jump scares and a few eerie creatures, it is also filled with laughter and humorous scenes.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show offers thrill, adventure, and a great soundtrack. This 1975 film is truly a timeless classic, as it features a glam-rock cast that will make you want to dress in your best Halloween costume as you sing or dance along to its tunes.
The House With a Clock in Its Walls
Starring the ever so humorous Jack Black, The House With a Clock in Its Walls is one of the funniest Halloween movies on Hulu that you can stream today. The film’s plot revolves around the life of an orphan named Lewis. He eventually stays with his uncle, Jonathan (portrayed by Black). As the story unfolds, Lewis accidentally brings the dead back to life. Little does he know, his uncle is a warlock who eventually helps him try to put things back to normal again.
If you wish to find out what happens next, try to watch the film this Halloween with a couple of friends. You will surely have a scary-good time with the movie’s funny scenes and great adventures.
Halloween Disney Movies
Without a doubt, Disney is one of the studios that has made some of the best movies of all time. Though they’re known for their family-friendly films, their horror movies are great Halloween options for a viewing party with your kids. Not only are you in for a spooky ride, but you will also get to appreciate family, friendship, and other values this Halloween with certain Disney films.
If you wish to have a Disney horror marathon, here are some of the good horror movies you can choose from:
Hocus Pocus
If you are looking for fun Halloween movies, then you’re sure to enjoy this Disney classic. A classic from 1993, Hocus Pocus is full of scares and laughs that will definitely make your Halloween night more thrilling.
Hocus Pocus’ story is set in the historical city of Salem. Three witches who were executed 300 years ago were unintentionally brought back to life by three kids named Dani, Allison, and Max. The trio’s goal is to stop the dark-magic witches before they bring their rule of terror to Salem. Eventually, the children will be accompanied and helped by the iconic black cat named Thackery Binx, known for its immortality.
Following the gang’s journey will surely bring not only the creeps but also some laughs. Children will also get to learn the importance of bravery and friendship in this film.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
This Tim Burton classic is one of the best Disney Halloween movies that you can watch with your family. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop-motion animation film that features a lot of hauntingly beautiful landscapes and sceneries.
The story revolves around Jack Skellington, the renowned Pumpkin King of a place called Halloween Town. Growing tired of the same Halloween traditions, Jack sets out to find some new ideas, which later brings him to the quaint and snowy Christmas Town. Thus begins Jack’s hijinks of trying to make his own Christmas — all with a bit of a nightmarish twist.
Both a Halloween and Christmas movie in one, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a timely film whose artistic allure is sure to charm any child of any age.
The Haunted Mansion
This 2003 Walt Disney film is one of the best Halloween movies for kids. Starring Eddie Murphy, The Haunted Mansion follows Jim Evers, a real estate agent who brings his family to a mansion in hopes of making a sale. Little do the family know, the mansion has an eerie history and curse that will turn their vacation into a haunting experience.
While The Haunted Mansion is spooky with its occasional jump scares and creepy characters, the film is also filled with humorous scenes. Notably, Murphy’s character is not a believer in the supernatural. This makes the film even funnier as he finds himself coming to terms with otherworldly elements in the haunted mansion.
Of course, this Disney horror film still does not fall short when it comes to moral values. Children will enjoy it as they also get to learn the value of friendship and family.
Final Thoughts
As the leaves start to fall, so too does the spooky season begin to creep in. Of course, Halloween won’t be complete without watching at least one of the best horror movies of all time. We hope that this guide helps you find the perfect film that will jumpstart your Halloween spirit this October.
