54 classic Halloween movies that are guaranteed to put you in a spooky mood
There's no better autumn tradition than watching classic Halloween movies, hands down! Pumpkin picking? Meh. Trick-or-treating? Buy your own sweets! Costume parties? Too much effort. Truly, the best way to celebrate the spooky season is to chill on the sofa with a glass of hard cider and a movie with Scorpio vibes that never get old, no matter how many times you watch it.
Luckily, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more streaming services are easily available, with a full lineup of terrifying options for you to get comfortable on the sofa to watch. Whether you're in the mood for scary nightmare-inducing horror movies like The Conjuring, The Shining, Carrie and The Fear Street trilogy, or looking for more family-friendly fare such as Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown and Ghostbusters, there are plenty of classic Halloween movies to keep you entertained all spooky season long.
What's written in the stars for your next watchlist obsession?
So, to ensure that you are occupied during the spooky season, check out our guide to the best 54 movies to tune into this Halloween from seriously creepy Us to a Beetlejuice throwback in time for the sequel's release.
©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett CollectionSinners (2025)
Arguing one of the most imaginative and compelling horror movies of 2025, Sinners stars Michael B Jordan as twin brothers who return to their Mississippi hometown to start over and build a business. Unfortunately, a great evil is looking to ruin their plans. An excellent take on the vampire movie from Black Panther's Ryan Coogler.
©Warner Bros/ Everett CollectionBeetlejuice (1988)
Winona Ryder is absolutely iconic as Lydia Deetz, a teenager who moves into a house haunted by the ghosts of a recently deceased couple (played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis). Things become even more complicated when an obnoxious poltergeist named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) gets involved.
Courtesy Everett CollectionIt Follows (2014)
Maika Munroe plays 19-year-old Jay, who is plagued with horrors and visions after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter. It soon becomes clear that a malevolent presence is being passed from one sexual partner to the next…
Universal Studios/Everett CollectionUs (2019)
One of Lupita Nyong'o's finest performances. And that's saying something. Her character and her husband become under attack by beings who look exactly like them – zeriously freaky.
Universal/Courtesy Everett CollectionUnfriended (2014)
This one is seriously unhinged, and more brilliant for it. A teen group of friends are chatting online one night when their dead classmate contacts them from her online avatar – secrets are revealed, and some seriously scary events unfold.
DisneyBarbarian (2022)
Prepare for goosebumps all over your arms when watching Barbarian, which sees a young woman discover that the rental home she booked already has a stranger living there. With the hour late, she decides to spend the night at the property only to realise that she has much more to fear than the unexpected house guest...
©Bryanston Distributing CompanyThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie franchise kickstarted with the original 1974 that seriously terrified the living daylights out of us and is undeniably one of our generation's most iconic horror movies. In the movie, Sally, her brother Franklin and their three friends run out of gas while driving to the cemetery where their grandfather is buried. However, while stranded, they don't expect to be tormented by a chainsaw-wielding killer Leatherface and his bizarre, psychopathic family.
Warner BrosThe Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
The Conjuring is a horror movie franchise centred on the real-life inspired paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. 2021's The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It takes inspiration from one of the most sensationalized cases of their career, which involved a suspect claiming demonic possession as his defence for committing murder in court, prompting the Warrens into a supernatural inquiry like never before. Ever heard the saying, "The devil made me do it?" Well, that stems from the real-life case from the eighties.
© 2006 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
What happens when failed nuclear tests conducted by the USA happen? Well, they give birth to psychotic cannibals, who leave a family fending for their lives as they road trip across the California desert. This movie was the remake of Wes Craven's 1977 film of the same name and proved to be just as popular because, of course, we all love horror films about innocent people being targeted by psychopaths.
©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett CollectionHocus Pocus (1993)
First on the list is Hocus Pocus, arguably the GOAT when it comes to the best Halloween movies. Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker are all hilarious and creepy as the Sanderson sisters, three comically evil witches from the 17th century who are accidentally brought back from the dead by an unsuspecting teen. When you're watching the movie, be sure to check out the sequel, which was released in 2022.
©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett CollectionThe Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Is it a Halloween movie? A Christmas story? Both can be true. The stop-motion animated tale follows the journey of “Pumpkin King” Jack Skellington, a Halloween Town resident who's become tired of the same old scary routine and longs to celebrate a much cheerier holiday like Christmas.
©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett CollectionThe Haunted Mansion (2003)
Looking for family Halloween movies? Here you go. Based on the beloved Disney theme park ride, The Haunted Mansion is a family-friendly event starring Eddie Murphy as a successful real estate agent who spends more time at work than with his family. He promises to take his family on vacation to make up for his workaholic ways…but it all goes awry when they encounter, you guessed it, a haunted mansion.
©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett CollectionPractical Magic (1998)
This list doesn't comprise just spooky movies. If you're in the mood for a romantic comedy but also feeling witchy, the best—and only—option is Practical Magic. The movie about love, loss, and potions stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as two sisters who were raised by their magical aunts.
Columbia Pictures/ Everett CollectionHotel Transylvania (2012)
Adam Sandler plays Count Dracula, the proud owner of a popular resort for monsters and other spooky creatures that promises its customers a relaxing, human-free setting. That is until an unsuspecting traveller (Andy Samberg) stumbles upon the property and catches the eye of Dracula's daughter, Mavis (Selena Gomez).
Disney Channel/ Everett CollectionHalloweentown (1998)
This Disney channel original movie is beloved for a reason: Debbie Reynolds is a camp vision as Grandmother Aggie, a witch who encourages her grandkids to embrace all things Halloween. The movie was so popular that it launched three sequels: Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge, Halloweentown High, and Return to Halloweentown.
©Dimension Films/Courtesy Everett CollectionScream (1996)
If you're going to watch only one scary movie on Halloween, make it Scream. Directed by Wes Craven, the slasher breathed new life into the genre when it came out in 1996 thanks to its revolutionary meta attitude toward horror clichés. Scream delivers the, well, screams…but it does it with a wink.
©Dimension Films/Courtesy Everett CollectionScary Movie (2000)
To understand the impact of Scream, just look at Scary Movie. The parody film, directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, was a huge box-office hit for its spot-on spoofs of some of the scariest horror movies. Another reason to watch: Regina Hall is wildly funny in it.
©ABC/Courtesy Everett CollectionDouble, Double, Toil and Trouble (1993)
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble, a made-for-TV movie starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, is a Halloween go-to for many millennials of a certain age. The twins play two little girls who go on a wild adventure to save their great aunt (Cloris Leachman), who was cursed by her evil twin sister.
Compass International Pictures/ Courtesy: Everett CollectionHalloween (1978)
It has Halloween in the title—of course, it's going to make this list. More than that, though, Halloween is a classic of the horror genre. Written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, the ’70s film follows serial killer Michael (Nick Castle) as he stalks a teen babysitter (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her friends.
Photo Credit: Ryan Green/UniversalHalloween (2018)
Halloween was so successful that a series of sequels followed, all arguably worse than the last. Then, in 2018, a new version came out that ignored all the past flops and referenced the events of the first horror film only. And it's incredible! Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her role, now older, wiser, and dealing with the trauma of her past.
©Universal/ Everett CollectionCasper (1995)
There's something for everyone in Casper: For adults, the ’90s fashion and nostalgia will be appealing, while kids can have fun with the spooky (but not too spooky) story of a teen girl and her “ghost therapist” father who moves into a haunted house.
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©Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Co / Everett CollectionGhostbusters (1984)
Before Ghostbusters came out in 1984, it was rare to see supernatural things like ghosts and demons treated as comedy. So next time you're enjoying a horror-comedy like Ready or Not or Happy Death Day, you can thank stars Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, and Rick Moranis.
©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett CollectionGhostbusters (2016)
After you watch the original Ghostbusters, check out the criminally undervalued 2016 remake that stars Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, and Kristen Wiig. Casting that good is simply *chef's kiss.* Also great: a hilarious cameo from Chris Hemsworth as the ghost-busting group's dim-witted receptionist.
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©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett CollectionThe Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Can't decide between a musical, a horror movie, or a campy comedy? Why not have all three with The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Though the movie was critically panned when it came out in 1975, it has gained an international cult following in the decades since.
©Disney Channel/ Everett CollectionTwitches (2005)
This Disney channel original movie stars Tia and Tamera Mowry as two magical sisters, Apollo and Artemis, who were separated at birth. On their 21st birthday, they are reunited and embark on an adventure to discover their true nature.
Peter IovinoThe Craft (1996)
We love scary movies that also serve up excellent '90s-style inspiration. In this, a group of teens—played by Neve Campbell, Rachel True, Robin Tunney, and Fairuza Balk—navigate high school as well as their burgeoning power as witches. What could possibly go wrong?
©20thCentFox/ Everett CollectionEdward Scissorhands (1990)
Of course a Tim Burton film would make the list. (In fact, we've included several.) What can we say, the auteur is a master at all things spooky, and Edward Scissorhands is one of his best. The horror-romance stars Johnny Depp as the titular character, an unfinished humanoid creation that has scissors instead of hands.
Paramount/Everett CollectionSleepy Hollow (1999)
Another Tim Burton and Johnny Depp pairing. This time, Depp stars as Ichabod Crane, a constable sent from New York City to investigate the mystery of the Headless Horseman.
Paramount/ Everett CollectionThe Addams Family (1991)
They're creepy, and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky—they're the Addams Family, a macabre group of aristocrats with delightfully eccentric names like Morticia, Gomez, and Wednesday. This ’90s film, based on the cartoons by Charles Addams and the 1964 TV series, is the best adaptation, and we won’t hear otherwise.
Warner Bros/ Everett CollectionThe Shining (1980)
If we're going to be talking about classic scary movies, there is no choice but to include The Shining. In 2018, it was selected to be preserved in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” We can't believe it took that long. The 1980 film directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on Stephen King's novel is a horror masterpiece.
Courtesy Everett CollectionCarrie (1976)
Another haunting Stephen King novel that was turned into a culturally beloved horror movie. Sissy Spacek stars as the titular Carrie, a high school student who is bullied at school and abused by her fanatically religious mother. It all culminates in a seriously scary supernatural event on prom night.
Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett CollectionIdle Hands (1999)
The plot of Idle Hands is truly bizarre, which is what makes it so entertaining: Devon Sawa (remember him from Casper?) plays a lazy stoner whose right hand becomes possessed by the devil and goes on a killing spree. It's a darkly funny movie, made all the better by appearances from Jessica Alba, Vivica A. Fox, and Seth Green.
Columbia Pictures/ Everett CollectionGoosebumps (2015)
If you loved reading Goosebumps, the children's horror series by R.L. Stine, then it's worth checking out this 2015 film adaptation. Jack Black stars as a highly fictionalised version of the author—and when the monsters from his books come alive and start haunting the real world, chaos ensues.
Everett CollectionScary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
After Goosebumps, stay with the theme of scary book series turned movie for preteens by going with Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Based on the short stories that featured terrifying characters like The Big Toe and The Jangly Man, this film adaptation imagines what would happen if your worst nightmares became real.
Courtesy Everett CollectionE.T. (1982)
Not every movie you watch in spooky season has to be hide-under-the-covers frightening. E.T., a beloved sci-fi film about a friendly alien who visits earth, is the perfect vibe for someone who wants to embrace the spooky season without all the gore or jump scares.
CBS/ Everett CollectionIt’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Can you believe this Peanuts special is over 50 years old? And yet it remains as entertaining as ever. Hang with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Sally, Lucy, and the rest of the gang as they prepare for Halloween.
Everett CollectionNight of the Living Dead (1968)
Written, directed, and edited by George A. Romero, Night of the Living Dead is so popular among horror fans that the zombie classic has inspired several sequels and remakes. But you can't beat the original starring Duane Jones. Old horror movies just hit different, you know?
Lions Gate/ Everett CollectionBoo! A Madea Halloween (2016)
While Boo! A Madea Halloween was not a hit with critics, it did make a whopping $74.8 million at the box office. Pretty good for a movie that was based on a joke: Director and writer Tyler Perry got the idea from a fictitious Madea movie Chris Rock mentioned in 2014's Top Five.
©Universal/Courtesy Everett CollectionDeath Becomes Her (1992)
Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn are two narcissistic rivals who are given a magic potion that promises eternal youth…only to discover some seriously bad side effects of chasing immortality. What's not to love?
Paramount/ Everett CollectionMean Girls (2004)
If you're wondering why Mean Girls is included, then you clearly don't remember the iconic Halloween party. You know, the one where Cady (Lindsay Lohan) famously quips, “In the real world, Halloween is when kids dress up in costumes and beg for candy. In girl world, Halloween is the one day a year when a girl can dress up like a total slut and no other girls can say anything else about it.”
Columbia Pictures/ Everett CollectionMen in Black (1997)
Men in Black remains a great Halloween costume idea—all you need is a suit, dark shades, and a laser pointer—and the movie holds up around this time of year, too. Will Smith stars opposite Tommy Lee Jones as agents in a secret organisation that supervises all extraterrestrial life on Earth.
Newmarket Releasing/ Everett CollectionDonnie Darko (2001)
On October 2, 1988, Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) sleepwalks out of his house and meets a figure in a rabbit costume named Frank. Frank claims the world will end by the end of the month—so, Halloween. What follows is a weird, increasingly creepy tale with a finale you won't see coming.
Netflix/ Everett CollectionHubie Halloween (2020)
This may be too new to be considered a “classic” Halloween movie, but the holiday vibes are just so strong! Adam Sandler, Kenan Thompson, Maya Rudolph, Kevin James, Tim Meadows, and more star in this horror-comedy about the quirky townspeople of Salem, Massachusetts, and one very wild Halloween.
Everett CollectionThe Guest (2014)
The Guest is more of an homage to ’80s action movies than horror, but the events take place around Halloween so you can still get your Scorpio energy on while enjoying Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens as a soldier with a mysterious past and a lot of abs.
Warner Bros/ Everett CollectionThe Corpse Bride (2005)
This Oscar-nominated film tells the story of Victor Van Dort (voiced by Johnny Depp), the awkward son of a wealthy family who accidentally becomes entangled with the ghost of a woman seeking retribution for her death (voiced by Helena Bonham Carter).
Netflix/ Everett CollectionA Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting (2020)
The child in a babysitter's care is kidnapped by the bogeyman on Halloween, so she sets out to rescue him. Hope she gets paid overtime!
Warner Bros/ Everett CollectionHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
Witches and wizards learning new spells, a troll let loose in a castle, and other magical surprises? The Harry Potter movies should absolutely be enjoyed this season. Grab a butterbeer and settle in for yet another visit to Hogwarts with Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
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NetflixThe Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
Based on R.L. Stine's book series of the same name, the Fear Street Trilogy is a fun mix of horror, nostalgia, and teen drama as a group of high schoolers work to break a curse that's haunted their town for hundreds of years over the course of three films: 1994, 1978, and 1666.
©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett CollectionLittle Shop of Horrors (1986)
The only thing truly scary about this beloved horror-musical is how often you'll catch yourself singing “Suddenly, Seymour” after you watch.
©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett CollectionThe Phantom of the Opera (2004)
After Little Shop of Horrors, keep the vibes going by watching another Broadway musical with a creepy setting. This adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-running romantic drama stars a nearly unrecognisable Gerard Butler as the titular Phantom, a mysterious figure who lives in the catacombs of the Paris opera house, and Emmy Rossum as the aspiring singer he's obsessed with.
©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett CollectionLabyrinth (1986)
Sorry not sorry, we're not done with spooky musicals quite yet! Labyrinth has become a cult favourite for its fantastical designs courtesy of Jim Henson's Creature Shop as well as David Bowie's camp performance as The Goblin King.
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©Universal/Courtesy Everett CollectionNope (2022)
Though one of the newest films on this list, we're confident in calling Nope a Halloween classic. The film—about a brother and sister investigating extraterrestrial activity on their family ranch—is a good entry point for people looking for something a little creepy but not prohibitively scary. Watch if only to see Keke Palmer's best performance to date.
- Keystone-France/Getty Images
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
Joan Crawford and Bette Davis star in this psychological thriller about a former child star and her paraplegic sister. The movie is so iconic—and unsettling—that horror maestro Ryan Murphy created an entire miniseries, FX's Feud, around the making of it.
