Spooky season is upon us. Halloween is a time when many think about trick-or-treating and spooky decorations. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, but others go a tad darker, associating the holiday with bloody horror movies and jump-scares.
For many, the Halloween season starts on October 1 (or earlier), and the celebration lasts until the end of Halloween night itself — which is plenty of time to fit in as many frightening films as possible. You might want to stay in for a few nights during the most terrifying month of the calendar and watch a spooky movie starring serial killers or supernatural entities. (OK, maybe that’s not the last one.)
There’s no time like the present to put all those Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, HBOMax and Netflix subscriptions to good use. You don’t need a Halloween party if you have a scary (or not-so-terrifying!) movie in your queue.
You love sequels like A Quiet Place Part II or classics like Winona Ryder’s Beetlejuice, there’s a scary — or at least spooky — film out there perfect for a Halloween movie marathon. Here’s a varied list of classic, modern niche movies for you to catch this year:
Walt Disney popped this classic out in 1993, and some consider it the greatest Halloween movie of all time … but that could be the nostalgia talking.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy NajimyStar as three witches accidentally resurrected by children in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween. The teens must work together to stop the witches reaching immortality.
Before the sequel is released on Disney+ September 30, 2022, refresh your memories on this cult favorite.
Is it a Christmas or Halloween movie? Director Tim Burton‘s 1993 stop-motion film has sparked much debate, but it’s always entertaining whenever it’s watched.
When Jack Skellington, the chaotic protagonist, opens a portal between Halloween Town (now Christmas Town), worlds collide. The skeleton is excited by the joy of Christmas and wants it to be shared with all his dark and gloomy companions.
The best of the ’90s can be found in Nicole Kidman Sandra Bullock’s witchy romp. With strong female protagonists and a jerk of an boyfriend getting what they deserve, Practical MagicIt’s all about girl power. The 1998 adaptation of Alice Hoffman‘s book has magic, curses, witches and some great music — the supreme witch herself, Stevie NicksMany songs were recorded by him just for the soundtrack.
Let’s do the Time Warp again! Have you ever had a flat tire? Imagine the worst-case scenario, multiply it by 10 and make it into an amazing musical — that’s what you get with this midnight movie masterpiece, which includes one of Tim Curry’s most iconic roles.
Nothing can really explain the beautiful weirdness of 1975’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show but the film’s fanbase grows larger every year. This cult movie grossed $226 Million in 2022 on a $1.4 Million budget.
You can experience this fan favorite at a local theater by going to a midnight showing. Or, you can enjoy a mini viewing party right from your couch. Just don’t forget your flashlights!
This classic is a must for Slasher lovers. Freddy Krueger’s first run in the spotlight is what dreams are made of for horror fans … and what nightmares are made of for its cast of doomed characters.
The 1984 original (starring Johnny DeppThe film () is a must see, but it’s also one of the few times when the reboot (made by 2010 starring Katie CassidyIt is also worth a look at ().
In this 1999 horror film, Depp plays Ichabod. This movie goes beyond the usual horror movie tropes and combines gore and terror with a charming romantic subplot. Still, fans expecting When Harry Met Sally should proceed with caution — with the Headless Horseman and all his Dutch-hamlet glory comes plenty of gore, gore … and more gore.
This is a great movie to watch in a group, especially if there’s a date to hold tight.
Those who want a Depp-o-ween marathon can’t forget about his iconic role as the titular character in this 1990 horror fantasy. The protagonist is a humanoid who was born into the world without hands. He was created Frankenstein-style by an insane scientist and adopted by a suburban family.
This thriller is set in Los Angeles and tells the story of four teens who think their witchcraft skills are hot. Eventually, tampering with dark arts leads them to murder — like a witchy HeathersA macabre or macabre Mean Girls.
Their goth attire screams ’90s fashion … and by the end, this 1996 flick will have viewers screaming too.
Slasher lovers will love this 1996 classic film.
Ghostface, a sociopath who follows a group of teenagers, turns everything upside-down in this small town. Known for its meta-commentary on horror by one of the genre’s defining voices — one Wes Craven of Nightmare on Elm Street fame — ScreamThis classic slasher movie is a mix of humor, horror and innovative twists.
If horror heads haven’t watched this popular, genre-changing film, then they can hardly call themselves fanatics. The documentary-style approach drew audiences to the edge, making found-footage film a re-popularized genre almost ten years later.Blair Witch Project made movie magic.
Paranormal ActivityThe film was so popular that sequels were quickly produced. Seven films have been released as of 2022 and there are more in the pipeline. It will take viewers at least a week to fall (and stay) asleep after witnessing this movie’s creepy crawlies.
Who are you gonna call to get a family-friendly horror comedy? Ghostbusters! Bill MurrayHe plays the iconic role of a ghost hunter alongside fellow comedy kings in this 1984 classic. Dan Aykroyd. Ghostbusters is still one of the most iconic Halloween movies to this day, with several remakes and sequels available for audiences who just can’t get enough.
Jordan PeeleMade his groundbreaking directorial debut with the Oscar-winning film. Get Out — and he just keeps making hits, with Nope UsAmong his follow-ups.
It would be shameful to spoil any second of this 2017 movie. So skip reading any synopsis. This movie is full of disturbing and psychological content. It has more layers than an onion, and it’s just as sure to make viewers cry with its heavy metaphors.
Many moviegoers were not expecting to find the same story in this horror film. The ConjuringThe haunted house trope was elevated to a new level. Based on a true story, audiences might want to turn the lights on and sleep with the lights on after reading this one.
Didn’t see your favorite on this list? Every Halloween classic couldn’t make the cut — heck, we didn’t even get to mention John Carpenter’s Halloween — but this is a great place to start. If you still need more horror movies, then you can just keep going through the entire collection. Jamie Lee Curtis starred in during her scream queen days … and that should keep most movie lovers busy for all of October.
