55 Best Halloween Movies to Put You in a Spooky Mood
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We’re just gonna say it: There is no October tradition better than watching the best Halloween movies. Pumpkin picking? Meh. Trick-or-treating? Buy your own candy! Costume parties? Too much effort. Truly, the best way to celebrate the spooky season is to chill on the couch with a pumpkin spice latte or glass of hard cider and a movie with Scorpio energy that never gets old, no matter how many times you watch it.
Luckily, Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and more streaming services are easily available, and Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween has a full lineup of options. Whether you’re in the mood for scary horror movies or looking for more family-friendly fare, there are plenty of classic Halloween movies to keep you entertained all spooky season long.
See our picks, below. You’ll find a mix of nostalgic favorites, some deeper cuts that might be new to you, and recent hits that are quickly gaining cult status. If you somehow still need more options after all that, check out our guide to the best Halloween movies and TV shows.
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Hocus 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.
Available to rent on Prime Video
Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection
Lisa Frankenstein (2024)Billed as a âcoming of RAGEâ story, Lisa Frankenstein is a comedy-horror movie about a 1980s teenager who falls for a reanimated Victorian-era corpse. Diablo Cody wrote the script and says it’s set in the same fictional universe as Jennifer’s Body, another excellent Halloween movie to watch.
Available to stream on Prime Video
20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
Jennifer’s Body (2009)Speaking of! If you’ve never seen Jennifer’s Body before, this is the year to change that. Written by Diablo Cody, it stars Megan Fox as a possessed high school cheerleader who starts devouring her male classmates. It underperformed at the box office at the time, but is now considered a feminist cult classic.
Available to stream on Hulu
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Talk to Me (2023)This Australian supernatural horror film has been steadily gaining cult status ever since it hit theaters last year, and a sequel is currently in development for even more scares. We won’t spoil why this counts among our favorite Halloween moviesâjust watch and find out for yourself.
Available to stream on Paramount Plus
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Longlegs (2024)One of the newest Halloween movies to watch on this list, Longlegs was a huge commercial and critical success and is sure to go down as a horror movie classic in the vein of Silence of the Lambs. The scary thriller and murder mystery is set in the 1990s, with Maika Monroe playing an FBI agent tasked with finding the serial killer responsible for murdering several families. Nicolas Cage also stars in the creepiest performance of his career.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Twitches (2005)Good Halloween movies don’t have to be scary. 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.
Available to stream on Disney+
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The Conjuring (2013)A movie so scary it launched a full cinematic universe and became the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time. But before you watch any of the eight Conjuring sequels, prequels, or spin-offs, you must start with the OG that’s based on a real-life case of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.
Available to stream on Netflix
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Totally Killer (2023)Totally Killer may be a newer option, but we already know the comedy-horror deserves to be among the other classic Halloween movies included here. Directed by Nahnatchka Khan (Fresh Off the Boat, Always Be My Maybe), Kiernan Shipka stars as a young woman who travels back in time to her mother’s high school days to stop a serial killer. It’s basically Back to the Future meets Friday the 13th.
Available to stream on Prime Video
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Coraline (2009)It has a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score for a reason. Considered one of the best stop-motion animated films of all time, Coraline is about a young woman who discovers an alternate universe that seems perfect at firstâŠuntil a more dark and sinister side emerges.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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The 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 waysâŠbut it all goes awry when they encounter, you guessed it, a haunted mansion.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)If you’ve never seen this supernatural â80s slasher about child killer Freddy Krueger, which was written and directed by Wes Craven, youâre missing out on a big part of horror movie history. It’s so culturally significant, in fact, that A Nightmare on Elm Street was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library Congress.
Available to stream on AMC+
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The Witches (1990)Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, a young boy on vacation with his grandmother encounters a coven of children-hating witches led by a very glamorous and fabulously dressed Angelica Houston. Perfect movies for Halloween also come with style inspo, didn’t you know?
Available to stream on Prime Video
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The 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 âPumpkin Kingâ 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.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Practical Magic (1998)This Halloween movies list doesn’t comprise just spooky stuff. If you’re in the mood for a romantic comedy but also feeling witchy, the bestâand onlyâoption is Practical Magic. The fall vibes-heavy movie about love, loss, and potions stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as two sisters who were raised by their magical aunts.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Hotel Transylvania (2012)Want more kid-safe spooky movies? Try the Hotel Transylvania series. 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 traveler (Andy Samberg) stumbles upon the property and catches the eye of Dracula’s daughter, Mavis (Selena Gomez).
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Halloweentown (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.
Available to stream on Disney+
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Scream (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 clichĂ©s. Scream delivers the, well, screamsâŠbut it does it with a wink.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Scary 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.
Available to stream on Prime Video
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Double, 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 young girls who go on a wild adventure to save their great aunt (Cloris Leachman), who was cursed by her evil twin sister.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Halloween (1978)It has Halloween in the titleâof 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 â70s film follows serial killer Michael Myers (Nick Castle) as he stalks a teen babysitter (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her friends.
Available to rent on Prime Video
Photo Credit: Ryan Green/Universal
Halloween (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 references 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.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Casper (1995)There’s something for everyone in Casper: For adults, the â90s fashion and nostalgia will be appealing, while kids can have fun with the spooky (but not too spooky) story of a teen girl (Christina Ricci) and her âghost therapistâ father (Bill Pullman) who move into a haunted house.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Ghostbusters (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.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Ghostbusters (2016)After you watch the original Ghostbusters, check out the criminally undervalued 2016 remake that was directed by Paul Feig and stars Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, and Kristen Wiig. Also great: a hilarious cameo from Chris Hemsworth as the ghost-busting group’s dim-witted receptionist.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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The 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? Good films for Halloween can do it all. Though the movie was critically panned when it came out in 1975, it has gained an international cult following in the decades since.
Available to rent on Prime Video
Peter Iovino
The Craft (1996)We love scary movies that also serve up excellent ’90s style inspiration. In this one, a group of teensâplayed by Neve Campbell, Rachel True, Robin Tunney, and Fairuza Balkânavigate high school as well as their burgeoning power as witches. What could possibly go wrong?
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Edward Scissorhands (1990)Of course a Tim Burton film would make a list of great Halloween movies. (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.
Available to stream on Disney+
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Sleepy Hollow (1999)Another Tim Burton and Johnny Depp pairing. This time, Depp stars as Ichabod Crane, a constable sent from New York City to the small town to investigate the mystery of the Headless Horseman. Spooky queen Christina Ricci also stars as Katrina Anne Van Tassel, a wealthy heiress and Ichabod’s love interest.
Available to stream on Prime Video
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Beetlejuice (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.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)After Beetlejuice, keep the fun times rolling with this sequel that’s set more than three decades after the original. Jenna Ortega is perfectly cast as the daughter of Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), and there can never be too much of Catherine O’Hara as Delia.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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The Addams Family (1991)Â They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spookyâthey’re the Addams Family, a macabre group of aristocrats with delightfully eccentric names like Morticia, Gomez, and Wednesday. This â90s film, based on the cartoons by Charles Addams and the 1964 TV series, is the best adaptation and we wonât hear otherwise.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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The 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 âculturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.â 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.
Available to stream on Prime Video
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Carrie (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 seriously scary supernatural event on prom night.
Available to rent on Prime Video
Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Idle Hands (1999)The plot of Idle Hands is truly bizarre, which is what makes it so entertaining and one of our favorite movies to watch for Halloween. 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.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Goosebumps (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 fictionalized version of the authorâand when the monsters from his books come alive and start haunting the real world, chaos ensues.
Available to stream on Prime Video
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Scary 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.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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E.T. (1982)Not every movie you watch in October has to be hide-under-the-covers frightening. E.T., a beloved sci-fi film about a friendly extraterrestrial who visits earth, is the perfect vibe for someone who wants to embrace the spooky season without all the gore or jump scares.
Available to stream on Prime Video
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Itâs the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)Can you believe this Peanuts special is over 50 years old? In fact, it was the first major Halloween special to be broadcast on television and was so successful that it essentially created a whole new genre. And good news: It remains as entertaining as ever. Hang with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Sally, Lucy, and the rest of the gang as they prepare for Halloween night.
Available to stream on Apple TV+
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Night 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?
Available to stream on Prime Video
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Boo! 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 mentions in 2014’s Top Five.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Death Becomes Her (1992)Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn are two narcissistic rivals who are given a magic potion that promises eternal youthâŠonly to discover some seriously bad side effects of chasing immortality. What’s not to love? The movie is so iconic it even inspired a musical adaptation that’s set to open on Broadway in late 2024.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Mean Girls (2004)Â If you’re wondering why Mean Girls is included among the top Halloween movies, then you clearly don’t remember the iconic party scene. You know, the one where Cady (Lindsay Lohan) famously quips, âIn 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.â
Available to stream on Hulu
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Men in Black (1997)Men in Black remains a great Halloween costume ideaâall you need is a suit, dark shades, and a laser pointerâand the movie holds up around this time of year too. Will Smith stars opposite Tommy Lee Jones as agents in a secret organization that supervises all extraterrestrial life on Earth.
Available to stream on Prime Video
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Donnie 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 monthâso, Halloween. What follows is a weird, increasingly creepy tale with a finale you won’t see coming.
Available to stream on Prime Video
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Hubie Halloween (2020)This may not qualify as a âgoodâ Halloween movie for some, 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.
Available to stream on Netflix
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The Guest (2014)The Guest is more of an homage to â80s 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.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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The Corpse Bride (2005)Yes, another Tim Burton production. The man basically is Halloween. 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).
Available to rent on Prime Video
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A Babysitterâs Guide to Monster Hunting (2020)Based on the book trilogy of the same name, this family-friendly movie stars Draco Malfoy (a.k.a. Tom Felton), Indya Moore, Tamara Smart, and Oona Laurence. The plot: 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!
Available to stream on Netflix
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Harry Potter and the Sorcererâs Stone (2001)While we’re on the subject of DracoâŠwitches 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.
Available to stream on Max
Netflix
The 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.
Available to stream on Netflix
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Little Shop of Horrors (1986)The only thing truly scary about this beloved horror-comedy-musical is how often you’ll catch yourself singing âSuddenly, Seymourâ after you watch. âYou can try not liking this adaptation of the Off-Broadway musical hit,â one critic wrote at the time. âIt has no polish and a pushy way with a gagâbut the movie sneaks up on you, about as subtly as Audrey II.â
Available to rent on Prime Video
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The 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 unrecognizable 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.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Labyrinth (1986)No, we’re not done with spooky musicals quite yet! Labyrinth has become a cult classic for its fantastical designs courtesy of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop as well as David Bowie’s camp performance as The Goblin King. Also of note: It was the last film Henson directed.
Available to rent on Prime Video
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Nope (2022)Directed by Jordan Peele, this movieâabout a brother and sister investigating extraterrestrial activity on their family ranchâis 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.
Available to buy on Prime Video
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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 iconicâand frankly, unsettlingâthat horror maestro Ryan Murphy created an entire miniseries, FX’s Feud, around the making of it, with Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon as Crawford and Davis, respectively.
Available to stream on Prime Video
