Halloween isn’t just about costumes and candy — it’s also about cozy nights, dim lights, and spine-chilling movie marathons. Whether you love jump scares, haunted houses, or funny ghost stories, there’s a perfect Halloween movie waiting for you.
Here’s a mix of classic horrors, modern hits, and family favorites that will set the perfect spooky mood this season.
Classic Horror Movies for True Scare Lovers
1. Halloween (1978)
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Nancy Kyes
Director: John Carpenter
Release Date: October 25, 1978
Fifteen years after killing his sister on Halloween night, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to Haddonfield, Illinois, to terrorize the town once again. With its eerie soundtrack, chilling suspense, and Jamie Lee Curtis’s unforgettable performance, Halloween became the blueprint for modern slasher films and a timeless Halloween favorite.
2. The Exorcist (1973)
Cast: Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow
Director: William Friedkin
Release Date: December 26, 1973
When a young girl named Regan begins to show terrifying signs of demonic possession, her desperate mother seeks the help of two priests to perform an exorcism. Known for its shocking realism, powerful performances, and haunting atmosphere, The Exorcist redefined horror cinema and remains one of the most chilling and influential movies ever made.
3. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Cast: Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp, Robert Englund
Director: Wes Craven
Release Date: November 9, 1984
In the quiet town of Springwood, teenagers are haunted by Freddy Krueger—a vengeful spirit who attacks them in their dreams, causing real deaths in the waking world. With its clever concept, eerie dream sequences, and Robert Englund’s iconic performance as Freddy, A Nightmare on Elm Street became a landmark in horror cinema and a lasting Halloween classic.
New Releases To Watch
4. Longlegs (2024)
Cast: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood
Director: Osgood “Oz” Perkins
Release Date: July 12, 2024
In this unsettling horror-thriller, rookie FBI agent Lee Harker (Monroe) is assigned to investigate a series of brutal family murders across Oregon. Each crime scene features occult clues and a mysterious figure who calls himself “Longlegs.” As Lee delves deeper, she realises the killings may connect to her own past—and the chilling truth could cost her everything. The film merges ritual horror, psychological dread and serial-killer suspense in a dark, atmospheric ride.
5. The First Omen (2024)
Cast: Nell Tiger Free, Tawfeek Barhom, Sônia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy
Director: Arkasha Stevenson
Release Date: April 5 2024 (USA)
Sent to Rome to begin life-as-a nun, young Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) arrives at a Catholic orphanage only to discover sinister forces are at work—she uncovers a conspiracy to birth the Antichrist and must confront deep questions of faith, power and bodily autonomy. The First Omen is a chilling prequel that mixes slow-burn religious horror with gripping body-horror imagery, and evokes the dread and atmosphere of the original The Omen (1976) while forging its own dark path.
6. A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Release Date: June 28, 2024 (USA)
In this tense prequel to the quiet-horror franchise, terminally ill Sam (Nyong’o) ventures into New York City for one last treat, only to find herself in the chaotic early hours of an alien invasion. As sound-sensitive creatures attack, Sam, her nurse Reuben (Wolff), and a British law student Eric (Quinn) must learn the terrifying rules of survival: stay silent or die. A mix of emotional depth and pulse-pounding suspense, the film explores fear, fitness for survival, and hope in the face of apocalypse.
Modern Horror Films To Stream This Halloween
7. Talk To Me (2023)
Cast: Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird
Directors: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Release Date: July 28, 2023
When a group of teenagers discovers a way to communicate with spirits using an embalmed hand, what starts as a thrilling game soon turns into a nightmare. After one of them makes a tragic mistake, supernatural forces begin to take control. Talk to Me stands out for its raw emotion, gripping tension, and a chilling look at grief and temptation — a fresh, modern horror worth watching this Halloween.
8. Smile (2022)
Cast: Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner
Director: Parker Finn
Release Date: September 30, 2022
After witnessing a horrifying incident involving a patient, psychiatrist Rose Cotter begins to experience strange and terrifying events that no one else can see. As her fear grows, she realizes an evil entity is following her — one that kills its victims with a sinister smile. Smile is a chilling psychological horror that blends trauma, paranoia, and supernatural dread into a truly unsettling experience.
9. Hereditary (2018)
Cast: Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne
Director: Ari Aster
Release Date: June 8, 2018
After the death of her secretive mother, Annie and her family begin to unravel terrifying truths about their ancestry. As they experience disturbing and supernatural events, a dark family curse comes to light. Hereditary is a deeply unsettling psychological horror that explores grief, guilt, and fate — powered by Toni Collette’s hauntingly powerful performance.
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Family-Friendly Halloween Movies
10. Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy
Director: Anne Fletcher
Release Date: September 30, 2022
The Sanderson sisters return to modern-day Salem after two teenagers accidentally light the Black Flame Candle once again. With their wicked humor and chaotic magic, the witches set out to wreak havoc on the town. Hocus Pocus 2 is a fun, nostalgic sequel filled with laughs, music, and Halloween charm — perfect for families and fans of the original classic.
11. Coraline (2009)
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders
Director: Henry Selick
Release Date: February 6, 2009
When young Coraline Jones discovers a secret door in her new home, she enters an alternate world that seems perfect — until its dark secrets begin to unfold. With haunting visuals and a powerful story about courage and curiosity, Coraline blends stop-motion artistry and eerie fantasy to create a beautifully spooky adventure that’s perfect for Halloween.
This stop-motion masterpiece balances dark fantasy and childlike wonder. It’s spooky enough for Halloween yet enchanting for all ages.
12. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Cast: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Release Date: September 28, 2012
Count Dracula runs a lavish resort for monsters, where they can relax away from humans. But when a human boy accidentally stumbles into the hotel and falls for Dracula’s daughter, chaos and comedy follow. Hotel Transylvania is a lighthearted animated film filled with humor, heart, and spooky fun — making it a perfect family-friendly pick for Halloween movie nights.
Funny Halloween Picks
13. Ghostbusters (1984)
Cast: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis
Director: Ivan Reitman
Release Date: June 8, 1984
When three eccentric scientists lose their university jobs, they start a ghost-catching business in New York City — and quickly find themselves battling a supernatural invasion. Packed with witty dialogue, memorable characters, and a catchy theme song, Ghostbusters perfectly blends comedy and the paranormal. It’s a timeless classic that brings laughs and light scares every Halloween.
14. The Addams Family (1991)
Cast: Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Release Date: November 22, 1991
The delightfully creepy Addams family faces chaos when a man claiming to be Gomez’s long-lost brother, Fester, suddenly returns home. But not everything is as it seems. Filled with dark humor, gothic charm, and unforgettable performances, The Addams Family celebrates the spooky and the strange with a hilarious twist — making it a perfect Halloween watch for all ages.
15. Beetlejuice (1988)
Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis
Director: Tim Burton
Release Date: March 30, 1988
After a young couple dies in a car accident, their ghosts find their home taken over by a new family. Desperate to scare them away, they summon a mischievous bio-exorcist named Beetlejuice — but things quickly spiral out of control. With its quirky humor, gothic style, and unforgettable performance by Michael Keaton, Beetlejuice is a spooky comedy that perfectly captures the Halloween spirit.
As Halloween night approaches, there’s no better time to dim the lights, grab your popcorn, and start your movie marathon. Whether you’re after genuine scares or light-hearted laughs, this list has something to make your night unforgettable.
