Halloween at Home: Must-Watch Movies
While most of the Halloween festivities we typically enjoy are on pause this year, we can still celebrate the season by staying in, cuddled up under our blankets with some tea, to watch our favorite spooky cinema! We have selected these must-watch seasonal favorites to uplift your spirits đ»! Keep reading for a list of the very best Halloween films, complete with an explanation on why you should watch them, their trailers, and where to find them! This list is full of recommendations, so feel free to skim around to the categories that best suit your needs: Spooky, Fun, and Scary!
Pro Tip: Turn this into a watch party!
You can schedule a watch party on so many platforms! Here are just a few: Google Chrome, Amazon Prime, Netflix Party, Hulu, Disney+ GroupWatch, Facebook Watch Party.
Spooky
This content puts you in the Halloween spirit by giving you a little bit of the creeps đđ» without being too gory đȘ
Why we love it: This movie gives you everything your spooky heart desires! Tim Burton, creepy woods, witchcraft, undead assassins (missing his head, in fact), revenge, a small amount of complicated romance, and a loveable main character that is desperately trying to save the day!
Stream on: Netflix, Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime, Freeform
Why we love it: This story is just too good and the animation is to die for! The heartbreak, the complex relationships, the sacrifice, and oh, the musical numbers! Tim Burton really knows how to make a Halloween flick.
Stream on: Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime, Freeform
Why we love it: This is a tale of self-acceptance, family bonds, and my personal favorite... witchcraft. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman kill this performance and genuinely make me want to become those sexy, creepy witches that the entire town is scared of.
Stream on: Amazon Prime
Why we love it: I hate to repeat myself (and Iâll say this again, I am sure), but Tim Burton is really a spooky genius! We adore this story about seeing the best in people and living without judgment. Add this storyline with the incredible aesthetics at play, that contradict each other in the most pleasing way, the bright pastels vs. the severe black, this movie is so satisfying!
Stream on: Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime, Starz
Why we love it: This movie is for those who like the teen film genre. This is definitely that, a movie about teenage witches surviving high school. Like most teen movies, the Craft sneaks in a couple of key messages: trust yourself and your powers, what you give to others will come back to you tenfold, donât be desperate to fit in, and make sure that you surround yourself with real friends (not people who just use you). Overall this movie is perfectly cheesy and has a couple of freaky scenes to keep you on your toes.
Stream on: Amazon Prime, Freeform
Why we love it: This movie is pure camp with a dash of fable. It discusses the dangers of jealousy and vanity in a silly, or like we said campy, way. This movie has hilarious special effects, death, and magic potions; perfect for a little bit spook!
Stream on: Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime, HBO Max
Why we love it: A silly classic! Beetlejuice and all other deceased people in the movie definitely look creepy but the performances have so much humor, it cannot be considered completely unnerving. Forgive the special effects, it was made in the â80s.
Stream on: Freeform
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Why we love it: An adaption of âSabrina the Teenage Witchâ that completely throws the manual out the window; this is nothing like the light-hearted show we grew up enjoying, this adaptation is significantly darker and definitely more twisted. Personally, I LOVE it being such a different experience but donât watch if youâre expecting nostalgia. It dives deep into the occult, devil worship, witchcraft, and feminism. However, underneath it all, it is a coming-of-age story that celebrates friendship, self-confidence, and freedom! It is technically a series and not a movie, but it is so good that it deserved a spot on this list!
Stream on: Netflix and Amazon Prime
Why we love it: Another series (there will only be a couple, I promise) that deserves a spot on the list. It actually just came out- in perfect time for spooky season! This series explores the beginnings of Nurse Ratched (yes, the very same Nurse Ratched from âOne Flew Over the Cuckooâs Nestâ) as she starts her journey at a mental institution. This gives a peek into her background before she becomes the monster we all know (and hate)! Coming from scary connoisseur, Ryan Murphy, this is equal parts intriguing and disturbing.
Stream on: Netflix
Fun/Joyful
This list is a mixture between the brazen and family-friendly flicks but regardless, these are the movies that will keep the mood light! đ đ»
Why we love it: A childhood favorite of mine and I mean, with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson Witches, how could it not be amazing?! Itâs much more than the amazing villains though! This story is gripping, exciting, hilarious, and has a happy ending. The storyline is easy enough to follow for the kids and is broken up by adult humor that makes this entertaining for the entire family!
Stream on: Disney+, Amazon Prime, Freeform
Why we love it: This movie is honestly the coolest, what can I say? Theyâre creepy and theyâre kooky, mysterious, and spooky! This movie is described as a black comedy, which we would agree with. It is definitely funny, but it is not without a little bit of well-meaning torture, a detached hand, scheming, sensualness, and risk of death, just to keep things interesting!
Stream on: Netflix, Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime, Freeform
Why we love it: This movie is a complete spectacle! This cult-classic is the most adult movie in the bunch so we recommend you keep the kids away unless you want to be screening a lot of hard to answer questions! We get to watch our main characters be corrupted in the best possible ways by a house full (or mansion, in this case) of extraordinary characters and we have the wildly glamorous Dr. Frank-N-Furter leading the ensemble of misfits. This movie gives you laughs, shocks, and delivers awesome musical/dance numbers that people still reenact!
Stream on: Amazon Prime
Why we love it: Eddie Murphy is everything in this movie! Honestly, his delivery never gets old which is why I look forward to watching this movie every year. This story has everything a Halloween movie needs: scheming and plotting, revenge, ghosts (both good and bad), mummies, graveyards, singing heads, fortune telling, prophecies, and true love conquering all. Seriously, this one is just good, everyone should watch it at least once!
Stream on: Disney+, Amazon Prime
Why we love it: This one is for the kids and the millennials with an urge to feel nostalgic! An innocent and fun tale of good versus evil, self-discovery, and magic! This movie is exciting enough for parents to enjoy but keeps things light and easy to follow for the kids!
Stream on: Disney+, Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime
Why we love it: Obviously, this movie is another classic and this list wouldnât be complete without it! Ghostbusters (and we are talking about the original) is a truly comedic experience featuring ghosts and a doorway to another dimension that unleashes evil into the streets of New York! This movie is an oddity considering that it was made for adults but can easily be viewed by children; and if youâre always stuck watching kid movies, this is a much-needed break from that!
Stream on: Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime, Freeform
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Why we love it: While most Tim Burton movies fall under the âSpookyâ category, this one is definitely an exception! Whether you consider this a Halloween or Christmas movie is completely based on your perception. Personally, I think the monsters and skeletons automatically classify this movie into the Halloween category but the cheerful and merry (Christmas-like) storyline makes it more of a joyful experience than anything else!
Stream on: Disney+, Amazon Prime
Why we love it: This one is borderline spooky, so keep that in mind if you were planning on watching this with a tiny human. This movie has a storyline that gets creepier the more you think about it, but on the surface, it is a story about family, bravery, perseverance, and ultimately not trusting strangers. Coupled with the delightful animation, I would say this is a movie the family would enjoy together!
Stream on: Hulu Premium, Starz, Amazon Prime
Why we love it: This classic story about a gentle-spirited ghost and his human companion warms the coldest of hearts. This story is a simple one of friendship, accepting differences, and finding your place in the world. All around, a very uplifting experience!
Stream on: Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime, Freeform
Seriously Scary
Thereâs no better way to say it, these movies are here to freak you out! From zombies đ§ââïž to exorcisms đ to slasher đȘ films, if youâre in the mood for fear, these will do the trick!
Why we love it: One of the only recently released movies on our list for a reason! Unlike many others, this movie takes a concept that has been played to death, and makes it feel refreshing, new, and exciting! Itâs a zombie movie, but it delivers in ways zombie movies rarely do: it is genuinely scary (and not just in a gory way). Not only is the horror top quality, but it also comments on something that is never done realistically: how would humans act in such a crisis? Youâll find yourself rooting for and against certain characters in a way that is rarely felt in horror movies. It is important to note, this movie is Korean so you will need to read subtitles (for me, the movie was so grabbing, I forgot I was reading).
Stream on: Amazon Prime
Why we love it: To be perfectly clear, we are recommending the original, not the remake. This movie is a classic revenge story for some and for others, itâs a cautionary tale of what happens when you participate in or allow relentless bullying. Telekinetic powers and religious extremism are a recipe for disaster and make this movie creepy to the nth degree. However, this movie is complicated because who you fear is also who you pity.
Stream on: Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime, Starz
Why we love it: There are many versions and sequels for this movie but weâre suggesting the 1978 classic. This is one of the best slasher films to date, marked by the one dynamic every slasher film depends on: an evil (and impossible to kill) murderer and an innocent we all root for! Jaime Lee Curtis plays the role of the innocent victim/heroine incredibly well and Michael Myers is an unstoppable and unrelenting force of nature; who still inspires fear with his simple white mask, overalls, and knife.
Stream on: Amazon Prime
Why we love it: This movie seriously scares the _____ out of me! Itâs mostly psychological (it was made in the â60s), but what it doesnât have in gore, it certainly makes up for in suspense. This movie touches on topics of paranoia, sexual assault, satanism, and the occult. It is easily one of the most apparent cases of gaslighting seen in cinema.
Stream on: Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime
Why we love it: Narcissism is scary enough but this takes it a step further by exploring what happens when a narcissist becomes unhinged! This is definitely a slasher film, but unlike most slasher films, it mostly follows the perspective of the murderer. The main element at play here is widespread murder, but thereâs also a sense of steep decline in the main characterâs sanity. Christian Bale played this role perfectly, creating a character that you love to hate. You want him to be stopped, but not too fast because he is so entertaining!
Stream on: Amazon Prime
Why we love it: This one isnât your typical ghost movie, this is a ghost movie with a serious plot twist! The movie is honestly more disturbing than anything else, I mean âI see dead peopleâ? I donât want to spoil too much so Iâll leave it there!
Stream on: Amazon Prime
Why we love it: Jordan Peele certainly made a name for himself outside of comedy with this one! This movie is a terrifying combination of the âdonât go to that strange townâ rhetoric met with social commentary about racism in America. It engages in themes surrounding racism, classism, suspicion, hypnosis, and asks the question: who can you trust?
Stream on: Amazon Prime
Why we love it: Iâm not even exaggerating, I was thinking about this movie for weeks after I saw it! Seriously, this movie will mess with your head. On the surface, itâs hard to grasp due to its explosive plot twist (no spoilers) so pay attention; but once you look into what the movie represents, it will leave you astonished. However, it isnât just the plot, the performances by âthe tetheredâ are chilling (especially Lupita Nyong'oâs performance- I mean BRAVO), and they certainly would make this film terrifying on its own. This film has a great mix of jump scares, gore, and psychological terrors, so it delivers fear no matter what your âthingâ is!
Stream: Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime, HBO Max
Why we love it: Another classic horror film that satisfies our most twisted needs! This movie has so many iconic lines, âRedRumâ, âHereâs Johnny!â, âAll work and no play makes Jack a dull boyâ, all come from this movie. Jack Nicholson was definitely made for these types of roles, they are too spot on. We have an isolated and haunted hotel, insanity, murder, and weird mind-reading abilities. If you havenât seen this yet, really what are we doing here?
Stream on: Amazon Prime
Why we love it: Why should we settle for one serial killer? In my opinion, this movie is brilliant! By choosing two very different serial killers, you cover all of your fear-inducing bases. If you become fearful when introduced to gore and heavy-handedness- Buffalo Bill is the freak for you! If you are more afraid of someone capable of horrific cruelty creeping their way into your mind- Dr. Hannibal Lecter is most certainly your man. Murder, kidnapping, torture, cannibalism, skin suits⊠this movie really pulled out all of the stops.
Stream on: Netflix, Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime.
Why we love it: I donât care what anyone says, clowns are scary⊠and a supernatural clown that eats children? *Shudders* For once I am actually recommending the remake because this one is just too good! This movie took all of the best parts of the already terrifying story of Pennywise and added the superior special effects of today! This clown transforms itself into your greatest fears, so even if clowns donât do it for you, youâll surely be scared regardless! Itâs also important to mention that the kids starring in the movie are genuinely good actors, not âgood for childrenâ.
Stream on: Hulu Premium, Amazon Prime
Why we love it: This movie is unlike any other horror movie ever made, the plot is unventured territory, and the fact that its characters are mostly silent? Genius! This movie has such an intense plot that you donât even need spoken dialogue to understand whatâs happening. Not only is it not needed, it actually adds this extra element to the film and makes it inclusive to those who are deaf or hard of hearing. So why is it scary? For starters this movie does suspense better than Iâve ever seen, the build-up is insane. Maybe itâs because the monsters are beyond horrifying or because the charactersâ responses are very realistic, whatever the reason, youâll need to remind yourself to breathe.
Stream on: Amazon Prime
Why we love it: This movie features several iconic horror themes: a haunted house, demonic possessions, and murder, all guaranteed to scare you but when combined? Yikes! This is creepy enough to start, but then you find out the film was inspired by actual, real-life events? Double yikes! This movie was enough to make me never want to play hide and seek ever again, just saying!
Stream on: Amazon Prime
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Original Version)
Why we love it: Another old school slasher film that makes me want to avoid rural Texas until the day I die? Check. This movie has everything you would expect from slasher films: gore, gore, and gore! The deaths are grandiose and the killer wears a mask made from human flesh⊠I mean itâs heavy-handed but thatâs definitely what you want when you watch this type of movie!
Stream on: Amazon Prime
Why we love it: The only series scary enough for this section, this show offers a variety of frights from all different angles! Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoke, Cult, Apocalypse, 1984- take your pick! AHS fans all have their favorite seasons and they widely vary depending on your tastes. As they are all terrifying, any of them will do! However, the ones that give me the biggest Halloween vibes are seasons: Murder House, Coven, and Hotel. If youâve seen them before and want to rewatch without committing to a season, I suggest watching the Halloween inspired episodes.
Stream on: Netflix, Amazon Prime