Okay, it’s that time of year again: the air’s a little different, everyone’s suddenly in the mood for something spooky, and your watchlist deserves an upgrade. If you’re wondering what to put on this weekend (or every weekend between now and the 31st), I’ve rounded up the best Halloween movies to watch this October. Classics, new releases, family picks there’s something here for whatever mood you’re in.
The Classics You Can’t Skip
Let’s start with the non-negotiables. No list of Halloween movies to watch this October is complete without John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978), still the gold standard, still terrifying for how little it actually shows you. Jamie Lee Curtis built a career off this one, and Michael Myers’ blank mask remains one of horror’s most unsettling images almost 50 years later.
Pair it with Scream, which took the slasher formula and made it self-aware without losing any of the scares, plus it gave us one of the most iconic Halloween costumes ever. If you want something slower and eerier, The Witch is pure folklore dread, and The Shining, Poltergeist, and The Exorcist are rewatch staples for a reason.
If classic horror is your thing, you’ll probably enjoy my breakdown of how to watch the Conjuring Universe in chronological order, a great companion piece if you’re planning a proper horror marathon this month.
What’s New This Year
This year’s crop of horror is genuinely strong. Scream 7 is back with the meta-commentary and brutal kills the franchise is known for; save it for a late-night watch, lights off. There’s also a new Danny Boyle horror film out this year with his usual relentless, kinetic style the kind of movie that’s better watched with a group so everyone can scream together.
One big studio release originally set for May got moved to a prime October slot this year always a good sign the studio believes in what it made. Keep an eye out for it; it’s shaping up to be one of the most talked-about Halloween movies this October.
If strong female leads are your thing in horror, you might also like my piece on why Resident Evil is one of the best female-led movies ever; it goes into why Alice remains one of the genre’s most underrated icons.
Something Lighter for the Family
Not everyone wants nightmares with their popcorn, and honestly, neither do I some nights. Hocus Pocus is the ultimate family Halloween tradition at this point, and The Nightmare Before Christmas is the rare movie that works for two holidays at once. Coraline, Hotel Transylvania, and Halloweentown are all solid picks for younger viewers, and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown never misses for pure nostalgia.
Where to Actually Watch These
Streaming-wise, you’re covered. Netflix has Evil Dead, the Friday the 13th films, and the Psycho trilogy. Hulu’s got Barbarian, The Substance, and Hereditary. HBO Max is running A Nightmare on Elm Street, Trick ‘r Treat, and The Fly. Disney+ and Peacock also have their own Halloween collections live for the month, so there’s really no excuse to be bored.
However you like your scares campy, classic, or brand new this list of Halloween movies to watch this October should keep you covered. And if you’re in the mood for something a bit more personality-driven while you’re at it, check out my pieces on Does Every Nollywood Movie Need a Moral Lesson? and Olu Jacobs and the art of playing powerful men on screen, a nice break from horror if you need one.
Pop the popcorn, dim the lights, and let the countdown to the 31st begin.
