Spooky season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by curling up on the couch with your favorite snacks and a cozy blanket on a crisp fall evening and having a Halloween movie marathon? Halloween movies come in a wide variety, from the not-so-scary to the absolutely terrifying. Whether you’re looking for cozy and nostalgic or new and thrilling, this list has something for you.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
When Max (Omri Katz) and his younger sister Dani (Thora Birch) move to an abandoned house in Salem, Massachusetts, they accidentally free a coven of evil witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy) executed in the 17th century. With the help of their friend Allison (Vinessa Shaw) and a magical cat named Binx, the group must steal the witches’ book of spells to keep them from becoming immortal.
Where to watch: Disney+
Beetlejuice (1988)
After Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die in a car accident, they find themselves haunting their own home as ghosts, unable to leave. When a new family, the Deetzes, moves onto the property, the Maitlands attempt to scare them away, eventually enlisting the help of Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), whose help quickly becomes problematic for the Maitlands and the Deetez’s teenage daughter, Lydia (Winona Ryder).
Where to watch: Max
Halloween (1978)
15 years after being locked away for the murder of his sister, Michael Myers returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween night and terrorizes high school student Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and friends as they babysit.
Where to watch: AMC+
Scream (1996)
In this Wes Craven classic heralded as a reinvention of the slasher genre, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is terrorized by a masked killer who begins killing her classmates on the anniversary of her mother’s murder.
Where to watch: Max
The Addams Family (1991)
Based on the characters from the cartoon strip created by Charles Addams and the 1960s cartoon, The Addams Family follows the titular family as they try to figure out whether a man (Christopher Lloyd) claiming to be Fester, Gomez’s (Raul Julia) long lost brother, is really who he says he is.
Where to watch: Paramount+
Coraline (2009)
While exploring her new house, Coraline (Dakota Fanning) discovers a hidden door that leads to a more idyllic version of her life, but all is not what it seems.
Where to watch: The Roku Channel
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
After a tragic fire at a bar, high school cheerleader Jennifer (Megan Fox) is kidnapped and possessed by a demon in a sacrifice ritual gone wrong. She then becomes a succubus set on killing her male classmates and it’s up to her best friend, Needy (Amanda Seyfried), to put an end to it. Jennifer’s Body was critically panned upon its initial release but has gained a cult following in the years since due to its commentary on female sexuality and violence against women
Carrie (1976)
Carrie White (Sissy Spacek), a shy teenage girl sheltered by her devoutly religious and domineering mother (Piper Laurie), unleashes her newly discovered telekinetic powers on her classmates, who bullied her.
Where to watch: AMC+
The Craft (1996)
When Sarah (Robin Tunney), a troubled teenage girl with telekinetic powers, transfers to a Catholic prep high school, she falls in with a trio of outcasts (Fairuza Balk, Rachel True and Neve Campbell) who practice witchcraft and are seeking a fourth member to join their coven.
Where to watch: Peacock
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) begins treating a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who can interact with the dead. Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a chilling ghost story with one of the most iconic twists in movie history.
Where to watch: Max
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Based on the Disney attraction, The Haunted Mansion follows real estate agent Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) with his wife (Marsha Thomason) and children (Marc John Jefferies and Aree Davis) as they go on a family vacation. Along the way, they stop at a mansion that Jim is asked to sell and quickly discover it is haunted by Master Gracey (Nathaniel Parker).
Where to watch: Disney+
Ghostbusters (1984)
After losing their jobs at a prestigious university, three parapsychologists (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis) start a ghost removal service, attracting both skeptics and frightened customers.
Where to watch: Starz
Clue (1985)
In this classic whodunnit based on the board game, six guests are invited to a mansion by a man who knows a dark secret from each of their pasts. After their host is murdered, they must discover who is behind it before they’re all picked off one by one.
Where to watch: Paramount+
With releases earlier this year such as Immaculate,Lisa Frankenstein, Night Swim and Longlegs, there has been no shortage of spooky films in 2024. Here are a few more recent releases to check out.
Smile 2 (2024)
In this sequel to 2022’s Smile, pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins to experience increasingly disturbing and inexplicable events ahead of her global tour.
Where to watch: Releases October 18, 2024
The Front Room (2024)
Newly pregnant Belinda (Brandy Norwood) must take in her ailing mother-in-law as her strange behavior and mysterious past begin to reveal dark secrets.
Where to watch: In Theaters Now
Salem’s Lot (2024)
Based on the horror novel by Stephen King, Salem’s Lot follows author Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) as he returns to his childhood home for inspiration for his next book only to discover the people of his hometown are turning into blood-sucking vampires.
Where to watch: Max
Never Let Go (2024)
When the world is taken over by a supernatural force known as “The Evil”, the only protection for a mother (Halle Berry) and her twin sons (Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins) is their house and strong bond. However, their safety comes into question when one of the boys questions if the evil is even real.
Where to watch: In Theaters Now
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