Best Halloween movies for kids, classic film lovers and horror fans
Terrifying classics from the '60s, to fun '90s kids movies, and more modern horror films and comedies
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Halloween day is a time to get dressed up in a costume, eat a bunch of candy and watch a movie, ranging from Halloween-themed hits, to terrifying horror films, or more family-friendly flicks.
To celebrate the spooky day, there are so many possible options for things to watch. Here are our picks for the best movies to watch on Halloween:
Halloween
At the risk of stating the obvious, generally Halloween is a great place to start if you're looking to lean into the celebration.
There have been a whopping 13 films in the franchise, but in our eyes you just can't beat the 1978 original. Donald Pleasence's Dr. Loomis, paired Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, is simply iconic.
The film sets the scene 1963 on Halloween night when Michael Myers, at six years old, murders his 17-year-old sister. Jumping to Oct. 30, 1978, a now 21-year-old Michael escapes from Smith's Grove Sanitarium, returning to his suburban hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois.
John Carpenter and Debra Hill really made a significant impact on the whole horror-thriller genre with this movie, and created a massive fandom.
Where to watch Halloween: Prime Video
Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus is certainly one of our most watched Halloween movies ever, with the incomparable Sanderson Sisters played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy.
It's also the perfect movie to watch with the whole family, absolutely a surefire hit for everyone.
Seeing these 300-year-old witches training to reclaim their youth never gets old, and when you finish the original you can hop on over to the second movie released earlier this year.
Where to watch Hocus Pocus: Disney+
Poltergeist
Co-written by Steven Spielberg, directed by Tobe Hooper (with a very involved Spielberg), the 1982 film Poltergeist is our pick if you're seeking a classic scare for Halloween. A movie you likely won't want to watch alone.
When the Feeling family moves to a California suburb, the supernatural strikes. Youngest daughter Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) starts talking to the TV and then goes missing when she's taken to the nether realm of the spirits.
Poltergeist is generally credited for opening the door to horror for an entire generation, but continues to draw in fascinated new viewers to this day.
Sadly, the film is also a reminder of the tragic death of two young actors in the film. Heather O'Rourke died at the age of 12 from an intestinal disorder and Dominique Dunne was murdered by her ex-boyfriend just months after the film's release.
Where to watch Poltergeist: Prime Video
Practical Magic
Based on the novel by Alice Hoffman, Griffin Dunne's Practical Magic is an absolute cult classic with a 25 year legacy.
Sandra Bullock as Sally and Nicole Kidman as Gillian are sisters from a strong family lineage of witches, raised by their aunts played by Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest. When Gillian's abusive ex-boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov (Goran Visnjic) dies, they have to outsmart a cop curious of their involvement.
We're really happy to watch this movie all year round, with some of the best '90s fashion you'll see in any movie, and a killer soundtrack.
Where to watch Practical Magic: Crave
No One Will Save You
While Brian Duffield's movie No One Will Save You is only about a month old, it's one of the most original horror movies you can see. It's a great choice for anyone looking to step outside the more typical thrillers people watch to celebrate Halloween.
The incredible Kaitlyn Dever leads the movie, set around an alien invasion, with barely any dialogue at all, but Duffield just throws the audience into the action right from the start.
It's definitely a movie that's worth re-watching a few times.
Where to watch No One Will Save You: Disney+
The Birds
Alfred Hitchcock's impact on cinema is significant and once you've been terrified by his 1963 movie The Birds, you'll never walk by a pigeon the same way again.
The film stats with Tippi Hedren's character Melanie Daniels gifting Mitch Brenner, played by Rod Taylor, two birds. But when the birds start attacking children, things get horrifying and completely out of control.
Where to watch The Birds: Buy or rent through Apple TV or more streaming options with ExpressVPN
Get Out
When Jordan Peele's movie Get Out premiered in 2017, it complete revolutionized modern horror movies.
It all stats when Daniel Kaluuya's character Chris Washington travels with his girlfriend, Rose Armitage played by Allison Williams, to meet her parents.
While not particularly old, it's already become an absolute classic horror film that provides an effective analysis of race relations in the U.S.
Where to watch Get Out: Netflix, Prime Video, Crave or Paramount+
Casper
This Christina Ricci classic is exactly what you need for a friendly ghost story.
Casper the friendly ghost is, in our opinion, an absolute must on Halloween, no matter how old you are.
Put Bill Pullman and Ricci in an enchanting haunted mansion, and it's a charming and innocent way to celebrate Halloween.
Where to watch Casper: Netflix or Crave
Halloweentown
There's a special place in our heart for all the DCOMS (Disney Channel Original Movies), but the moment October hits, it's time to watch Halloweentown.
While there are four movies in the franchise, but the original is still out pick from the collection.
The 1998 movie starring the late Debbie Reynolds as Aggie Cromwell, alongside Kimberly J. Brown, Judith Hoag, Joey Zimmerman, Emily Roeske and Phillip Van Dyke, is always a pleasant, nostalgic ride.
The first Halloweentown film sets up the moment when the Cromwell grandchildren find out that they come from a family of witches. Aggie Cromwell's oldest granddaughter, 13-year-old Marnie, is at the age when she has to learn how to be a witch, in addition to fighting evil forces with her mother and grandmother to save Halloweentown.
Where to watch Halloweentown: Disney+
Scary Movie
The Scary Movie franchise may not be the most critically acclaimed collection of films, but for a particular generation of at a particular time, the first movie specifically is incredibly nostalgic.
There's likely no better time than Halloween to watch a parody of other famed horror movies, from Paranormal Activity to The Exorcist.
Where to watch Scary Movie: Netflix
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is debatably more important to Halloween for its history of costume inspiration than it's actual plot. Nevertheless, a classic option for a movie to watch to celebrate Halloween, particularly if you love a musical.
This 1975 film is especially a hit in a movie theatre, or a communal viewing experience, but Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and Richard O'Brien never disappoint, no matter where you watch the film.
Where to watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Disney+
Talk To Me
Danny and Michael Philippou's 2022 movie Talk To Me is easily one of our favourite horror movies in recent years.
Set in Australia, the story takes off when a group of friends learn how to conjure spirits through a ceramic hand. When they say the words "talk to me," a spirit possesses their body.
The whole cast gives impressive performances but Sophie Wilde, in particular, is just mesmerizing and terrifying as the film's lead character Mia.
Where to watch Talk To Me: Buy or rent through Apple TV
She Dies Tomorrow
Maybe an unexpected choice for some, but the 2020 film She Dies Tomorrow certainly gave us those chills many want to celebrate Halloween.
Amy Seimetz’s sophomore feature starring Kate Lyn Sheil and Jane Adams is a haunting psychodrama centred around a woman who believes she's going to die the next day. An unexplainable feeling that starts to spread.
Where to watch She Dies Tomorrow: Mubi
The Addams Family
Easily the most iconic movie family, the1991 film The Addams Family from director Barry Sonnenfeld is always a blast to watch.
A family-friendly but freaky adventure, the first movie in the franchise shines with a stellar cast including Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Carel Struycken, Christina Ricci and Jimmy Workman.
Where to watch The Addams Family: Paramount+
The Shining
There are very few movies that are as frequently referenced as Stanley Kubrick's 1980 sensation The Shining, and for good reason. It's one of our favourite movies of all time.
The simple setup of a writer moving his family into an isolated hotel sets us off on an incredibly frightening journey.
From Jack Nicholson saying "Here’s Johnny!" to the creepy twins in the hallway, these iconic movie moments will be etched in our brains forever. It's also still as terrifying as ever.
Where to watch The Shining: Crave
Scream
Scream is one of those franchises that excites people just as much in 2023 as it did in the '90s.
While newer movies have seen great success, it just wouldn't be right to not start at the beginning, particularly when the first film has stars like Canadian Neve Campbell, Drew Barrymore, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard and Jamie Kennedy.
The late Wes Craven's take on horror blends fun with the frightening, when a masked killer terrorizes high school teens.
Where to watch Scream: Netflix or Paramount+
The Craft
It's Neve Campbell and Skeet Ulrich again, but this really just proves how important both actors were to '90s pop culture.
The Craft, also starring Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Rachel True, Christine Taylor and Breckin Meyer, is centred around a group teen girls who cast spells. When a new girl arrives at their school, the four of them put their powers together to discover their ability to use "black magic."
Where to watch The Craft: Crave
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Is it a Christmas movie? Is it a Halloween movie? Maybe it's both!
While the jury's still out on whether The Nightmare Before Christmas is best watched in October or December, we're happy to watch Henry Selick and Tim Burton's stop-motion hit twice a year.
When King Jack Skellington of Halloween Town ends up in Christmas Town, he's not quite sure what to make of this new world and the holiday spirit.
Where to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas: Disney+
Shaun of the Dead
Edgar Wright's 2004 film Shaun of the Dead isn't widely considered a Halloween movie, but there's a zombie apocalypse involved so we think it counts, and we're more than happy to watch this movie on Oct. 31.
Our favourite film in Wright's Cornetto Trilogy, starring Simon Pegg who also co-wrote zombie comedy with Wright, Shaun of the Dead the kind of movie you'll want to quote regularly in your everyday life after you watch it.
It's one of the smartest and wittiest movies to see, and a film we keep coming back to.
Where to watch Shaun of the Dead: Crave
Village of the Damned
While there's also a '90s version of Village of the Damned, the 1960 version of the film is the one that really stuck with us.
Directed by Wolf Rilla, starring George Sanders and Barbara Shelley, the story is set in a small English village where a group of kids with blonde hair and glowing eyes have a connection, exhibiting strange powers.
