The 85 Best Halloween Movies of All Time

Here at PureWow, we pretty much watch classic Halloween movies all year round. But not all October 31st-appropriate films are created equal, and choosing the right one all depends on what kind of mood you're in. For instance, if you’re feeling nostalgic, you can revisit classics like Beetlejuice. If you’re down for a terrifying horror flick that’ll make you sleep with one eye open, then The Exorcist ought to do the trick. (To each their own.) And if you seek high art, Sinners is a must-watch, along with the biggest surprise of 2026, Obsession. (It's already got Oscar buzz for lead actress and newcomer Inde Navarrette.)

To help you decide, PureWow's horror movie-loving editors weighed in to create a list of the best Halloween movies ever made, ranging from creepy murder mysteries and psychological thrillers to traditional monster movies, all perfect for celebrating the spooky season. If you get scared easily, you’ll find a few funny options that skillfully blend horror elements with humor. And if you prefer a scary movie that’s suitable for all ages, don’t worry—we’ve included some family-friendly options, too, like Halloweentown and Monster House. Whether you're a Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, Hulu or HBO family, these films stream on a variety of platforms. So, grab your favorite Halloween snacks and prepare to spice up your queue with 85 of the best Halloween movies of all time.

• Cast: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing
• Director: Griffin Dunne
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 25% | IMDb 6.3/10
• Run time: 104 minutes

Bullock and Kidman are primo on their own. Together? Playing non-practicing witches who try to use their hereditary gift for magic to fix their love lives? Solid gold. (Same goes for the Stevie Nicks soundtrack.) This year, Kidman and Bullock reprise their roles in the sequel, Practical Magic 2. BRB, pouring a giant Midnight Margarita and settling into a reclining movie theater seat.

• Cast: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Maisie Williams
• Director: Susanne Bier
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: TK
• Run time: 110 minutes

Yes, we know the film hasn't been released yet, but, yes, we can confirm that the film is a certified must-watch. The beloved 1998 film's long-anticipated sequel hits theaters in September, with Kidman and Bullock returning as the Owens sisters. A new generation is picking up the family mantle, with Maisie Williams and Joey King joining the cast as Sally's (Bullock) daughters. The story picks up 25 years after the events of the first film, focusing on Kylie (King) and the burgeoning of her own darker powers. Simultaneously, she also uncovers new secrets about the Owens women and the source of their powers. To save their family, Sally, Gillian (Kidman), Kylie and Antonia (Williams) must travel from their Massachusetts home to the United Kingdom to settle the score on their family lineage.

Of joining the classic, beloved franchise, Williams said at Teen Vogue Fest, “It was a little bit terrifying, only because you want to be on your A-game and are working with legends. You never stop learning and growing from people you work with, so getting to learn and grow from Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman was fun and a little overwhelming.”

• Cast: Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker
• Director: Kenny Ortega
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 40% | IMDb 6.9/10
• Run time: 96 minutes

More witches! The Sanderson sisters are resurrected after three centuries, and just in time for trick-or-treaters. But can Max stop them from carrying out their evil plan? While Max is seriously problematic, we love the film’s quirky tone and the funny sister dynamics between the Sanderson trio. Although it wasn’t a critical success, it became a fan favorite and even spawned a franchise. Former PureWow fashion editor Abby Hepworth is a major fan, saying: “Hocus Pocus might just be one of my top three favorite movies ever, not just Halloween movies. It’s exactly the right level of camp and the cast is just spectacular. Truly such a fun movie for people of all ages.” FWIW, part two came out in 2022 (see below) and the third installment is reportedly in development.

• Cast: Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker
• Director: Anne Fletcher
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 65% | IMDb 6/10
• Run time: 103 minutes

In the highly anticipated sequel, the Sanderson sisters return to Salem after 29 years. (*Cue “The Witches Are Back.”*) And according to former PureWow editor Joel Calfee, it’s just as entertaining as the original. In his rave review, he wrote, “Hocus Pocus 2 begins in the 1600s, when Winnie and her sisters are teenagers. Unfortunately, they are treated like outcasts within their small, devout Salem village. However, when they encounter a Mother Witch (played by Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham) in the forbidden forest, they are gifted with a spellbook that reveals their untapped powers. Flash forward to 2022, and we're introduced to a trio of modern friends—Becca (Whitney Peak), Izzy (Belissa Escobedo) and Cassie (Lilia Buckingham). They find themselves in a pickle when Becca and Izzy accidentally resurrect the Sanderson sisters after being tricked by the town's magic shop owner, Gilbert (Sam Richardson). While it may tread the same ground as the first installment, it provides enough laughs to keep viewers entertained, thanks to its winning leading ladies and a few surprises along the way.”

• Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo
• Director: Ryan Coogler
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomates 97% | IMDB 7.5/10
• Run time: 110 minutes

Sinners was *the* movie of 2025, hauling in 507 award nominations and winning 343 of them—including four Academy Awards for Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan), Best Original Screenplay and Best Achievement in Cinematography. Director Ryan Coogler also won a BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay; the film also brought in nominations for Golden Globe and Critics' Choice awards, among many others.

Coogler's original story stars Jordan as twins Smoke and Stack, who return from a stint in Chicago to their hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi. Their goal is to open a juke joint for the local Black community, and the brothers quickly recruit friends, estranged family and acquaintances to staff the abandoned sawmill they purchased from a local landowner. Elsewhere, a vampire on the lam from Choctaw vampire hunters seeks shelter from a Klansmen couple, whom he promptly turns into vampire thralls. All hell breaks loose when the vampire trio turns up at the lively joint, and a night of jubilation quickly turns into a bloody fight for survival.

"This movies is NOT for the faint of heart," says PureWow editor Marissa Wu. "Given that this is a vampire movie, there is so. much. blood. I had to close my eyes at some parts. Despite the guts not being my cup of tea, I commend Coogler's inventive and original story, historical dive in to the Mississippi Delta (loved his Chinese characters) and exploration of themes like oppression, racism, family, community and revenge. It definitely deserved the Oscars it won (and then some)."

• Cast: Richard O'Brien, Tim Curry, Patricia Quinn
• Director: Jim Sharman
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 80% | IMDb 7.4/10
• Run time: 98 minutes

This cult musical about a couple (Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick) forced to rap on the door of a wacky scientist (Tim Curry) after their car breaks down is a must-watch for the soundtrack and costumes alone. You’ll appreciate the catchy musical numbers and clever commentary on stereotypes, but it’s Curry’s standout performance that makes this movie shine.

“I dare you to watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show without singing along. It’s nearly impossible,” says Candace Davison, PureWow’s VP of Editorial Content. “Yes, it’s an unhinged storyline, but if Halloween isn’t the time to explore darker, wilder themes, when can you?!” Also, fun fact: It’s still in limited release, making it the longest-running theatrical release in film history.

• Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarette, Cooper Tomlinson
• Director: Curry Barker
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 94% | IMDb 7.9/10
• Run time: 109 minutes

If there's a horror film that's been the talk of the town this year, Obsession is it. The lore itself is crazy: director Curry Barker made the film for $750,000 after pitching it to producer James Harris, who had originally approached Barker about adapting the latter's short horror film, The Chair. Obsession then raked in $488,000,000, making it one of the highest-grossing films of the year and the seventh-highest-grossing horror film of all time.

The story follows Bear Bailey, a music store employee in love with his friend and co-worker, Nikki. One night, Bear stumbles upon and buys a "One Wish Willow," a supernatural toy that promises to grant the wish of the one who breaks it. Bear does, wishing for Nikki to fall in love with him. What follows is a carnage driven by Nikki's newfound obsession, with Bear desperately trying to undo his mistake.

• Cast: Bill Murray, Casey Kasem, Dan Aykroyd
• Director: Ivan Reitman
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 95% | IMDb 7.8/10
• Run time: 105 minutes

If there’s something strange in your neighborhood…Who you gonna call? If you loved the 2016 version, you will definitely love the hilarious 1984 classic, which revolves around a group of professors turned ghost exterminators. Wu watched it with her friends, and she said, "While there were SO many moments where I thought, 'This is aging really poorly,' on the whole, it was FUNNY. I kept bursting out into laughter. As someone who does not like scary movies, I, a certified wimp, am recommending Ghostbusters to my fellow scaredy-cats."

Thanks to a stellar cast (led by Bill Murray) and its blend of comedy and horror elements, the film became a massive success and kick-started a successful franchise, including an animated series, comic books, video games and multiple sequels. And if you're ever in New York, you can even visit the Ghostbusters firehouse in Tribeca.

• Cast: Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, Myha'la
• Director: Kirill Sokolov
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 65% | IMDb 6.3/10
• Run time: 94 minutes

Who knew taking a job as a maid would lead to an entanglement in a Satanic cult? Not Asia Reaves. Asia, recently released from prison for shooting her abusive father, accepts a position as a maid at the Virgil, a posh New York City apartment building known for its mysterious disappearances. It doesn't take long for Asia to become embroiled in the Satanic cult that inhabits the building; she is soon attacked by a group of masked intruders who turn out to be immortal thanks to their rituals of human sacrifice. While literally fighting for her own survival, Asia is also on a mission to track down her younger sister, Maria, who was kept in their father's custody after Asia went to prison. The last thing Asia knows is that Maria, too, worked as a maid in the building. As the night wears on, Asia makes shocking discoveries—and must also make some horrifying choices.

• Cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall
• Director: Tim Burton
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 90% | IMDb 7.9/10
• Run time: 105 minutes

This is a must-watch for anyone who thinks Johnny Depp’s kooky character acting began with Pirates of the Caribbean. In the film, he plays a kind man named Edward. Unfortunately, the scientist who created him passes away before he can replace Edward’s scissorhands with real ones, and he’s instantly labeled an outcast by humans.

The movie earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup and Depp was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. PureWow’s editor-in-chief, Jillian Quint, supports these accolades: “Is it a Halloween movie? Is it a Christmas movie? Who can say! All I know is it’s Tim Burton at his best, with a creepy/funny vibe that paved the way for The Nightmare Before Christmas. I watched it with my (then) 8 and 9 year-old last year, and found it wasn’t too scary.”

• Cast: Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, Christoph Waltz, Mia Goth
• Director: Guillermo del Toro
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 85% | IMDb 7.4/10
• Run time: 149 minutes

Wu, who hosts a classics book club, says that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of her favorite books of all time. "Once you get past the green, screw-laden pop culture Halloween costumes and read the relatively short novel, it's a surprising study of humanity," she says. "I've read the book twice and been quite moved each time. I wasn't sure how the Guillermo del Toro's adaptation would land, but it was surprisingly good. While the director does take liberties with the original story, it was all in service of the plot, and del Toro keeps the major themes intact. If anything, he creates even more empathy for Frankenstein's monster, who is played deftly and masterfully by Jacob Elordi, another surprise."

Del Toro's rendition of the classic monster movie is rich in visuals and set design and well cast, with Elordi as the monster and Oscar Isaac as his sadistic creator. The film traces Victor Frankenstein's (Isaac) origins and the creation of his monster, while also exploring the monster's very human side and interrogating human prejudice.

• Cast: Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd
• Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 67% | IMDb 6.9/10
• Run time: 101 minutes

"The Addams Family has just the right touch of macabre and great fashion (all credits to Morticia), blended with a touch of the fantastical and dramatic, for me to keep coming back," Wu says. "While I'd say my vibe is more Pride and Prejudice, there's something about Morticia and Gomez that I really love, and they also provide a lot of the comedic elements that make what could be a spooky, kooky movie feel light with humor."

Anjelica Huston was nominated for an Oscar for her role in this film about a group of con artists who try to pull a fast one on the famously eccentric family. Despite a rather stressful filming process, which included multiple delays, the film turned out to be a massive success, earning nearly seven times its overall production budget. Watch for Wednesday's iconic one-liners, not to mention Morticia’s feminist energy.

• Cast: Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sigourney Weaver
• Director: Scott Derrickson
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 62% | IMDb 6.7/10
• Run time: 128 minutes

A little romance, a lot of mutants and a government secret all make The Gorge an unexpectedly scary Halloween movie while remaining PG-13. Miles Teller stars as Levi Kane, a former U.S. Marine sniper, with Anya Taylor-Joy opposite him as Drasa, a Lithuanian covert operative. The duo have been contracted by a mysterious woman named Bartholomew to guard opposite ends of a gorge. There, they must stay isolated in their watch towers without communication between even each other. Eventually, Drasa breaks the rule on her birthday, inviting Levi to participate in a sharpshooting competition. Soon, they've formed a close bond. One day, as Levi is ziplining between the towers, creatures known as the "Hollow Men" detonate mines that snap the cable, and he falls into the gorge. Drasa parachutes in after him, and the two are then confronted by a powerful government secret that threatens to get them both killed.

• Cast: Gillian Anderson, Rob Brydon, Timothy Spall, Martin Clunes
• Directors: Max Lang, Jan Lachauer
• Rating: NR
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 81% | IMDb 7.5/10
• Run time: 30 minutes

Based on Julia Donaldson’s best-selling book, this film introduces children to a generous witch, who invites several animals to ride on her broom. Oh, and did we mention Room on the Broom is only 27 minutes long, making it the perfect pre-bedtime flick? "I’ll admit this is one that my now 7-year-old looks forward to watching every year," says PureWow Senior Editor Rachel Bowie, whose son was introduced to it in kindergarten.

• Cast: Lea Myren, Ane Dahl Torp, Thea Sofie Loch Naess
• Directors: Emilie Blichfeldt
• Rating: NR
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 96% | IMDb 7/10
• Run time: 109 minutes

"One look at the synopsis for this Norwegian take on the Cinderella story immediately brought to mind The Substance," Wu says. "It's got all the makings of body horror as commentary on contemporary beauty culture, made even more brutal by the fact that they're using methods from the 17th century." The Ugly Stepsister recounts the famous fairytale from the perspective of one of the said sisters, Elvira, who subjects her self to grueling, invasive, violent beauty treatments in an effort to win the heart of the vapid Prince Julian. Living under her mother's well-intentioned but ruthless rule, Elvira must ask herself how far she is willing to go to comply with beauty standards, and if the price is worth the pain.

• Cast: Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, Kathy Steinberg, Bill Melendez
• Director: Bill Melendez
• Rating: TV-PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 95% | IMDb 8.1/10
• Run time: 96 minutes

Another family favorite: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Sure to be a smash hit with the kids and the adults, according to Wu. "I love the Peanuts gang and will happily plop down on the couch come fall to rewatch this heartwarming animation," she says. "It has everything I'm looking for in a Halloween movie: Autumn vibes, lots of pumpkins and no jump scares."

The plot follows Linus as he patiently awaits the arrival of the Great Pumpkin, despite relentless teasing from Lucy, Sally and the rest of the Peanuts gang. Based on Charles M. Schulz’s classic comic strip, the TV special explores themes like religion, faith and evangelicalism. It was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program, and fans were so touched by the story that they sent packages of candy to Schulz.

• Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams
• Director: Danny Boyle
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 88% | IMDb 6.6/10
• Run time: 115 minutes

This coming-of-age post-apocalyptic horror film stars Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams as a group of survivors in a world ravaged by the Rage Virus. Comer, Taylor-Johnson and Williams comprise a small family unit sheltering on an island defended from the mainland by a flooded causeway. Jamie (Taylor Johnson) is a scavenger; his wife, Isla (Comer), has a mysteriously debilitating illness. Their son, Spike (Williams), is 12.

While the Rage Virus has been more or less contained in the nearly 30 years since the first outbreak, Jamie and Spike encounter an Infected when they travel to the mainland for Spike's coming-of-age ritual. What follows is a fight for survival as Spike discovers a secret about his father while trying to find his mother medical help amidst the violent chaos.

28 Years Later is the third film in the 28 Days Later series, preceding 2026's 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and following 2007's 28 Weeks Later.

• Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran
• Director: John Carpenter
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 96% | IMDb 7.7/10
• Run time: 91 minutes

As the first movie in the Halloween franchise, it introduces viewers to serial killer Michael Myers (Nick Castle) as he terrorizes the innocent residents of Haddonfield, Illinois. His main victim? Teen babysitter Laurie Strode. “It’s the ultimate slasher classic and features the most iconic Halloween villain of all time,” Stephanie Maida, PureWow’s senior commerce editor, says. “The theme song still gives me goosebumps no matter how many times I hear it. Jamie Lee Curtis also sets the tone for the decades of ‘final girls’ who follow in her horror footsteps. More than anything, I’m obsessed with the distinct ‘70s-ness of it all.” Halloween sparked a successful film franchise that includes 13 sequels. Curtis has reprised her iconic character in six of them, and each time, she doesn’t disappoint.

• Cast: Shane Jensen, Indy, Larry Fessenden, Arielle Friedman
• Director: Ben Leonberg
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 90% | IMDb 6.1/10
• Run time: 73 minutes

A dog as the main character of a horror film? Yup. Retriever Indy stars as himself in this supernatural horror film, which director Ben Leonberg (and Indy's owner) wrote after observing the horror trope of dogs sensing supernatural forces before humans. In Good Boy, Indy is owned by Todd (Jensen), a man with a chronic lung disease. The duo relocate from New York City to Todd's grandfather's rural home in the woods. The house is not without its own lore: The grandfather died there under mysterious circumstances. Since then, the grandfather's own dog, Bandit, has also been missing. As Indy and Todd settle into the house, Indy is repeatedly plagued by shadowy forces, including a ghostly Bandit. Can he save both himself and Todd before it's too late?

• Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson
• Directors: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 84% | IMDb 7.4/10
• Run time: 77 minutes

"Not going to lie, this is NOT the meet cute that I would ever want for myself, but it is so Tim Burton, and I respect an auteur," Wu says. "While it's appropriately creepy, Corpse Bride is also (big) kid friendly and isn't too scary while still getting into the Halloween spirit."

As the other animated Halloween movie from Tim Burton, Corpse Bride is about a shy groom (voiced by Depp) practicing his wedding vows in front of a dead woman (Carter) who, confused, assumes she’s now his bride. This marked Mike Johnson’s directorial debut with the movie ultimately being nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. It made history as one of the first two stop-motion films to be included in that category.

• Cast: Colby Minifie, Kate Burton, Neil Sandilands, Vaughn Armstrong, Mia Ellis
• Director: Julia Max
• Rating: TV-MA
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 85% | IMDb 5.4/10
• Run time: 96 minutes

While it's a supernatural horror movie on the surface, underneath, The Surrender is a gut-wrenching examination of a desperate mother-daughter relationship. When family patriarch Robert (Armstrong) dies, his wife, Barbara (Burton), hires a mysterious man to resurrect her husband. She and her daughter, Megan (Minifie), soon find themselves participating in an occult ritual that has them fighting not only for their lives, but for each other.

• Cast: Debbie Reynolds, Kimberly J. Brown, Joey Zimmerman
• Director: Duwayne Dunham
• Rating: TV-G
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 83% | IMDb 6.5/10
• Run time: 84 minutes

On her 13th birthday, Marnie (Kimberly J. Brown) learns she’s a witch. Join her as she follows her grandma to Halloweentown, a magical city where warlocks, trolls and zombies reside year-round. Former PureWow beauty and cultures editor Chelsea Candelario raves, “I ranked Halloweentown very highly in my best Disney Channel Original Movies [list] and I still stand by my stance on the ‘90s flick. I watch it every year and I still wish Halloweentown was an actual place.”

Gallery Media Group associate producer Julia Hess also adds: "It stands the test of time while also being a hilarious capsule of the 90s—the costumes, the lingo and the now archaic technology make this such a fun rewatch. Kalabar is the perfect villain, and Marnie is the likeable, unstoppable teenage witch every girl wants to be. I'd give anything to get to rummage through Grandma Aggie's whimsical house and her bottomless purse. As a kid, I kept hoping one year my parents would sit me down to tell me the truth that I too was a witch that would one day get whisked away to the magical Halloweentown. I'm still waiting!"

• Cast: Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty
• Director: Brad Silberling
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 52% | IMDb 6.2/10
• Run time: 100 minutes

Christina Ricci, who played Wednesday in The Addams Family, also starred in Casper, playing Kat Harvey, a teenage girl accompanying her father on a ghost-hunting mission. She is the love interest of Casper, a ghost with disproving, transparent relatives. This film marked Brad Silberling’s feature directorial debut and it was all inspired by a Harvey Comics cartoon character.

Davison says there’s a reason to still prioritize it 30 years after its release: “Did you even grow up in the ‘90s if you didn’t have a crush on Devon Sawa as Casper?” she laughs. “Bill Pullman and Christina Ricci are superb, and it strikes just the right balance of spooky and funny so it provides thrills without terrifying kids. Still, it might be best for ages 6 and up.”

• Cast: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich
• Director: Wes Craven
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 78% | IMDb 7.4/10
• Run time: 111 minutes

For Gallery Media Group's paid media specialist Tal Zanco, watching the Scream franchise (specifically the first two movies) is an October tradition. "Those movies have some of the most iconic childhood memories for '90s kids of all time!" he raves.

In the first film, a small town is on edge after someone commits a series of murders while wearing a Ghostface costume. The slightly comical horror scenes make it the perfect introduction to slasher films. Scream became a successful horror franchise, with the latest installment, Scream 7, getting released this year. PureWow’s VP of News and Entertainment, Philip Mutz, wrote, “They’re funny, they’re smart, they’re scary. And unlike a lot of other horror films that feature a masked killer such as Jason Voorhees, each Scream is also a whodunnit—which makes them so much fun to watch.”

• Cast: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, Danny Lloyd
• Director: Stanley Kubrick
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 83% | IMDb 8.4/10
• Run time: 144 minutes

When a struggling writer becomes a caretaker at an isolated hotel, he uncovers secrets about the property’s dark past. (Creepy children included.) Fun fact: In that famous scene where Nicholson’s character breaks down the bathroom door, the props department built a fake door that could be easily destroyed. However, he tore it apart a little too easily, and the props team had to make a stronger door.

"I watched this with my friends and we had to close our eyes because we're wimps," Wu says. "It definitely belongs in the cinematic cannon, but there are some things you just can't unsee after this rite of passage. I think I was afraid of the dark for a few days after watching this. And, wondering, as a writer, if I was also going to spiral into madness."

• Cast: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Fran Drescher
• Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 44% | IMDb 7/10
• Run time: 91 minutes

"If it's not apparent by my other recommendations, I love a kids' movie," Wu says. "Hotel Transylvania is one of those films that has me cackling on the couch with abandon, majorly thanks in part to the lovable, endearing, bumbling Jonathan who's smitten with Count Dracula's daughter."

If you’re up for a wholesome, family-friendly film that features likable characters and keeps the scares to a minimum, you’ll enjoy this monster comedy. It takes place at Hotel Transylvania, a lavish resort run by Count Dracula that serves as a vacation-like escape for monsters. Complications arise, however, when an ordinary human crashes their weekend party.

• Cast: Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, Nathaniel Parker, Marsha Thomason
• Director: Rob Minkoff
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 13% | IMDb 5.2/10
• Run time: 86 minutes

Jim and his family are in for quite the surprise when they visit a scary mansion that’s unknowingly haunted by the former occupants' ghosts. Desperate to break a curse and cross into the spirit realm, forces both good and evil conspire to get Jim's wife, Sara, to the altar with Master Gracey. Although it received negative reviews from critics, it was a hit at the box office. A reboot adaptation of the film, starring Tiffany Haddish, Lakeith Stanfield and Owen Wilson, was released in 2023 to ever-so-slightly improved critical acclaim (this time, it scored a 38 percent on Rotten Tomatoes). Wu recommends both, saying, "When I watched Haunted Mansion, the doomed love story literally gave me chills. And even though there were a bunch of dead people roaming around in various states of decay, if Eddie Murphy is in a movie, you know it's not going to be that gory. The reboot got a new backstory, which I thought was engaging—at the very least, I was hooked on solving the mystery."

• Cast: Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell
• Director: Andrew Fleming
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 57% | IMDb 6.4/10
• Run time: 100 minutes

Think the Heathers, but with witchcraft in the mix. When Sarah (Robin Tunney) transfers to a new school, she meets a coven of witches who are keen on taking advantage of her telekinetic powers. Andrew Fleming's feminist horror developed a cult following, and the sequel, The Craft: Legacy, was released in October 2020. Back to the original though: Maida says this film inspires her to this day. “‘We are the weirdos, mister!’ I can’t help but quote that iconic line,” she laughs. “This film inspired me to buy a ‘Wicca for Teens’ book and influenced my taste in fashion to this day. The whimsigoth looks! The truly chilling nightmare sequences! Fairuza Balk! It’s a defining film for any angsty, would-be teenage witch complete with its fair share of jump-in-your-seat moments.”

• Cast: Steve Buscemi, Nick Cannon, Maggie Gyllenhaal
• Director: Gil Kenan
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 75% | IMDb 6.7/10
• Run time: 90 minutes

Three kids are convinced that there’s a creature living in the house next door...but no adults will believe them. The kid-friendly film features compelling main characters with redemptive qualities, and it explores important topics like bullying, growing up, letting go and the power of teamwork.

"While rated PG, even I, a 20-something, was a little creeped out by Monster House," Wu says. "Probably best for kids at least age 8. The ending, however, still manages to be heartwarming."

• Cast: Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, Natasha Liu Bordizzo
• Director: J. J. Perry
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 57% | IMDb 6.1/10
• Run time: 113 minutes

While working as a pool cleaner pays the bills, this father’s secret job—vampire hunting—may be the only answer to paying for his daughter’s tuition before it’s too late. Foxx steals every scene that he’s in, and there’s just enough silly humor to offset the more intense moments. “Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco’s chemistry shines through in this fun vampire comedy, and die-hard fans of the vampire genre will appreciate the gory fight scenes,” says former PureWow associate entertainment editor Nakeisha Campbell.

• Cast: Freddie Prinze, Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard
• Director: Raja Gosnell
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 32% | IMDb 5.3/10
• Run time: 86 minutes

"Scooby-Doo: the Movie is the seminal horror movie of our time," Weis says. "Monsters, bad guys? Or both! Scooby and Shaggy take me on a thrill ride EVERY time I sit down to indulge in their adventure on Spooky Island. You've got performances by Sugar Ray (yes, that's correct, it makes sense), a recorded track by Simple Plan, Matthew Lillard as the best Shaggy of all time and so much more. I really can't say enough about it."

For those uninitiated to the Scooby-verse, meet Mystery Incorporated, a group of four adults (plus one dog) who reunite to investigate a series of mysterious incidents at a popular resort. Based on the iconic animated franchise, this live-action adaptation made $275.7 million at the box office. And the sequel, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, was released in 2004. But, fun fact, did you know that Prinze Jr. originally didn’t want to do the film? He believed it wouldn’t live up to the original Scooby cartoons, but his wife and co-star, Gellar, talked him into it.

• Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss
• Director: Jordan Peele
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 93% | IMDb 6.8/10
• Run time: 116 minutes

Gallery Media Group paid media manager Thomas Nemec is a Jordan Peele fan and asserts that Us might be the director's best work, saying, "[The] ending has a twist that will stick with you."

Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) returns to her childhood home with her family only to be greeted by masked strangers who look exactly like them. Countless fans have theorized about the symbolism in this powerful film. And while speaking with NPR, director Jordan Peele—who also directed Get Out—said, “I think a lot of people are catching onto the fact that there’s a lot of United States/American imagery in this. And the duality of this country and our beliefs and our demons, I think, is on display. But I think ‘us’ is bigger than that. And I think one of the reasons this movie has an expansiveness is because ‘us’ is subjective. Everybody thinks of the term ‘us’ in different ways.”

• Cast: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton
• Director: Tim Burton
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 83% | IMDb 7.5/10
• Run time: 92 minutes

Before she was a mom spooked on Stranger Things, Winona Ryder was a teenager spooked by ghosts (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) in this comedy about a husband and wife haunting the new owners of their beloved house. FYI, after you revisit this Halloween classic, you might want to see the 2024 remake, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which, according to former PureWow associate commerce strategist Jael Rucker, is “a deep dive into teenage angst and a mysterious afterlife portal.”

• Cast: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson
• Director: Tim Burton
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 70% | IMDb 7.3/10
• Run time: 105 minutes

Based on Washington Irving’s classic tale, it follows Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) as he investigates a series of murders in the small village of Sleepy Hollow. Tim Burton’s visually stunning gothic horror film won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction, and it grossed about $207 million worldwide. The story was inspired by Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which Wu has read and loved.

"The actual book is a quick read; I remember it being less than 100 or 150 pages," she says. "It was mildly creepy in the way old tales are, but I'm really keen to see the movie this fall, in all honesty it sounds like it has much more action and an actual resolution to the mystery surrounding the headless horseman."

• Cast: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Amy Ryan, Ryan Lee
• Director: Rob Letterman
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 78% | IMDb 6.3/10
• Run time: 103 minutes

Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) is thrilled when he learns that his neighbor’s dad is a renowned sci-fi author. Things take a dramatic turn when he accidentally unleashes the franchise’s fictional monsters. Sara Baksh, Gallery Media Group's senior manager of business affairs, says, "I used to love reading the books as a child (I probably read the entire series), so I was super excited when [the] movie came out. As someone who loves horror movies, it takes a LOT to scare me. For a movie [seemingly] intended [for] a younger audience, it's pretty scary and stays true to the novels."

Author R.L. Stine, who wrote the books the film is based on, revealed that while he wasn’t involved in the film at all, he loved how it turned out. He told Slate Magazine, “I like it better every time I see it...The three teenage leads are so real and they’re funny and they’re sweet, and I just think they’re the best thing in the film.”

• Cast: Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Cloris Leachman
• Director: Mel Brooks
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 95% | IMDb 8/10
• Run time: 106 minutes

If you love parodies, you need to check out Mel Brooks’s masterpiece. In it, Dr. Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) inherits his grandfather’s estate in Transylvania and resumes his monster-making experiments with the help of servants Igor (Marty Feldman), Inga (Teri Garr) and Frau Blücher (Cloris Leachman). The movie was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay (for Wilder and Brooks) and Best Sound. And per Hepworth, it’s a Classic with a capital C. “Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder at their finest. Oh and Teri Garr! It’s so deliciously funny while also being incredibly smart. 10/10 recommend.”

• Cast: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page
• Director: Tim Burton
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 95% | IMDb 7.9/10
• Run time: 76 minutes

It’s one of Tim Burton’s best: When Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, gets bored scaring people every year, he moves on to Christmas Town—and his plan goes awry. Former PureWow executive editor Dara Katz says, “I understand that maybe my 3-year-old shouldn’t have been shown The Nightmare Before Christmas just yet...but the girl loves scary things and can’t get enough of Jack Skellington as well as the music. ‘This Is Halloween!’ is chanted regularly throughout our house.”

• Cast: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin
• Director: Alfred Hitchcock
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 97% | IMDb 8.5/10
• Runtime: 109 minutes

"I loved Psycho," Wu says. "As a fan of classic cinema, it was at the top of my to-watch list. I was expecting it to be incredibly violent, given the R rating, but once the credits started rolling, my friend and I looked at each other a bit incredulously thinking, 'That was rated R?!' For Marion meeting such a tragic end and Norman having such a dizzying, haunting secret, Psycho is at most PG-13."

Inspired by the 1959 novel written by Robert Bloch, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho tells the story of a secretary named Marion Crane (Leigh), who goes on the run after stealing $40,000 from her boss. While driving, she comes across the decrepit Bates Motel and meets a young bachelor, Norman Bates (Perkins).

The horror film went on to become an instant classic amongst critics and fans alike, with Universal Pictures producing three sequels, a 1998 remake, a made-for-television spin-off and a show called Bates Motel, which ran for a total of five seasons on A&E.

• Cast: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski
• Director: John Krasinski
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 96% | IMDb 7.5/10
• Run time: 90 minutes

In a post-apocalyptic world, a family of four is forced to live in complete silence while hiding from alien monsters who track their prey by sound. The horror film was met with widespread acclaim and received many accolades, including a Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (for Blunt). The film also received an Oscar nod for Best Sound Editing. Candelario counts herself a fan: “I don’t think I could survive living in A Quiet Place, but I applaud John and Emily for an amazing thriller. In the age of reboots and sequels, I love this new concept and I was trying to be as quiet as possible as a viewer (and I’m not even in the movie!).”

• Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz
• Director: David Cronenberg
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 93% | IMDb 7.6/10
• Runtime: 96 minutes

Loosely based on George Langelaan’s 1957 short story of the same name, David Cronenberg’s The Fly tells the story of a brilliant scientist named Seth Brundle (Goldblum) who creates the greatest invention known to man: a teleportation machine. But, the only problem is it can only transport inanimate objects. Seth shows his creation to a journalist named Veronica (Davis), and together, they try to fix the machine so it can teleport humans.

After Seth transports himself through the machine, completely unaware that a fly is in the teleporter with him, he slowly starts to turn into a fly/human creature. "I walked in on my dad watching this one day, and I could not unsee this," Wu says. "Truly terrifying, but great if you love a little science-fiction moment."

Upon its release, The Fly became a commercial success and spawned a sequel, The Fly 2, which debuted in theaters in 1989.

• Cast: Tia Mowry, Tamera Mowry, Kristen Wilson, Patrick Fabian
• Director: Stuart Gillard
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 60% | IMDb 5.7/10
• Run time: 87 minutes

PureWow's associate social strategist Rachel Schleider will vouch for Twitches any day.

"Twitches is one of my favorite movies of all time (and always gets an annual Halloween rewatch)," she says. "It’s absolutely iconic and always brings the perfect amount of nostalgia. Such a good cozy night in movie and really encapsulates the feeling of childhood Halloween for me."

When twin sisters Alex and Camryn are reunited on their 21st birthday, they use their magical powers to defeat the forces of darkness. The sequel, Twitches Too, was released in October 2007, and while Disney never confirmed a third installment, Tamera Mowry-Housley has opened up about wanting to reprise her character. She told People, “All we need is Disney to be down. It could be a fun Disney+ kind of movie. I think that would be dope.” Tia also said, “I would probably want to see...us being parents and helping and guiding our children on how to be incredible witches.”

• Cast: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe
• Director: Jim Gillespie
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 46% | IMDb 5.8/10
• Runtime: 101 minutes

On the eve of their high school graduation, four friends accidentally hit a man with their car while driving on the road. To cover up their crime, they dump his body and swear to never tell anyone. But one year later, each are targeted by an unidentified killer.

"I Know What You Did Last Summer is one of my favorites—pure '90s slasher nostalgia with an all-star cast of our favorite teen heartthrobs," raves Gallery Media Group vice president Amy Choi. "The most iconic scene is SMG as Helen Shivers in that chase—the department store, the window, the alley. It was everything."

I Know What You Did Last Summer, which is based on Lois Duncan’s 1973 novel of the same name, spawned two movie sequels and a television series that premiered on Prime Video back in October 2021. However, the show was canceled after just one season.

• Cast: Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Edwin Neal
• Director: Tobe Hooper
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 84% | IMDb /7.410
• Runtime: 83 minutes

After Sally (Burns) and a group of friends make a slight detour in a small town in Texas, their round trip soon turns into a living nightmare when they encounter a chainsaw-wielding maniac referred to as “Leatherface” and his family of cannibals. Despite receiving mixed reviews at the time of its release, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre went on to become a popular horror franchise, with a number of sequels and a video game under its belt. For Gallery Media Group editor Emma Lao, the film "is one of the most visceral films I've seen," she says. "Its use of horrifying, nasty practical effects sells the horror so well. The script so soooo camp and unafraid to do exactly what it wants. And who doesn't love a final girl!"

• Cast: Mia Goth, David Corenswet, Alistair Sewell 
• Director: Ti West
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 93% | IMDb 7/10
• Runtime: 102 minutes

What will you do to become a star? This is a question small-town girl Pearl (Goth) finds herself asking every day, yearning to leave her family’s farm and become famous. But her dark impulses and killer instinct threaten to break the surface. Serving as a prequel in the X franchise, this film was followed by MaXXXine, which was released in July 2024.

Gallery Media Group Senior Copywriter Reyden Weis admits he watched this just to put the Mia Goth meme into context, which, naturally, the movie did. "I'm a little split because I like the series," he says, "But it's definitely a slow burn!"

• Cast: Tamara Smart, Oona Laurence, Ian Ho, Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson
• Director: Rachel Talalay
• Rating: TV-PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 65% | IMDb 5.4/10
• Run time: 98 minutes

In this dark fantasy, a high school student named Kelly is recruited by a secret society of babysitters, who are battling a Boogeyman slash kidnapper. The movie was written by Joe Ballarini, who authored the book trilogy that the film is based on. He told Daily Dead, “The tone is very funny, and I do feel like it captures the book's essence and action. For the sake of the movie, we age it up...which I think is a pretty cool move. It’s a little different, but we got away with a little bit more in the movie.”

• Cast: Megan Suri, Neeru Bajwa, Mohana Krishnan, Betty Gabriel
• Director: Bishal Dutta
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 64% | IMDb 5.2/10
• Run time: 99 minutes

From the producers of Get Out comes the 2023 horror flick, It Lives Inside. This tells the story of an Indian-American teenager named Samidha (Suri). After having a big fight with her best friend, she releases a vengeful demon that feeds on her loneliness. The film taps into Indian traditions and mythology, which is rarely seen in the horror genre. Director Bishal Dutta has opened up about merging both Eastern and Western sensibilities. He told Script Magazine, “This film felt like an opportunity to bridge the two because I really love American horror. I love the experience I had with The Conjuring...I really love that visceral, pulse-pounding type of horror. I felt like there was a way to do both.”

• Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta
• Director: Steven Brill
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 52% | IMDb 5.3/10
• Run time: 103 minutes

The movie takes place on Halloween night in Salem, Massachusetts. When a man suddenly finds himself in the middle of a real murder investigation, he’s forced to get creative as he tries to convince the police that monsters actually do exist. With so many famous cameos (like Kenan Thompson, Shaquille O'Neal and Maya Rudolph) and Sandler’s unique brand of comedy, it’s impossible to not enjoy this comedy horror.

• Cast: Logan Miller, Deborah Woll, Taylor Russell
• Director: Adam Robitel
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 50% | IMDb 6.4/10
• Run time: 99 minutes

Loved Squid Game? Then you’ll get a kick out of this one. When six strangers are thrown into a deceiving maze, they must work together to find the exit before time runs out. Directed by Adam Robitel, the psychological horror is packed with suspense and hair-raising moments. Plus, it was followed by a 2021 sequel called Escape Room: Tournament of Champions.

• Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford
• Director: Jordan Peele
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 98% | IMDb 7.8/10
• Run time: 104 minutes

Chris is finally ready to meet his girlfriend’s parents. They seem overly accommodating at first, but things take a horrifying turn when he discovers the family’s haunting past. Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, which explores topics like racism and slavery, earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (for Kaluuya).

• Cast: Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, Robert Englund
• Director: Wes Craven
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 93% | IMDb 7.4/10
• Run time: 91 minutes

Director Wes Craven incited fear with this classic slasher film, which follows Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) as he stalks teenagers in their dreams. One of his victims, high schooler Nancy Thompson, enlists the help of her friends to investigate this terrifying killing spree. The film spawned a franchise that includes six sequels and a crossover with Friday the 13th.

• Cast: Andre Gower, Robby Kiger, Stephen Macht
• Director: Fred Dekker
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 56% | IMDb 6.9/10
• Run time: 82 minutes

In The Monster Squad, five kids are tasked with protecting their small town from the ultimate Halloween foursome: Dracula, the Mummy, the Gill Man and Frankenstein’s Monster. Although it received mixed reviews from critics, the movie became a cult classic, and in 2008, the film’s producer, Rob Cohen, confirmed there were plans to remake the movie. But in 2014, it was announced that the remake was no longer in development.

• Cast: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, Nancy Allen
• Director: Brian De Palma
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 94% | IMDb 7.4/10
• Run time: 98 minutes

Based on Stephen King’s namesake horror novel, the movie follows Carrie, a social outcast who gets bullied at school and lives with an abusive mother. When she attends a school dance, her bullies play a cruel joke on her, and she begins to discover her supernatural powers. BTW, did you know Nancy Allen initially thought her character was included for comic relief?

• Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn
• Director: William Friedkin
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 78% | IMDb 8.1/10
• Run time: 122 minutes

When Regan starts acting bizarre, her parents seek medical attention, only to realize she’s been seized by the devil. Aside from the jump scares, this film explores a wealth of important themes, from faith and puberty challenges to parenting and mental health. Understandably, The Exorcist was the first horror film to ever be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

• Cast: Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Marilyn Eastman
• Director: George A. Romero
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 95% | IMDb 7.8/10
• Run time: 96 minutes

This is the O.G. zombie movie. It’s filmed in grainy black-and-white, which automatically makes everything 100 times scarier. To protect themselves from flesh-eating monsters, a group of Pennsylvania natives find shelter in an old farmhouse. (P.S. The actors portraying the zombies going ham on corpse meat are actually eating ham covered in chocolate sauce.)

• Cast: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall
• Director: Jennifer Kent
• Rating: NR
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 98% | IMDb 6.8/10
• Run time: 96 minutes

In Jennifer Kent’s phenomenal directorial debut, a single mom is trying to help her son get over his fear of monsters—that is, until she comes face-to-face with the sinister presence itself. According to ScreenRant, Kent isn’t eager to make a sequel. She said, “If there suddenly became some desperate urge to tell a story related to that, I would probably say, ‘Okay, all bets are off. I’m going to go and make the sequel.’ But I just can’t see that happening. I feel that the idea has really been explored.”

• Cast: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O'Rourke
• Director: Tobe Hooper
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 88% | IMDb 7.3/10
• Run time: 114 minutes

The members of the Freeling family are in for a scare when they learn ghosts can access the house via their television set. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Original Score, Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Visual Effects. It was also followed by two sequels (Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Poltergeist III), and there was a 2015 remake, starring Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt and Jared Harris.

• Cast: Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Lauryn McClain
• Directors: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 70% | IMDb 6.3/10
• Run time: 92 minutes

Join a group of friends as they visit a legendary haunted house. The problem? The spooky tales they’ve been told are no match for the horrors that await them. Fun fact: When the filmmakers, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, worked on the script, they were also writing the screenplay for A Quiet Place. And get this—they were genuinely convinced that neither of these films would get made.

• Cast: Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel, Lucy Lawless, Aaron Murphy
• Director: Stephen Kay
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 13% | IMDb 4.2/10
• Run time: 89 minutes

As a child, Tim (Aaron Murphy) is haunted by the memory of his father being dragged away by the boogeyman. Years later, he’s forced to face his fears as an adult (Barry Watson). Stephen Kay’s supernatural horror led to two direct-to-video sequels: Boogeyman 2 and Boogeyman 3.

• Cast: Dale Midkiff, Denise Crosby, Fred Gwynne
• Director: Mary Lambert
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 58% | IMDb 6.5/10
• Run time: 102 minutes

We all know this list wouldn’t feel complete without a few Stephen King adaptations. The movie is a modern-day take on the fictional story about a couple who discovers a haunted burial ground near their home. The follow-up, Pet Sematary Two, was released in 1992, and another remake was released in 2019, starring Jason Clarke and Amy Seimetz.  

• Cast: Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker
• Director: Michael Dougherty
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 83% | IMDb 6.7/10
• Run time: 82 minutes

The lives of several strangers become intertwined on Halloween in this anthology horror film. The common thread? A terrifying Jack-o-Lantern demon in footie pajamas. Can they extinguish the trick-or-treating demon before midnight? Michael Dougherty, who wrote and directed the movie, announced in 2023 that a sequel is in the works. He told ScreenRant, “I want it to be as good if not better than the original.”

• Cast: Demián Bichir, Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet
• Director: Corin Hardy
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 24% | IMDb 5.3/10
• Run time: 96 minutes

When a nun takes her own life in a remote abbey in Romania, the case is sent to the Vatican for investigation, where they uncover an unholy secret. The Corin Hardy film is a spin-off of The Conjuring 2 and the fifth installment in The Conjuring universe. Though it received mixed reviews, it grossed $366 million and became the highest-grossing film in the series.

• Cast: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams
• Director: M. Night Shyamalan
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 86% | IMDb 8.2/10
• Run time: 107 minutes

Cole (Haley Joel Osment) is too scared to tell anyone about his supernatural abilities. That is, until he meets Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), who uncovers a disturbing truth. This chilling psychological thriller is filled with suspense and solid performances—which explains why it became the second-highest-grossing film of 1999. The film was also nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

• Cast: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams
• Directors: Eduardo Sánchez, Daniel Myrick
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 86% | IMDb 6.5/10
• Run time: 80 minutes

Through archived footage, three film students embark on a wild journey as they search for answers about a local murderer named Blair Witch. They conduct several interviews with locals and search for clues, but things take a terrifying turn. It’s one of the most profitable horror films of all time, and it revived the found-footage trend.

• Cast: Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling, Jasen Fisher
• Director: Nicolas Roeg
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 94% | IMDb 6.8/10
• Run time: 91 minutes

When Luke (Fisher) accidentally eavesdrops on a convention of witches, he’s forced to flee before they turn him into a test subject. The story was adapted from Roald Dahl’s The Witches, and though he reportedly disliked the movie, it received a lot of praise from critics. Huston delivers a standout performance, and there are so many memorable scenes—like when the witches take off their wigs.

• Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
• Director: Robert Eggers
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 91% | IMDb 7/10
• Run time: 93 minutes

In 1630 in New England, a religious family encounters a dark force near their home after the youngest son, Samuel, suddenly goes missing. This marked the film debuts of both Anya Taylor-Joy and Sarah Stephens, and the movie was shot in just 25 days.

Regarding his inspiration, director Robert Eggers told The Verge, “There was something about it that was intense for me. I grew up in New England, and the woods behind my house seemed haunted by New England’s past. I was very interested in Salem, and I went to Salem every Halloween. I was interested in witches and the witch trials, though I was disappointed as a kid that the witches weren’t real. Also, in Salem, people were just so over-the-top at Halloween.”

• Cast: Kristy Swanson, Donald Sutherland, Paul Reubens, Rutger Hauer, Luke Perry, Hilary Swank
• Director: Fran Rubel Kuzui
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 36% | IMDb 5.7/10
• Run time: 86 minutes

No, not the TV show. This 1992 teen hit is what inspired the TV show. Kristy Swanson plays a flighty teenager who discovers she’s blessed with vampire butt-kicking powers. (Beverly Hills, 90210 heartthrob Luke Perry also stars.)

• Cast: Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Cloris Leachman
• Director: Stuart Margolin
• Rating: TV-Y7
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 56% | IMDb 5.8/10
• Run time: 93 minutes

In an attempt to save their family home, the Olsen twins team up to outsmart their evil aunt (Cloris Leachman), who’s after a magic moonstone. Little-known fact: The movie’s title is inspired by a famous line in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In Act IV, Scene I, the three witches say, “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.”

• Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor
• Directors: Michael Chaves, James Wan
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 86% | IMDb 7.5/10
• Run time: 112 minutes

Two paranormal investigators are enlisted to help a family who recently moved into a new house. The problem? It has a supernatural presence. Cue the nightmares.

While chatting with Collider about the film’s tone, director James Wan said, “I wanted to make that a fun, creepy, sort of tongue-in-cheek movie, to some degree. But just the nature of what this film is, and the fact that it’s based on people’s stories, I want to honor that as much as I possibly can and ground it in reality as much as I possibly could. And also, it’s a period film, as well, and I want to stay true to all of that.”

• Cast: Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon
• Director: Roman Polanski
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 96% | IMDb 8/10
• Run time: 136 minutes

A young couple is desperate to conceive a baby. When they finally do, strange occurrences cause the young mother to suspect an evil cult is plotting to steal the newborn. The movie explores themes like religion, the occult, domesticity and bodily autonomy. It received two Academy Award nominations, and Ruth Gordon won the trophy for Best Supporting Actress.

• Cast: Allison Williams, Logan Browning, Steven Weber
• Director: Richard Shepard
• Rating: TV-MA
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 70% | IMDb 6.2/10
• Run time: 90 minutes

Charlotte (Allison Williams) is a talented young cellist, who’s forced to drop out of her prestigious music school to care for her ill mother. Years later, she heads down a sinister path after becoming reacquainted with the girl who replaced her. While chatting with Nightmare on Film Street about his treatment of sensitive subject matters, the film’s director Richard Shepard said, “There was an enormous amount of care and thought given by all of us to make sure that what we were doing was not being exploitative, but at the time using what was in the zeitgeist to make [The Perfection] an elevated film. Hopefully, people watch and feel uncomfortable in a good way!”

• Cast: Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw
• Director: Steven Spielberg
• Rating: PG
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 97% | IMDb 8.1/10
• Run time: 124 minutes

A New England tourist town called Amity Island finds itself feeling pretty spooked after a young woman is killed by a shark just a few days before the Fourth of July. Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) becomes a man on a mission—closing beaches and heading out to sea with a risk-taking ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) and ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) in an effort to kill the menacing Great White Shark himself. While it’s not your typical horror movie, we can guarantee plenty of jump scares throughout.

• Cast: Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Zajur
• Director: André Øvredal
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 78% | IMDb 6.2/10
• Run time: 96 minutes

Young Stella (Zoe Colletti) loves telling scary stories about her spooky home—that is, until they become all too real for her small hometown. The film is based on Alvin Schwartz’s short horror stories of the same name, and it was directed by André Øvredal. There’s also a sequel in development. In August 2023, Øvredal told IGN, “We have a story. We have a script. We’ve been working on the script as late as last year and even slightly into this year. The process obviously stopped with the strike—but it’s alive, for sure.”

• Cast: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia
• Directors: Frank Oz
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 91% | IMDb 7.1/10
• Run time: 93 minutes

The first iteration of the film was released in 1960, and it became an Off-Broadway hit in 1982. Then, in 1986, Frank Oz directed this Oscar-nominated remake, which is just as entertaining. Rick Moranis plays Seymour, a flower shop assistant pining away for his coworker Audrey (Ellen Greene), who happens to have a boyfriend (Steve Martin). But when he discovers a plant that prefers to feed on human flesh and blood—boom, problem solved.

• Cast: Lucy Hale, Tyler Posey, Violett Beane
• Director: Jeff Wadlow
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 15% | IMDb 5.2/10
• Run time: 100 minutes

It’s the childhood game we all know and love. But this time, it triggers an evil demon that forces a group of friends to confront their biggest fears. Truth or Dare, directed by Jeff Wadlow, was panned by most critics, but thrived at the box office. And according to IMDB, there’s an unrated version of the film that features more gruesome death sequences and a racier intimate scene between Hale and Posey’s characters.

• Cast: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett
• Director: Nia DaCosta
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 84% | IMDb 5.9/10
• Run time: 91 minutes

In this sequel to the 1992 classic, a young artist gets more than he bargained for after exploring the history of the infamous Candyman. (We promise, you won’t look at mirrors the same way again.) Nia DaCosta’s film incorporates plenty of social commentary, and Todd is seriously terrifying as the legendary villain. The script was written by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld and DaCosta.

• Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard
• Director: Andrés Muschietti
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 85% | IMDb 7.3/10
• Runtime: 135 minutes

Based on the 1986 novel written by Stephen King, the modern-day adaptation of It centers around seven young outcasts who believe a sinister clown is behind the disappearance of children in the neighborhood. Every 27 years, the supernatural creature emerges from the sewers to prey on the kids using their worst fears to lure them into its clutches.

The story was told in two parts, with the first part coming out in 2017 and It Chapter Two premiering in theaters in 2019. King’s novel was also adapted into an ABC television miniseries titled Stephen King’s It, which debuted on the small screen in 1990.

• Cast: David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox
• Director: Wes Craven
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 81% | IMDb 6.3/10
• Run time: 120 minutes

Set two years after the events of the first film, Scream 2 follows Sydney and Gale as they relive the same nightmare. Once again, a masked killer resurfaces and goes on a killing spree, but can Sydney and the gang stop him? Scream fans will love this sequel, which effortlessly blends humor and satire with mystery.

• Cast: Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, Laurie Bartram
• Director: Sean S. Cunningham
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 66% | IMDb 6.4/10
• Run time: 95 minutes

This infamous ‘80s slasher film centers around a group of camp counselors who are being stalked by a mysterious killer. Directed by Sean S. Cunningham, the slasher film became a box office success and spawned several sequels, including a crossover with A Nightmare on Elm Street. A prequel series, called Crystal Lake, premiered on Peacock earlier this year. In it, Jason Voorhees' mother is grieving the loss of her young son after a fatal summer camp accident. However, Jason is far from the only victim whose body begins to pop up in the lake. As the mystery unravels, we learn about how the events of Friday the 13th came to be.

• Cast: Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin
• Director: Ruben Fleischer
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 89% | IMDb 7.5/10
• Run time: 87 minutes

A thriller comedy film bringing four strangers together to survive a post-apocalyptic world. They venture on a road trip across the U.S. while fighting against their biggest threat—zombies. Zombieland made over $102 million worldwide and became the highest-grossing zombie movie in the U.S. until the release of World War Z in 2013. Oh, and did we mention that there’s a sequel called Zombieland: Double Tap?

• Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Elizabeth Lail
• Director: Emma Tammi
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 32% | IMDb 5.4/10
• Run time: 110 minutes

Based on the popular horror game, Five Nights at Freddy’s follows a troubled security guard (Hutcherson) who starts working the night shift at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. While working in the pizza joint, he soon realizes there is a dark presence lurking within the walls. (Pssst, the sequel, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, will be released in December 2025.)

• Cast: Taissa Farmiga, Storm Reid, Bonnie Aarons, Anna Popplewell
• Director: Michael Chaves
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 52% | IMDb 5.6/10
• Run time: 110 minutes

In this terrifying sequel, Sister Irene (Farmiga) returns to investigate a string of murders that have occurred all across Europe. Is the demonic nun back from the dead? This is a sequel to the 2018 OG film, The Nun, and the eighth installment in The Conjuring Universe franchise. It grossed a whopping $269.5 million, despite the mixed responses from critics.

• Cast: Kaitlyn Dever, Zack Duhame, Lauren Murray, Geraldine Singer
• Director: Brian Duffield
• Rating: PG-13
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 82% | IMDb 6.3/10
• Run time: 93 minutes

Brynn (Dever) is an isolated seamstress mourning the loss of her mother and her best friend. One day, a humanoid alien invades her home and she accidentally kills it, sending her down a terrifying path that will make her face her past. We should note this gem is Stephen King-approved. He tweeted in 2023, “No One Will Save You: Brilliant, daring, involving, scary. You have to go back over 60 years, to a Twilight Zone episode called ‘The Invaders’ (1961) to find anything remotely like it. Truly unique.” 

• Cast: Marlon Wayans, Priah Ferguson, Kelly Rowland
• Director: Jeff Wadlow
• Rating: TV-14
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 46% | IMDb 5.6/10
• Run time: 91 minutes 

Shortly after moving to a new house, a teenage girl accidentally summons an ancient spirit on Halloween. In order to save the town, she teams up with her father to stop the curse once and for all. According to director Jeff Wadlow, the filming process had its challenging moments. He told ScreenRant, “Prep was intense because we’re creating all these monsters. That was the biggest challenge of the movie. You know, it’s one thing to write, Clown or Zombie, but what does that look like? What does that zombie look like? How are we making it uniquely our own? That was the biggest challenge.”

• Cast: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa
• Director: Andrés Muschietti
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 62% | IMDb 6.5/10
• Run time: 169 minutes

It’s been 27 years since the first Pennywise encounter. And now, when people begin to disappear, the childhood friends decide to reunite as adults. Can they destroy the shape-shifting monster once and for all? Although it wasn’t as successful as its predecessor, it was still a box office success, grossing more than $473 million worldwide.

• Cast: Sophie Wilde, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji
• Director: Michael Philippou, Danny Philippou
• Rating: R
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 94% | IMDb 7.1/10
• Runtime: 95 minutes

Talk to Me follows a teenage girl named Mia (Wilde), who is still grappling with the loss of her mother. One night, she goes to a party with her best friend, and while there, the party throwers take out a demonic hand that allows anyone who touches it to talk to the dead. At the time of its release, the horror movie became a box-office success, grossing $89 million worldwide despite having a $4.5 million budget. Directors Danny and Michael Philippou announced a sequel is in the works.

To address one of the biggest debates, both Vudu and Fandango surveyed viewers to get an answer once and for all. Well, the votes are in: Hocus Pocus is the most popular Halloween flick (hence why we included it on this list).