Halloween, a holiday filled with eerie tales, autumn chills, and festive frights, is an ideal time to indulge in cinematic scares. As darkness creeps earlier each evening and leaves rustle ominously in the wind, film enthusiasts and casual viewers can seek out movies that capture the essence of this haunted season.
10 Best Horror Movies, Ranked
Brace yourself for horror and terror with must-see hits like The Conjuring, Ready or Not, and The Exorcist.
From iconic slasher flicks that have defined a generation like Friday the 13th to tales infused with the Halloween spirit, there’s a movie for every thrill-seeker. These films span various horror genres, including supernatural, psychological, and wish-granting. This is a list of the best movies to watch on Halloween.
10Wishmaster (1997)
Wishmaster introduces the audience to an ancient evil djinn, a wish-granting entity bound to wreak havoc once released. When a gem containing the djinn is accidentally discovered and damaged during a heist, the creature is freed.
The djinn embarks on a mission to grant three wishes to the person who released him, Alexandra Amberson, with the third wish allowing his kind to overrun Earth. As the djinn tricks people into making wishes, he turns their desires into horrifying outcomes. Alexandra learns the djinn’s history and intentions and tries to thwart him.
9Warlock (1989)
Warlock follows a powerful, evil 17th-century warlock who escapes execution by transporting himself to the 20th century, pursued by witch-hunter Giles Redferne. In modern-day Los Angeles, the warlock seeks the three parts of the Grand Grimoire, a Satanic book that will reveal the true name of God.
10 Best Spooky Non-Horror Games for Halloween
For those looking to get in the Halloween spirit but not wanting something like a haunted house, here are some delightfully spooky games!
Unspeaking this name will undo all creation. As he collects the pieces, he leaves a trail of magical chaos. Kassandra, a young woman he cursed with rapid aging, teams up with Redferne. As the duo races against time, they confront and battle the warlock.
8Trick ‘R Treat (2007)
Trick ‘r Treat is a horror anthology film interweaving multiple tales centered around Halloween traditions. In a small town, several stories unfold, such as a couple discovering the danger of extinguishing a jack-o’-lantern before midnight, a school principal hiding his dark secret as a serial killer, and more.
Sam, a mysterious and childlike figure wearing burlap sack headgear, appears in each story to ensure that the traditions of Halloween are respected. The film champions the spirit and rules of Halloween, revealing the consequences for those who break them.
7House Of Wax (2005)
House of Wax is a horror film about a group of friends on a road trip who become stranded near a desolate town. They discover a seemingly abandoned wax museum, which is the town’s main attraction.
Curiosity turns to horror when they realize the lifelike wax figures are the preserved bodies of former visitors. The twins, Vincent and Bo, kill and turn people into wax statues. The group is hunted down one by one. Carly and her brother Nick are the last survivors who end up clashing with the twins.
6Scream (1996)
Scream (1996) revitalizes theslasher moviesgenre with a creative take. In the town of Woodsboro, high school student Sidney Prescott still grieves her mother’s murder from a year ago. Suddenly, a masked killer, Ghostface, starts killing Sidney’s peers. The killer uses horror movie tropes and quizzes victims on horror trivia.
As the body count rises, it’s clear Sidney is the main target. The town’s past, particularly Sidney’s mother’s affairs, intertwines with the present murders. Sidney turns the tables with the help of reporter Gale Weathers and Deputy Dewey.
5Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Rosemary’s Baby follows young couple Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse as they move into an old New York City apartment with a disturbing history. Their neighbors, the Castevets, are peculiarly intrusive. After Guy befriends them, his acting career suddenly flourishes.
10 Best Classic Horror Movies
From House of Wax to Dracula and Frankenstein, these movies are some of the finest examples of classic horror genre fans can hope to see.
Rosemary becomes pregnant, but her pregnancy is unusually painful. She becomes suspicious, especially after consuming a strange herbal drink the Castevets give her. She soon discovers a horrifying truth: her husband has made a pact with the Castevets, who are Satanists, offering his unborn child in exchange for success.
4The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas is acreepy children’s filmthat takes place in Halloween Town. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, has become tired of the same annual spooky celebrations. Stumbling upon a portal to Christmas Town, he’s captivated by its joy. Determined to take over Christmas, Jack assigns Halloween Town residents tasks like kidnapping Santa Claus.
However, Jack’s understanding of Christmas is skewed, leading to chaos on Christmas Eve. With Santa in danger and Christmas spiraling into horror, Sally, a ragdoll in love with Jack, foresees the impending disaster, causing Jack to rescue Santa.
3Halloween (1978)
Halloween is a horror classic set in Haddonfield, Illinois, where a six-year-old Michael Myers brutally kills his sister on Halloween night and is institutionalized. Fifteen years later, he escapes and returns to Haddonfield. Michael’s psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis, pursues him, convinced he will kill again.
On Halloween night, teenager Laurie Strode and her friends become Michael’s targets. Wearing a white mask, he stalks and kills them individually, but Laurie escapes. The film ends with the chilling realization that Michael is still at large, setting the stage for numerous sequels.
2Hellraiser (1987)
Hellraiser delves into pleasure, pain, and the supernatural. Frank Cotton obtains a mysterious puzzle box, the Lament Configuration. Upon solving it, he’s transported to a dimension of torment and torn apart by Cenobites, led by Pinhead.
Later, Frank’s brother Larry moves into their old family home with his wife Julia, who once had an affair with Frank. An accident spills Larry’s blood on the attic floor, partially resurrecting Frank. Julia lures men for him to consume and fully regenerate. However, Frank’s niece, Kirsty,the final girl, discovers the truth and tries to stop them.
1Friday The 13th (1980)
Friday the 13th is set at the reopened Camp Crystal Lake. As the new counselors prepare for summer, they’re stalked and systematically killed by an unseen assailant. Amidst the escalating terror, campfire tales recount the tragedy of a young boy, Jason Voorhees, who drowned due to counselor negligence.
In the climax, the final counselor, Alice, encounters the killer and escapes. Thinking it’s over, Alice takes refuge in a canoe, only to be pulled underwater by a decayed Jason in a shocking twist, though she survives. The film spawned numerous sequels and became a defining slasher franchise.
