10 Classic Halloween Movies to Get You in the Spooky Spirit

This is Halloween, this is Halloween! And you know what that means — it's time to stock up on your favorite spooky movies, curl up in your favorite festive pajamas, and eat that bag of candy you bought for trick or treaters.

The horror genre is in the midst of a renaissance — movies like Get Out and Hereditary will go down in history as some of the scariest, as well as thought provoking, films of their time — but on a night like All Hallow's Eve it's fun to binge-watch some of the holiday's most classic and iconic movies. Not sure what to watch this year? Here's some of our favorite classic Halloween movies. 


Halloween (1978)

Nothing says "Halloween" like the movie that transformed the horror genre — the 1978 classic is literally named after the holiday. Though the new reboot looks pretty creepy, there's just something about John Carpenter's original that feels like a, well, Halloween tradition. 

From the POV opening scene to the ominous score (don't even get us started on that final Michael Myers moment) Halloween is the quintessential movie to celebrate All Hallows Eve.


Beetlejuice (1988)

Tim Burton's Beetlejuice has just the right mix of horror and bizarre-o comedy that it's become a cult classic and Halloween go-to. Michael Keaton's performance of the titular character is one that will be engrained in your memory forever, and you'll never be able to listen to Harry Belafonte's "JDay-o (Banana Boat Song)" the same way again. 


The Exorcist (1973)

Thought of by many as the greatest horror film of all time, The Exorcist is perfect for your Halloween movie night. William Friedkin's 1973 classic is a masterpiece of the genre and one of the most unnerving films ever made. Though a demonic possession movie at its core, The Exorcist is also an emotional study as Chris MacNeil tries to save her daughter from evil.


Hocus Pocus (1993)

Though relatively obscure when it came out in 1993, Hocus Pocus has become synonymous with Halloween. The horror-comedy stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy as witches who get summoned by modern day teenagers after being hung for witchcraft in Salem 300 years prior. If you want a spirited yet light-hearted movie to watch this Halloween, Hocus Pocus is the perfect option.


Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Edward Scissorhands marked the first of many Tim Burton/Johnny Depp collaborations, and some may argue it's their best (or at least most emotional). Depp plays Edward, a perfect human creation thats creator dies before his completion. As a result, his hands are made of metal scissors. Stuck in a tower, Edward's life changes when a woman named Peg discovers him and brings him into her home. The community loves him at first, but his dangerous limbs make him an outcast. If you'd rather ugly cry than scream on All Hallows Eve, this is the movie for you.


Scream (1996)

The ghost-masked killer in the Scream franchise is surely one of the most iconic pop culture images of the '90s, and the first time we saw him in 1996 was absolutely terrifying. The movie rejuvenated the horror genre by incorporating comedy and playing off the tropes of the classic slasher movies that came before it.


The Addams Family (1991)

They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky, they're all together ooky, and they're the quintessential gothic family! The Addams Family has been making people laugh with their creepy antics since the '60s, but it's the 1991 lighthearted goth-comedy that should be on everyone's Halloween binge-watch list. 


Carrie (1976)

Carrie is the ultimate revenge movie. Though there was a 2017 reboot of the classic horror film, we want to focus on the original. Sissy Spacek is the perfect Carrie White — a gawky, lanky teen who is used to getting tormented by her classmates and her cuckoo mother. But when she's had enough, beware. When she unleashes her telekinesis, those who have wronged her have hell to pay.  


The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Yes, we are aware that this is the third Tim Burton movie on the list, but he just does Halloween so well! The Nightmare Before Christmas may technically be a Christmas movie, but protagonist Jack Skellington's homebase of Halloween Town is delightfully festive (also "This Is Halloween" is one of the best songs ever written about the holiday). This is one of those movies you can watch all holiday season and justify it.


It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

The most OG movie on this list isn't the least bit scary, but it's possibly the most classic Halloween film ever made. It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a festive, family-friendly flick that's focused around Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin on Halloween night, even though his friends tell him it's not real. The Peanut gang can put a smile on anyone's face, and is iconic throughout generations.

For the best Halloween music, check out Halloween Radio on iHeartRadio.