Yahoo Lifestyle The 28 best Halloween movies ready to stream right now
From toe-eating witches to Pumpkin Kings, here are some of Entertainment Weekly's favorite films when we're feeling a little sinister.
Everett; Claudette Barius/Universal; The Disney channel
For some, autumn is actually the most wonderful time of the year. And it's never too soon to start decorating pumpkins, perusing possible costumes online, or diving into the wide, ever-expanding world of Halloween movies.
In case you're stumped about where to start this year, we've selected 28 of the best Halloween movies streaming now to help you celebrate the season, from kid-friendly flicks to horror shows you do not want to watch with the lights off.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The slasher staple that ruined sleeping (and stripes) for generations, A Nightmare on Elm Street remains one of the scariest films ever. How? Well, it's not the special effects (though Johnny Depp's demise is pretty awesome). Rather, it's the premise.
Unlike a killer hiding in the woods, a guy who gets you in your dreams is literally impossible to hide from, and watching our plucky heroine Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) trying to resist sleep presents a new kind of awful torture. Not to mention Elm Street introduced a villain for the ages in Freddy Krueger, an instant icon played by Robert Englund, whose charisma was strong enough to shine through even the thickest makeup. —Debby Wolfinsohn
Where to watch A Nightmare on Elm Street: Max
Director: Wes Craven
Cast: Robert Englund, Johnny Depp, Heather Langenkamp
Related content: A Nightmare on Elm Street movies, ranked
The Amityville Horror (1979)
Though it’s fun to imagine the Selling Sunset crew fleeing through the front door, you don't have to be a real estate expert to sense there's something a bit off about this Colonial home in Amityville, N.Y. First, there's the issue with the windows (they look like evil eyes), and then there are the bleeding walls… need we say more?
The fact that this haunted house classic is supposedly based on a true story makes it that much scarier — a familicide happened in the home just one year before the Lutz clan moved in. Meanwhile, the dark, grainy cinematography and gloriously creepy music (thank you, Lalo Schifrin) crank the fear factor up to 11. —D.W.
Where to watch The Amityville Horror: Max
Director: Stuart Rosenberg
Cast: James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger, Murray Hamilton
Related content: The 20 best haunted house films of all time, ranked
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
An American Werewolf in London was an early pioneer in horror comedy — which is not surprising, considering it was director John Landis' follow-up to films like Animal House and The Blues Brothers. David (David Naughton) and his friend Jack (Griffin Dunne) are on a British walking tour when they get attacked by a werewolf. Jack is left mauled, but it's David who has it worse as he slowly inherits the beast's curse.
Scary (watch out for those dream sequences), spooky, and surprisingly funny thanks to Dunne's performance, AAWIL may make you long for some English scenery and Halloween simultaneously. —Gwen Ihnat
Where to watch An American Werewolf in London: Tubi
Director: John Landis
Cast: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne
Related content: EW's Horror Quintessentials: The 5 best werewolf movies
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
You've likely seen the stage version of this Frank Capra classic at a high school auditorium near you, but the film offers a special black-and-white treat this time of year. Hollywood legend Cary Grant goes full-on slapstick as a man who discovers his sweet elderly aunts are actually serial killers. Things only get worse when his long-lost brother Jonathan (Raymond Massey) shows up with his partner (Priscilla Lorre), an evil, alcoholic doctor.
Arsenic and Old Lace moves at a breathless pace with our leading man's escalating horrific discoveries. Grant reportedly disliked the movie since it was his most unhinged turn onscreen, but that's part of what makes it so great. —G.I.
Where to watch Arsenic and Old Lace: Amazon Prime Video
The Babadook (2014)
Playing on parental fears, The Babadook has been scaring the daylights out of us for a solid decade now. This low-budget modern classic tells the terrifying tale of a mother, her son, and a freaky picture book that just won't go away, creating the kind of atmospheric chaos that takes up residence in your head forever.
As EW’s critic writes, "[director Jennifer] Kent takes fiendish glee in tightening the vise on both her characters and the audience… In an age when horror movies have mostly become lazy and toothless, here’s one with ambition and bite." —D.W.
Where to watch The Babadook: Netflix
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Jennifer Kent
Cast: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney
Related content: The Babadook director celebrates monster's gay icon status: 'He's trying to stay relevant'
Beetlejuice (1988)
A rare combination of comedy, horror, and heart, Beetlejuice remains a perfect movie to this day. Tim Burton's film explores the border between life and the afterlife with some of the best in the biz, from Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin’s wholesome (and dead) homeowners to Winona Ryder's angsty teen to her ridiculous mother (Catherine O'Hara) to the imp with a limp (Michael Keaton).
Though Beetlejuice exists in a macabre wonderland (its practical effects are still marvels), the film never loses its gooey center. Because even in a world of monsters, ghouls, and greedy jerks, the good guys still prevail. —D.W.
Where to watch Beetlejuice: Max
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Catherine O'Hara
Related content: Beetlejuice 'Banana Boat (Day-O)' scene, a (mini) oral history with Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara
Bell Book and Candle (1958)
The same year that Vertigo was released, Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart took their smoldering chemistry to Bell Book and Candle. Novak stars as Gillian, a chic Greenwich Village witch in the Beatnik era who owns an odd art gallery, has an unusual black cat, and uses magic to woo her neighbor (Stewart).
Stewart decided (incorrectly!) that he was getting a little long in the tooth to play romantic leads, but at least he went out with this Halloween rom-com. And if all that's not enough for you, dig Jack Lemmon playing bongos as Gillian's hipster warlock brother. —G.I.
Where to watch Bell Book and Candle: Tubi
Director: Richard Quine
Cast: Kim Novak, Jimmy Stewart, Jack Lemmon
Related content: The 26 most iconic movie cats
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
A mansion. A hurricane. A rager. A murder mystery game and a… real dead body? Sure, Bodies Bodies Bodies is the Gen Z Clue, but it's WAY more than that. It’s also a genuinely entertaining, tight thriller with plenty of laughs (and unlike Clue, an R-rating).
Who's the real killer? It’s hard to say when everyone in the room is sarcastic, untrustworthy, and a little bit sinister. The film, which EW’s critic calls "a black-hearted comedy of manners," is perfect for a stormy night hunkered down with friends — just watch your back. —D.W.
Where to watch Bodies Bodies Bodies: Max
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Halina Reijn
Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace, Pete Davidson
Related content: How A24's Bodies Bodies Bodies became the summer's must-see horror-comedy
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Diyah Pera/Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Collection
"Five horror movie archetypes walk into a creepy cabin" is the only plot point we can reveal about this film without spoiling it. And if that sounds like the beginning of a joke, you're right; The Cabin in the Woods is pure horror comedy, a 50/50 even split down the middle.
Light, silly, and satirical, knowing your genre tropes makes for an even better viewing experience. But here's a BIG warning to those who haven’t had the pleasure of watching this movie: Do NOT look at reviews! Not even the one we've linked below, because there is an important surprise you don't want to ruin. —D.W.
Where to watch The Cabin in the Woods: Peacock
EW grade: B– (read the review)
Director: Drew Goddard
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford
Related content: Cabin in the Woods: Making the monsters
The Conjuring (2013)
Want to get reeeeally scared? Just add four little words to a horror movie's description: "based on a true story." Yep, presenting supernatural incidents as quasi-historical records gets us every time, because if it can happen to them, who’s to say it can't happen to us?
Inspired by an actual case tackled by real-life married paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring details their work with the Perron family’s extremely haunted house. EW’s writer called the first film in James Wan’s franchise "deeply creepy" for a good reason; we'll be sleeping with the lights on tonight, thank you very much. —D.W.
Where to watch The Conjuring: Netflix
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: James Wan
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Joey King, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor
Related content: See the 'true' story behind The Conjuring in pictures
The Craft (1996)
"We are the weirdos, mister." Instead of croquet games or slam books, the four teen girls of The Craft use spells to help get through their adolescent angst. The result is a deserved cult film that promotes feminism and features some bonafide scares.
A new girl in town (Robin Tunney) falls in with the wrong (right?) outcast crowd, led by Fairuza Balk's demonic Nancy and completed by Rachel True's Rochelle and Neve Campbell's Bonnie. The four friends find they have much more power when banded together, but what happens when they spend too much time on the dark side? —G.I.
Director: Andrew Fleming
Cast: Fairuza Balk, Robin Tunney, Neve Campbell, Rachel True, Skeet Ulrich
Related content: The Craft: Fairuza Balk shuts down those witch rumors
Death Becomes Her (1992)
Not quite The Substance — though similar in spirit — Death Becomes Her explores aging, rage, and the desperate steps women take to remain beautiful. But hey, it's a comedy! And while Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn are certainly a blast to watch in what EW’s critic called "the most raucous catfight ever filmed," the story is more of a light-hearted romp than a stab at social commentary.
If you're craving something campy and over-the-top (Goldie with a backwards head! Meryl with a hole gaping hole in her stomach!), you'll love it. Be warned, though: The overall vibe is a bit… jittery, like downing too many fun-size Snickers on Halloween night. —D.W.
Where to watch Death Becomes Her: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis, Isabella Rossellini
Related content: The 20 best comedies on Amazon Prime Video
Evil Dead 2 (1987)
As director/actor duos go, the blood-spattered gold standard is Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, and Evil Dead 2 finds them in peak beast mode. Now, if you didn't know how much these two like each other, you might think Raimi is trying to torture Campbell here by throwing every over-the-top obstacle his way, from a possessed girlfriend to demonic trees to an attack by his own hand.
But Campbell is up for the challenge, delivering what EW’s writer describes as "a gonzo performance at the intersection between the Three Stooges and Bruce Willis." The result is horror comedy heaven, a “groovy” rollercoaster ride to hell. —D.W.
Where to watch Evil Dead 2: Plex
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Denise Bixler
Related content: Bruce Campbell says he will star in another Evil Dead movie if Sam Raimi directs
Frankenweenie (1984) / Frankenweenie (2012)
everett (2)
The wondrous creation that is Frankenweenie arrived in two stages: first as a 1984 short film (featuring none other than Shelley Duvall), and second as the feature-length stop-motion masterpiece we know and love today. Perfect for an all-ages Halloween movie night, this film is the pure essence of Tim Burton, or as EW’s critic put it, "a cool little flipbook of historical Burtonian style."
A Frankenstein parody we can all root for (who wouldn't want to bring a beloved pet back to life?) Frankenweenie is an exquisite film that is as beautiful as it is strange. —D.W.
Where to watch Frankenweenie (1984): Disney+
Where to watch Frankenweenie (2012): Disney+
EW grade: A- (read the review)
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Martin Short, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara
Related content: Tim Burton talks about Frankenweenie
Halloween (1978)
Of course, including the movie named after the holiday itself is a must for this list. Not seeing Halloween at some point this season would be like skipping It's A Wonderful Life in December.
Yes, John Carpenter's saga is still being unfurled in various sequels, but none top the original that started it all: the eerie blank mask, the multitude of jump scares, and Jamie Lee Curtis perfecting the Scream Queen mold in her debut role. There are countless slasher films to choose from today, but there's something satisfyingly nostalgic about the genre tropes set up in the 1978 trailblazer. —G.I.
Where to watch Halloween: AMC+
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Loomis, Donald Pleasence
Related content: Where to watch the Halloween movies in order by release date
Halloweentown (1998)
Disney
A G-rated family favorite for spooky season, this charming Disney Channel Original Movie concerns a kindly witch family on a mission led by matriarch Debbie Reynolds. Accompanied by tame monsters and twinkly background music, this is the perfect parent-of-littles answer to "whyyyy can't we watch a scary movie tooo?"
But maybe the most mysterious thing about Halloweentown is how director Duwayne Dunham made the jump from David Lynch films (as an editor of Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart) to Disney. Perhaps it’s that little touch of eeriness that makes this totally not-Lynchian production so much fun. —D.W.
Where to watch Halloweentown: Disney+
Director: Duwayne Dunham
Cast: Debbie Reynolds, Kimberly J. Brown, Judith Hoag, Joey Zimmerman
Related content: Halloweentown stars remember onscreen grandma Debbie Reynolds
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Hocus Pocus was considered a flop for Disney until annual rewatches around this time of year helped turn it into a cult classic. There's a reason for that longevity: Not only are the three witches (Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker) both menacing and humorous, but their demise rests on a few clever kids who have to figure out how to exorcise the devilish trio for good.
Their success obviously wasn't permanent, given Hocus Pocus 2 sees the villains return — but hey, almost 30 years of banishment is a pretty good run. —G.I.
Where to watch Hocus Pocus: Disney+
Director: Kenny Ortega
Cast: Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thora Birch, Omri Katz
Related content: Bette Midler urges Disney to hurry with Hocus Pocus 3 script: 'Get us while we're still breathing'
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
Young trainee witch Kiki (Kirsten Dunst) flies solo in this animated film from Studio Ghibli. Given the girl's broomstick proficiency, a delivery service appears to be the perfect route for her to make a living. But a few setbacks eventually have Kiki doubting her magical ability, until a time of crisis forces her into action and reveals her true strengths.
Kiki's Delivery Service is full of detailed landscapes that envelop the viewer while also being one of the sunnier Halloween movies you could stream this time of year. —G.I.
Where to watch Kiki's Delivery Service: Max
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Tress MacNeille
Related content: All of the Studio Ghibli movies, ranked
Late Night With the Devil (2024)
Courtesy of Adam White/IFC Films
David Dastmalchian in 'Late Night with the Devil.'A great pick for those who prefer atmospheric horror over gore, Late Night With Devil captures a super creepy ‘70s vibe and runs with it. All the action takes place on the set of the fictional late-night show Night Owls one fateful Halloween evening, and when we say every detail is perfect, we mean it.
Beyond the look and feel (LOTS of orange decor and side-burns), directors Colin and Cameron Cairnes nailed other era-specific components like the exaggerated way talk show guests present themselves (the psychic! the psychologist!). It’s all anchored by our host David Dastmalchian, whose haunted eyes are giving "Merv Griffin gone wrong" in a big way. —D.W.
Where to watch Late Night With the Devil: AMC+
Directors: Colin and Cameron Cairnes
Cast: David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli
Related content: How Late Night With the Devil gave Satan the talk-show hot seat
The Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Everett
As groundbreaking as a horde of the undead bursting from graves, George Romero's classic slow burner wasn't just great — it single-handedly invented the contemporary zombie concept. The legendary director’s social commentary spin on flesh-eaters made these monsters so much scarier, as if one could be lurking right outside your window. Ack!
But if you're still doubtful that something this low-budget, "old," and black-and-white could ever be a sufficiently spooky Halloween movie, just know that EW deemed it one of the scariest films of all time. —D.W.
Where to watch Night of the Living Dead: Max
EW grade: A+ (read the review)
Director: George Romero
Cast: Judith O'Dea, Duane Jones, Marilyn Eastman, Karl Hardman
Related content: From the Archives: How the classic zombie movie Night of the Living Dead refuses to die
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Sure, some people may make a case for Jack Skellington's saga to be classified as a Christmas movie, but let's not kid ourselves; Halloween Town has that name for a reason. In the enchantingly innovative Nightmare Before Christmas, the Pumpkin King decides to take over Christmas, devising a plan to kidnap "Sandy Claws" and deliver terrifying presents under trees around the world.
Director Henry Selick and producer Tim Burton's detailed stop-motion animation offers more fun details to catch every time you watch it, while Danny Elfman's score is truly magical — especially as Jack realizes the true meaning of Christmas and his real destiny. —G.I.
Where to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas: Disney+
Director: Henry Selick
Cast: Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Reubens, Glenn Shadix
Related content: Nightmare Before Christmas director criticizes 'unfair' assumption that Tim Burton directed the film
The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
"Back from the dead and ready to party?" Yes, please! In this punk rock horror comedy (with a legit soundtrack including the Cramps and the Damned), zombies are reborn with new rules (like eating brains!) that make them even scarier. It's the mid-'80s, and our intrepid crew (leather-jacketed screw-balls with names like Trash, Spider, and Scuz) must fight off the undead. Whee!
A rock-solid, fast-paced script (written by director Dan O'Bannon, who also penned a little film called Alien) and energetic performances keep this Halloween party raging on. It’s a true cult classic. —D.W.
Where to watch The Return of the Living Dead: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Dan O'Bannon
Cast: Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Linnea Quigley
Related content: The 30 best zombie movies of all time, ranked
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
Based on the anthology book many of us remember from childhood (that paperback with creepy illustrations that was always checked out from the school library), this spooky fare for the 13-and-up set has officially graduated to the big screen.
But the "gateway horror" film that EW’s critic called "handsome and deliciously horrible" is far from cute kiddie content — producer Guillermo del Toro simply wouldn't allow it. Nope, it goes right up to the line of truly disturbing, with grotesque tales of creatures, ghouls, and an extra helping of body horror that pre-teen viewers will surely find relatable. —D.W.
Where to watch Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: Netflix
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: André Øvredal
Cast: Zoe Colletti, Gabriel Rush, Austin Zajur, Michael Garza
Related content: Guillermo del Toro says Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is 'greatest hits' of books
Scream (1996)
Here's another slashic still spawning sequels decades after its release. Halloween and Scream would make an excellent double feature, as you can see exactly what the latter film is poking fun at.
A horror movie that was actually funny and clever, Scream successfully interrogates many genre tropes in a loving meta homage. Why should you never say "I'll be right back?" Why do virgins always survive? Why do potential victims run up the stairs when they should run out the door? And what's with all the masks? Indeed, Wes Craven's masterwork is a dizzying, witty display of what makes horror movies tick while being plenty scary in its own right. —G.I.
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Wes Craven
Cast: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Drew Barrymore
Related content: The Scream movies, ranked
Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)
When both Stephen King and Guillermo del Toro express their adoration for a movie, you know it’s a slam dunk. Such is the case with Tigers Are Not Afraid, director/writer Issa López's gritty tale following a band of street kids in Mexico.
Featuring some unbelievably talented child actors, this deft blend of horror, fantasy, and the true grit of children thrust into violent situations does not fall into the "fun" Halloween movie category. Rather, it should be reserved for those spooky season nights when you're craving a good curl-up 'n cry. —D.W.
Where to watch Tigers Are Not Afraid: AMC+
Director: Issa López
Cast: Paola Lara, Tenoch Huerta, Benny Emmanuel, Ianis Guerrero
Related content: How Tigers Are Not Afraid director made one of Stephen King and Guillermo del Toro's favorite new movies
Us (2019)
You could celebrate Halloween without Jordan Peele, but why would you want to? No matter what you choose from the comedian/director/horror nerd’s catalog, it's never just scary, funny, or deep — it's all of those things. And Us is no exception, being a film EW’s critic called "bloody, body-snatching fun."
Full of tensions and twists, this tale of doppelgängers gone wild is a chilling watch with an ending that will leave you breathless. You know that feeling when you step off a rollercoaster — exhilarated, terrified, laughing, and relieved? It's like that. Special shout-out to Lupita Nyong'o, whose dual-role performance wins her the creepy crown, hands down. —D.W.
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Jordan Peele
Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Evan Alex, Shahadi Wright Joseph
Related content: These are the 10 horror films that Jordan Peele gave Lupita Nyong'o to prepare for Us
The Wailing (2016)
If you haven't yet seen/heard/read about the South Korean horror chiller EW’s writer called "one of the most over-the-top, gratuitous, and devilishly fun horror pictures of the last decade," consider yourself lucky, because this film’s twists are wild, and the last thing we want to do is spoil it!
So, here's an extremely minimalist plot summary. A new person comes to a small community. Crimes happen. The investigating officer (Kwak Do-won, playing a loveable idiot type here) notices his daughter behaving in strange ways. Cue the nerve-shattering tension aaaaand… enjoy! —D.W.
Where to watch The Wailing: Netflix
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Na Hong-jin
Cast: Hwang Jung-Min, Kwak Do-won, Kim Hwan-hee, Kim Do-yoon
Related content: The 25 best Korean horror movies of all time, ranked
The Witch (2015)
A24
The film that introduced us to both Anya Taylor-Joy and the concept of pilgrim horror, The Witch flew onto the big screen like a sinister crow during a frigid New England winter. And while Satan is always a scary concept, when you're a deeply religious family living in a candle-lit cabin at the edge of the woods in 1630, it's on another level.
As EW’s writer described, "This is no morality tale. Rather, it's a film that envisions the world Puritans feared the most, one where magic is both real and more powerful (and alluring) than the savior up above." —D.W.
EW grade: A- (read the review)
Director: Robert Eggers
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
Related content: The Witch: Horror movie is a Puritan's nightmare, says director Robert Eggers
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.
