As summer takes its dying breath, autumn is here once again to resurrect the spirit of “spooky season.” Crisp air and vibrant leaves will relieve the summer’s leftover unwanted heat, but the itch to watch a good horror film is hard to resist. The best part about the pairing of October and a good scary movie is the variety of scares there are. Halloween looks different to everyone, and one might prefer a good possession movie, or a werewolf film with a killer transformation to truly get them in the spirit.

From popcorn horror to family-friendly favorites, it is hard to narrow down a list of the absolute definitive best, but there are enough movies to fill every night in October and still have some leftovers to ease those post-Halloween blues. This list will cite everything from heartfelt favorites to gruesome jump scares. So, cuddle up with a pumpkin spice latte, and grab the popcorn. Here are the 12 must-watch movies for Halloween.

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12 Scream

     Dimension Films

Scream, Wes Craven’s 1996 hit, is best known for its iconic masked killer and for giving one of the most highly regarded final girls in horror. The franchise launched a new era for the genre, revitalizing slasher flicks for the modern audience. The sequels evolved with current times, introducing new trends and technologies to keep Ghostface as modern as possible. Although Scream offers up more laughs than scares, the film is versatile and can be watched at any point during the year. However, the ease and comfort that Scream’s ultra meta 90’s vibes encompass makes it an easy must-watch for Halloween.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

11 Monster House

     Sony Pictures Releasing

Stop-motion animation fits like a glove when it comes to fantasy/horror films. Monster House sits among some of the most unforgettable animated horror films like Coraline and A Nightmare Before Christmas. Despite the film’s PG-rating, Monster House brings your typical haunted house to life, giving it human characteristics and allowing the movie’s ultimate reveal to be all the more satisfying. What grants Monster House the ability to be a Halloween must-watch is the film’s effortlessness in capturing the child-like joy of the season.

10 Fright Night (1985)

     Columbia Pictures 

Fright Night can best be described as the vampire version of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window, with a twinge of 80s horror flair. Charlie Brewster, played by William Ragsdale, suspects that his new neighbor is a vampire who is responsible for all the recent missing persons cases. Despite some cheesy scenes, Fright Night is easily one of the best vampire movies of the 80s and even has a half decent remake that came out in 2011 to back it.

9 An American Werewolf in London

     Universal Pictures

Much like vampires, werewolves are a Halloween staple. An American Werewolf in London has one of the best werewolf transformation scenes in horror history. According to Bloody Disgusting, the transformation scene took months to prepare for, and numerous limbs were created to make the scene work. The film came out the same year as The Howling, another werewolf film of the 80s, but An American Werewolf in London has long withstood the test of time.

8 Hell Fest

     Valhalla Motion Pictures

2018’s Hell Fest under-delivers as far as gore goes, but the movie’s overall set design makes it an easy popcorn horror flick. The entire movie takes place at a traveling horror amusement park, much like that of Six Flags’ Fright Fest or Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. The highly unlikable teens find themselves the target of a masked murderer who lurks around the park, only to be revealed that it isn’t the first time he has done this. Hell Fest will make you think twice about attending a massive haunted attraction.

7 The Conjuring

     Warner Bros. 

James Wan’s The Conjuring is one of the highest-grossing horror fanchises of all time. The films follow demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren (portrayed by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson). The 2013 film sparked three sequels featuring the Warrens and five spin-off films focusing on the demons they have faced, thus creating The Conjuring Universe. The first film is a perfect watch for Halloween, as the demonic possession in the first installment to the franchise is unmatched.

6 Halloweentown

     Disney

Halloweentown made Debbie Reynolds every child’s witch-grandmother. The Disney Channel Original Movie may be cheesy and for kids, but it is hard not to have a soft spot for the movie especially if you grew up with it. Classic Halloween tropes and a giant jack-o-lantern in the middle of the town easily bring out the child-like wonder of the holiday.

5 Night of the Living Dead

     Continental Distributing

Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 black and white film, and the first of George A. Romero’s string of plots featuring the undead. Today, the film is best known for its staunch political statements, and for being shot on a low budget all while being granted high return in box office earnings. The film overall is a slow burn, and doesn’t offer as much excitement as Romero’s 1985 hit Return of the Living Dead.

4 Poltergeist

     Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

The directorial pairing of Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg is one that could truly only work on a film like 1982’s Poltergeist. According to Screen Rant, Spielberg was contractually obligated to direct E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and couldn’t do Poltergeist at the same time. However, Spielberg had a heavier hand in the film than initially intended, and the ripple of his style can be felt throughout. Poltergeist is the ultimate haunted house / possession film and has influenced movies throughout the decades.

3 Hocus Pocus

     Walt Disney Pictures

Hocus Pocus is the ultimate Halloween movie that is a fit for everyone. The Sanderson sisters, although hungry for innocent children’s souls, aren’t as threatening as other Halloween creature features or possessive demons. According to Insider, Hocus Pocus is the most popular movie to watch on Halloween, and there is no question as to why. October 2022 is going to be extra special being Hocus Pocus 2 will be premiering on Disney+ on September 30.

2 Trick ‘r Treat

     Legendary Entertainment 

For lovers of fall and all things Halloween, one of the most important aspects of a Halloween must-watch is how a movie captures the season. Trick ‘r Treat perfectly captures what Halloween feels like. The leaves, the lights, and even the crispness in the air can be felt throughout the film. Trick ‘r Treat was directed by Michael Dougherty and has a similar style to his 2015 movie Krampus. The film was adapted from a graphic novel and serves as a horror anthology, with all the stories intertwining in the end. Despite its now cult following, Trick ‘r Treat was a direct to DVD release, however, the film will be brought to theaters for the first time ever for the 2022 Halloween season.

1 Halloween (1978)

     Compass International Pictures

Halloween sits among one of the longest-running horror franchises in history, showcasing a total of 11 films (so far). Michael Myers is arguably one of the most iconic masked slashers and the face of Halloween itself. John Carpenter’s masterpiece has long been regarded as one of the best horror films ever made, and owns the simple premise of a random stalker lurking in the shadows. Myers’ reign in horror resurfaced in 2018 when Blumhouse Productions released Halloween 2018, announcing the film would be a direct sequel to the 1978 classic. The last of Blumhouse’s editions is set to hit theaters on October 14, 2022. Halloween, whether it be the original, the sequels, or the newest editions is an essential Halloween annual must-watch.