20 Best Halloween Movies

By Vlad Zakh · August 8, 2026

United States Horror intense halloween

A good Halloween list needs range: some of these will properly scare you, others are spooky-adjacent comfort food. Pick by how brave you’re feeling. Hocus Pocus isn’t remotely frightening but has become a seasonal tradition, Halloween (1978) set the template every slasher copied and still builds real tension, and Hereditary is among the few modern horrors that stays with you after the credits. The Nightmare Before Christmas manages spooky and cosy at once. Get Out, Beetlejuice, The Conjuring, Coraline, Scream, The Addams Family and Sleepy Hollow round out the list.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

01

Hocus Pocus (1993)

IMDb ★ 6.9 RT 42% Metacritic 43

Three resurrected witches chase kids around Salem on Halloween night.

Directed by Kenny Ortega · 1h 36m · Rated PG

2 wins & 11 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, fuboTV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Halloween (1978)

02

Halloween (1978)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 97% Metacritic 91

The slasher template, built almost entirely around one relentless, silent killer.

Directed by John Carpenter · 1h 31m · Rated R

9 wins & 3 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+ · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Hereditary (2018)

03

Hereditary (2018)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 90% Metacritic 87

A family's grief unravels into a hidden, generations-deep occult conspiracy.

Directed by Ari Aster · 2h 08m · Rated R

52 wins & 112 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

04

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 95% Metacritic 82

The Pumpkin King of Halloween Town stumbles onto Christmas and decides to take it over.

Directed by Henry Selick · 1h 16m · Rated PG

Nominated for 1 Oscar7 wins & 17 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, fuboTV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Get Out (2017)

05

Get Out (2017)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 98% Metacritic 85

Jordan Peele's directorial debut turns a weekend meeting the girlfriend's parents into a nightmare.

Directed by Jordan Peele · 1h 44m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar154 wins & 214 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Peacock Premium, YouTube TV, FXNow, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Beetlejuice (1988)

06

Beetlejuice (1988)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 83% Metacritic 71

A recently deceased couple hires a chaotic bio-exorcist to scare off their home's new owners.

Directed by Tim Burton · 1h 32m · Rated PG

Won 1 Oscar7 wins & 11 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Conjuring (2013)

07

The Conjuring (2013)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 86% Metacritic 68

Paranormal investigators are called in to help a family terrorised in their new farmhouse.

Directed by James Wan · 1h 52m · Rated R

15 wins & 22 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Coraline (2009)

08

Coraline (2009)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 91% Metacritic 80

A girl discovers an alternate version of her family that turns out to want to keep her forever.

Directed by Henry Selick · 1h 40m · Rated PG

Nominated for 1 Oscar8 wins & 46 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Peacock Premium, HBO Max, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Scream (1996)

09

Scream (1996)

TMDB ★ 7.3

Reinvented the slasher genre by having its characters know the rules of one.

Directed by Wes Craven · 1h 52m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Paramount+ Amazon Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Addams Family (1991)

10

The Addams Family (1991)

TMDB ★ 6.9

Funny, gothic, and just spooky enough without ever being scary.

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld · 1h 40m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Freeform · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

11

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

TMDB ★ 7.3

Tim Burton at his most atmospheric: foggy, gothic and stylish.

Directed by Tim Burton · 1h 45m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Freeform, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

It Follows (2014)

12

It Follows (2014)

IMDb ★ 6.8 RT 95% Metacritic 83

A sexually transmitted curse stalks its victims with an unhurried, unstoppable walk.

Directed by David Robert Mitchell · 1h 41m · Rated R

25 wins & 44 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ghostbusters (1984)

13

Ghostbusters (1984)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A deadpan paranormal exterminator crew saves New York from a very literal apocalypse.

Directed by Ivan Reitman · 1h 45m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Witch (2015)

14

The Witch (2015)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 91% Metacritic 84

A Puritan family's exile to the edge of the woods invites a supernatural evil.

Directed by Robert Eggers · 1h 32m · Rated R

43 wins & 72 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Casper (1995)

15

Casper (1995)

IMDb ★ 6.2 RT 59% Metacritic 49

A friendly ghost falls for the girl living in his haunted house.

Directed by Brad Silberling · 1h 40m · Rated PG

6 wins & 5 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Freeform, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Quiet Place (2018)

16

A Quiet Place (2018)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 96% Metacritic 82

A family survives in near-total silence to avoid creatures that hunt by sound.

Directed by John Krasinski · 1h 31m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar38 wins & 129 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Corpse Bride (2005)

17

Corpse Bride (2005)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 85% Metacritic 83

A nervous groom accidentally marries a dead bride in the land of the dead.

Directed by Mike Johnson & Tim Burton · 1h 17m · Rated PG

Nominated for 1 Oscar9 wins & 30 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Trick 'r Treat (2007)

18

Trick 'r Treat (2007)

TMDB ★ 6.9

Five interwoven Halloween-night stories all share the same small-town setting and a mischievous trick-or-treater.

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Practical Magic (1998)

19

Practical Magic (1998)

IMDb ★ 6.4 RT 31% Metacritic 47

Two witch sisters try to break a generations-old family curse on their love lives.

Directed by Griffin Dunne · 1h 44m · Rated PG-13

1 win & 6 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Psycho (1960)

20

Psycho (1960)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 97% Metacritic 97

A secretary's impulsive theft leads her to a motel run by a deeply disturbed young man.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock · 1h 49m · Rated R

Nominated for 4 Oscars8 wins & 14 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Peacock Premium, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+, Netflix Standard with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.