Must Watch Halloween Classics for a Spooky Night In

The lights are off, eerie music echoes from the TV screen, a pumpkin candle crackles in the corner, and a bowl of buttery popcorn sits on the coffee table. You are gripping your blanket tighter and tighter as the big tree out the window starts looking more and more like a giant skeleton.

Gory, jump-out-of-your-seat movies are an essential part of the Halloween season.

Here is a list of the best Halloween movies that everyone needs on their watch list this season. 

• Hocus Pocus (1993)

“Hocus Pocus” (1993) follows Max and his little sister Dani who awaken a witch coven one fateful Halloween night. This classic film brings a mixture of nostalgia and spookiness to any movie night. The second run was released in 2022, but unfortunately was not as well-loved as its predecessor.

• Twitches 

The Halloween Disney classic for this list is “Twitches.” Disney is known for having some of the best Halloween movies that always make you miss being a kid. From “Halloweentown” to “Don’t Look Under the Bed,” you were always in for a scary treat when tuning into the Disney channel during October. This light-hearted story follows two twin sisters who were separated at birth but reunite on their 21st birthday and discover they have magical powers. If you’re looking for a slightly scary but warm-hearted story about family and sibling bonds this is the best one for movie night. 

• The Nightmare Before Christmas 

A timeless story where chilling Halloween and jolly Christmas collide. Released in the early 90s, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is an animated classic and one of the few movies that can be watched during two separate holidays. The film embraces storytelling in musical form. Produced by Tim Burton, and directed by Henry Selick this stop-motion classic introduces memorable characters like Jack and Sally leading to the film being frequently re-released in theaters due to its popularity. 

• Monster House

Continuing with animated Halloween greatness, “Monster House” (2006) is loosely based on a true story from the early 1900s. The film follows a group of kids who discover the truth about their neighborhood which is being terrorized by a seemingly haunted house. This film emphasizes the theme of teamwork. “Monster House” is praised for its captivating story, characters, and its use of motion capture which follows the actions of human actors who are then transformed into animated digital characters. 

• Coraline

Another great classic stop-motion, “Coraline” (2009) was directed by filmmaker and animator Henry Selick who is also known for his work in “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The film focuses on Coraline’s journey as she moves to a new town and finds out that the secret door in her house welcomes her to an alternative world that seems better than the life she has. The film is known for its well-written story, strong characters, and its theme of exploration and change. “Coraline” and all the classics listed above are great choices for a fun family Halloween Movie night.

• Beetlejuice 

This 80s classic is another infamous Tim Burton film and with “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” in theaters, it wouldn’t be a proper Halloween season without rewatching the 1988 iconic movie. “Beetlejuice” revolves around a couple that haunts a family who move into their home, as the couple attempts to scare the family away they recruit Beetlejuice to help their efforts. This film is the perfect mix of comedy and paranormal.

• The Conjuring

Switching gears to a more intense kind of horror, “The Conjuring” is known as one of the most spine-chilling Halloween movies of the 21st century. It wouldn’t be a proper Halloween if you weren’t dreading the scenes of the creepiest doll, Annabelle. The film centers on paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed when they are brought to the Perron family home and begin to investigate paranormal activity. 

• Scream 

For slasher film lovers this is the perfect film for you. “Scream” makes you glad we no longer rely on house phones, leaving no room for a creepy voice to ask about your favorite scary movie. The film, released in 1996, and its successors, center around Sidney Prescott and her friends as they are stalked by a Ghostface killer who teases his victims with horror movie trivia. If you’re pulling an all-nighter put yourself to the challenge of enjoying all six movies!

• Insidious 

This film puts the paranoid feeling of moving into a new house on another level. Released in 2010, the hair-raising horror mystery shows the measures parents go to to protect their son, who falls into a coma when he is possessed by a malevolent entity. Insidious takes a new look at horror without the excessive gore. This haunting classic is ideal for viewers who love suspense and a few jump scares here and there. 

• Halloween

It is safe to say that Jamie Lee Curtis has not been able to catch a break for a long time as she continues to be stalked by Michael Meyers. Michael Meyers escapes from prison the night before Halloween and returns to his hometown to continue his murderous rampage. Halloween is one of the classics that are credited for making slashers what they are and also the first film to introduce the final girl- the character who survives the massacre of her friends. If you’re a Michael Meyers fanatic, add “Halloween H20,” “Halloween” (2018), and “Halloween Kills” (2021) to your list as well.

Honorable mentions; “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” “The Exorcist,”  “IT,” “Jeepers Creepers,” “Freddy Krueger,” “Jigsaw,” “Paranormal Activity.”