13 Movies to Watch Before Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner. But before trick-or-treaters come a-knockin’, you still have time to get into the spooky spirit by having a Halloween-themed movie day (or, you know, several). Here are 13 movies to watch in celebration of All Hallow’s Eve.

1. Halloween

You can’t go wrong with this 1978 classic. Every horror buff needs to watch it at least once to understand its cultural significance, as well as just to enjoy what’s still one of the best scare flicks of all time. It’s also great to see Jamie Lee Curtis play one of the first final girls. (Not for nothing, the 2018 continuation of the Halloween series is also a great watch).

2. Hush

Hush, available on Netflix, is a heart-pounder. The movie tells the story of a deaf writer who is working on her novel in a secluded cabin. Everything takes a turn for the worse when a masked intruder makes his way onto her property.

3. Young Frankenstein

If you want something on the sillier side, put on Mel Brooks’s Young Frankenstein. This parody of the 1931 horror classic Frankenstein is wildly entertaining. Comedy legends Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, and Cloris Leachman all bring their A-game and prove that now and then even dated comedy can remain hysterical.

4. Hereditary

Hereditary came out just last year, and was deemed the scariest movie of 2018. If you have a penchant for getting legitimately spooked by these films, you may want to leave the lights on – but it’s so well done it’s ultimately worth checking out if you can get through it!

5. Halloweentown

If you happen to be a ’90s kid, there’s no better Halloween movie than Halloweentown. You’ll be blanketed by nostalgia as you watch Marnie discover her family’s spooky secret on her 13th birthday. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the Disney Channel flick, Debbie Gibson’s dynamic performance as Marnie’s magical grandmother is worth the watch.

6. Scream

Scream is arguably famed horror director Wes Craven’s best film. The tongue-in-cheek movie will make you afraid of answering your own phone, if you haven’t seen it before, but it may also become one of your favorites the more you think about it.

7. It 2

If you’re afraid of clowns, you may want to skip this one. But if you enjoy Stephen King adaptations, you liked It, or you’re just interested in something new and unfazed by Pennywise the Dancing Clown, you can actually catch It 2 in theaters now.

8. Suspiria

Disclaimer: this 2018 film is not for the weak of heart. If you think you can stomach it though, you’re in for a treat. Suspiria’s cinematography is stunning, and Dakota Johnson is magnetic.

9. Joker

Despite Joker being surrounded by controversy, this is another current film worth a trip to the theaters. Joaquin Phoenix has received rave reviews in the titular role, to the point that when the American betting sites start putting out Academy Awards odds, he’s expected to lead the betting for Best Actor. Aside all of that though, a whole movie about a guy adopting a creepy clown persona is perfect for the holiday.

10. The Craft

Who doesn’t want to watch a movie about teenagers getting into witchcraft? The Craft is a favorite of anyone who went through a “goth phrase” in high school during the 1990s, but is fun for just about everyone else with a passing interest in horror themes also.

11. Little Shop Of Horrors

Have you ever been curious as to what would happen if you were to come across a talking plant that craves human flesh? Well, Little Shop Of Horrors will provide you with some answers. Even beyond that basic premise though, this is a nice Halloween season flick for changing up the tone between scarier movies. As much as it’s a horror film, it’s also a comedic rock musical.

12. Practical Magic

Practical Magic is a quaint story about two sisters, played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, who happen to be witches. It may not be the scariest movie on the list, but it’s sort of delightful, and certainly fits the season.

13. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Naturally it’s a far more playful option, but It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is such a staple of the season that there are articles online about when it’s going to air on TV (to satisfy all of the fans’ curiosity). No one does holidays like Peanuts, and watching Linus trying to convince his friends that the Great Pumpkin exists just won’t ever get old.