Watching a scary film or three on Halloween is kind of a no-brainer. It’s the perfect time to watch a horror movie either alone or in the company of friends and family. The thing is that sometimes the scariest part of the experience is trying to figure out what to watch. With so much content available, by the time you are done searching through endless titles, you might not have the bandwidth to actually watch anything. Never fear, because I am here to provide you with a curated list of must-see horror movies to watch this Halloween.
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And how did I curate this list? Well, instead of relying on my taste alone, I crowdsourced. I asked friends, my kids, and people at the dog park to share their favorite horror films. The great part about doing that is that I ended up with a list that appeals to a wide variety of ages. Below, you’ll find the spooky movies, along with ratings from PG to R, that you can stream on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or Max. Plus one film that is still in theaters.
'Hereditary' is available on Hulu.
Rated R, the film came out in 2018 and stars Toni Collette as Annie. When Annie’s mom passes away, the Graham family learns some truly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. This movie scared me so much that the next day, I kept thinking I saw things hiding in the corners of the ceilings in our home.
'The Conjuring' is available on Max.
Rated R, The Conjuring came out in 2013. It is based on a true story about the Perron family who lived in a farmhouse in Rhode Island in the 1970s where they experienced paranormal activities. The family reaches out to a couple who are paranormal investigators and demonologists get called in to help. Of course, the movie takes creative license, but knowing that it’s based on a true story makes it feel oh-so spooky.
'Us' is available on Hulu.
Rated R, the film came out in 2019. It’s about a family that returns to their vacation home after a day at the beach. When darkness falls, the Wilsons discover the silhouette of four figures holding hands as they stand in the driveway. They are later terrorized by home invaders that look just like them.
'Poltergeist' is available on Max.
Rated PG, the film came out in 1982. It’s about a family that is visited by ghosts. The ghosts seem friendly at first, and move objects around the house, amusing everyone, but then they turn sinister and eventually kidnap the youngest daughter. I would say this film is a horror classic and anyone who loves the genre should see it at least once.
'Goosebumps' is available on Amazon Prime.
Rated PG, the film came out in 2015. The film stars Jack Black as writer R.L. Stine, the famous author of the best-selling Goosebumps book series, whose imaginary monsters are kept trapped within books until they are accidentally set free.
'The Fly' is available on Hulu.
Rated R, the film came out in 1986. It stars Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis in a story about an eccentric scientist, who after building a teleportation device, decides to try it out himself. Unfortunately, a housefly decides to come along for the ride, leading to man and fly becoming one.
'The Babadook' is available on Netfilx.
Rated TV-MA, the film came out in 2014. It tells the story of Amelia, a widow who lost her husband in a car accident while he was driving to the delivery of their son Sam. Sam is now 6 and having behavioral issues when a creepy pop-up book, The Babadook, mysteriously appears on his bookshelf.
'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' is available on Netflix.
Rated PG-13, the film came out in 2019. It’s set in 1968 and follows a group of teens who are trick-or-treating and find themselves having to hide from bullies in a haunted house that has a book full of terrifying stories.
'The Substance' is currently in theaters.
Rated R, the film was released on September 20, 2024, and is in theaters as of this writing. It stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid. It was the winner of the best screenplay award at 2024 Cannes Film Festival and tells the story a famous aerobics instructor who gets fired after turning 50. Then, a laboratory offers her a substance that promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself.
'The Sixth Sense' is available on Hulu.
Rated PG-13, the movie came out in 1999. Basically, it’s about a little boy who sees ghosts and finds himself having to help them. I recently rewatched this film with my kids and I can say that it stands the test of time. They liked it and were as surprised as I was the first time I watched it.
'The Shining' is available on Max.
Rated R, the film came out in 1980. Jack Nicholson plays a writer who becomes the winter caretaker for an isolated Colorado hotel. He brings his wife (Shelley Duvall) and their son along. Adapted for the screen from the Stephen King novel, it was directed by Stanley Kubrick and is one of those films you should see at least once in your life.
