7 Halloween Movies to Give You the Chills

Lots of people like to watch scary or funny Halloween movies this time of year. These movies can be a fun Halloween tradition for you and your family or friends.

Let's talk about 7 of the best Halloween movies to get you in the spooky spirit!

1Hocus Pocus (1993) – The Quintessential Halloween Film

When it comes to the perfect movie to kick off the Halloween season, there’s no better choice than the 1993 classic Hocus Pocus. Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the delightfully wicked Sanderson sisters, this Halloween-themed fantasy comedy has become a beloved favorite.

After accidentally being resurrected 300 years after their deaths, the witchy Sanderson sisters set out to continue their quest for eternal youth by sucking the lives out of Salem’s children. It’s up to skeptical California teenager Max (Omri Katz) and his younger sister Dani (Thora Birch) to put a stop to the sisters and save Halloween.

Hocus Pocus combines humor, whimsy, and just the right amount of spookiness, making it a fun Halloween watch the whole family will enjoy. With Midler, Parker, and Najimy’s perfect on-screen chemistry and quotable one-liners (“Hello, Salem!”), it’s impossible not to fall under this film’s spell. Hocus Pocus brings the laughs, nostalgia, and Warner charm we all crave this time of year.

2Halloween (1978) – The Slasher Classic

No list of essential Halloween movies is complete without the original 1978 slasher flick simply titled Halloween. Directed by legendary horror filmmaker John Carpenter, Halloween introduced the world to the terrifying Michael Myers, setting the standard for modern horror villains.

The film opens in 1963 when six-year-old Michael brutally murders his older sister on Halloween night. He spends 15 years locked in a psychiatric hospital, only to escape and return to his small hometown of Haddonfield to continue his killing spree.

Halloween keeps viewers on the edge of their seats through expertly crafted suspense and now-iconic scenes like Michael hiding ghostly still behind a billowing sheet. While horror movies have certainly gotten gorier since its release over 40 years ago, this OG slasher movie still delivers legitimate chills today. Halloween remains a must-watch each holiday season.

3The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – Halloween Meets Christmas

For a movie that cleverly combines Halloween and Christmas themes into one ghoulishly delightful package, you can’t miss The Nightmare Before Christmas. Directed by stop-motion extraordinaire Henry Selick, this critically acclaimed fantasy film follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town who stumbles upon Christmas Town and becomes obsessed with bringing Christmas under his control.

Between the creative and visual artistry of filming real-life stop-motion models and Danny Elfman’s sing-songy soundtrack, the world of The Nightmare Before Christmas feels fully alive. As a bridge between two beloved holiday seasons, it’s a merry treat for Halloween and Christmas lovers alike. ‘Tis the nightmare before Christmas, indeed!

4Halloweentown (1998) – A Disney Channel Halloween Classic

A list of the best family-friendly Halloween movies wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion of a Disney Channel Original gem – 1998’s Halloweentown. For ‘90s kids especially, this film is bursting with nostalgia.

On her 13th Halloween,average teen Marnie (Kimberly J. Brown) discovers she comes from a long line of witches. Against her mother’s wishes, she and her siblings follow their grandmother Aggie (the fabulous Debbie Reynolds) back to their ancestral home of Halloweentown– a magical place filled with ghosts, ghouls, werewolves and other creatures.

Together, Aggie and the kids must help save Halloweentown from the evil plans of dark magician Kalabar. With its endearing cast, adventurous plot and OG-Disney-Channel-Halloween vibes, Halloweentown is family-friendly frightful fun.

5Trick 'r Treat (2007) – A Spooktacular Halloween Anthology

For a scary yet playfully twisty Halloween tale, the 2007 anthology horror movie Trick 'r Treat delivers frights and delights. Interweaving several loosely connected stories all taking place on the same Halloween night, Trick 'r Treat introduces audiences to a wild and unpredictable cast of characters.

There’s a group of teens pulling deadly pranks, a creepy grade school principal with shocking extracurricular activities, and a woman who absolutely despises Halloween. Tying the wild stories together is Sam – a mysterious child-like figure clad in orange footie pajamas and a burlap sack over his head who makes sure the cruel and heartless pay for ignoring the traditions of Halloween.

Balancing scares and laughs, Trick 'r Treat captures the Halloween spirit perfectly. It’s suspenseful, scary and visually stunning – an underrated gem you need on your Halloween watch list.

6It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) – A Short and Sweet Halloween Classic

For charming Halloween nostalgia you can experience in just a half hour, it doesn’t get any better than the iconic It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. In the 1966 animated Peanuts special, hapless hero Charlie Brown struggles to keep the spirit of Halloween alive amongst his friends.

While ghosts and ghouls don’t actually appear (unless you count Snoopy’s WWI fighter pilot getup), the endearing Peanuts gang gets into all sorts of wholesome holiday hijinks – from Charlie Brown missing trick-or-treats thanks to his too-numerous holes ghost costume, to his pal Linus staunchly believing in the mythical “Great Pumpkin” he waits for in the pumpkin patch each year.

Through the decades, fans never tire of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown sweet, nostalgic slice of Halloween happiness. It retains every bit of its quaint charm making it essential viewing every spooky season.

7Ghostbusters (1984) – An Iconic Halloween Comedy

No Halloween is complete without taking in a viewing of the beloved supernatural comedy classic Ghostbusters. Starring comedy legends and SNL alums Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis, Ghostbusters tells the story of three eccentric parapsychologists who start a ghost-catching business in New York City.

As CGI-cluttered action movie spectacles have become the norm, the practical effects, sarcastic wit and deftly-told straightforward story of Ghostbusters makes it a nostalgic ‘80s romp that holds up decades later. And it has one of the most iconic theme songs in movie history.

For a family-friendly taste of paranormal activity mixed with hilarity, you can’t go wrong with Ghostbusters – perfect for getting the whole family into the spooky spirit!

When autumn leaves litter sidewalks and darkness falls a bit earlier each night, the irresistible urge strikes to dim the lights and take in a frightening flick. This Halloween season, gather ‘round the cauldron and indulge your craving for tricks and treats with these scream-tastic Halloween movie favorites sure to rouse some spooky spirits!

8More Halloween Favorites to Haunt Your Screens

If you’ve already plowed through the top 7 Halloween movie recommendations, the frightful fun doesn’t have to stop there. Keep the creepy vibes flowing with even more lesser-known seasonal cinema to fill your watchlist:

No matter which scary movies you choose, a bewitching mix of screams and laughs awaits this spooky season!

9Final Words

Watching an enjoyable Halloween movie is a fun way for both kids and adults to celebrate the spooky season. The films on this list offer a variety of scares, laughs, nostalgia and family-friendly options to choose from. Pop some popcorn, dim the lights and have a movie marathon night with your favorite people!

Just take note of ratings so little ones don’t see something too frightening. These movies will help you see the lighter side of ghosts, monsters and the creepy side of Halloween while making beloved memories. Have a safe and Happy Halloween!