The Classic Halloween Movies for Spooky Season
It’s almost Halloween—how exciting! Here is a list of some of my favorite classic Halloween movies for this season. I’ve seen them all, so I feel confident you’ll love at least one! Make some popcorn and find a comfy place to sit—you will be glued to your chair. Just remember to enjoy them with those around you! Although Halloween is about scares and ghosts, don’t forget the bright side of it. For me, it’s buying costumes for my dogs and filling my house with fall decorations and cute Halloween stuff.
PREPARE FOR HALLOWEEN
Beetlejuice
The trailer for Beetlejuice introduces audiences to a bizarre world where the afterlife is just as chaotic as the living. With Tim Burton’s signature gothic touch, the preview reveals the comedic antics of the film, featuring Michael Keaton as the mischievous and unpredictable ghost, Beetlejuice. The second movie was really good too, but not as good as the first one!
Practical Magic
Practical Magic is a charming blend of romance, comedy, and supernatural elements, centered around the Owens sisters, played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. The film follows their lives as they navigate the challenges of being witches in a small town, where their magical abilities come with both delightful and troublesome consequences.
Coraline
Coraline is a visually stunning and darkly imaginative stop-motion film that tells the story of a young girl who discovers a hidden door in her new home. Leading to an alternate world where everything initially seems perfect but quickly reveals sinister secrets. Adapted from Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed novel, the film follows Coraline Jones as she navigates this eerie parallel universe, uncovering the truth behind the mysterious “other” mother and confronting her fears.
Edward Scissorhands
The trailer for Edward Scissorhands offers a glimpse into Tim Burton’s fantastical world where beauty and eccentricity collide. Featuring Johnny Depp as the gentle and misunderstood Edward, a synthetic man with scissors for hands, the preview teases the film’s blend of whimsy and melancholy. With its striking visual style and hauntingly beautiful score, the trailer highlights Edward’s struggle to fit into a suburban world that both marvels at and fears his unique abilities.
The Covenant
The Covenant is a supernatural thriller that delves into the dark side of magic and legacy. Set in a New England prep school, the film follows four young men who have powerful, ancestral witchcraft abilities. Their bond is tested when a mysterious figure from their past emerges, threatening to expose their secrets and dismantle their world. With its blend of suspense, supernatural intrigue, and high-stakes drama, The Covenant explores themes of power, betrayal, and the consequences of wielding forbidden forces.
The Craft
The Craft” (1996) is about a new girl, Sarah, who joins a group of outcast teens—Nancy, Bonnie, and Rochelle—who practice witchcraft. They start off using their powers for fun and revenge, but things quickly spiral out of control, especially for Nancy, who gets obsessed with dark magic. The film dives into friendship, power struggles, and the fallout from their magical antics.
Hotel Transylvania
Hotel Transylvania is a delightful animated film that has a humorous twist on classic monster lore. The story centers on Count Dracula, voiced by Adam Sandler, who runs a lavish, secretive hotel for monsters and their families, providing a haven from the human world. His well-ordered existence is upended when a human traveler stumbles upon the hotel and captures the attention of Dracula’s teenage daughter, Mavis.
Scream
Scream is a groundbreaking 1996 horror film that revitalized the slasher genre with its blend of self-aware humor and chilling suspense. Directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, the film follows a group of high school students who become targets of a mysterious masked killer-Ghostface. The movie cleverly incorporates and subverts classic horror tropes, while its sharp dialogue and unexpected twists keep audiences on edge.
Halloween
Halloween is a seminal 1978 horror film that set the standard for the slasher genre. Directed by John Carpenter, the movie introduces the chilling character of Michael Myers, a masked killer who escapes from a mental institution and returns to his hometown to stalk teenage babysitter Laurie Strode. With its minimalist score, suspenseful pacing, and Carpenter’s skillful direction, Halloween creates an atmosphere of relentless tension and fear.
The Addams Family
The Addams Family (1991) is a darkly comedic film that brings Charles Addams’ beloved cartoon characters to life with a perfect blend of gothic humor and quirky charm. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the movie follows the eccentric and macabre Addams family as they navigate bizarre and hilarious situations when a scheming con artist poses as a long-lost relative to try and swindle them out of their fortune.
Casper
Casper (1995) is a heartwarming family film that blends supernatural elements with a touching story of friendship and acceptance. The movie centers on Casper, the friendly ghost, who haunts a spooky old mansion and longs for companionship. When a young girl named Kat and her father move in to deal with the mansion’s inheritance, Casper befriends Kat and helps her navigate the challenges of her new life.
E.T.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) is a timeless sci-fi classic directed by Steven Spielberg that captures the wonder of childhood and the power of friendship. The film follows a young boy named Elliott who discovers and befriends a stranded alien, E.T., hiding in his backyard. As Elliott and his siblings help E.T. evade government capture and find a way to return home, they form a heartfelt bond that transcends their differences.
Frankenweenie
Frankenweenie (2012), directed by Tim Burton, is a charming stop-motion animated film with a unique twist on the classic Frankenstein story. The film follows Victor Frankenstein, a young boy who brings his beloved pet dog, Sparky, back to life after an accident. As Victor’s reanimation experiment goes awry, it leads to unexpected and humorous chaos in his small town.
Zombieland
Zombieland (2009) is a clever and entertaining zombie comedy that mixes horror with humor in a post-apocalyptic setting. Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the film follows a ragtag group of survivors—played by Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin—as they navigate a world overrun by zombies while adhering to a set of survival rules.
Hocus pocus
Hocus Pocus (1993) is a beloved Halloween classic that combines magic, comedy, and family-friendly spookiness. Directed by Kenny Ortega, the film follows three witches—Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. They are resurrected in modern-day Salem after being cursed centuries earlier. As they attempt to regain their youth and wreak havoc, a group of kids, led by Max Dennison, must stop them before it’s too late.
Interview With the Vampire
Interview with the Vampire (1994), directed by Neil Jordan and based on Anne Rice’s novel, is a gothic horror film that delves into the complex lives of vampires. The movie stars Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt as Lestat and Louis, two immortal beings who grapple with their dark existence and moral dilemmas over the centuries. The film explores themes of immortality, loneliness, and the search for meaning as the vampires recount their tumultuous lives to a curious journalist.
Harry Potter
The Harry Potter series, created by J.K. Rowling, is a captivating and imaginative saga that follows the life and adventures of a young wizard, Harry Potter. For sure, one of the best Halloween movies of all time. Set in a magical world hidden within the real one, the series chronicles Harry’s journey from a mistreated orphan to a hero battling the dark wizard Voldemort. Through its seven books, the series masterfully combines themes of friendship, bravery, and the struggle between good and evil, captivating readers with its richly developed characters and intricate plotlines.
