Spooky Season is here, and Halloween is upon us, so it’s time to get in the Halloween spirit by watching your favorite Halloween movies. Whether it’s in the background while you’re decorating, or on a cozy Friday night, these are my picks for the best movies to watch to get in the Halloween Spirit.
My first pick is a must watch for the Halloween season and that is Hocus Pocus. Released in 1993, Hocus Pocus quickly secured a spot as one the best Halloween movies of all time. Directed by Kenny Ortega, the film is sure to entertain kids, but it’s spooky enough for parents to enjoy with them. The movie still holds up three decades later and even got a sequel in 2022 that sees the return of the Sanderson Sisters. While I wouldn’t necessarily say that the sequel is a must watch, the first installment is a must watch every Halloween.
Now you can’t have Halloween without everyone’s favorite killer doll, which is why Child’s Play (1988) is at the top of my list of movies to watch for the Halloween season. Chucky is an iconic character during the Halloween season, which is why the first Child’s Play film is a must-watch, and if you like the first film, then you have six more films you can watch after that. Chucky even got his television series simply titled ‘Chucky’ that came out in 2021, and it’s currently going on its third season starting October 4, 2023.
I also must give a shout-out to Hubie Halloween on Netflix starring Adam Sandler. This is probably the most questionable movie in this article, but Hubie Halloween is a huge guilty pleasure of mine, and it definitely gets you in the Halloween spirit. So, if you dare, give Hubie Halloween a watch this Halloween.
My next recommendation is a Halloween classic. I mean, It’s in the name! Halloween came out in 1978 and created one of the most recognizable Halloween icons, Michael Myers. This entire franchise as a whole has a total of 13 films, so you are sure to never run out of Michael Myers this Halloween.
The next movie is one that the entire family can enjoy, and that’s Goosebumps. Starring Jack Black as author R.L. Stine, Goosebumps was released in 2015 and is based off the incredibly popular children’s book series. This movie is such a joy to watch, and it’s one that I rewatch every Halloween. The movie was enough of a success that it got a sequel in 2018, but it was met with much worse critical and audience reactions. Goosebumps might not a movie that everyone considers a classic, but that’s because it only came out 7 years ago. With time, I’m sure Goosebumps will become a Halloween classic.
I don’t have enough time to talk about each of these films individually, but if you’re a fan of stop motion animation, definitely check out the following: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, Corpse Bride, and ParaNorman. ParaNorman especially is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I definitely think it deserves to be watched at least once. And it’s about zombies – perfect for Halloween!
My last recommendation is a Halloween cult classic, and that’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Released in 1975, the film stars Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon. This movie is really weird and wacky, but it’s extremely entertaining. Rocky Horror is everything that you don’t expect going in, and it’s definitely one to give you a memorable experience watching it.
These were my picks for the best movies to watch this Halloween. There were so many more movies that I wish I could’ve included in this article, but the ones I included are a must watch this Halloween. Which of these will you be watching this year? Happy Halloween!