The best Halloween movies mix cosy nostalgia, real scares and a little silliness — and this list has all three. We have ranked 50 Halloween movies by mood, from family-friendly picks you can watch with kids to modern horror that will keep you up past midnight, plus the complete Michael Myers Halloween movies in order.
Use it to plan a 31-day movie countdown, a Halloween party screening or a single perfect night on the couch.
Top 10 Halloween Movies of All Time
- Halloween (1978) – John Carpenter’s low-budget slasher created Michael Myers and the modern horror template.
- Hocus Pocus (1993) – three Sanderson sisters return to Salem; the ultimate feel-good Halloween movie.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – Jack Skellington’s stop-motion musical works for both Halloween and Christmas.
- Beetlejuice (1988) – Tim Burton’s gleefully weird afterlife comedy.
- Scream (1996) – a smart, self-aware slasher that reinvented the genre.
- Ghostbusters (1984) – comedy, ghosts and a giant marshmallow man.
- The Addams Family (1991) – the creepy, kooky family at their funniest.
- Coraline (2009) – a beautiful, unsettling stop-motion fairy tale.
- Trick ’r Treat (2007) – an anthology that captures the rules and spirit of Halloween night.
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) – the 25-minute classic every generation grew up with.
Family-Friendly Halloween Movies
These Halloween movies are spooky enough to feel seasonal but safe for most kids:
- Halloweentown (1998) – a Disney Channel favourite about a hidden town of monsters.
- Casper (1995) – a friendly ghost story with heart.
- Monster House (2006) – a haunted house that literally eats visitors.
- Hotel Transylvania (2012) – Dracula runs a hotel for monsters.
- ParaNorman (2012) – a boy who talks to ghosts saves his town.
- Frankenweenie (2012) – Tim Burton’s black-and-white tale of a boy and his revived dog.
- Coco (2017) – Pixar’s Day of the Dead story; perfect for late October.
- Hubie Halloween (2020) – Adam Sandler protects Salem on Halloween night.
- Corpse Bride (2005) – a gothic, romantic stop-motion musical.
- The Witches (1990) – Roald Dahl’s witches, gloriously creepy.
Funny Halloween Movies
- Shaun of the Dead (2004) – a British zom-rom-com.
- Zombieland (2009) – survival rules for the undead apocalypse.
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) – the long-awaited sequel brings back Lydia and the ghost with the most.
- Gremlins (1984) – never feed them after midnight.
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – the cult midnight musical.
- What We Do in the Shadows (2014) – vampire flatmates in a mockumentary.
Scary Halloween Movies for Horror Fans
Classic horror
- Psycho (1960) – Hitchcock’s shower scene changed cinema.
- The Exorcist (1973) – still one of the most frightening films ever made.
- The Shining (1980) – Jack Nicholson in the Overlook Hotel.
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – Freddy Krueger haunts your dreams.
- Poltergeist (1982) – the suburban haunting classic.
- Sleepy Hollow (1999) – the Headless Horseman in Burton’s gothic style.
Modern horror
- The Others (2001) – a slow-burn ghost story with a legendary twist.
- The Conjuring (2013) – the Warrens’ most famous case.
- Get Out (2017) – sharp social horror from Jordan Peele.
- Hereditary (2018) – grief turned into pure dread.
- A Quiet Place (2018) – silence means survival.
- Us (2019) – doppelgangers with scissors.
- Barbarian (2022) – an Airbnb booking gone horribly wrong.
- Smile (2022) – a curse passed through a grin.
- Talk to Me (2023) – a party game with a severed hand.
- Longlegs (2024) – a chilling FBI serial-killer mystery.
- Nosferatu (2024) – Robert Eggers’ lavish vampire remake.
- Sinners (2025) – Ryan Coogler’s vampire period thriller.
- Weapons (2025) – a town where a whole classroom vanishes overnight.
Halloween Movies in Order (Michael Myers Franchise)
The Halloween series has several timelines. Here are all 13 Halloween movies in release order:
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halloween | 1978 |
| 2 | Halloween II | 1981 |
| 3 | Halloween III: Season of the Witch | 1982 |
| 4 | Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers | 1988 |
| 5 | Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers | 1989 |
| 6 | Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers | 1995 |
| 7 | Halloween H20: 20 Years Later | 1998 |
| 8 | Halloween: Resurrection | 2002 |
| 9 | Halloween (Rob Zombie) | 2007 |
| 10 | Halloween II (Rob Zombie) | 2009 |
| 11 | Halloween | 2018 |
| 12 | Halloween Kills | 2021 |
| 13 | Halloween Ends | 2022 |
Shortcut: the 2018 trilogy ignores every sequel and continues directly from the 1978 original, so you can watch Halloween (1978) → Halloween (2018) → Kills → Ends. Season of the Witch has no Michael Myers at all.
How to Plan a Halloween Movie Marathon
- Start light, end scary – a family film at 6 PM, a comedy at 8 PM, true horror after 10 PM.
- Match snacks to the film – candy corn for Hocus Pocus, popcorn “brains” for zombies.
- Dress the room – string lights, blankets and a carved pumpkin; see our pumpkin carving ideas.
- Post the night with our Halloween captions for Instagram.
Halloween Movies FAQ
What is the number one Halloween movie?
Halloween (1978) and Hocus Pocus (1993) are the most-watched Halloween movies every October.
What are good Halloween movies for kids?
Halloweentown, Casper, Hotel Transylvania, Coco and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
How many Halloween movies are there?
There are 13 films in the Michael Myers Halloween franchise, released between 1978 and 2022.
Find ratings and cast details for every title on IMDb. Need a costume for the party? Browse our Halloween costume ideas.
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