Written by Graze Booze
Since I was a little kid, I loved getting ABC Family’s (now Freeform’s) “31 Nights of Halloween” schedule, which listed the movies the channel would show during October. Now that I’m older, I wanted a more advanced watchlist— so I created this list of some of the Halloween movie staples and where to watch them. The list ranges from “easy watching” to “scared to death.”
Disclaimer
I 100% support the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike against production companies and the union's fight against streaming services. That is why I encourage readers to pay for these films digitally or physically on DVD to give the workers the residuals they deserve.
Oct. 1
“Hocus Pocus” - Disney+
“Hotel Transylvania” - HULU
These films are a great way to get into the Halloween spirit.
Oct. 2
“Scream 1” - Paramount +
“Scream 2” - Paramount +
“Scream 3” - Paramount +
These films have become horror classics and are a great example of the “final girl” trope in the genre.
Oct. 3
“Coraline” - MAX
“Corpse Bride” - Amazon Prime Video $3.79
Both of these animated films follow a main character transported to another world in search of love and acceptance. It's only fitting to watch them together.
Oct. 4
“The Shining” - Showtime
“Dr. Sleep” - MAX
Not many people know that the iconic horror movie, “The Shining,” has a sequel, but “Dr. Sleep” does a great job of continuing the original chilling story.
Oct. 5
“Practical Magic” - Hulu
“The Craft” - Hulu
A night of witchcraft never hurt anyone, right? Both of these films follow the power of witchcraft that binds strong women together.
Oct. 6
“Addams Family” - Paramount +/YouTube free with ads
“Addams Family Values” - Paramount + / YouTube free with ads
This double feature is perfect for a family movie night because no one does family like the Addams.
Oct. 7
“The Boy Who Cried Werewolf” - Netflix
“Ginger Snaps” - Peacock/ Tubi/ Sling TV/ The Roku Channel/ Amazon Prime Video for free
Most horror movies focus on vampires, however, these two underrated films focus on werewolves. That’s not the only thing they have in common; they also focus on teen girls becoming werewolves.
Oct. 8
“Bram Stoker's Dracula” (1992) - Amazon Prime Video $3.99
“Dark Shadows” - Tubi/Peacock/Pluto TV for free
Sharpen your fangs because these two films feature vampires dressed to impress.
Oct. 9
“Casper” (1995) - Peacock/ Tubi/ Amazon Prime Video $3.99
“Paranorman” - Starz
Kids say the darndest things, especially when they're talking to ghosts. These family-friendly movies follow kids who befriend ghosts and have crazy adventures.
Oct. 10
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” - MAX
“Child’s Play” - MAX
These horror movie staples are so scary you won’t be able to sleep.
Oct. 11
“Ghostbusters” - Peacock/ Fubo TV/ Amazon Prime Video $3.99
“Little Shop of Horrors” - MAX/ Amazon Prime Video $3.99
Take a break from the spooky and watch some not-so-scary blockbusters.
Oct. 12
“The Crow” - Showtime
This film is a brilliantly dark story that takes place on Halloween Eve. The late Brandon Lee gives his best performance as his character seeks justice for his murdered girlfriend.
Oct. 13
“Friday the 13th” - MAX/ Amazon Prime Video $2.99
Watching “Friday the 13th” on Friday the 13th just makes sense.
Oct. 14
“Sleepy Hollow” - MAX
“The Village” - Amazon Prime Video $3.99
Small villages are cute until people start getting murdered. These two films focus on tight-knit villages that are plagued with supernatural predators.
Oct. 15
“Interview with a Vampire” - Paramount +
“Queen of the Damned” - Hulu
From the page to the big screen, these two films are a part of the same book series. However, they feature entirely different casts despite being sequels to one another.
Oct. 16
“The Crucible” - Amazon Prime Video $3.99
“Carrie” - MAX
“The Blair Witch Project” - Amazon Prime Video/ MAX
This movie night will keep you up until the witching hour, so why not pack your night full of the most classic witch movies?
Oct. 17
“Halloweentown 1” - Disney +
“Halloweentown 2” - Disney +
“Halloweentown 3” - Disney +
A not-so-scary film trilogy of student witches and other supernatural characters getting wrapped up in adventures.
Oct. 18
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” - Apple +
“Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Scarecrow” - MAX
“Monster House” - Hulu
These Halloween movies are for all ages. Hopefully, you’ll learn to be better at trick-or-treating than Charlie Brown.
Oct. 19
“Edward Scissorhands” - MAX
Tim Burton creates such a visual masterpiece in this film that it almost makes you feel uneasy while watching it. That, and a man has scissors for hands in this modern Frankenstein story.
Oct. 20
“The Exorcist” - MAX/ Amazon Prime Video $3.99
“Poltergeist” - Amazon Prime Video $3.99
It’s not easy having spirits in your home, especially when you have kids.
Oct. 21
“Funsize” - Stars
“Trick ‘r Treat” - Amazon Prime Video $2.99
These two films may make an unusual double feature, but are both indie Halloween movies that take place in Ohio. “Funsize” is a comedy about a group of high schoolers on a Halloween night adventure, while “Trick r Treat” is a film of vignettes that follows the residents of a small town and the horrors that occur on Halloween night.
Oct. 22
“Beetlejuice” - Philo
A cult classic that everyone should watch. It might even give you costume ideas for all your Halloween parties.
Oct. 23
“The Conjuring 1” - MAX
“The Conjuring 2” - Amazon Prime Video $3.99
“The Conjuring 3” - Fubo TV/ MAX
Paranormal investigating at its finest. If you’re brave enough, try watching the nine-movie franchise. If not, these three films will give you your fill of demons.
Oct. 24
“It Chapter 1” - MAX/ Amazon Prime Video $3.99
“It Chapter 2” - MAX/ Amazon Prime Video $3.99
One of Stephen King's most popular books-to-film projects. Don’t watch if you’re scared of clowns.
Oct. 25
“Scary Movie 1” - MAX
“Scary Movie 2” - MAX
“The Evil Dead” - AMC+
You’ll be rolling on the floor laughing — not because you’re possessed by a demon, but because you’ll be laughing so hard.
Oct. 26
“The Lost Boys” - Sling TV/ Pluto TV
The hidden gem of vampire movies. This story follows two brothers caught up in the dangerous gang of vampires occupying their new town.
Oct. 27
“Jennifer’s Body” - MAX
“Jeepers Creepers” - Amazon Prime Video/YouTube/Pluto TV/Tubi
These films are proof that it’s bad luck to be a teen in a horror movie.
Oct. 28
“Silence of the Lambs” - MAX
You’ll be debating which serial killer is more creepy in this mystery horror movie.
Oct. 29
“Rocky Horror Picture Show” - Amazon Prime Video $3.99
This cult classic is a party favorite and regularly plays at the Cedar Lee Theater.
Oct. 30
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” - Disney+
This is the perfect movie to watch the night before Halloween so you can appreciate the holiday just as much as Jack does.
Oct. 31
“Halloween” - Philo/Redbox/Crackle/PLEX
Watching “Halloween” on Halloween just makes sense, but make sure not to watch it if you’re babysitting.
Bonus TV recommendations
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” - Hulu
“The X Files” - Hulu/Amazon Prime Video
“Wednesday” - Netflix
“What We Do in the Shadows” - Hulu/FX/ABC
“American Horror Story” - Hulu
“Penny Dreadful” - Showtime
“Scream Queens” - Hulu/Apple TV/ The Roku Channel
“Gravity Falls” - Disney+
“Supernatural” - Netflix