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Halloween is fast approaching. Isn’t this a perfect opportunity for you to invite people over for a horror movie? We’ve put together the ultimate list of Halloween movies for every kind of mood. From classics to modern masterpieces that you may never have heard of. Put that popcorn in the microwave, dim the lights, and put on a scary or funny (or both!) movie to celebrate the holiday.

Best Classic Halloween Movies of All Time

There are some Halloween films where the spirit of the season has stood the test of time. Built from chilling atmosphere, nail-biting tension and menacing characters, these classic horror films are still Halloween fixtures. They remain ideal fare for anyone needing horror and nostalgia mixed together in one satisfying seasonal cocktail. Here are some of the best Halloween films ever made:

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Suspiria (1977)

Dario Argento’s masterpiece of gothic horror fantasy feels like a vividly coloured nightmare. A suspenseful giallo mystery, it stars an American ballerina entering a supernatural, murderous conservatory in fashionable 1970s Germany. With a pulsing Goblin soundtrack and lurid visuals, the film is a masterful combination of horror and art that will excite anyone on the search for a purer marriage between the two.

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Wolf (1994)

In Wolf, Jack Nicholson stars as a book editor who is bitten by a wolf and starts to transform over the course of the movie. Directed by Mike Nichols, this werewolf film combines gothic horror with scent of claustrophobic psychological thriller. Nicholson’s performance and his transformation is all highlighting Wolf along with an atmosphere to become one of the Halloween classics tragedy-horror.

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Hellraiser (1987)

It’s fascinatingly gruesome and imaginative. This moovie introduced the world to Pinhead. This flick gave us some of the most memorable (and horrific) imagery in the occult horror genre, a film which explores the idea that pleasure and pain may be indivisible – both are required to fully live one’s life and explore the “unseen” pathways. It is unquestionably one of the most unnerving horror movies ever made, and one of the most original.

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Warlock (1989)

In the film Warlock, a 17th-century warlock is transported into the 20th where he tries to trigger the apocalypse. Julian Sands plays a superb villain here, his strange mix of English aristocracy with supernatural powers and an inflated sense of self-importance making him an entertaining anticlimax. The film has magic, history and horror to boot, making it an ideal spooky round-robin for Halloween viewing.

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The Shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick’s film version of The Shining by Stephen King is a masterpiece of psychological horror twined up with supernatural horror. Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of Jack Torrance is legendary, and it’s no surprise that this film ranks high in the list of greatest Halloween films of all time and among popular films that terrify viewers for the decades to come.

Top Scary Halloween Movies on Streaming Platforms

Pick up any streaming service and you’ll see them there: Halloween movies that are 100 per cent guaranteed, within the conventions of that genre, to give you the creeps. Stream a selection of scary Halloween movies, and you’ll be served a palette of ghost stories, creature features and mind-bending psychological horror.

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Hereditary (2018)

Streaming on Amazon Prime. The director Ari Aster’s Hereditary has quickly become one of the scariest films of the past decade. Centred on a family consumed with grief over the death of their matriarch, it focuses on a tightly wound family plagued by a dark, supernatural magnetism pulling them toward their doom. The film’s tension culminates in one of the most chilling, bleak climaxes in recent memory. Hereditary is easily one of the top movies to satisfy your craving for horror.

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The Conjuring (2013)

Streaming on HBO Max. One of the great haunted house movies of the 21st century, The Conjuring is based on the alleged exploits of two paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren. It is full of jumping scares and other creepy details, but will still provide a traditional haunted house experience to fans of the genre.

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A Quiet Place (2018)

Streaming on Paramount+A. The charm of the picture is in how it forces the moovie characters to stay quiet to stay alive: any sound they make would summon the alien creatures waiting to crush their bones. A well-made film for an audience inclined to find the true horror in only those moments when something terrible is about to happen.

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The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

Streaming on Netflix. Even though The Haunting of Hill House is technically a TV miniseries, this horror piece, backed by intense emotional storytelling as well as sustained and haunting atmosphere, is better suited for viewers who prefer binge-watching for a longer period of time.

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It Follows (2014)

Streaming on HBO Max. The basic premise of this one – an invisible entity that unceasingly pursues its prey – is so simple it’s almost obvious, yet director David Robert Mitchell somehow manages to transmute it into one of the scariest horror movies in recent memory. With its low-rent ’80s aesthetic and unrelenting atmosphere of paranoia, this would be a great late-night addition to any Halloween viewing block.

Funny Halloween Movies

Not all Halloween movies take themselves too seriously. Rather than relying on jump scares and nightmares, sometimes it’s best to invest in a silly and lighthearted flick – packed with laughs, but equally full of spooky fun. Here are some of the funniest Halloween movies to release ever.

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Hocus Pocus (1993)

A favourite on the Halloween rotation, this magical comedy follows three witch sisters (played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy), brought back to life on Halloween night. Full of slapstick, songs and the spooky touch of vampiric children, this flick makes for a super fun Halloween staple.

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Ghostbusters (1984)

Who ya gonna call? For a hilarious, high-quality supernatural romp, Ghostbusters is unrivalled. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis play ghost-busting scientists in this classic comedy, and it ticks all the boxes – quotable dialogue, sunglasses, stay-puffs and a precocious child actor. It’s the definitive Halloween fun-fest.

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The Addams Family (1991)

The crazy dysfunction of the Addams family is what makes The Addams Family the perfect Halloween spooky comedy. Dark humour is interwoven with a clan of oddball characters. Released in 1991, this film is a spooky Halloween film that is lighthearted enough for the whole family.

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Beetlejuice (1988)

Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice is a a very funny and quirky movie that every one had got used to it and now is a top Halloween – Time tradition. I think Michael Keaton as a ghost with superhuman strength who is spook and comedic mix gave this movie his special flavour and make it No1 choice for any pirate lookin for horror and comedy.

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Shaun of the Dead (2004)

This British comedy spin on the zombie genre follows a wimpy man and his friends as they try to survive a zombie invasion and find refuge in a pub, which happens to be their local watering hole. Despite all the chills, horror and gore associated with zombies, Shaun of the Dead actually has plenty of laughs, and would be perfect for a Halloween movie night.

Ultimate List of Halloween Movies for Kids

For parents that want to raise children who enjoy the spirit of Halloween without all the nightmarish and scary junk, here is a list of films just right for family movie time every Halloween. Kid-friendly and age-appropriate, these movies offer just the right amount of thrills and adventure for young movie-watchers, and have become must-watch things during Halloween seasons.

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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) The Nightmare Before Christmas is Tim Burton at his hybrid of spooky and whimsical best. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, decides to take over Christmas, and a fun, jaunty musical adventure ensues. It is stop-motion animation at its classic best.

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Coco (2017)

Not a traditional Halloween movie, but a beautiful use of animation, Coco takes place on Día de los Muertos, the Mexican celebration for the departed, so unsurprisingly the story is filled with music, colour and an overriding theme of family. One of the highest-rated kids’ movies over the Halloween season, this film will have you dancing in the aisles.

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Coraline (2009)

Coraline (2009) The sinister side of imagination is fully realised in this macabre animated film based on Neil Gaiman’s novel about a girl who discovers an alternative world that on the surface seems idyllic, but winds up being a creepy hell. The film’s spooky, eye-catching qualities and dark storyline make it the perfect pick for Halloween families who want hearty scares.

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Hotel Transylvania (2012)

Hotel Transylvania is a riotous, monster-mash comedy that sees Dracula hosting a hotel full of monsters. When a human boy ends up there, and develops a crush on Dracula’s daughter, hilarity ensues. Complete with a pack of adorable lower-case monsters, Hotel Transylvania is a Halloween classic for small kids.

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Casper (1995)

One of the most classic family-friendly ghost stories of all time, Casper is a story of a friendly ghost who befriends a young girl. There are plenty of heartwarming scenes and just the right amount of spookiness to give younger viewers an enjoyable Halloween experience, as long as they’re not too scared by ghosts.