“Halloween”
No list of top Halloween movies is complete without one of the most iconic thrillers of all time: “Halloween.” This 1978 horror classic follows teenage babysitter Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) as she tries to evade the infamous Michael Myers, a villain who would inspire many sequels and a long line of slasher antagonists.
“Psycho”
Alfred Hitchcock contributed many films to the mystery and suspense genre, but arguably his most popular and recognizable movie was “Psycho” (1960). “Psycho” introduces the troubled, lonely Norman Bates and his overbearing mother. The two become the center of a murder investigation when a young woman goes missing after stopping at their isolated motel.
“Scream”
This slasher, which blends comedy and genuine thrills, is a must-watch every October. “Scream” (1996) follows Sidney Prescott and her fellow high schoolers in her town when a terrifying killer in a ghostly mask begins attacking the local people.
“Practical Magic”
While it is not as scary as some of the other entries on this list, “Practical Magic” is still an incredibly atmospheric fall movie. The 1998 fantasy film starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock follows two sisters, who happen to be witches, as they try to overcome a curse that threatens any man they fall in love with.
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”
This 1966 animated special follows the beloved Peanuts gang as they celebrate Halloween. While the other children go trick-or-treating and play games, Linus waits in a pumpkin patch for the mythical Great Pumpkin — and Snoopy, as a World War I flying ace, fights enemy warplanes from the top of his doghouse.
“The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror”
While this Halloween special may not technically be a movie, it is an episode that cannot be missed this autumn. In this first installment, the Simpson children tell three scary stories: a tale of an angry, sentient house, an alien abduction and a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven.”
“Ghostbusters”
In this 1984 supernatural comedy starring Harold Ramis, Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, a group of scientists battles evil entities to stop them from taking over New York City. The unforgettable soundtrack and characters make “Ghostbusters” one of the most essential family Halloween movies.
“A Nightmare on Elm Street”
This 1984 classic slasher film introduced one of the most nightmare-inducing characters to hit the screen: Freddy Krueger. Years after the parents of Springwood burned him alive, this vengeful villain attacks suburban teenagers with his brutal bladed glove — but only when they dream.
“Hocus Pocus”
This 1993 family Halloween classic has been watched and rewatched for decades, and is now a movie many see out of nostalgia. The story follows three children who accidentally free a trio of witches and must prevent the coven from making themselves immortal.
“Over the Garden Wall”
This entry is slightly different from the rest. It is a 10-episode miniseries, but the total runtime is just under two hours. In “Over the Garden Wall” (2014), brothers Wirt and Greg try to find their way out of a mysterious realm called “The Unknown.” Its eerie autumn atmosphere, odd characters and Halloween imagery make it one of the best shows to watch for the spooky season.