Whenever the season for Halloween is upon us, the winds get chilly and the pumpkins roll out. It’s important to have a list of films at hand to enjoy the spooky season. Whether it’s with the entire family or with a group of friends, these films are sure to deliver entertainment for everyone who enjoys a good movie during the spooky season. Without any further ado, here are the 15 best Halloween movies of all time:
15. Addams Family (2019)
The Addams Family is a household classic and a must-watch for the Halloween season. It follows the life of a family that has more than a few pet peeves, some of which are deadly. The Addams Family is the sort of movie one puts on for Halloween and enjoys with one’s own family to relish in the eccentricities of a sinister family with familiar dynamics. Things get interesting when a con artist attempts to break into the family’s trusted vault within their household.
It is a classic horror-comedy with a twist. It depicts family roles and breaks down certain stereotypes through dramatization while simultaneously portraying the exuberance of elite families.
14. Beetlejuice (1988)
With thoroughly entertaining performances from Alec Baldwin, Micheal Keaton, and Geena Davis, Beetlejuice is another enjoyable movie to watch for the spooky season. With certain oddball features and bizarre sequences, the film might appear to be too weird for viewers at first. However, Tim Burton does not fail to deliver a fun-packed experience for every viewer irrespective of age.
Over the years the movie has gained a cult-like following for its fun nature and bizarre storyline, which follows the life of new tenants and old ones that are now ghosts haunting the place.
13. Casper (1995)
Casper is a Halloween essential movie for the entire family to cuddle up and watch together. It follows the life of a therapist and his daughter who move into a crumbling mansion and are encountered evil spirits. Among these evil spirits, however, there is Casper, the good spirit who fights to help the new guests of the mansion.
Casper is the first film with a complete computer graphics-generated lead character. It does not fail to deliver all the good vibes through this spooky season. The entire movie makes up for a wholesome and feel-good experience that is ideal for all age types.
12. E.T. (1982)
E.T. follows the story of a gentle alien who is stranded away from home and is lost on Earth. This alien is found by a young boy named Elliot, who helps E.T. the alien and takes him into his own home for his protection and well-being. Elliot brings his siblings into his confidence and they all vow to protect E.T.’s identity and get him back to his planet safely.
The story gets complicated once E.T. falls sick and the government is alerted of an alien presence on Earth. In essence, E.T. is the story of humanity, told through the interactions of an alien and a young boy.
11. The Sixth Sense (1999)
The Sixth Sense is the sort of movie that develops the storyline in ways that one can least expect. It has an eerie theme to it, which involves communication with ghosts and mysteries as the central arc of the film. With a stellar performance from Bruce Willis, this is one to watch for the spooky season.
The film contains intense build-up sequences, puzzling realizations, and a mind-bending climax. For those who enjoy supernatural stories that are grounded in reality rather than fiction, this is the film to watch.
10. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Hotel Transylvania follows the life of Dracula, who is portrayed as the elite leader of Transylvania, venturing out to open up a hotel for all his spooky compatriots. What follows is a fiesta for all the spirits and almost every spooky character is seen making an entrance at the hotel. Among all these spirits and monsters, however, a human stumbles upon the hotel and this is where things begin to take a turn for the unexpected.
This is a movie for the entire family; an original take on a classic story makes for a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
9. Insidious (2010)
Insidious follows the story of a young boy who is possessed by certain forces that propel him to live in a dark dimension that runs parallel to the real world. It is up to his convictions and his parents’ support to pull him out of this dark place before he becomes a part of it forever.
A bit on the darker side, this one sends chills down the spine and is not recommended for kids. It contains quite a few jumpscares and the general tone of the film is set in very dark themes and scary characters.
8. Dark Shadows (2012)
Jhonny Depp does it again. Exuberant acting and an incredible storyline are the key takeaways from this piece of art which tries to link the old with the new. Dark Shadows follows the life of a family that lives off the inheritance of a wealthy man who is brought back to life through supernatural incidents.
What follows is the man’s attempt to gel back into the society he was once a prominent member of. It shows how difficult it can be for some to adjust to the workings of the modern world with a classic mindset. All in all, it makes for an enjoyable watch and a fun way to pass the time during Halloween.
7. Interview with a Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
Drama, love, loss, tragedy, action. This movie has it all, covered in a spooky glaze to tingle all the senses. Directed by Neil Jordan, the film stars Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and Antonio Banderas amongst other notable names. Thriller movies are rarely seen being played out with such an ensemble cast, but when they are, one can expect a whole lot of excitement and entertainment from the film.
This movie does just that. It delivers romance, action, and incredible cinematography to deliver a complete experience to viewers across the board, making it a must-watch for the spooky season.
6. Bride of Chucky (1998)
Another classic that has probably haunted scores of children in the early nineties. The Bride of Chucky follows the life of a serial killer who is reincarnated as a children’s doll called Chucky. In his blood-filled extravaganza, Chucky finds the perfect partner in crime to reincarnate as his doll wife.
5. The Shining (1980)
This movie is going to be talked about forever in history. An incredible setting and haunting acting provide many iconic moments for future moviemakers to capitalize on. In essence, this is a note on the horrors of isolation.
Starring Jack Nicholson in the main lead as a writer who visits an old abandoned hotel, The Shining is a thrill-packed experience that is bound to creep out even the strongest of people. It is not for the weak-willed and is bound to leave the viewer with nightmares if they are scared easily.
4. Get Out (2017)
Directorial Debut masterpiece takes a stand against racial tropes and racism like never before. This movie attempts to racially contextualize the demographics of an entire country through slight exaggeration of existing roles. A great social commentary yet an enjoyable film to watch, truly a rare find.
Get Out shows how modern filmmakers take up contemporary issues and use the world of film to portray them in ways that become a call to action for the viewers. All political underpinnings aside, this is an exciting watch that is worth the viewers’ time in the spooky season.
3. Hereditary (2018)
This is a film that is once again, not for the faint-hearted. Hereditary follows the life of a family grieving the loss of an elder. Following the demise of this elderly woman, the females in her family begin to dabble with the supernatural as they are met with visions and occurrences of a paranormal character that unfolds the traumas of the past.
Hereditary is a commentary on intergenerational trauma and how burdens from the past can come back to weigh down the shoulders of the youth. It has all the ingredients for a successful horror movie and packs a punch with its jump-scares.
2. Ghostbusters (1984)
Another Classic film that has a widespread fan following, Ghostbusters is a must-watch for the Halloween season. Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis, the film follows the life of academics who are kicked out of the University for performing unethical experiments on students involving the paranormal.
Once they are kicked out, however, it provides these individuals with a true understanding of the paranormal and they establish a company called Ghostbusters. Their city is riddled with paranormal activity which is eventually traced down to one building, and they are given the responsibility to bring the city back to order. This is another feel-good movie based on the premise of redemption and reorientation when faced with hardships.
1. The Ring (2002)
The Ring is a haunting recollection of all the bad memories from the past. It has one of the most iconic and scary scenes in the history of film and television; the part where the demonic lady slowly edges closer to the screen and ends up crawling outside the boundaries of the screen and into the real world.
With a strong plot and intense sequences, this film tops the list for its capacity to scare and excite the senses simultaneously.
Did we miss any of the best Halloween movies of all time? Feel free to share your views in the comments below!
