Top 30 Best Halloween Movies of All Time

Whether you’re seeking family-friendly fun or spine-tingling scares, these top 30 Halloween movies have something for everyone.

From the whimsically charming to the bone-chillingly thrilling, this list is bound to leave you with memories that linger long after the jack-o’-lanterns are extinguished. So, gather your loved ones, dim the lights and settle in for a bewitching movie marathon!

(1) Hocus Pocus (1993)

In this beloved family comedy, a teenage boy inadvertently resurrects a trio of witch sisters in Salem, Massachusetts. With the help of his sister and a newfound friend, they must stop the witches from becoming immortal.

(2) It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966)

Join the Peanuts gang as they celebrate Halloween. Linus awaits the arrival of the Great Pumpkin, while the rest of the gang goes trick-or-treating.

(3) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Produced by Tim Burton, this stop-motion animated musical follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, as he stumbles upon Christmas Town and attempts to bring a bit of holiday cheer back to his spooky realm.

(4) Gremlins (1984)

When a young man receives an unusual creature called a Mogwai as a pet, he’s given three crucial rules. Break them, and chaos ensues as a horde of mischievous creatures wreak havoc on a small town.

(5) Beetlejuice (1988)

When a recently deceased couple finds their home occupied by new, living tenants, they enlist the help of the bizarre and crude “bio-exorcist” Beetlejuice to reclaim their haunting rights.

(6) Coraline (2009)

Based on Neil Gaiman’s novel, this dark fantasy tells the story of Coraline, a young girl who discovers a parallel world with seemingly perfect, button-eyed parents. However, she soon realizes it’s more sinister than it appears.

(7) What We Do In the Shadows (2014)

This mockumentary-style film follows the lives of four vampire roommates in New Zealand as they navigate the challenges of modern life, including flatmate conflicts and trying to blend in with humans.

(8) Gremlins 2 (1990)

The Gremlins return, this time taking over a skyscraper in New York City, wreaking even more havoc and chaos.

(9) Us (2019)

From Jordan Peele, the director of “Get Out,” comes this psychological horror-thriller. A family’s vacation is turned upside down when they encounter sinister doppelgängers who seem intent on replacing them.

(10) Halloween is Grinch Night (1977)

A prequel to the classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” this animated short explores the Grinch’s visit to Whoville on a particularly spooky and stormy night.

(11) Ed Wood (1994)

Tim Burton directs this biographical comedy-drama about the life of Ed Wood, a filmmaker known for his eccentric and often poorly received movies, including “Plan 9 from Outer Space.”

(12) The Shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick’s iconic adaptation of Stephen King’s novel follows Jack Torrance, a writer who takes a job as the caretaker of the eerie Overlook Hotel. As winter sets in, the hotel’s malevolent spirits begin to influence Jack’s sanity.

(13) The Addams Family (1991)

Based on the iconic TV series, this film introduces us to the delightfully macabre Addams family. Their lives are turned upside down when a man claiming to be their long-lost uncle arrives, but his intentions may not be as they seem.

(14) Addams Family Values (1993)

In this sequel, the Addams family welcomes a new addition, but their lives are thrown into disarray when a cunning gold-digger targets Uncle Fester.

(15) Ghostbusters (1984)

When New York City is plagued by supernatural disturbances, a group of parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business to save the city from an impending paranormal apocalypse.

(16) Practical Magic (1998)

Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, this charming fantasy follows the Owens sisters, who are gifted with magical abilities. They grapple with a family curse that seems to doom any man they fall in love with.

(17) Frankenweenie (2012)

Tim Burton’s heartwarming tale is about a young boy named Victor who uses science to bring his beloved dog, Sparky, back to life. However, his experiment has unforeseen consequences.

(18) Mars Attacks! (1996)

Tim Burton’s satirical sci-fi comedy sees Earth invaded by comically ruthless Martians with big heads and destructive ray guns. It’s up to an eclectic group of humans to save the planet.

(19) Pet Sematary (1989)

Based on Stephen King’s novel, a grieving family discovers a burial ground in the woods with the power to bring the dead back to life. However, what comes back is not quite the same.

(20) Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Directed by Tim Burton, this gothic horror film reimagines Washington Irving’s classic tale. Johnny Depp stars as Ichabod Crane, a detective sent to a small town to investigate a series of decapitations.

(21) Scream (1996)

This meta-horror film revitalized the slasher genre. A masked killer terrorizes a small town, but this time the characters are well-versed in horror movie tropes and use them to try and survive.

(22) Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Tim Burton’s poignant fantasy follows Edward, a man created by an inventor who passed away before completing him, leaving him with scissors for hands. He’s taken in by a suburban family, but struggles to fit in.

(23) Death Becomes Her (1992)

This darkly comedic fantasy sees two aging rivals, played by Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, resort to supernatural means to maintain their youth and beauty. However, their immortality comes with its own set of problems.

(24) The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

Based on John Updike’s novel, this dark comedy follows three women (played by Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Susan Sarandon) who inadvertently summon the charismatic but diabolical Daryl Van Horne (Jack Nicholson) into their lives.

(25) Donnie Darko (2001)

A cult classic, this mind-bending psychological thriller follows Donnie Darko, a troubled teenager who begins to experience strange occurrences, including visits from a mysterious, giant rabbit.

(26) Spirited Away (2001)

From Studio Ghibli, this animated masterpiece follows Chihiro, a young girl who becomes trapped in a mysterious and magical world. To save her parents and escape, she must navigate a surreal and enchanting realm.

(27) Corpse Bride (2005)

In this stop-motion animated film by Tim Burton, a young man accidentally marries a deceased bride, setting off a darkly comedic and heartfelt tale of love, life, and the afterlife.

(28) Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

From Studio Ghibli, this charming coming-of-age film follows Kiki, a young witch-in-training, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and sets up her own delivery service in a new town.

(29) The Witches (1990)

Based on Roald Dahl’s novel, this dark fantasy film follows a young boy who stumbles upon a coven of witches led by the Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston) with a sinister plan to turn children into mice.

(20) The Fly (1986)

A scientist’s experiment goes tragically wrong when he attempts to teleport himself, merging his DNA with a common housefly. As he undergoes a gruesome transformation, his partner and lover are faced with a heartbreaking dilemma.

As the crisp autumn nights settle in, there’s no better way to get into the Halloween spirit than by immersing yourself in these cinematic treats.