The Best Halloween Movies to Watch This Year

From horror classics to Tim Burton favorites: the Halloween movies audiences love most, scary and family-friendly alike.

1. Psycho (1960)
★ 8.4 · 11,344 votes · Horror, Thriller, Mystery
When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where manager Norman Bates cares for his housebound mother.
Movies like Psycho →
2. The Thing (1982)
★ 8.1 · 8,356 votes · Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.
Movies like The Thing →
3. Coraline (2009)
★ 7.9 · 9,576 votes · Animation, Family, Fantasy
Wandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. In order to stay in the fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice.
Movies like Coraline →
4. Young Frankenstein (1974)
★ 7.9 · 3,506 votes · Comedy
A young neurosurgeon inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback, a pretty lab assistant and the elderly housekeeper. Young Frankenstein believes that the work of his grandfather was delusional, but when he discovers the book where the mad doctor described his reanimation experiment, he suddenly changes his mind.
Movies like Young Frankenstein →
5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
★ 7.9 · 10,734 votes · Fantasy, Animation, Family
Tired of scaring humans every October 31 with the same old bag of tricks, Jack Skellington, the spindly king of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa Claus and plans to deliver shrunken heads and other ghoulish gifts to children on Christmas morning. But as Christmas approaches, Jack's rag-doll girlfriend, Sally, tries to foil his misguided plans.
Movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas →
6. Donnie Darko (2001)
★ 7.8 · 13,850 votes · Fantasy, Drama, Mystery
After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.
Movies like Donnie Darko →
7. The Exorcist (1973)
★ 7.7 · 8,942 votes · Horror
When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
Movies like The Exorcist →
8. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
★ 7.7 · 14,115 votes · Fantasy, Drama, Romance
A small suburban town receives a visit from a castaway unfinished science experiment named Edward.
Movies like Edward Scissorhands →
9. Nosferatu (1922)
★ 7.7 · 2,555 votes · Horror, Fantasy
The mysterious Count Orlok summons a happily married real estate agent to his castle, located up in the Transylvanian mountains, to finalise a terrifying deal.
Movies like Nosferatu →
10. Frankenstein (2025)
★ 7.6 · 3,960 votes · Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
Movies like Frankenstein →
11. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
★ 7.6 · 2,858 votes · Horror
A ragtag group barricade themselves in an old Pennsylvania farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls ravaging the Northeast.
Movies like Night of the Living Dead →
12. Corpse Bride (2005)
★ 7.6 · 10,506 votes · Romance, Fantasy, Animation
In a 19th-century European village, a young man about to be married is whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious corpse bride, while his real bride waits bereft in the land of the living.
Movies like Corpse Bride →
13. Halloween (1978)
★ 7.6 · 6,428 votes · Horror, Thriller
Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween Night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.
Movies like Halloween →
14. The Conjuring (2013)
★ 7.5 · 13,191 votes · Horror, Thriller
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case of their lives.
Movies like The Conjuring →
15. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
★ 7.5 · 4,116 votes · Comedy, Horror
Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead.
Movies like What We Do in the Shadows →
16. Evil Dead II (1987)
★ 7.5 · 3,699 votes · Horror, Comedy, Fantasy
Ash Williams and his girlfriend Linda find a log cabin in the woods with a voice recording from an archeologist who had recorded himself reciting ancient chants from "The Book of the Dead." As they play the recording an evil power is unleashed taking over Linda's body.
Movies like Evil Dead II →
17. The Crow (1994)
★ 7.5 · 4,713 votes · Fantasy, Action, Thriller
Exactly one year after young rock guitarist Eric Draven and his fiancée are brutally killed by a ruthless gang of criminals, Draven, watched over by a hypnotic crow, returns from the grave to exact revenge.
Movies like The Crow →
18. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
★ 7.5 · 12,335 votes · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Family
An alien is left behind on Earth and saved by the 10-year-old Elliott who decides to keep him hidden in his home. While a task force hunts for the extra-terrestrial, Elliott, his brother, and his little sister Gertie form an emotional bond with their new friend, and try to help him find his way home.
Movies like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial →
19. Ghostbusters (1984)
★ 7.5 · 10,072 votes · Comedy, Fantasy
After losing their university jobs, three parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York City and uncover a supernatural threat that could destroy the world.
Movies like Ghostbusters →
20. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
★ 7.5 · 1,158 votes · Horror, Sci-Fi
After recovering from injuries sustained in the mob attack upon himself and his creation, Dr. Henry Frankenstein falls under control of his former mentor, Dr. Pretorius, who insists the now-chastened doctor resume his experiments in creating new life. Meanwhile, the Monster remains on the run from those who wish to destroy him.
Movies like Bride of Frankenstein →

Related lists

The Best Halloween Movies to Watch This Year

From horror classics to Tim Burton favorites: the Halloween movies audiences love most, scary and family-friendly alike.

1. Psycho (1960)
★ 8.4 · 11,344 votes · Horror, Thriller, Mystery
When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where manager Norman Bates cares for his housebound mother.
Movies like Psycho →
2. The Thing (1982)
★ 8.1 · 8,356 votes · Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.
Movies like The Thing →
3. Coraline (2009)
★ 7.9 · 9,576 votes · Animation, Family, Fantasy
Wandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. In order to stay in the fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice.
Movies like Coraline →
4. Young Frankenstein (1974)
★ 7.9 · 3,506 votes · Comedy
A young neurosurgeon inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback, a pretty lab assistant and the elderly housekeeper. Young Frankenstein believes that the work of his grandfather was delusional, but when he discovers the book where the mad doctor described his reanimation experiment, he suddenly changes his mind.
Movies like Young Frankenstein →
5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
★ 7.9 · 10,734 votes · Fantasy, Animation, Family
Tired of scaring humans every October 31 with the same old bag of tricks, Jack Skellington, the spindly king of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa Claus and plans to deliver shrunken heads and other ghoulish gifts to children on Christmas morning. But as Christmas approaches, Jack's rag-doll girlfriend, Sally, tries to foil his misguided plans.
Movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas →
6. Donnie Darko (2001)
★ 7.8 · 13,850 votes · Fantasy, Drama, Mystery
After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.
Movies like Donnie Darko →
7. The Exorcist (1973)
★ 7.7 · 8,942 votes · Horror
When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
Movies like The Exorcist →
8. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
★ 7.7 · 14,115 votes · Fantasy, Drama, Romance
A small suburban town receives a visit from a castaway unfinished science experiment named Edward.
Movies like Edward Scissorhands →
9. Nosferatu (1922)
★ 7.7 · 2,555 votes · Horror, Fantasy
The mysterious Count Orlok summons a happily married real estate agent to his castle, located up in the Transylvanian mountains, to finalise a terrifying deal.
Movies like Nosferatu →
10. Frankenstein (2025)
★ 7.6 · 3,960 votes · Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
Movies like Frankenstein →
11. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
★ 7.6 · 2,858 votes · Horror
A ragtag group barricade themselves in an old Pennsylvania farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls ravaging the Northeast.
Movies like Night of the Living Dead →
12. Corpse Bride (2005)
★ 7.6 · 10,506 votes · Romance, Fantasy, Animation
In a 19th-century European village, a young man about to be married is whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious corpse bride, while his real bride waits bereft in the land of the living.
Movies like Corpse Bride →
13. Halloween (1978)
★ 7.6 · 6,428 votes · Horror, Thriller
Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween Night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.
Movies like Halloween →
14. The Conjuring (2013)
★ 7.5 · 13,191 votes · Horror, Thriller
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case of their lives.
Movies like The Conjuring →
15. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
★ 7.5 · 4,116 votes · Comedy, Horror
Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead.
Movies like What We Do in the Shadows →
16. Evil Dead II (1987)
★ 7.5 · 3,699 votes · Horror, Comedy, Fantasy
Ash Williams and his girlfriend Linda find a log cabin in the woods with a voice recording from an archeologist who had recorded himself reciting ancient chants from "The Book of the Dead." As they play the recording an evil power is unleashed taking over Linda's body.
Movies like Evil Dead II →
17. The Crow (1994)
★ 7.5 · 4,713 votes · Fantasy, Action, Thriller
Exactly one year after young rock guitarist Eric Draven and his fiancée are brutally killed by a ruthless gang of criminals, Draven, watched over by a hypnotic crow, returns from the grave to exact revenge.
Movies like The Crow →
18. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
★ 7.5 · 12,335 votes · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Family
An alien is left behind on Earth and saved by the 10-year-old Elliott who decides to keep him hidden in his home. While a task force hunts for the extra-terrestrial, Elliott, his brother, and his little sister Gertie form an emotional bond with their new friend, and try to help him find his way home.
Movies like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial →
19. Ghostbusters (1984)
★ 7.5 · 10,072 votes · Comedy, Fantasy
After losing their university jobs, three parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York City and uncover a supernatural threat that could destroy the world.
Movies like Ghostbusters →
20. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
★ 7.5 · 1,158 votes · Horror, Sci-Fi
After recovering from injuries sustained in the mob attack upon himself and his creation, Dr. Henry Frankenstein falls under control of his former mentor, Dr. Pretorius, who insists the now-chastened doctor resume his experiments in creating new life. Meanwhile, the Monster remains on the run from those who wish to destroy him.
Movies like Bride of Frankenstein →

1. Psycho (1960)

2. The Thing (1982)

3. Coraline (2009)

4. Young Frankenstein (1974)

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

6. Donnie Darko (2001)

7. The Exorcist (1973)

8. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

9. Nosferatu (1922)

10. Frankenstein (2025)

11. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

12. Corpse Bride (2005)

13. Halloween (1978)

14. The Conjuring (2013)

15. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

16. Evil Dead II (1987)

17. The Crow (1994)

18. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

19. Ghostbusters (1984)

20. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Related lists

1. Psycho (1960)

2. The Thing (1982)

3. Coraline (2009)

4. Young Frankenstein (1974)

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

6. Donnie Darko (2001)

7. The Exorcist (1973)

8. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

9. Nosferatu (1922)

10. Frankenstein (2025)

11. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

12. Corpse Bride (2005)

13. Halloween (1978)

14. The Conjuring (2013)

15. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

16. Evil Dead II (1987)

17. The Crow (1994)

18. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

19. Ghostbusters (1984)

20. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Related lists