Trick-or-treating might not happen this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get into the Halloween spirit! Movies are a great way to still celebrate the holiday. Here are 10 of the best Halloween movies, from family-friendly to scary classics.
1. Halloween (1978)
The original that started it all. “Halloween 1978” created the infamous franchise starring Michael Myers. In the horror classic, Meyers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to his hometown to wreak havoc. This box office hit managed to create a series of spinoffs as recent as 2018.
2. Insidious: Chapter 2
Few scary films can make a sequel just as well as its predecessor. “Insidious: Chapter 2” explores what it’s like when the main character gets possessed themselves. This movie connects plotlines past with the current ones, in order to save the Lamberts’ future. Although it features less jump scares, the film is still sure to make you squirm in your seat.
3. The Silence of the Lambs
This cult classic is sure to still make viewers’ skin crawl. The crime thriller is based on the FBI attempting to capture a serial killer with the help of Hannibal Lecter—a cannibalistic serial killer.
4. Scary Movie
Who says Halloween movies have to be scary? Director Keenan Ivory Wayans pokes fun at stereotypical horror movie tropes, like answering the phone. This movie directly parodies thrillers like “Scream” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer”. The film also made an impact within pop culture, as its scenes are being used as gifs and memes today.
5. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Imagine the one place where you can escape the real-world is being haunted by a killer? This is the case of the infamous Freddy Kruger, who slays his victims in their dreams. Of all of the Halloween movies, “A Nightmare On Elm Street” might be the one to truly keep you awake at night.
6. Jennifer’s Body
If “Mean Girls” had a horror lovechild, it would be “Jennifer’s Body“. Megan Fox stars as a high schooler who turns bloodthirsty after a human sacrifice goes wrong. So, what satisfies her appetite? None other than young men. This film is sure to make you laugh amongst the chaos Fox causes.
7. Coraline
Children absent-mindedly wish for another life, but what if it actually comes true? As the tagline says, be careful what you wish for. Coraline learns what it would be like in a parallel universe, but everything isn’t as imagined. Besides the plot, another highlight of the film is the cinematography. Not to mention, “Coraline” proved that horror can still be family-friendly.
8. Carrie (1976)
Very rarely can scary movies produce an antihero, but such is the case for “Carrie“. Highschooler Carrie is tormented by classmates in school and by her over-religious mother at home. So what happens when enough is enough? Let’s just say it makes for a memorable prom night.
9. The Conjuring
If you’re looking for a true scare, “The Conjuring” might be your pick. The 2013 film plays on the modern trope of paranormal investigators visiting a haunted house. But director James Wan takes the addition of evil spirits to a whole new level.
10. Friday the 13th (1980)
The namesake of the most unlucky day of the month, “Friday the 13th” is one of the most memorable horror films to date. The fan-favorite stars killer Jason Voorhees, who haunts Crystal Lake. Young campers struggle to survive as the masked murderer slashes everything in his path. If you can’t get enough of Jason, there are 12 films in the franchise.
