Fall is my favorite time of year. I credit this to cooler weather, pumpkin flavored everything, scarves, gumbo, and one of my favorite holidays: Halloween. Since October is quickly approaching, I thought I’d share a list of 31 movies, listed in no particular order, to help get everyone in the spooky (or terrifying) Halloween mood. I’ve included throwbacks to your childhood, as well as movies you should NOT watch with children. Here we go...
1. Hocus Pocus
Because it’s never Halloween without watching the Sanderson Sisters wreaking havoc in Salem. And yes, it is absolutely okay to watch this movie every day from now until Halloween.
2. Halloweentown
In the 1998 classic Disney Channel original movie, Marnie Cromwell learns that she is a witch, and takes off to Halloweentown, which she saves from an evil warlock. Also okay to watch every day from now until Halloween.
3. Halloweentown 2: Kalabar’s Revenge
In what is obviously the sequel to Halloweentown, Marnie and her grandma save both Halloweentown and the mortal world.
4. Halloweentown High
In the third installment of (and last of the good) Halloweentown movies, Marnie and her family take on some foreign exchange students- from Halloweentown.
5. Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice.
6. The Addams Family
They're creepy and they're kooky, Mysterious and spooky. They're all together ooky. The Addams Family.
7. The Addams Family Values
The Addams Family is still creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky and ooky in their sequel.
8. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Available for your streaming pleasure on Netflix, this animated feature about Pumpkin King Jack Skellington is as festive as it gets.
9. Casper
Mini-Christina Ricci and her ghost-hunting dad crash in an abandoned house haunted by a friendly ghost named Casper and his mischievous ghost uncles.
10. Casper Meets Wendy
Another movie about Casper the Friendly Ghost, featuring Hilary Duff (pre-Lizzie McGuire) as a little witch named Wendy.
11. Tower of Terror
An often forgotten favorite of mine, this spooky Disney Channel Original Movie is available on DVD on Amazon. Starring a young Kristen Dunst, it tells the story of one of Disney’s most popular rides…wait for it… “The Tower of Terror.”
12. Coraline
*Obligatory dark and creepy animated movie*
13. Twitches
Tia and Tamara Mowry star as twin witches (ba-dum-chhhh) in this 2005 Disney Channel Original Movie.
14. The Little Vampire
An adorable little movie about the adorable Jonathan Lipnicki becoming best friends with… a little vampire.
15. Hotel Transylvania
Super cute movie about a hotel for monsters ran by Dracula, and a better human-vampire love story than Twilight.
16. Mom’s Got a Date With a Vampire
In this 2000 Disney Channel Original Movie, the Hansen kids accidentally set up their mom with a vampire. Oops.
17. The Haunted Mansion
Another DCOM based on a popular Disney ride. You guessed it… it’s the Haunted Mansion.
18. Phantom of the Megaplex
Almost done with the DCOMs. Promise.
19. Don’t Look Under the Bed
Okay, now I’m done.
20. The Harry Potter Movies
Not necessarily a Halloween movie, but it’s about wizards, witches and magical creatures. Plus, I always look for an excuse to watch Harry Potter.
21. The Exorcist
Because nothing’s scarier than watching someone get possessed.
22. Carrie
The Stephen King movie remake is available for streaming on Netflix. I’ve never seen the original, but since originals are usually better, you can sub it out.
23. The Blair Witch Project
Three film students make a documentary about a Maryland legend, The Blair Witch. They defy the laws of the universe and do indeed go into the creepy forest. Not surprisingly, they disappear and only their footage is left behind.
24. The Halloween Movies
I believe the titles say it all.
25. The Friday the 13th Movies
Twelve movies about some guy named Jason who drowned and now wears a hockey mask and goes around killing people.
26. A Nightmare on Elm Street
27. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Because getting chased around by some dude with a chainsaw is terrifying.
28. The Amityville Horror
Two words: Ryan. Reynolds.
29. The Ring
Every time I watch this movie, I still get paranoid about homegirl popping out the TV seven days later.
30. The Poltergeist
Another scary movie involving a TV.
31. The Shining
To round out the list, I present to you Stephen King’s classic about a homicidal maniac in a haunted hotel. Nothing says “terrifying” like a homicidal maniac.
Happy binge-watching (:
