With October upon us, here come all things Halloween: spooky decorations, haunted houses and ample movies meant to scare and excite. Who doesn’t look forward to the Disney Channel Halloween movies or ABC Family’s 13 Days of Halloween? Halloween movies are a fun way for people to get into the Halloween spirit.
Since there are so many movies, it can be difficult to pick which ones to watch. Do you watch gruesome horror movies that will make you sleep with the lights on? Or watch cute Halloween movies that will fill you with nostalgia and happiness? Or should you watch the classics–the Halloween movies that pervade time and will be watched for generations to come? To help you narrow it down, here is a list of 10 classic Halloween movies that you cannot miss.
1. "Nightmare Before Christmas"
Who else to top the Halloween movie list than a movie about the Pumpkin King himself? This classic Tim Burton film tells the story of Jack Skellington, the King of Halloweentown, and how he tries to find himself by celebrating (and essentially taking over) Christmas. This movie is filled with fantastic music (some of the best movie music ever written) and spooky fun. This is a feel good movie with a complex and original plot, a must see for Halloween lovers everywhere.
2. Hocus Pocus
A throwback to the 90s, this movie will hit you right in the nostalgia. With the greats such as Bette Milder and Sarah Jessica Parker leading, this Disney Halloween classic has good jokes and plenty of
3. Halloweentown
Ah, who doesn’t love "Halloweentown?" A girl power movie centered around Marnie, a teenager who discovers that she’s actually a witch and travels with her grandmother to the mythical Halloweentown. This is the crown jewel of Disney Channel, and it's likely you have seen all four movies in this series (although, does "Halloweentown 4" really count?). Growing up, Marnie was a fun character to identify with– \who didn’t want to be a witch and be friends with all kinds of fun, monstrous creatures? This is a definite must see for everyone who embraces their inner witch.
4. Beetlejuice
Say his name three times and this ghost with the most will appear to create creepy chaos. Another Tim Burton classic, this movie is a delightful treat for any age. The bizarre characters and worlds stand out the most, a personal favorite of mine is the silent shrunken head man who awkwardly stares at everyone in the waiting room. The crude humor could be off-putting to some, but it gives a charming, although strange, tone to the movie. Beetlejuice is a fun character that epitomizes Halloween. Spooky and fun, the movie is filled with plenty of fun surprises.
5. Nightmare on Elm Street
You will never hear children’s songs or look at striped sweaters the same way again after seeing this movie. Freddy Kreuger, one of the most infamous villains of all time, haunts several teenagers and picks them off one by one. Filled with gruesome, gory effects, this film will have you cringing constantly. Freddy himself is scary enough, not to mention that he can get these kids in their sleep. Yikes. Watch this film when you’re in need of a scare (but be prepared to be freaked out for the rest of the night).
6. Corpse Bride
Yet another Tim Burton film (Tim Burton is like the father of all fun, creepy things), "Corpse Bride" is an underrated movie. The romantic storyline between Victor and Emily is sweet and a breather from the typical Halloween movie. The songs are delightful to hear, although they won’t be stuck in your head like songs in "Nightmare Before Christmas" ("This is Halloween" will never leave your head. Ever). This is a cute Halloween movie to watch when you want good-spirited, spooky fun.
7. Coraline
A personal favorite of mine, Coraline is the perfect blend between fantastical and creepy. Coraline, a young girl, discovers a door in her house that leads her to another world similar to her own–only better! But as time goes on, she realizes that things aren’t always what they seem and she must out scheme the Other Mother–a twisted version of her own mother. Not your typical story, this is far from your typical Halloween movie.
8. Halloween
Another classic slasher film, Halloween is an obvious choice when it comes to scary movies. Revolving around the holiday itself, it features another classic horror villain–Michael Myers–as he stalks a group of girls and kills them off. Although notorious for its sequels, the movie is a classic horror film with gruesome death scenes and thrilling plot twists. It’s another good choice to watch if you need an actual good scare.
9. Goosebumps
Viewers beware, you’re in for a scare. Although technically not a movie (although the movie will be coming out soon, which is scary in itself), this was the creepiest series as a kid. Our childhood fears came to life in this TV show, from Slappy the Dummy to the Haunted Mask (I didn’t sleep after watching those episodes). Although very cheesy (the special effects alone will make you laugh for years), it is great to watch to relive your childhood.
10. Scooby Doo and the Witch’s Ghost
Another childhood classic, "Scooby Doo and the Witches’ Ghost" was one of the first animated Scooby Doo movies to have an actual monster be the villain, instead of a person in a mask. The Mystery Gang travel to a New England town haunted by the ghost of Sarah Ravencroft, a witch. When it seems she has come back to life, the gang have to solve the mystery and stop her from terrorizing the citizens. Since the villain is an actual monster, it gives the movie a darker twist than the earlier generations of Scooby Doo. The movie has a few catchy songs ("I’m a Hex Girl" is a great one to belt) and has a modern flare on the Scooby Doo series. Watch this one when you are in need of a light-hearted mystery.
These Halloween movies are iconic, because of their characters or the plot itself. Each one is unique and can stand out on it’s own. And this is only a small number of movies to watch; there are so many more to commemorate October!
So curl up with a blanket, hot chocolate (or a pumpkin spice latte) and treat yourself to with these fun, frightful movies.
