There's nothing like relaxing and spending the spookiest night of the year curled up on a couch with a good movie. It is a night for zombies, ghosts, ghouls, and monsters for anyone wishing to get into the Halloween spirit. And there are plenty of options afforded by popular streaming services.
But movies on Halloween night don't have to be scary. There are plenty of horror-comedy options available to tickle any skeleton's funny bone. From re-imagined reboots and cult classics to well-written originals, it's time to select another year of films that offer funnies and frights.
10 Remaking The Munsters
Rob Zombie is known for his no-holds-barred brutal horror flicks, giving viewers titles like House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects, the Halloween reboot, and its sequel. The director/musician is taking a break from blood and gore to provide more family-friendly Halloween entertainment with The Munsters.
The Munsters does not attempt to take itself seriously. Although the film garnered mixed reviews, it's a campy homage to the 1960s source material. Jeff Daniel Phillips makes an excellent Herman Munster. And Rob Zombie's wife, Sheri Moon Zombie, whom he married on Halloween, is the only person to portray his daughter, Lily Munster.
9 Tricks Not Treats For Hubie Halloween
Released in 2020, Hubie Halloween follows a charming community volunteer in Salem, Massachusetts, devoted to the holiday. Hubie's Halloween spirit finds him at the center of the city's pranks before landing in the middle of a real investigation. Like the film's title character, the movie is at the center of critical derision.
Fans of Adam Sandler may enjoy the low-stakes comedy. Hubie Halloween is a light-hearted look at a fun character with a relevant anti-bullying message. It's not Sandler's best comedy work, but as one reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes says, "there are worse ways to spend time."
8 More Than Ready For Ready Or Not
Ready or Not is a wild, action-packed horror-comedy about a bride who wants to impress her new wealthy in-laws, but she finds out they are more sinister than suspected. Grace's new husband's family dynasty takes part in a deadly game on her wedding night while surviving her extended family before it ends.
Dark comedy may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a fun way to spend a couple of hours. Ready or Not's star Samara Weaving carries the film and is supported by her husband, Daniel, played by Adam Brody, and her sinister in-law co-stars, Henry Czerny and Andie MacDowell.
7 The Campy Cult Classic Idle Hands
Horror-comedy Idle Hands still holds up since its release in 1999. The film follows Anton Tobias, a slacker with two incredible friends, Pnub (Elden Henson) and Mick (Seth Green), and a beautiful crush, Molly (Jessica Alba). Anton wakes up one morning to discover his parents perished by his own hand, which has a mind of its own.
Anton's friends return from the grave to help him solve his problem before the hands get their hands on Molly's soul. Although eviscerated by critics, Idle Hands enjoys a following like many other cult classics. The movie also offers a deadly guest appearance by The Offspring's lead singer, Dexter Holland.
6 The Self-Aware Star Power In This Is The End
This Is The End follows Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride as they play parody versions of themselves. The house party of over-the-top performances is hilariously interrupted by the biblical end of days.
Although the stars may bring some semblance of themselves into their parts, the self-reflective look at the vanity and ego involved with stardom offers non-stop laughs. The characters show that some friendships are only surface level as Rogen and Baruchel overcome their differences to overcome the catastrophic events and get back in good graces with God.
5 Welcome To Zombieland
Gone are the days of the slow-moving, mindless walking corpses. Today's zombies are fast, more aware, and smarter than their predecessors. Zombie movies expanded into different genres as of late, specifically horror-comedy. Zombieland is the best American project to accomplish this feat.
Shy shut-in Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) overcomes the odds of surviving the zombie apocalypse by following strict rules. He teams up with the rugged Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Witchita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). The friends learn that family is more than just flesh and blood.
4 Journey To The Cabin In the Woods
Thought to be a serious attempt at traditional horror filmmaking, Cabin in the Woods turns out to be a satirical look at the genre. Cabin in the Woods took every horror movie cliché and packed it into a fun-filled laugh fest from start to finish. When audiences think they know what's happening, the movie shifts gears.
Cabin in the Woods follows a group of friends to a seemingly remote location. Not only is it full of traps based on common horror tropes, but those behind the killer cabin pass the time by making bets on who bites the dust. Cabin in the Woods should be at the top of any list of must-watch Halloween comedies.
3 Return Of Shaun Of The Dead
Edgar Wright's horror-comedy ranks toward the top of Rotten Tomatoes' list of funny zombie films. Shaun of the Dead is the first of the filmmaker's Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, in addition to follow-up films Hott Fuzz and The World's End, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
Filled with non-stop gags and signature dry British humor, Shaun of the Dead is a must-watch and remains funny and timeless. For such a silly story, the movie has heart and heartbreak as Pegg's character grows from an unambitious loaf to a hero in the eyes of his family, friends, and girlfriend.
2 This Is What We Do In The Shadows
Before Taika Waititi made Oscar-winning films and high-budget movies for Marvel Studios, the new Zealand-born filmmaker co-directed, co-wrote, and co-starred in What We Do In The Shadows with Jermaine Clement from the musical duo Flight of the Conchords.
The movie is a mockumentary horror-comedy that follows three vampires and flatmates, Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav. Based on their short film, What We Do In The Shadows receives widespread acclaim. The movie even spawned a successful television series and talks of a feature-length sequel.
1 Ghostbusters Is Always A Good Call
For those who can't decide on something new and want to watch something familiar for Halloween, "who you gonna call?" Ghostbusters is the only correct answer for family fun. Ivan Reitman's story about the group of ghost-busting entrepreneurs remains timeless and entertaining.
The recent reboot brought new life into the Ghostbusters franchise with Ghostbusters: Afterlife with an end-credits scene hinting at future titles. Re-live this critically-acclaimed classic this Halloween and add some giggles to the ghostly night.