As Fall begins and Halloween approaches, it’s normal for people to partake in activities that are horror-themed in preparation for the spooky holiday. Within those activities is, of course, watching horror movies. A tradition that has been built around watching horror films for all the days leading up to October 31st. Within those movies exist the special works that are exclusive to the holiday.
While it isn’t necessary to watch only Halloween-themed movies around this time, it certainly helps to get in the creepy, scary mood. There are plenty of films that revolve around Halloween and even some that don’t but still take place during the frightening holiday. Either way, these films are worth watching for their stories and their Halloween themes.
10 Halloween Was Meant To Be An Anthology Series
Halloween is one of the biggest and most popular horror movie franchises. Set In 1978, The film follows Michael Myers, a masked serial killer who stalks and attempts to kill the main character, Laurie Strode, in an obsessive cat-and-mouse game.
The events take place on Halloween night, and Michael Myers wreaks havoc trying to kill Laurie, offing anyone that gets in his way. The film was titled Halloween because it was originally meant to be made into an anthology film series taking place during Halloween, but due to its success, the film remained a series dedicated to the masked killer and famous final girl Laurie Strode.
9 Trick R’ Treat Is A Halloween Anthology Movie
The anthology film features four stories, all taking place during Halloween, that intertwine with each other. The common factor in each story is a creepy child dressed in a burlap sack over his head and orange coveralls. The trick-or-treater goes by the name Sam and has become quite an iconic character over the years.
While the film was less than impressive at the time of its release, it has since become a cult classic, garnering a big following with horror movie fans. Trick R’ Treat has become synonymous with the holiday and is a great watch for its great stories, goriness, and scares.
8 Hocus Pocus Features Prowling Witches On Halloween Night
The film Hocus Pocus is a Disney Halloween classic with iconic characters. The 1993 film follows teenager Max, his younger sister, Dani, and his crush, Allison, after he accidentally awakens the Sanderson Sisters, three evil witches that consume children to maintain their youth.
After unknowingly bringing them back, the kids spend all of Halloween trying to squash the sisters’ evil plans. The movie is a great watch and is considered one of the most popular Halloween movies to exist. The film is also a family-friendly option and can be enjoyed by anyone.
7 Casper Deals With Friendship And Grief During Halloween
The 1995 film follows teenager Kat and her father, James, after moving into a haunted mansion. James’ intention is to communicate with the lingering spirits in hopes of helping them pass on. As the small family gets acquainted, a friendship between Kat and the friendly ghost, Casper, grows and helps the family deal with their own internal struggles.
Casper takes place around Halloween and is considered an amazing film for its ability to depict grief, loneliness, and tragedy while maintaining a lighthearted feel. The film does take place during Halloween, in which the film's events culminate in a huge Halloween party.
6 The Nightmare Before Christmas Is A Halloween Movie Too
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Christmas film that can also be considered a Halloween film. The film follows Jack Skellington, who is revered as the king of Halloween in a world where it's Halloween every day. Jack, who grows bored with his environment, becomes enthralled with a world where Christmas exists and decides to recreate the holiday.
The unique story and its Halloween backdrop make this film a great watch for the spooky season. The film is incredibly disturbing despite being rated as family-friendly. However, it remains a fan favorite for its great characters, imaginative world, and amazing stop-motion animation.
5 Ginger Snaps Is A Werewolf Movie Set In The Fall
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The supernatural horror film follows two sisters, Ginger and Brigitte, after Ginger is bitten by a werewolf. After the attack, Ginger begins acting strange, and Brigitte does anything possible to save her sister and herself.
While the film doesn’t wholly take place on Halloween, the events of the film lead up to a Halloween party that the sisters attend on Halloween. Ginger Snaps is an underrated teen film that touched on mature themes and provided social commentary on outcasts, puberty, and women. The film is praised for its strong female characters and its great story, along with its frightening and violent scenes.
4 Tales of Halloween Is A Comedic Halloween Anthology Movie
An anthology movie that takes place on Halloween, Tales of Halloween follows ten short stories that interconnect all throughout the film on Halloween night. The film is similar to Trick R’ Treat in structure. However, the segments are more comedic and less horror driven.
The movie is still scary while retaining an element of comedy, which may be ideal for people that are looking for a horror movie that is light on the scares. Either way, it’s an entertaining watch that takes place on the holiday and has some good stories.
3 Halloweentown Features A Town Where Halloween Is The Norm
When it comes to Halloween, Halloweentown is the first movie people should think of. The film’s whole premise is solely based on the spooky holiday and the town based on Halloween, where monsters, goblins, and all kinds of terrifying creatures live in peace.
The film follows the character Marnie as she learns she descends from a powerful line of witches and must use her powers to save Halloweentown from the evil plans of the magic sorcerer Calabar. The catch of the film is that Marnie only has one night, the night of Halloween, to save the town as the portal connecting the mortal world to Halloweentown closes after midnight.
2 Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark Is Based On A Disturbing Children's Book
Based on the anthology book of the same name written by Alvin Schwartz, the book features a collection of short stories with frightening illustrations to match. The film adaptation follows the creepy stories of the book, but in a more linear fashion. A group of unsuspecting teens finds a creepy book with disturbing stories that begin coming to life.
Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark takes place during Halloween of 1968, and while the holiday isn’t the basis for the story, it still does exude the terror found in Halloween movies. The film also has some disturbing creatures and unsettling moments.
1 The Exorcist Actually Takes Place During Halloween
The horror movie classic The Exorcist is considered amongst many as one of the most terrifying possession movie experiences to exist. The film centers on a young girl that is possessed by a demon and the events that follow, as a priest is called in to exorcise the young girl.
While the film isn't directly tied to Halloween, it does take place on the spooky holiday, which adds to the chilling feeling the movie already has. The film is heavily focused on the confrontation between the possessed and the priest, which offers some of the most unsettling possession stories in horror movie history.