As crazy as it may seem, Halloween is just around the corner. As much as I love going out to pumpkin patches, carving pumpkins and apple picking, another one of my favorite things to do during this time is sit by a cozy fire while watching a bunch of Halloween movies. There are tons of Halloween classics to choose from, but I will give you a list of the ones that I consider to be a “must-see”, so you can get this spooky season started off right!
1. Halloweentown
Whenever I think of Halloween, I automatically think of the staple Halloween movie, Halloweentown. Growing up, this was a movie that would constantly be on in my household during the whole month of October. And I loved it. I can remember seeing the main character, Marnie, and wanting to be just like her with magical powers and a flying broomstick. To be completely honest, this movie truly opened up my imagination as a kid and made me see the beauty of Halloween. Halloweentown never fails to make me smile, which is why this continues to be an essential part of my Fall/Halloween season. The best part is that this movie is a part of a four-part series, so you can binge them all! Halloweentown is currently on a lot of different platforms, such as Hulu and Disney+, so I definitely recommend giving it a watch if you can!
2. scream
I am sure that Scream is a movie that most, if not everyone, has heard of. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of horror movies. However, Scream is one that I have found I can deal with. There are parts in it that can be gory, but it is definitely one of those movies that gives off true Halloween vibes. To put it simply, this movie really does get me in the Halloween mood, even though some parts may be a little hard to watch. Drew Barrymore is also one of my favorite actresses, so I of course enjoy watching the 1996 Scream for her as well.
3. double double toil and trouble
As long as I can remember, I have been a fan of Mary Kate and Ashley Olson. I would watch all of their mystery movies, as well as their non-mystery movies. In fact, I even got Mary Kate and Ashley Olson dolls for Christmas when I was younger. In short, I am a pretty big fan. Now, the Olson twins have a whole bunch of movies. However, their best-known Halloween film is Double Double Toil and Trouble. I have not seen this movie in such a long time, but this one was definitely a favorite of mine growing up. Just like Halloweentown, this movie is kid-friendly, but gets everyone into that spooky-spirit, which I think a lot of us are looking for right now. This film is older, but there are still some places you can go to watch it. It is currently available on YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV and a few others.
4. stranger things
My absolute favorite show of all time is Stranger Things. Now, some may see this as a Halloween show, while others may not. One thing is for sure, Stranger Things is definitely more on the creepy side of things. Before watching this show, I saw it as overrated since it was so popular, but after watching it, I realized that it really is popular for a reason. Vecna, Demogorgons and The Mind Flayer are just a few of the creepy “monsters” in the show. Even though there are some chilling aspects to Stranger Things, the show overall has some very important core messages such as love, friendship and family. This show is currently on Netflix, so definitely watch it while you can. You won’t regret it.
5. hocus pocus
I am going to be completely honest, I have never actually seen the movie Hocus Pocus, but I know that it is definitely a Halloween classic for many. The story is about about a trio of witches called the Sanderson Sisters, who are resurrected by a boy named Max on Halloween night. With the help of Max’s friends, and a magical cat, the kids need to get the witches’ book of spells to make sure that they don’t become immortal. There is actually a second Hocus Pocus movie that came out just last year (2022), so why not binge them both? I know that I am going to for sure. If you are struggling to find a Halloween costume to do with your friends as well, this would be a good one to use.
6. Friday the 13th
Jason Voorhees. I am sure this is a name that is not unknown. Jason can be best known as the main character in the Friday the 13th movies. Now, I am not going to lie, these movies are not very kid-friendly, however, they really will put you in the Halloween spirit if that is what you are trying to look for. I have never been a big fan of horror movies, personally, but the Friday the 13th movies were some of the few horror films I could handle. I think they are some good movies to start out on if you are just getting into horror. Believe it or not, there are actually twelve Friday the 13th movies released. That is a big number. This series alone could get you though the Halloween season if you watch them in a timely manner.
7. It’s the great pumpkin, charlie brown
There are many movies that I consider “feel good” movies. One of those movies for me is definitely the Charlie Brown movies. If you know anything about these films, you know that there are a ton to choose from. Since we are speaking in terms of Halloween, though, the best one to watch during this season is It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. If you aren’t a fan of Charlie Brown or don’t know who he is, that’s okay. You don’t have to be a fan of the previous movies to enjoy one of these films. Go sit down by a fire, grab a pumpkin spiced latte and enjoy this Halloween classic!
8. five nights at freddy’s
Growing up, I was terrified of the popular game, Five Nights at Freddy’s. I would watch my sister play the game while sitting on the edge of my seat. As mentioned earlier, I have never been a fan of horror, so the fact that I wasn’t a fan of this game was not a shock to me. Honestly, Five Nights at Freddy’s didn’t truly start to grow on me until a couple of years ago when I was a bit older. You may be wondering why I am talking about a video game when this article is supposed to be about movies and shows, and I have an answer for you. Five Night’s at Freddy’s has actually been turned into a movie and is coming out in theaters on October 27th of this year! The cast includes some well known names such as Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard and Elizabeth Lail to name a few. If you know anything about the iconic video game, then you know that this movie is more on the horror side of things, but I am super excited to see how it is going to be portrayed on the big screen as compared to a tiny device. So, if you are looking for something fun to do Halloween weekend, go get yourself a bucket of popcorn and check this movie out! You’ll be in for a scare!
I know this time can be a scary and overwhelming time for many, but hopefully by now you have a better idea of how to get that Halloween spirit in you! Even if you aren’t a huge extrovert, that’s okay! You can enjoy this spooky season by simply turning on one of these Halloween classics, getting some hot apple cider and cozying up next to the fire. This season only comes once a year, and it is almost over, so savor it while you can!