13. “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”
While “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown” is arguably the most heart-warming holiday special and “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” features the most iconic Peanuts scene, “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is an underappreciated classic. As always, Charlie Brown makes you a little sad about adolescence, Lucy acts like a jerk, and Linus brings that spark of optimism: “I don’t see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there’s not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.” Thank God for Linus – this depressing bunch of kids needs him.
12. Hocus Pocus
All you nineties kids out there are sure to agree. Or am I the only one who wanted a Halloween adventure like this as a kid? If the childhood memories don’t do it for you, you still can’t miss laughing at the cringe-worthy but funny one-liners or feeling a little uncomfortable as Sarah Jessica Parker plays a sexy, ditsy witch from the seventeenth century.
11. The Office: “Halloween”
Though there are several Halloween episodes of The Office, season two’s “Halloween” is my personal favorite. At the season’s prime, this episode really has a relatively low relation to Halloween, but Michael wears a papier-mâché head of himself on his shoulder and we get some seriously adorable Jim and Pam moments.
10: Friends: “The One with the Halloween Party”
Joey dresses as Chandler. Chandler dresses as a pink rabbit who gets into a fight with Ross who is dressed as SpuDnik. Phoebe dresses as Super Girl and thinks she would win in a fight against Monica who is dressed as Cat Woman. And Jenifer Aniston is Jenifer Aniston. Bam. Perfection.
9. Night Of The Living Dead
A 1968 cult classic directed by George Romero, this black and white film is equally ridiculous and terrifying. It may not have the effects of The Walking Dead, but Romero knew what he was doing. Laughable special effects and grainy quality aside, this movie’s scary enough to make you formulate a zombie apocalypse plan before going to bed.
8. Basically any classic Disney Channel TV show specials
We all loved these shows as kids, and whether or not you admit it we all love them still. Basically all Disney Channel shows have Halloween specials that are sure to make you smile, whether its Even Stevens and its GPA-driven, milk-drinking zombies, Lizzie McGuire’s Day of the Dead revenge plan for Kate, or That’s So Raven’s burger mix-up that leads to Raven and Chelsea being turned into… cows. So much classiness in one TV channel.
7. Rocky Horror Glee Show/Rocky Horror Picture Show
One of the last good episodes of the season (and series), Glee’s Halloween episode features the McKinley High’s Glee Club putting on a production of Rocky Horror. Their recreations of the songs are fun and modern, from a revival of the classic “Time Warp” to John Stamos aka Uncle Jesse from Full House singing “Hot Patootie.” If you have the time and can stomach the confusing and unsettling events, I recommend the actual movie Rocky Horror Picture Show as well!
6. Modern Family: “Halloween”
Being Modern Family, the Halloween episode is hilarious and well-acted, with creative costumes, entertaining plot lines, and witty one-liners. Basically I could go on and on about my love for any Modern Family episode. This one is special though, as you can’t miss Cam’s over-dramatic hatred of Halloween or Gloria dressed as a bruja, attempting an American accent.
5. The Sixth Sense
Another classic, The Sixth Sense is this list’s recommended legit horror film. Unlike so many modern horror films, this movie is actually good. Scary? Definitely. But also a quality movie. You never know where it’s going and is perfect for a night of chocolate chip pumpkin bread and apple cider with the girls.
4. Nightmare Before Christmas
Whether or not you’re a fan of the Crepper McCreeperson version of Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands, there’s no denying that Tim Burton is a genius. He knows what’s up when it comes to Halloween. People of all ages love this movie, from Nightmare’s artsy portrayal of Halloweentown and its inhabitants to the catchy songs that ten-year-olds and Marilyn Mason alike sing along to.
3. Buffy The Vampire Slayer: “Halloween”
Every episode has vampires or monsters of some sort, so really, choose any and you’ve got a sometimes meaningful, sometimes stupid, always entertaining show to watch during October. But season two’s Halloween episode is a perfect choice for this time of year. When the gang is magically transformed into their costume, Sunnydale is given the macho military man Xander, the confident child of love Willow, and the powerless 18th century damsel Buffy. Mayhem ensues. We laugh.
2. Boy Meets World: “And Then There Was Shawn”
Okay so I realize that a large number of the movies and shows on this list are from the nineties, but really what’s wrong with a little nostalgia? “And Then There Was Shawn” actually scared me as a kid. The friends comically try to survive in the school with a creepy janitor roaming the halls and a murder on the loose in what they think is Mr. Feeny’s demented version of detention. If nothing else, watch if for Eric’s Matthews’ hilarious response to being stuck in John Adams High’s version of Scream – “Oh my god! They killed Kenny!”
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
We can all agree here that Harry Potter is good for any time of the year, but it ranks on this list for one reason. Not the magic or unicorns or trolls, but for the Halloween feast. Kenyon’s Great Hall will give you pumpkin shaped chocolates and will label their spaghetti as intestines for the night, but only at Hogwarts will you get magically appearing food, pumpkin juice, and the headless hunt.