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Halloween Movies You Need to Watch This fall

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at MSU chapter.

With each passing day, we get closer and closer to the end of autumn. And although the countdown to the spookiest night of the year is getting smaller, there is always enough time to watch the most iconic Halloween movies ever created. So, without further ado, here is a list of some of the best Halloween movies (at least in my opinion) that you need to watch right now.  

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 

This is my all-time favorite spooky season movie to watch! The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a musical comedy horror film with one of the best soundtracks ever produced. The story follows a newly engaged couple, Brad and Janet, who are on their way to visit their boss when their car breaks down. They then take shelter in a mansion which is owned by Dr. Frank-N-Furter and their experience there is a bit bizarre. After watching this movie, I guarantee you will be singing “Time Warp” and “Touch A, Touch Me” nonstop. While this movie can be a bit confusing, the overall themes of dreaming big and being unique won’t be lost on you.    

The Nightmare Before Christmas 

The Nightmare Before Christmas sounds like a Christmas movie, but we can also watch the film as a Halloween movie. The film follows Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king, who becomes sick of his same old routine. But then, he finds Christmas town and decides to kidnap Santa; although, a lot goes wrong. Tim Burton’s imagination makes this film a lot of fun and enjoyable to watch. Plus, the “This is Halloween” song is so catchy and will be stuck in your head after watching this.   

Sinister 

I know I have a lot of favorites on this list, but Sinister is my all-time favorite horror movie to watch. The story follows a family who have just moved into their new home where a murder previously took place. The dad, who is a true crime author, starts uncovering the secrets behind the house. Be warned, though, because this movie does have a lot of content that may be triggering to people who don’t like murders or jump scares. But if you do decide to give this movie a try, just know there is a sequel if you like it! 

Casper 

How could I make a Halloween movie list and not include Casper? I just can’t! Casper is the story of a young girl who befriends a friendly ghost named Casper. The two of them then work together to figure out how Casper died and try to bring him back to life. This movie is perfect for family movie night and is a classic that just cannot be beat.

Coraline 

Coraline is my favorite childhood Halloween movie, and if you’re a Michigan State Spartan, then this movie should be one of your favorites, too! Coraline follows the story of Coraline Jones, a young girl who just moved to a new house with her parents. Coraline is adventurous and happens to find an old door that seems to lead nowhere. Then, one night a mouse sneaks into her room and Coraline follows the mouse to the door, which leads to another dimension. You’ll have to figure out the rest of the story yourself, but one thing I can tell you is that Coraline is from Michigan. Not only that but her dad is seen wearing a Michigan State hoodie! Therefore, Coraline is a Spartan! 

Child’s Play 

Child’s Play is the first horror film I ever watched when I was younger. This film is about a young boy who receives a possessed doll named Chucky, who continuously tries to kill the boy. This film made me not want to be around dolls anymore, especially ones in overalls. Child’s Play was such a hit that there are many more sequels where Chucky’s horrific adventures continue. If you decide to watch this, be sure to not have any dolls around while doing so.  

The Conjuring 

I think it’s safe to say that we all have had a Conjuring phase at one point. I mean how could we not, with all the movies that are in the franchise. Not to mention, the movies are based on a real married ghost researcher couple, and you can even go see the real Annabelle doll in person. Although the movies are exaggerated for Hollywood content, the story is still good. The Conjuring follows Ed and Lorraine Warren on their journey to an isolated farmhouse where strange things keep happening. This movie is perfect to watch when you’re looking to be scared, but not frightened.  

Overall, there are so many movies that I could add to this list but if I added them all, this article would be 12 pages long. These are only a few, and more so my favorite, Halloween movies to watch in October. Even if you’ve seen all of these, it’s always a good time for a rewatch! So, bundle up under your blankets because it’s time for a spooky movie night! 

Just a girl who loves cute things :) Sophomore majoring in business :(