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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Susqu chapter.

With Halloween just under a week away, there’s nothing better than watching a Halloween movie to feel the spookiness of the holiday. There are films for practically everyone. Whether you like horror, comedies, or even romance, there’s the perfect Halloween movie for you out there. Here are five must-watch Halloween films for this year. 

Hocus Pocus 

A true classic, what Halloween is complete without watching Hocus Pocus at least once. It’s played so many times on TV throughout October. Although the film was released in 1993, it seems to hold up all these years later. The movie follows teenager Max as he moves to Salem, Massachusetts, and unknowingly resurrects three witch sisters who were executed during the Salem witch trials. The witches then try to suck the soul of Max’s little sister, and that’s where the adventure starts. Hocus Pocus is a great family film filled with a lot of heart and comedy. The overall message revolves around teamwork and protecting those you love. Let’s also not forget about the iconic “I Put a Spell on You” performed by Bette Midler’s character, Winifred, in the movie. All three witch sisters are hilariously wicked and comedic in their roles. If you’ve never gotten around to watching Hocus Pocus, now is the time. A sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, is set to be released next year in the fall of 2022 on Disney Plus. All three witch sisters, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, will reprise their roles. Let’s hope the sequel does the original justice! 

Scream

For those who like classic horror films and thrillers, 1996’s Scream is perfect. Starting with Drew Barrymore’s infamous death scene by Ghostface in the beginning to the very end of the film, there are so many twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. The film follows teenager Sidney Prescott as she is stalked and targeted by an anonymous killer throughout the film, mainly through phone calls. Scream is a gory film, but it does feature one of the more notorious movie killers. While there are a total of four Scream films currently released, I believe the first Scream is the best due to its storyline and classic nature. A new Scream film is set to be released on January 14th, 2022, with Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette all reprising their roles from the previous films.  

The Nightmare Before Christmas 

While my friends and I have debated whether The Nightmare Before Christmas is more of a Christmas or Halloween film, I tend to agree with the latter. The Nightmare Before Christmas remains popular today due to its animation style, characters, aesthetic feel, and soundtrack. The 1993 Tim Burton film features catchy songs like “This is Halloween” and “What’s This” that make you want to sing along. The stop-motion animated style also makes the characters and atmosphere feel mysterious, dark, and creepy. As a child, I definitely felt a little frightened watching Oogie Boogie take Santa Claus hostage. That’s what makes The Nightmare Before Christmas so great to watch during this time of year. Additionally, who doesn’t adore the romance and love story between Jack Skellington and Sally. Their love story drives the film, and it ends with their infamous kiss on top of Spiral Hill.  

Halloween 

You know Halloween is a popular film when even my grandmother watches it in October. Michael Myers is that classic horror movie villain you think about at this time of year while Jamie Lee Curtis plays one of the first major characters to act as the final girl in a film. Final girl refers to the last girl or woman alive who ultimately faces the killer in the end and lives on to tell the story. The Halloween franchise remains popular as there have been thirteen films released featuring Michael Myers as the antagonist. The latest, Halloween Kills, released on October 15th of this year and features Jamie Lee Curtis in her role as Laurie Strode. She has been in six Halloween films thus far and is set to star in Halloween Ends, which will be released around next Halloween. It looks like the franchise still has more in store, which is perfect for fans.  

Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters is a fun comedy film for all ages that remains timeless. The 1984 movie has it all: some comedy, some horror, and even some action scenes. There are also some interesting villains. But overall, people love the popular film due to its cast and comedic elements. The Ghostbusters have great chemistry together and make the movie better. A new Ghostbusters, titled Ghostbusters: Afterlife, is set to be released in theaters this year on November 11th. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Sigourney Weaver are also set to appear in the new film. 

There are many great Halloween films out there to watch and enjoy. The point is that you take some time to relax and to celebrate the spooky season. After all, Halloween only comes once a year. Happy Halloween! 

Gabrielle Chaudry is the president and editor-in-chief at the Her Campus at Susqu chapter. She oversees the editing of articles. Beyond Her Campus, Gabrielle has written for The Quill, Susquehanna University's student newspaper and she has been editor-in-chief of her high school's newspaper. Gabrielle is also a section editor of Susquehanna's yearbook, The Lanthorn. She is currently a senior at Susquehanna University, majoring in journalism with a political science minor and honors minor. In her free time, Gabrielle enjoys writing, reading, and listening to pop music. She's a Hallmark movie lover and finds joy decorating for the holidays and seasons.