Halloween falls on October 31, so it’s worth choosing a movie for the evening right now. We have gathered twenty horror films that are already out, in five groups: classics, modern films, atmospheric stories, horror comedies and films for a group. For each film you’ll find the year, the director, a reason to watch it and a hint about when it will “work.” No spoilers, just the setup. The facts come from Wikipedia pages checked on October 17, 2026. We don’t list age ratings: they vary by country and service, so check the rating on the film’s page before you watch.
Classics: the films where it all began
These films came out many years ago, but the genre clichés that “Scream,” for example, jokes about first appeared in them.
Halloween
Official trailer · “Halloween” (1978)An escapee from a psychiatric hospital returns to the town of Haddonfield and stalks teenagers on Halloween night. Carpenter not only directed the film but also wrote its music; the movie was added to the United States National Film Registry. When to watch: if you want a classic slasher specifically on October 31.
Psycho
Official trailer · “Psycho” (1960)A woman on the run with stolen money stops at a remote motel run by the shy Norman Bates. The film, based on Robert Bloch’s novel, was shot in black and white on a modest budget, and Hitchcock earned an Oscar nomination for it. When to watch: for an evening when you want tension without modern effects.
The Exorcist
Official trailer · “The Exorcist” (1973)Two Catholic priests try to save a young girl from possession. The screenplay, based on William Peter Blatty’s own 1971 novel, was written by Blatty himself; the film received ten Oscar nominations and won two statuettes. When to watch: for those ready for a heavy, serious horror film.
The Shining
Official trailer · “The Shining” (1980)An aspiring writer who has given up drinking takes a winter job as caretaker of a mountain hotel, together with his wife and their son, who has the gift of foresight. The film is based on Stephen King’s 1977 novel and features the then-new Steadicam. When to watch: for slow psychological tension.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Official trailer · “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)Teenagers are hunted by Freddy Krueger, who kills them through their dreams. According to Wikipedia, Craven partly drew on news reports about refugees who died in their sleep from nightmares; for Johnny Depp it was his film debut. When to watch: if you want a classic with a supernatural twist.
Modern horror worth knowing
Four films made in the 2010s that are easy to find and discuss.
The Conjuring
Official trailer · “The Conjuring” (2013)Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren help a family that moved onto a farm in Rhode Island in 1971. The film launched an entire universe of spin-offs; for the viewing order, read “The Conjuring”: what order to watch them in. When to watch: for an evening with two or three people, when you want a “haunted house” kind of horror.
Hereditary
Official trailer · “Hereditary” (2018)A family drama with mystical events: after a grandmother’s death, something sinister begins in the family of the artist Annie. For Aster this is his directorial debut; the film was taken into production by A24. When to watch: for people who enjoy slow, unsettling films about family.
Get Out
Official trailer · “Get Out” (2017)A Black young man visits the family of his girlfriend, and the longer he stays, the stranger her friendly family seems. Peele wrote the screenplay himself and made his directorial debut. When to watch: for an evening of psychological horror and conversation afterward.
It
Official trailer · “It” (2017)Seven teenagers from the fictional town of Derry, Maine, encounter a creature that takes the form of the clown Pennywise. This is the first of two parts of the adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 novel. When to watch: for a group of friends who aren’t afraid of clowns.
Atmospheric stories: fear without gory details
Here fear rests on mood and story rather than on brutal scenes. Still, check the age rating.
The Others
Official trailer · “The Others” (2001)1945, the island of Jersey: a woman with two children who cannot tolerate light notices supernatural events in the house after new servants arrive. Amenábar wrote the screenplay and the score, and the film won eight Goya Awards. When to watch: for an evening with candles, a blanket and a cup of something hot.
The Orphanage
Official trailer · “The Orphanage” (2007)Laura returns to the children’s home where she grew up in order to open a facility there for children with disabilities, but her son disappears. This is Bayona’s directorial debut; Guillermo del Toro helped with the production. When to watch: if you like gothic stories about a house with a past.
The Sixth Sense
Official trailer · “The Sixth Sense” (1999)A child psychologist takes on the case of a boy who claims he can see and hear the dead. The film received six Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. When to watch: for a quiet but tense evening.
Ringu
Official trailer · “Ringu” (1998)A reporter investigates the story of a cursed videotape: whoever watches it dies within seven days. The film, based on Kōji Suzuki’s 1991 novel, popularized Japanese horror (J-horror) around the world and launched a wave of Western remakes. When to watch: for fans of Japanese horror and stories about curses.
Horror comedies: when you want to laugh
If you’ve had enough scares even without the movies, these four films mix the frightening and the funny.
Ghostbusters
Official trailer · “Ghostbusters” (1984)Three parapsychologists from New York open a business catching ghosts. The screenplay was written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, who also appeared in the film alongside Bill Murray. When to watch: when you want to laugh rather than be scared.
Beetlejuice
Official trailer · “Beetlejuice” (1988)The dead Maitland couple cannot leave their house, so they call in the “bio-exorcist” Beetlejuice to scare off the new residents. Wikipedia calls the film a gothic horror comedy. When to watch: for fans of black humor and gothic aesthetics.
Shaun of the Dead
Official trailer · “Shaun of the Dead” (2004)Shaun, a London shop assistant, finds himself and his loved ones in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. This is the first part of the Blood and Ice Cream trilogy by Wright and Simon Pegg. When to watch: if you want a parody of zombie movies.
Welcome to Zombieland
Official trailer · “Zombieland” (2009)Four survivors of a zombie apocalypse drive across the country in search of a place without the virus. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin; for Fleischer it is his directorial debut. When to watch: for a comedy with a road trip.
For a group: what to watch together
These three films have plenty to discuss, and it’s less creepy with friends nearby.
Scream
Official trailer · “Scream” (1996)High school student Sidney Prescott and her friends become the target of a killer in a costume. The film combines the slasher with satire: the characters know the clichés of horror films and discuss them. The screenplay was written by Kevin Williamson. When to watch: for a group that likes to guess what happens next.
The Cabin in the Woods
Official trailer · “The Cabin in the Woods” (2011)Students go to a cabin in the woods, while unseen technicians control events from an underground facility. Goddard wrote the screenplay together with Joss Whedon, and the two of them called it an attempt to refresh the slasher and a satire on the genre. When to watch: for those who know the genre and enjoy spotting the references.
A Quiet Place
Official trailer · “A Quiet Place” (2018)A family survives in a world where blind creatures with extremely sensitive hearing hunt anything that makes a sound. Krasinski plays the father, and Emily Blunt plays the mother. When to watch: for an evening when everyone has turned off their phones and is sitting quietly.
How to choose by mood
| What you want | What to take |
|---|---|
| Classics of the genre | Halloween, Psycho, The Shining |
| A modern horror for one evening | The Conjuring, Hereditary |
| Atmosphere without gore | The Others, The Orphanage, The Sixth Sense |
| A laugh | Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, Shaun of the Dead |
| A film for a group | Scream, The Cabin in the Woods, A Quiet Place |
If after Halloween you want to watch everything in a row, we have viewing orders for the franchises “The Conjuring”, “Saw” and “Final Destination”.
Tip. For an evening of three films, put a horror comedy in the middle: “Ghostbusters” or “Beetlejuice” release the tension and keep the group from getting tired of being scared.
Frequently asked questions
What should I watch on Halloween if I don’t like scary movies?
Pick horror comedies: “Ghostbusters,” “Beetlejuice,” “Shaun of the Dead” or “Welcome to Zombieland.” They use the atmosphere of the holiday but don’t aim to frighten you.
Which film should I pick for a group?
“Scream,” “The Cabin in the Woods” or “A Quiet Place.” If not everyone loves scary films, start with a comedy and move on to horror later.
Are there films without graphic scenes in this selection?
In the “Atmospheric stories” group, fear rests mainly on mood: “The Others,” “The Orphanage,” “The Sixth Sense,” “Ringu.” We can’t guarantee the absence of violent scenes, so check the age rating and the description.
Is the film “Halloween” connected to the holiday?
Yes. According to Wikipedia, the crime that starts everything takes place on October 31, 1963; fifteen years later the escapee returns to the town, and the main events happen on Halloween 1978.
Where can I watch these films?
Streaming catalogs change, so we don’t provide a list. Check the page of the film you want on a service available to you.
Sources
- Halloween (1978 film) (Wikipedia)
- The Shining (film) (Wikipedia)
- The Others (2001 film) (Wikipedia)
- Scream (1996 film) (Wikipedia)
- A Quiet Place (film) (Wikipedia)
Data on the other films was checked against Wikipedia pages on October 17, 2026.
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