1Hocus Pocus (1993)
Walt Disney Pictures 2The Addams Family (1991)
Getty ImagesThis kid-friendly classic is an easy choice for a spooky — but not nightmare-inducing — Halloween movie night. There's a recent cartoon version with a sequel out in October, but you can't beat the OG — and its 1993 sequel, Addams Family Values — for its chemistry between Raul Julia and Anjelica Houston.
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3Beetlejuice (1988)
IMDB 4Get Out (2017)
IMDBJordan Peele's masterpiece, which uses racism as a vehicle for supernatural horror, is an absolute must-see. You'll be thinking about this one long after you turn the lights out.
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5Practical Magic (1998)
IMDB 6Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Sunset Boulevard//Getty ImagesAnother Tim Burton cult classic, this surprisingly heartwarming tale of a young man with scissors for hands is packed with lush cinematography, romance and life lessons.
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7Halloween (1978)
IMDBGiven that this iconic film — featuring the unstoppable killing machine that is Michael Myers — shares a name with the year's spookiest holiday, it's just about as classic as they come. It's worth it for the spooky score alone.
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8The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Barry King//Getty ImagesIt's up for debate whether this classic falls into the Halloween or Christmas category. Either way, Tim Burton's imaginary world is a sheer delight. (So maybe watch it once a week from October to December?)
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9It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
AppleTV+For many, it's simply not Halloween season until the whole family has gathered on the couch to watch this animated special starring the Peanuts gang.
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10Ghostbusters (1984)
Getty ImagesBefore you take in the new Ghostbusters: Afterlife this November, refresh yourself with the ensemble comedy that started it all. This is a good one to throw on for a mixed-aged group.
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11Us (2019)
IMDBA brilliant invention from Jordan Peele, this allegorical horror features a family who discover their violent doppelgängers while on vacation. The only thing scarier than a monster is ... yourself.
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12Scream (1996)
Dimension FilmsThis clever classic reinvigorated the slasher genre with deadly wit. Watch to learn the rules of the genre, like why you should never get too close to the man in the mask.
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13Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Michael Ochs Archives//Getty ImagesHost your own midnight showing of this musical comedy horror film starring a young Susan Sarandon and Tim Curry — then just try to hold yourself back from singing along to the "Time Warp."
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14Hubie Halloween (2020)
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15Children of the Corn (1984)
New World PicturesStephen King has a penchant for making the mundane mortifying, so it’s no surprise this adaptation of his 1978 short story made corn fields become one of the creepiest places to spend Halloween.
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RELATED: The Best Halloween Movies on Hulu
16Casper (1995)
Amblin EntertainmentSince she was a child, Christina Ricci has reigned supreme as the queen of Halloween movies. In this one, she befriends the friendliest of ghosts ... Casper!
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17The Shining (1980)
IMDBEasily one of the most recognizable entries on this list, The Shining features Jack Nicholson's breathtaking performance as the writer-turned-madman Jack Torrance. It's a Stephen King classic that director Stanley Kubrick truly makes his own.
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18It (2017)
New Line CinemaSince Pennywise the Clown has consistently been one of the most popular Halloween costumes in recent years, it's only fitting that the 2017 remake of Stephen King's bone-chilling story makes the cut. Make it a double-feature by following it up with 2019's It: Chapter 2.
WATCH ON HBO MAX
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19A Quiet Place (2018)
IMDBThis inventive post-apocalyptic thriller takes place in a world where even the slightest sound can spell your imminent death. Real-life lovebirds Emily Blunt and John Krasinksi play the parents in this tale of how we can never really keep our children safe. After many pandemic delays, A Quiet Place Part II came out earlier this year — you can catch it on Paramount+ or rent it on Amazon.
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20Halloweentown (1998)
DisneyIf your kids wish that Halloween could be every night of the year, you’re in luck: In the magical Disney classic Halloweentown, that’s basically how it goes.
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Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.

Lauren Puckett-Pope is a Culture Writer at ELLE.com, where she primarily covers film, television, and books. She was previously an Associate Editor at ELLE.com.
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