Best Halloween movies: The top spooky and horror films to watch this October

Arguably the most talked-about movie of 2026, if you haven’t seen Obsession yet, now is your chance.

A creepy, eerie psychological horror, it follows Bear (Michael Johnston) as he uses a one-willow wish to make his crush Nikki (Inde Navarrette) love him.

Quickly, things take a terrifying turn as Nikki becomes (as the title suggests) completely obsessed with Bear and falls dangerously in love.

I’m not usually a horror fan and hide behind my sofa at any jump scares, but this had me hooked from the opening minute.

It’s mind-bending and just the right amount of creepiness to glue you to your seat.

Another horror release which has defined 2026 is The Backrooms.

Produced by A24, it became an instant hit and has been one of the most talked-about movies of the year.

The film sees struggling furniture store owner Clark disappear through a mysterious doorway in the basement of his shop, only to discover the Backrooms: an endless, yellow maze.

Clark begins visiting the realm regularly and exploring its dangerous entities, before his therapist, Dr Mary Kline, ventures into the Backrooms herself to bring him back.

Another psychological, mind-bending movie, any horror fan should watch this instant classic this Halloween.

Well, it says it all in the name: Halloween is a must-watch in October.

The 1978 slasher film, starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance, became such a smash hit that it has spawned another 12 movies.

With hours of terror to watch, it will leave you scared to turn off the lights at the end of the night.

But for those who might not have been courageous enough to watch it before, Halloween sees murderer Michael Myers (yes, that go-to Halloween costume) escape from custody and return to his hometown in a bid to find his next victims.

Often set on Halloween night, the film series follows Michael’s gruesome crimes, with Jamie Lee returning as Laurie Strode in most of the spin-offs.

It goes without saying that The Addams Family is an instant Halloween classic and will certainly get you in the mood for Halloween.

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the 1991 comedy/horror follows the eccentric and macabre Addams family.

But they are hit by a major threat when a family lawyer plots to steal their riches, with a battle quickly ensuing.

Starring Christina Ricci, Christopher Lloyd, and Raul Julia, the film is based on the cartoons by Charles Addams.

And it has inspired even more spin-offs, with the Addams clan coming back into the spotlight with the release of Netflix’s spin-off show, Wednesday.

For those of you who want more of a scare this Halloween, Friday the 13th will have you hiding behind your pillow!

There are an impressive 12 movies in the slasher franchise, so there are near-endless hours of entertainment (or terror) to enjoy this October, so you’d better make a start now!

The 1980 original film follows a group of teenage camp counsellors who are murdered one by one by a brutal killer.

With a merciless masked opponent on their heels, they have to fight to stay alive in the midst of trying to reopen the abandoned camp.

If, like me, you scare easily and aren’t a natural slasher fan, you might want to scroll past this one.

This horror offering doesn’t have jump scares, but it isn’t for the squeamish among us.

Released in 2024, The Substance won an Oscar as it took the world by storm, with Demi Moore gaining critical praise in her leading role.

Demi plays TV starlet Elisabeth Sparkle, who injects herself with a mysterious serum promising a younger, better version of herself (played by Margaret Qualley) when she is fired from her aerobics show.

A clever commentary on Hollywood culture, things quickly start going terribly wrong for Elisabeth, with some stomach-churning results.

I absolutely loved this modern-day satire, but if you get queasy easily and hate body horror, then I wouldn’t recommend this one for you.

But, if you don’t mind a bit of gore, then you have to add this to your watchlist immediately.

You can’t have Halloween without a few vampires!

So, look no further for a fang-focused Halloween classic than the 2012 hit Dark Shadows.

One of Tim Burton’s most beloved films, it stars his go-to gothic A-listers Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.

The movie sees Playboy Barnabas (Johnny) earn the wrath of witch Angelique (Eva Green) when he breaks her heart.

She turns him into a vampire and buries him alive, before he escapes from his tomb two decades later, finding himself in the much-changed landscape of 1972.

Faced with the dysfunctional remnants of his family, he must battle with life after his grand estate falls into ruin.

Roald Dahl’s The Witches has become a Halloween must-watch and is a rare family-friendly spooky movie for Halloween.

While the original book is aimed at younger children, the 2020 film is recommended for older children and young teens due to its scarier visuals.

The movie was originally adapted for the big screen in 1990, but was given a fresh lease of life in the 2020 remake.

It follows a young boy who unexpectedly comes across some deceptively glamorous yet diabolical witches while living with his grandmother.

The Grand High Witch, played by none other than Anne Hathaway, then sparks her cunning plot to get rid of all the children in the world.

I vividly remember reading the book as a child (and being scared out of my mind by the creepy witches), so be warned when introducing your children to this classic.

For those who enjoy a comedy horror, Trick r’ Treat is another iconic option for the Halloween season.

However, the 2007 release, directed by Michael Dougherty, isn’t a family-friendly option, as it still provides its fair share of blood and gore.

It follows the intertwined lives of a group of people on Halloween as they unexpectedly face ghosts, goblins, and other terrifying challenges.

The twisted tale warns of the consequences of snuffing out the Jack-o-Lantern before midnight and will certainly give you a dose of spooky mayhem.

Starring Australia’s very own Nicole Kidman, Practical Magic provides a romantic (with a twist) option for those who want less of a scare and more magic this Halloween.

The 1998 romantic fantasy film, based on the novel by Alice Hoffman, was a smash hit, and its sequel, Practical Magic 2, was released last month.

The original movie follows Nicole and Sandra Bullock as sisters, but with an enchanting twist.

After moving in with their relatives, the bewitching duo uses their hereditary gift of magic to overcome obstacles in life.

The long-awaited sequel sees the two sisters return, but this time, Sally (Sandra) has erased her daughter’s memory of her witchy origins to protect her from the family’s infamous loveless curse.

However, the truth quickly comes out, and chaos ensues…

With the sequel not yet available on streaming services, you can head to the cinema for the full Halloween experience, or watch the original from your couch.

While not a traditional Halloween movie, Death Becomes Her has become a cult classic for the spooky season due to its grotesque visuals.

The 1992 dark comedy follows two rivals, played by Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, as they drink a magic potion that promises eternal youth.

However, things don’t quite go to plan as there are some very gruesome consequences to their vain actions.

The two women die while fighting over a man, played by Bruce Willis, but they are revived and are forced to live in their undead bodies in a gory twist.

Tim Burton has more than proved himself to be the King of Halloween, much like his famed character, Jack Skellington, in The Nightmare Before Christmas.

It might have Christmas in the name, but the movie has become an instant Halloween classic for the family.

The 1993 animation sees Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town, become obsessed with Christmas Town before he decides to take it over for himself.

But he finds himself in hot water when he abducts Father Christmas, leading to some unexpected consequences.

With a whole host of catchy songs and creepy visuals throughout, it provides a more upbeat, fun addition to October… and will get you excited for Christmas.

Still haven’t got enough of Tim Burton? Well, it’s time to reunite with your favourite Halloween ghoul, Beetlejuice.

The iconic movie follows the ghoul as he helps a newly-dead couple to haunt the tasteless new owners of their beloved home.

Starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and the late Catherine O’Hara, the 1988 horror/comedy has become a firm fan favourite.

So much so that it inspired a sequel, 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

With Wednesday star Jenna Ortega joining the fun, it saw much of the original cast return for another round of mischievous mayhem.

And make sure to remember one thing: never say Beetlejuice’s name three times!

Why not watch these iconic witches this Halloween, as well as dressing up like one?

Hocus Pocus tells the story of three devilish witches, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, who are inadvertently resurrected by a teenage boy.

Set in Salem, the 300-year-old witches then begin to enact a reign of terror in a bid to cast a spell over the town and reclaim their youth.

The 1993 film also inspired a sequel, 2022’s Hocus Pocus 2, which saw the Sanderson Sisters brought back once again for another dose of havoc.