Halloween has come a long way from its origin story of the day when the souls of the deceased returned to Earth. These days, instead of preparing for the arrival of the souls of our loved ones, many instead opt to watch festive, spooky, and downright terrifying movies (while consuming a fair share of peanut butter cups and Snickers bars dressed up as the pop culture costume du jour). And while there are more Halloween-centric movies than almost any other holiday, they aren’t all worth your time. But there are a few classic Halloween movies that you definitely can’t miss.
The Shining (1980)
Where to stream: Max, Prime Video, Apple TV
If you only watch one Halloween movie this year, make it The Shining. The story of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) and his slow descent into madness as he is tasked with being the winter caretaker of the Colorado mountain retreat known as the Overlook Hotel. Not only is it terrifying for Torrance and his family, but the filmmaking and pacing will leave you on the edge of your seat until the end.
Halloween (1978)
Where to stream: AMC+, Prime Video, Apple TV
While it spawned a bunch of sequels, it would behoove you to watch the original Halloween this year. The story is centered around six-year-old Michael Myers who murders his older sister only to be locked up for the next fifteen years before escaping and returning home to look for new victims while wearing the now-famous mask.
Poltergeist (1982)
Where to stream: Max, Prime Video, Apple TV
One of the most unnerving, frightening movies ever made, Poltergeist tells the story of the all-American suburban family who begins to experience strange happenings in their new home. Just annoying and odd at first, the paranormal events begin to get worse and more terrifying, eventually leading to the family turning to an exorcist to attempt to rid the house of angry spirits.
Children of The Corn (1984)
Where to stream: AMC+, Prime Video, Apple TV
This movie, based on the story by Stephen King, is about Burt (Peter Horton) and his girlfriend Vicky (Linda Hamilton) who are driving across the country to start Burt’s new job. They happen upon a murdered child in the road who ran out of a cornfield. They go to a nearby town attempting to contact the police only to find it seemingly deserted. Later they find that the only villagers are children in a strange, ancient cult that prays to a creature called “He Who Walks Behind The Rows.”
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Where to stream: Max, Prime Video, Apple TV
Sometimes horror movies are all shocks and jump scares and not much substance. Silence of the Lambs is the opposite of this. Not only is it a scary movie, but it’s a great film. Jodie Foster stars as Clarice Starling, an FBI agent tasked with interviewing a serial killer and cannibal named Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to help catch the serial killer known as Buffalo Bill.
Evil Dead 2 (1987)
Where to stream: AMC+, Prime Video, Apple TV
Sure, you can watch Evil Dead, but Evil Dead 2 is more or less a shot-for-shot remake with a bigger budget and better special effects. The story centers around Ash (Bruce Campbell), who finds a tape of someone reading from the “Book of the Dead.” His girlfriend gets possessed by demons and he finds himself trapped in a cabin in the woods, battling them.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Where to stream: Max, Prime Video, Apple TV
This is a newer movie than the others on the list, but it’s no less classic. This 1999 retelling of Washington Irving’s famous story has Johnny Depp portraying Ichabod Crane, but this time he’s a New York City police constable who is sent to the town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of decapitations.
The Lost Boys (1987)
Where to stream: Max, Prime Video, Apple TV
There are a lot of vampire movies to choose from, but few bridge the gap between fun, creepy, and scary better than 1987’s The Lost Boys. Brothers Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim) move with their mother to a coastal northern California town. While Sam meets a duo of nerdy comic book fans, Michael gets involved with a girl named Star (Jamie Gertz) who is a little too closely associated with David (Kiefer Sutherland) the leader of a gang of undead vampires.
