Where to Watch 15 Classic Halloween Movies This Year

Halloween is almost here, which means it’s time to keep watching the classics. Halloween movies. If you’re short on time before the holidays and need a cheat sheet on where to stream the best of the best, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve compiled a list of where you can watch 15 classic Halloween movies right now. This includes true legends like the original Halloween and Scream, family fun like Halloweentown and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and unforgettable ’80s slasher films that will have you hiding under the covers.

If you dare, check out our list below.

“Halloween” (1978)

Stream on AMC+ and Fubo

OG. Classic. Icon. John Carpenter’s Halloween was a low-budget indie film that spawned a franchise in which slow-moving serial killer Michael Myers tormented the sleepy town of Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween night. Jamie Lee Curtis achieved “scream queen” status by playing the nanny who opposes Myers in this and five additional sequels. You’ll find more Halloween movies streaming on AMC+ and Fubo, and the 2018 film, a direct sequel to the original, is streaming on Netflix.

“Scream” (1996)

Stream on Max

Wes Craven reinvented the horror genre with 1996’s Scream, a slasher film in which the bad guy had seen every cult horror movie and taunted his victims using his cinephile know-how. Countless robberies followed, but Scream remains one of the best, scariest, and funniest horror films ever made.

“Trick or Treat” (2007)

Stream on Max

This anthology film set on Halloween night has become a cult classic on home video, and for good reason. The film tells a series of short stories that take place in one city on one night – Halloween. We are still waiting for the sequel.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)

Stream on Disney+

The perfect bridge between Halloween and Christmas (sorry, Thanksgiving), the stop-motion musical produced by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick remains one of Disney’s most valuable brands three decades later.

“Halloweentown” (1998)

Stream on Disney+

This Disney Channel original movie was a favorite of millennials growing up and is a family-friendly alternative to the nightmare-inducing classics on this list.

“Hocus Pocus” (1993)

Stream on Disney+

A flop upon release, Hocus Pocus achieved iconic status in subsequent years, thanks in part to countless airings on the Disney Channel every Halloween. The sequel, released in 2022, is also on Disney+, but has nothing in common with the original.

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)

Stream on Max

If you’re looking for iconic slasher villains, Freddy Krueger – the villain who kills teenagers in their sleep – in Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street is a must-have.

“Friday the 13th” (1980)

Streaming on Paramount+, AMC+ and Shudder

And if you watch Freddy, you better watch Jason with a Machete.

“The Exorcist” (1973)

Stream on Max

When it comes to pure fear, William Friedkin’s The Exorcist remains one of the most terrifying films ever made.

“The Shining” (1980)

Streaming on Max and AMC+

The same goes for Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, which is scary for a variety of reasons. Author Stephen King in particular was not a fan of Kubrick’s interpretation of his book, which abandons the overt supernatural aspects in favor of a more grounded take on a father going mad.

“Beetlejuice” (1988)

Stream on Max

Few people create the Halloween spirit better than Tim Burton, and his 1988 horror-comedy classic Beetlejuice is a great way to get in the mood. Especially after the release of the sequel, which is currently not streaming but is available to buy or rent on Digital. It’s solid!

The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values ​​(1993)

Streaming on Paramount+ and Fubo

They’re creepy and weird. While The Addams Family is a macabre delight, the sequel Addams Family Values ​​is perhaps even better thanks to Joan Cusack’s pitch-perfect performance as a serial killer who marries Christopher Lloyd’s Uncle Fester in an attempt to take his fortune – but he just won’t die!

“Shaun of the Dead” (2004)

Stream on Peacock

A zombie movie has to be on this list, and Edgar Wright’s zombie rom-com Shaun of the Dead is a great way to spend Halloween week. Funny, creepy, romantic and everything chillIt’s a classic for a reason.

“Practical Magic” (1998)

Stream on Max

If you’re looking for a witchy vibe, you can’t go wrong with Practical Magic. ’90s movie stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman play sisters/witches who overcome abusive relationships with their witch powers, all set against the perfect fall backdrop.