18 Scary Halloween Movies To Watch This Weekend

Planning a perfect fright night this Halloween weekend? A scary movie marathon might just do the trick — or the treat.

And you're in luck! We’ve compiled a list of some of the best horror flicks to enjoy during the most bewitching and spookiest time of the year.

From the family-friendly “Hocus Pocus” and the cult classic “Rosemary's Baby” to the zombie-heist thriller “Army of the Dead” and the critically acclaimed “Midsommar,” these films are sure to cast a spell of chills and thrills.

Happy Halloween!

Related

• 8 New Netflix Releases To Watch Ahead Of Halloween

“Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)

Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon; directed by Roman Polanski

Roman Polanski’s award-winning art-horror film centers on Guy (John Cassavetes) and Rosemary (Mia Farrow) Woodhouse, a young married couple who move into an apartment in the Bramford, a gothic building in New York City. However, unbeknownst to them, the place has a troubled past involving a satanic coven. In the end, when Rosemary becomes pregnant, she will have to face the ugly truth about the baby she’s carrying.

“Midsommar” (2019)

Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor; directed by Ari Aster

Surprises abound in Ari Aster’s horror movie, “Midsommar,” a twisted tale about love and confusion.

In the movie, Jack Reynor and Florence Pugh play two lovers, Christian (Reynor) and Dani (Pugh), who embark on a holiday trip to a midsummer festival in a remote Scandinavian village, where the sun rises at 4 a.m. and sets after 10 p.m. Unbeknownst to them, their excursion will become a nightmarish bloodbath along the way.

"A Quiet Place" (2018)

Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds; directed by John Krasinski

What if you lived every day in fear as you tried to escape malevolent creatures whose hearing was so sharp they could even sense your whispers? This is the premise of "A Quiet Place," which stars Emily Blunt and John Krasinski as a married couple whose family is forced to live in silence.

For Lee (Krasinski) and Evelyn Abbott (Blunt) and their three young children, silence is golden. In fact, it's the only option. Why? They need to protect themselves from evil beasts that are hunting them through the sounds they make.

"A Quiet Place Part II" (2020)

Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds; directed by John Krasinski

The "Quiet Place" saga continues as the Abbott family survives and navigates a post-apocalyptic world where ferocious, sightless aliens roam the earth, brutally hunting down humans through the sounds they make.

"The Addams Family" (2019)

Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron; directed by Greg Tiernen and Conrad Vernon

Remember "The Addams Family"— the iconic, fictional, wealthy and aristocratic family created by cartoonist Charles Addams? Well, they're returning to the big screen in a special way, replete with their unforgettable eccentricity and penchant for the macabre. This latest iteration is the first animated film featuring the origins story of the kooky and spooky Addamses. It is delightfully morbid while echoing a powerful message of acceptance.

"Army of the Dead" (2021)

Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell; directed by Zack Snyder

Zack Snyder returns to the land of the dead, paying homage to his 2004 feature directorial debut, a remake of George A. Romero's zombie classic, "Dawn of the Dead." However, this time around, a daring heist enters the picture. The zombie-heist thriller stars Dave Bautista as a former zombie mercenary tasked with breaching the walls of a zombie-infested city to retrieve the hefty cash sitting in a casino vault.

“Carrie” (1976)

Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving; directed by Brian De Palma

If prom night is your cup of tea, you might just change your mind after watching the cult classic “Carrie.” Based on Stephen King’s 1974 epistolary novel, Brian De Palma’s box office hit stars Sissy Spacek in the titular role of an introverted 16-year-old girl who is mocked and bullied at her senior prom. Burning with rage, she unleashes her telekinetic powers to exact revenge on her devious peers.

“The Exorcist” (1973)

Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair; directed by William Friedkin

If you’re a big fan of scary movies and haven’t seen “The Exorcist,” then you're missing out. Arguably, it’s one of the ultimate favorite horror classics. Plus, Linda Blair’s performance as a 12-year-old girl possessed by demons is chillingly magnificent.

“Hocus Pocus” (1993)

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy; directed by Kenny Ortega

Looking for a family-friendly Halloween movie? Look no further than Disney’s “Hocus Pocus,” a story about a precocious boy who unwittingly awakens three witches, the Sanderson sisters — Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy — who have been dead for nearly three centuries. Halloween night will never be the same in this sleepy town of Salem, Massachusetts.

“The Conjuring” (2013)

Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston; directed by James Wan

The purportedly real-life exploits of late paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) come to life in James Wan’s “The Conjuring.” At the center of the story is the Perron family of seven, who have been experiencing paranormal events in their Rhode Island farmhouse. At their wits’ end, Roger and Carolyn Perron decide to call the Warrens for help.

“Annabelle” (2014)

Ward Horton, Annabelle Wallis, Alfre Woodard; directed by John R. Leonetti

Remember “Annabelle,” the sinister possessed doll introduced in “The Conjuring”? Well, she finally gets her first starring role in a spinoff film focusing on her origins. Set in Santa Monica, California, the film follows the story of the Forms, John (Ward Horton) and Mia (Annabelle Wallis), a married couple suddenly thrust into a world of demonic possessions. The film has spawned two sequels to date: “Annabelle: Creation” (2017) and “Annabelle Comes Home” (2019).

“Evil Dead” (2013)

Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas; directed by Fede Alvarez

If you like Sam Raimi’s popular “Evil Dead” franchise, you should check out Fede Alvarez’s feature directorial debut, which is a reboot and loose continuation of the original series. At the heart of the story is a group of five friends who unknowingly summon a malevolent evil force after discovering a mysterious book of the dead at a nearby cabin in the woods.

“The Others” (2001)

Nicole Kidman, Christopher Eccleston, Fionnula Flanagan; directed by Alejandro Amenábar

The gothic supernatural film stars Nicole Kidman as Grace Stewart, a widowed, caring mother who lives with her two photosensitive children, Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley), in their old gloomy house located in a remote town. As the story unfolds, Grace becomes convinced that there are mysterious intruders living with them in their own abode.

“Casper” (1995)

Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci; directed by Brad Silberling

Have you ever heard of the friendliest ghost ever? It’s none other than Casper, the spirit who wants to be everybody’s best pal. In this origins movie, Casper’s peaceful world comes crashing down when a paranormal therapist (Bill Pullman) and his daughter (Christina Ricci) move into a manor in the countryside.

"Get Out"

Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford; directed by Jordan Peele

Nominated for Best Picture at the 90th Academy Awards, Jordan Peele's 2017 mystery-thriller pays homage to the plot of Stanley Kramer's iconic dramedy, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." Meet interracial couple Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose Armitage (Allison Williams), who embark on a weekend getaway so Chris can finally meet his fiancee's parents. Seemingly, everything is perfect — that is, until their road trip becomes a gory ride. In the end, we get to learn about the Armitages' darkest secret.

"It" (2017)

Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher (Martell); directed by Andy Muschietti

Looking for some escapism with a capital T for terror? Well, look no further than this remake, a story about seven youngsters who band together to take on an evil clown in their New England suburb. At its core, this latest film adaptation of Stephen King's 1986 novel is about coming of age in a malevolent world. Hauntingly nuanced, the movie is complemented by magnificent performances, sharp one-liners and visceral sentiments.

“Halloween” (1978)

Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran; directed by John Carpenter

Simply put: John Carpenter’s slasher film screams Halloween front and center, so you'd better be prepared for this scary cult classic, starring Jamie Lee Curtis in her feature film debut that made her a Hollywood A-lister. Plot-wise, the narrative follows the story of Michael Myers (Tony Moran), a mentally ill patient committed to a sanitarium when he was 6 years old after murdering his sister on 1963 Halloween night. Fifteen years later, he escapes and rains terror in his hometown.

“Friday the 13th” (1980)

Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King; directed by Sean S. Cunningham

Have you ever wondered why we’re on the qui vive whenever a Friday falls on the 13th day of the month? Well, don’t be surprised if this fan-favorite slasher film might just have the answer you’re looking for. Hint: In the movie, the murderer goes on a killing spree exactly on — yes, you guessed it right— Friday the 13th. Over the years, the box office hit has spawned 10 sequels to date.