When asked, ‘What is your favourite Halloween film?’ there are two types of people. First, the ones who love to scare themselves with a horror and then those who spend the holiday watching a spooky family classic. This list of the top five Halloween films caters for both!
Hocus Pocus (1993)
This Disney classic follows a trio of witches who are brought back from the dead by a teenage boy, after 300 years. The three Sanderson sisters plot to cause mayhem in the town of Salem by sucking the souls out of its children so that they can be young and beautiful forever. While the storyline may sound sinister, the film is full of slapstick comedy, 90s nostalgia and catchy songs - Bette Midler’s I’ll Put a spell on you is just iconic! On top of that, it has recently been announced that the film is getting its long awaited sequel, exclusively through Disney+.
IT (2017)
Based on Stephen King’s horror novel of the same name, IT follows a group of teenagers who are being terrorised by the child-eating killer clown that haunts their town every 27 years. The teenagers put their fears aside and unite to kill Pennywise the Clown once and for all. Filled with jump scares and suspense, this horror film is the perfect fright for Halloween! Follow it up by watching, It: Chapter 2, if you dare...
Harry Potter film series (2001-2011)
The Harry Potter films, that follow young wizard Harry and his friends on his adventures at Hogwarts, the school for witchcraft and wizardry, might not be considered typical Halloween films. But any excuse to binge watch the entire franchise, right? And the series does have some spooky vibes: witches, monsters and Hagrid’s pumpkin patch.
Halloween (2018)
It would be rude not to include this slasher horror on the list of the best Halloween films! The eleventh instalment of the long-running Halloween film franchise is the direct sequel to the original of the same name from 1978. This slasher sees the iconic villain, Michael Myres, escape from prison forty-years after his killing spree. Little does he know; one survivor has been waiting to get her revenge.
Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Is it a Halloween or Christmas film? Or both? This classic Tim Burton animation tells the tale of Jack Skellington, king of Halloween town, who stumbles across a Christmas themed village and is instantly captivated by the presents, snow and sleigh bells. The situation spirals out of control when his festive obsession leads him to kidnap Santa. Also, all other Tim Burton films - The Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissor hands etc. - are perfect for getting into the spooky season mood and deserve an honourable mention on this list.
Edited by Hannah Youds