The best Halloween movies of all time

When things go bump in the night this Halloween, there’s only one thing for film lovers to do – stick on a scary movie and enjoy a festive fright or two.

From terrifying horrors to gothic romances and cult classics, there are plenty of fantastic movies to get viewers in the mood for spooky shenanigans this October.

While revellers are busy hitting up the nearest fancy dress shop and making their party plans, it’s always worth taking a little time to unwind with a movie.

From truly terrifying classics to family friendly frolics, these are the films to scream – sorry, screen – this October 31.

Halloween

Well, how else could we start? They literally named the film for it.

From the sinister opening sequence shot in POV to the terrifying moment serial killer Michael Myers sits up, appearing to come back from the dead, Halloween is packed with some of the most nerve-shredding scenes in horror history. Masterful direction from John Carpenter saw him establish himself as one of the leading genre filmmakers in the 70s and 80s, while Jamie Lee Curtis burst onto the scene as protagonist Laurie Strode.

A string of sequels and reboots range drastically in quality (from the surprisingly good Rob Zombie film Halloween II in 2007, to 2002's unsurprisingly naff Halloween: Resurrection, which starred Busta Rhymes, Tyra Banks and American Pie’s Thomas Ian Nicholas), but the thrill of the original movie and its impact on horror cinema cannot be understated.

Scream

The iconic mask featured in Scream is genuinely disturbing and one of the most unforgettable American pop culture images of the 90s – but it’s easy to forget just how much fun the film is. The movie incorporates dark humour and a strong cast list of emerging stars (Drew Barrymore, Neve Campbell, Rose McGowan and Courteney Cox to name a few) while simultaneously channelling and subverting slasher movie tropes, creating one of the trashiest, but most compelling horrors of the decade.

The Exorcist

It's regarded by many as the greatest horror film of all time, so what better time to scare yourself silly than revisiting William Friedkin’s masterpiece the Exorcist? The film is still one of the most unnerving movies ever made and the sequels and spin-off films are (mostly) worth checking out too. To say they’ve been mixed through the years in an understatement – that a man as talented as Richard Burton was in Exorcist II is a cinematic horror in itself – but Exorcist III is also a phenomenal achievement in its own right, and contains one of the best jump scares ever too.

Beetlejuice

Tim Burton mixed horror inflections and inspired weirdo comedy in the unforgettable cult classic Beetlejuice. An electric performance from Michael Keaton in the title role sparks the film’s ghostly narrative into life, while Burton’s typical visual flair and oddball aesthetics give the film real personality to boot. Revisit the classic this Halloween, but just don’t say his name three times in a row...

A Nightmare on Elm Street

A Nightmare on Elm Street eschewed gore and cliche for uncanny and eerie qualities to create some of the most chilling moments in 80s horror cinema — ideal for an unsettling Halloween watch. Robert Englund delivers an unforgettable performance as the dream-haunting serial killer Freddy Krueger, bringing a terrifying physicality to the screen, while director Wes Craven creates some of horror’s most skin-crawling moments; Freddy’s tongue emerging through the phone to lick Heather Langenkamp is the kind of scene that stays with viewers for years.

The Addams Family

Not every Halloween film has to be terrifying. The Addams’ mysterious but loveable gothic world is the perfect place to revel in this October. Christina Ricci’s Wednesday Addams and Christopher Lloyd’s Fester proved endearingly idiosyncratic characters, while heads of the family Morticia and Gomez are total couple goals too. It’s always a movie worth re-watching, making for perfect Sunday afternoon viewing. The movie (which was given a PG rating in 1992) makes it a family-friendly option too.

Donnie Darko

Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko is one of the most original movies of the last few decades and there’s real darkness at the core of this ambitious piece of filmmaking. A strange narrative plays out against weird, unconventional cinematography, all helped by an excellent soundtrack and star-making performances from Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The integral appearance of a Halloween costume in the movie makes it a perfect fit for the occasion too.

Poltergeist

Forget the derivative 2015 reboot — the original Poltergeist from 1982 is the only version of the horror classic worth investing in. With a screenplay by Steven Spielberg and directed by Texas Chainsaw Massacre filmmaker Tobe Hooper, the film made a big impact upon audiences at the time, establishing itself as one of the most compelling supernatural horrors of all time. The visual effects are a little dated by today’s standards, but the movie remains a genuinely creepy viewing experience, and the famous “they’re here” sequence will change the way you look at your TV screen forever.

H​ocus Pocus

The definition of a cult hit, Hocus Focus gradually found an audience after years of relative obscurity and is now seen as one of the most loveable comedy-horrors of the early 90s. The movie focus on three witches who are accidentally summoned by a teenager in modern day Massachusetts. A young Sarah Jessica Parker stars in the movie, which is fantastic fun and a top film to to unwind to this Halloween.

Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands, the first of many Tim Burton and Johnny Depp collaborations, proved one of the most memorable dark romances of its time when it was released in 1990. The surprisingly affecting movie tells the story of a young man with scissors for hands, who comes to experience a new life in suburbia after years in isolation.

He might have turned into a parody of himself in recent years with turns in the likes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Pirates sequels, but Depp delivered an inspired performance in the film. He proved himself as one of the most unique and compelling talents of a generation with the role, bringing the titular character to life with heartbreaking vulnerability.