Top 10 Best Halloween Movies
With the Spooky Season upon us, the season of Halloween movies has also come. With the rise of streaming brings the horror of having to figure out what to watch. To help mitigate this fear, we have brought you ten movies to get your fright on. Please note, none of these films are horror or terribly scary as the author is a scaredy cat and refused to watch any truly ghoulish films. Grab your pumpkins and popcorn and let’s get on with the show.
Werewolf by Night (2022)
The newest edition to the Marvel wheelhouse is a new Halloween special. Deviating from the superheroes, Werewolf by Night is a stand alone film that combines classic Hollywood horror movies with the horror comic lines of Marvel. For those fascinated by classic cinema, this one hour special will be a feast for the eyes.
2. Beetlejuice (1988)
From the mind of Tim Burton comes this strange but heartwarming tale of a couple’s life after death. This film is an instant classic for its quintessential Burton dark humor and excellent casting choices. Starring Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, their performances alone are stunning enough to raise the dead.
3. Hocus Pocus (1993)
This film is exactly what audiences want in a fun Halloween movie. Witches, magic, costumes, and just the right amount of danger to be fun. This 1990s classic still stands the test of time not only for its holiday fun, but also for a strong message about coming of age, family, and sibling relationships.
4. Practical Magic (1998)
For the older audience comes Practical Magic, a film about two sister witches cursed with never finding love. Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, this film plays more like a high budget Hallmark movie, only slightly less sappy. The stunning leads, and timeless classic of forbidden love, sprinkled with magic, makes this the perfect Halloween movie for girls night.
5. Casper (1995)
What is Halloween without a ghost doing some haunting? Only this ghost is far more friendly. Another classic of the 90s, this film follows a “young” ghost Casper as he makes friends with the new family that moves into his mansion. Fun for kids, with a few jokes for the adults, this film is a staple of any child’s childhood.
6. Scooby-Doo (2002)
As opposed to its many sequels and remakes, the 2002 live action Scooby-Doo movie stands out as a classic for its simplicity and hijinks. This film has everything you love about the classic Scooby-Doo franchise filled with early 2000s jokes and comical CGI. The gang is perfectly cast in that the actors look and feel like the classic characters we grew up with, while not being so predictable that they bore the audience.
7. Scary Movie (2000)
For those who dislike horror movies, but want to watch one with their friends, this film is perfect. A complete parody from start to finish, Scary Movie pokes fun at every horror trope in just 90 minutes. Fair warning, watch this one after the kids have gone to bed as it does have quite a bit of adult content.
8. Halloweentown (1998)
Halloweentown is classic early Disney Channel movies filled with family, fun, and the classic tale of growing up. While a classic, this film is ranked lower on the list as in many ways, the story is too simple. Perhaps a victim of the technology or storytelling of the time, but this audience often grew bored as the young heroine saved the town.
9. Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
I could not make it through the first five minutes of the film. While Tim Burton is a master of his craft, this particular animation style was a bit too much for this viewer. However it was still somehow better than our final entry.
10. Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
This is possibly one of the worst sequels ever made. Thirty years later, Disney decided to forgo an original story, and instead try to redo every joke and dance, quite literally. While bringing back the original actors for the Sanderson witch sisters, Bette Midler was the only one who had not lost a beat. Parker and Najimy on the other hand were not able to recapture their characters and instead fell flat. Furthermore, this remake’s main heroes are more aggressive and preachy as opposed to the simple 90s film characters. And if you are a parent who does not wish for their young children to be shown LGBTQ+ propaganda before you are ready, skip this film as we counted a gay couple, three drag queens, and a trans character. And those were just the ones who got prominent screen time. While shorter than its predecessor, this sequel felt like the movie that would never end.