Complete List Of Top-Rated Halloween Movies
- Jenn Garcia
- Jul 28, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 19
When October rolls around, a lot of us like to pull the curtains, grab a Halloween style blanket, and press play on something spooky. If you need help choosing, here are eight films that critics and longtime fans keep revisiting. These top-rated Halloween movies span old‑school suspense, family‑friendly comedy, and clever anthology horror, so there is something for most tastes.
Brace yourselves for a spine-chilling journey into the top-rated Halloween movies!
For those who want a quick answer, here's a snapshot of our list:
"Psycho" - IMDb: 8.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
"The Exorcist" - IMDb: 8.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
"Halloween" - IMDb: 7.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
"The Nightmare Before Christmas" - IMDb: 8.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
"Hocus Pocus" - IMDb: 6.9/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 37% (Critics) / 71% (Audience)
"Beetlejuice" - IMDb: 7.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
"Coraline" - IMDb: 7.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
"Trick 'r Treat" - IMDb: 6.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
Below you will find a short, spoiler‑light look at why each title earns a place on a Halloween watch list. The whole post runs long, so feel free to skim or dive all the way in.
1) "Psycho" (1960)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this classic horror film is highly regarded for its suspenseful storytelling and iconic shower scene.
IMDb: 8.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Why it works - Alfred Hitchcock’s black‑and‑white thriller is more than its famous shower scene. It still catches first‑time viewers off guard, thanks to careful pacing and a script willing to break its own rules.
Direction and camera work - Hitchcock lets tension build slowly. Long takes lull you into thinking you know where the story is going, then quick cuts jolt you back to full alert. Shadows swallow parts of the frame, making the Bates Motel feel bigger than it is.
Performances - Anthony Perkins gives Norman Bates a polite surface that never quite hides his unease. Janet Leigh brings warmth to Marion Crane, so the audience feels her risk and her fear in equal measure. Their believable choices pull you deeper into the mystery.
Sound - Bernard Herrmann’s sharp string stabs in the shower scene are still copied today. The score does a lot of heavy lifting, especially in quiet stretches where you are waiting for the next shock.
Bottom line: Even if you know every twist, the craft on display keeps Psycho tense and engaging.
2) "The Exorcist" (1973)
This groundbreaking horror film about a young girl's possession and exorcism remains influential in the genre.
IMDb: 8.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Why it works - William Friedkin aimed for realism. That choice makes the demonic elements feel grounded, which is why the film still rattles viewers fifty years later.
Direction and visuals - Friedkin uses cramped bedrooms, dim hallways, and cold lighting to build dread. Practical effects like moving beds and rotating heads remain more convincing than many modern computer shots.
Key performances - Linda Blair, only a teenager at the time, sells the physical toll of possession. Ellen Burstyn communicates a parent’s helplessness without melodrama, and Max von Sydow projects weary resolve as Father Merrin.
Themes - Beyond shock value, the story raises questions about belief, doubt, and the limits of medicine. That extra layer keeps people talking after the credits roll.
Bottom line: The Exorcist is intense, sometimes upsetting, and still one of the most effective supernatural horror films ever made.
3) "Halloween" (1978)
John Carpenter's slasher film introduced the world to Michael Myers, and it has become a staple of the Halloween season.
IMDb: 7.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Why it works - John Carpenter’s low‑budget slasher set the template for masked killers who silently stalk suburbia. The film stays scary because it feels like it could happen just down the street.
Direction and music - Carpenter’s synth score is simple, almost metronomic. The rhythm matches Michael Myers’ steady walk and keeps your pulse up. Wide shots of quiet sidewalks invite you to scan the frame for movement.
Cast - Jamie Lee Curtis plays Laurie Strode as a normal teenager who rises to the occasion. Donald Pleasence adds urgency as Dr. Loomis, convinced Michael is unstoppable. Nick Castle under the mask uses posture and head tilts to suggest curiosity as much as menace.
Bottom line: The original Halloween delivers clean, efficient scares that work as well today as they did in 1978.
4) "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993)
Tim Burton's stop-motion animated musical has become a beloved Halloween and Christmas classic.
IMDb: 8.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Why it works - Tim Burton wrote the story, Henry Selick directed, and together they proved stop‑motion could handle a full‑length musical. The movie balances spooky visuals with genuine warmth.
Animation - Hand‑built sets and puppets give Halloween Town weight and texture. Every character, from skeletal reindeer to stitched‑together Sally, moves with personality.
Songs - Composer Danny Elfman wrote tunes you can hum year‑round. This is Halloween sets the scene while What’s This? captures Jack’s excitement the first time he sees snow.
Appeal - Because it mixes Halloween atmosphere with Christmas optimism, you can watch it any time between October and December and it feels right.
Bottom line: The Nightmare Before Christmas is a cozy entry point for viewers who want to celebrate the season without full‑on horror.
5) "Hocus Pocus" (1993)
A family-friendly Halloween comedy about three witches brought back to life in modern-day Salem.
IMDb: 6.9/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 37% (Critics) / 71% (Audience)
Why it works - Kenny Ortega’s family comedy has turned into a cable TV staple. Numbers alone show its staying power. Critics were lukewarm in 1993, but kids who grew up with the Sanderson sisters keep coming back as adults.
Tone - The movie never tries to be truly frightening. Instead, it focuses on silly fish‑out‑of‑water jokes as three witches time‑travel from 1693 to 1993 Salem.
Cast - Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy lean into exaggerated line readings and physical comedy. Their chemistry keeps the film lively even when the plot pauses.
Why it suits Halloween - Trick‑or‑treat scenes, a talking cat, and that musical number at the town hall party place the story firmly on October 31. It is an easy pick for households with younger kids.
Bottom line: Hocus Pocus is more about laughs than scares, but its energy and nostalgia make it a reliable crowd‑pleaser.
6) "Beetlejuice" (1988)
Tim Burton's dark comedy follows the antics of a "bio-exorcist" summoned by a deceased couple to scare away the living. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice...
IMDb: 7.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Why it works - Tim Burton combines offbeat humor with spooky visuals. Beetlejuice feels playful rather than terrifying, which makes it a nice midpoint between Hocus Pocus and full‑on horror.
Visual style - Burton fills the screen with striped suits, warped staircases, and clay‑mation sandworms. Practical effects give the afterlife a handmade quality that digital tools often miss.
Michael Keaton’s turn - Keaton appears on screen for less than twenty minutes yet steals the show as the chaotic bio‑exorcist. His fast, improvised delivery keeps you guessing what he will say next.
Themes - Under the jokes, the film talks about accepting change and letting go. The Maitlands need to move past their own deaths, and Lydia needs to see value in living.
Bottom line: Beetlejuice is weird in the best way and works for viewers who like their haunted houses served with a wink.
7) "Coraline" (2009)
An animated dark fantasy film that tells the eerie tale of a young girl discovering an alternate world with a hidden dark side.
IMDb: 7.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Why it works - Henry Selick returned to stop‑motion for this adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel. The result is creepy enough for adults but clear enough for older kids.
Animation - Tiny details such as waving grass and fluttering fabric make both the real house and the Other World feel tangible. Swapping Coraline’s button‑eyed doppelgangers for regular characters instantly signals danger.
Story - Coraline explores themes of boredom, temptation, and appreciation. The Other Mother offers everything a child could want, but at a terrible cost. That moral lands without preaching.
Music - Bruno Coulais mixes choral voices with gentle strings, adding mystery without overpowering the visuals.
Bottom line: Coraline is a reminder that you do not need gore to unsettle an audience, just thoughtful design and a good story.
8) "Trick 'r Treat" (2007)
An anthology horror film interweaving multiple Halloween-themed stories.
IMDb: 6.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
Why it works - Michael Dougherty’s anthology links four short stories into one Halloween night. Each segment stands alone, yet the payoff feels richer as threads cross.
Atmosphere - Jack‑o‑lantern light, fallen leaves, and costumed crowds fill nearly every frame. You can almost smell the candle wax and sugary candy.
Structure - Out‑of‑order storytelling rewards repeat viewings; clues in one vignette explain twists in another. The format also keeps scenes moving, so the movie never drags.
Sam - The tiny, burlap‑masked trick‑or‑treater serves as the film’s mascot and moral compass. Break a Halloween rule, and Sam shows up to set things right.
Bottom line: Trick 'r Treat feels like rummaging through a bag of assorted candy; some pieces are sweet, some are razor‑sharp, all of them belong on October 31.
Picking the right film for your mood
Need slow‑burn suspense? Psycho or Halloween
Want something heady and intense? The Exorcist
Have younger viewers around? The Nightmare Before Christmas or Hocus Pocus
Prefer quirky comedy? Beetlejuice
Enjoy dark fantasy with heart? Coraline
Looking for a full Halloween vibe in one sitting? Trick 'r Treat
No matter which title you start with, these eight films show why October remains a special month for movie fans. Turn off the lights, silence your phone, and let the stories do their work. If you really want to get into the spirit, try curling up in a Halloween blanket. This way you have somewhere to hide!
