Best 10 Halloween Movies of All Time 

The best Halloween movies are the ones that make you want to draw the curtains, light the candle in your jack-o-lantern, and snuggle up beneath a blanket. Some Halloween movies infect you with a growing sense of unease, others offer a cosy charm with gloriously gothic backdrops and autumnal aesthetics, and then there are the ones that set your heart racing with their jolting jump scares.  

VOX Cinemas has compiled its top Halloween movies of all time, with everything from classic horrors to family favourites - each infused with that unmistakable Halloween atmosphere.  

Halloween (1978) 

Horror movies for Halloween don't come better suited than this '70s gem. Featuring the OG Scream Queen, Jamie Lee Curtis as babysitter Laurie Strode, Halloween traumatised a generation with its sinisterly silent protagonist, Mike Myers. Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween, Myers escapes from the Smith's Grove Sanitarium and unleashes a killing spree in his hometown of Haddonfield. A slasher movie that helped define the genre, Halloween is refreshingly low on gore, relying instead on masterful pacing that builds suspense with Hitchcockesque aplomb.  

Hocus Pocus (1993) 

Perfect for older kids, Hocus Pocus charms with its brash, Halloween hokum. Set in Salem, this supernatural comedy tells the story of the Sanderson sisters (played with exuberance by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy), who were executed for witchcraft some 300 years earlier. New to town, the unassuming teenager Max accidentally resurrects the terrible trio and must now steal their book of spells to stop them from becoming immortal.  

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) 

Despite the festive title, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas ticks all the boxes for Halloween with its decadent dark fantasy aesthetic and motley crew of ghoulish characters. Set in Halloweentown, the movie follows the charismatic Jack Skellington as he plans to kidnap Santa. A visual treat for all the family, the film is also notable for its impressive Danny Elfman soundtrack, with songs you'll be singing for weeks to come. 

Sleepy Hollow (1999) 

Another offering from Tim Burton, here we’re treated to one of his iconic collaborations with Johnny Depp. Sent to the hamlet of Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane battles against the villagers' superstitious beliefs while investigating a series of gruesome murders. Can he be swayed by the local legend of the headless horseman and what dark forces are really at play among Sleepy Hollow’s elite? Beautifully Burtonesque, Sleepy Hollow perfectly executes a dark, brooding, Halloween ambience. 

Nosferatu (2024) 

Although purists may baulk at the inclusion of the remake rather than the original, Robert Eggers' 2024 Nosferatu —a tale of vampiric obsession —has earned its place on the list as a deeply disturbing, Gothic masterpiece. With compelling performances from Lily Rose-Depp, Bill Skarsgård, and Nicholas Hoult, this queasy horror film explores unsettling themes that will haunt you long after Halloween has passed.  

Practical Magic (1998) 

Practical Magic has all the layers you need for a spot of Halloween escapism. Soft, autumnal light, a Victorian mansion, and magical chemistry between the leads, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, make this one of the best '90s Halloween classics to watch. A tale of cursed love and learning to accept your bloodline, though Practical Magic is billed as a romcom, at its heart, it is an exploration of the complexities and purity of sisterhood.  

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) 

One of the newer must-watch Halloween movies, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, is premium fright night viewing for families with older children. When a group of teens wanders into the eerie Bellows mansion, they stumble across a leather-bound tome of terrifying tales, where a new story appears each day. Spooky and peppered with jump scares, this gateway horror doesn't rely too heavily on gore. Few movies capture the grotesqueness of monsters quite so well, and the spooky sets are a work of art.  

Monster House (2006) 

Family-friendly Halloween movies can be tricky to find, but Monster House is a top choice. DJ has always kept a close eye on grumpy old Nebbercracker's house, and when his curmudgeonly neighbour is whisked off to hospital after a heart attack, the house awakens and seems to reveal dastardly plans. A tale of friendship, bravery, and a suburban property's plan to gobble up Trick or Treaters, Monster House will keep all ages entertained. Perfect for fun Halloween gatherings with little ones, this movie offers child-friendly scares alongside enough humour and pace to entertain adults, too. 

Beetlejuice (1988) 

Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice! Subverting the classic trope of a family moving into a new home and being troubled by ghosts, Tim Burton's Beetlejuice sees the spirits of Adam and Barbara Maitland being tormented by the obnoxious Deetz clan. When the Maitlands call upon the help of the trickster Beetlejuice, carnage ensues, both for the living and the dead. With standout performances by Michael Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, and a young Winona Ryder, Beetlejuice is gloriously chaotic and offbeat, bringing colour, charisma, and comedy to your Halloween watchlist. 

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) 

When it comes to nostalgic horror, A Nightmare on Elm Street tops the list of scary movies for Halloween. Back in 1984, slasher movie supremo Wes Craven brought the horrifying Freddy Krueger to our screens. With his disfigured face, bladed glove, and legendary striped sweater, Krueger wreaks havoc among the teens of Springwood, Ohio, stalking and killing them in their dreams, leading to their subsequent deaths in real life. A Nightmare on Elm Street is a classic for good reason. Krueger makes a frightening and unforgettable villain, and Wes Craven preys upon the viewers' deepest fears with ruthless precision. 

This fall, why not check out the latest VOX Cinemas Halloween movie releases? Scare yourself senseless with spooky sequels like The Conjuring: Last Rites and The Strangers: Chapter 2. Let the suspense build with the horror thriller Kishkindhapuri, then brace yourself as one of our oldest horror icons makes an ominous return in Dracula: A Love Tale.  

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