Welcome, my fellow movie friends!
If you’d prefer to listen to this discussion, you can check out the full episode on The Bookmarks ‘n Blankets Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen below.
I’d love to know your favorite horror movies that you enjoy watching around Halloween. Leave me a comment on Instagram or X (aka Twitter).
The bewitching season is upon us, and what more exciting way to immerse yourself in the world of the supernatural, the eerie, and the downright horrifying than by exploring the depths of chilling movie experiences?
In this episode, I’m going to countdown my favorite 25 scary horror Halloween movies that will send shivers down your spine, make you jump out of your seat, and leave you checking under your bed before sleep. Whether you’re a horror enthusiast or just looking for a good scare, this list is your passport to the darkest corners of movie cinema.
So, grab your popcorn and fuzzy blankets, turn off the lights, and prepare to be spooked with this list of bone-chilling movies.
My Favorite 25 Scary Halloween Movies
Now, I will preface that I’m not the biggest horror movie buff, that title goes to my husband. While I have seen quite a lot of horror movies, I haven’t seen everything out there, and I’m sure there are still some classics that I haven’t seen yet. However, I do enjoy being scared. I like the jump scares. I enjoy thrilling, suspenseful scenes. I wouldn’t say I’m a wuss because I feel like I can handle myself pretty well while watching these movies, but I do get spooked pretty easily. Jump scares really get me, which makes my husband laugh at me when we watch these movies together.
However, I don’t like a lot of gore with tons of blood and guts. If it’s a super gross scene, I probably will cover my eyes with my blanket. I also do not like being disturbed, where scenes get embedded deep in my subconscious and then induce nightmares because I can have night terrors from things I watch. So I’m pretty careful about watching highly disturbing movies.
With that being said, I don’t really care for slasher movies. So if you are a slasher movie fan, then you may not like my list because I prefer the more supernatural spooky movies, where they are eerie, creepy, and very atmospheric. As I’ve mentioned in previous movie episodes, I LOVE time period (historical) drama movies. So my favorite types of horror films are historical with supernatural elements in them. My favorite era is the Victorian time period, especially if it’s set in a country in Western Europe, like England, Scotland, or France. So that’s a little insight into my preferences.
Honorable Mention: Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark – 2010
A young girl, sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend, becomes convinced that she has unleashed creatures from a sealed ash pit located in the basement of her new home.
Buy on Amazon here.
Honorable Mention: Cobweb – 2023
An inquisitive eight-year-old boy sets out to unravel the enigmatic knocking sounds echoing from within the walls of his home, leading him to uncover a sinister secret that his malevolent parents have concealed from him.
Buy on Amazon here.
25. The Awakening – 2011
In the aftermath of World War I, England, 1921, is engulfed in sorrow and mourning. Florence Cathcart, a debunker of supernatural hoaxes, is called to a boarding school to investigate the mysterious sightings of a child ghost. As she delves into the enigma, her firm convictions start to crumble when the supposedly ‘missing’ individuals begin to reappear, challenging everything she once believed.
Buy on Amazon here.
24. The Shining – 1980
A family retreats to a remote hotel for the winter, unaware of the sinister force that lurks within. The father falls under its malevolent influence, leading him down a path of violence. Meanwhile, his psychic son is haunted by terrifying visions, glimpsing horrors from both the past and the future.
Buy on Amazon here.
23. Cabin in the Woods – 2011
A group of five friends decides to take a getaway at a secluded cabin, expecting a peaceful retreat. Little do they know, their vacation takes a terrifying turn when they uncover the chilling secrets hidden within the cabin in the woods.
Buy on Amazon here.
22. Crimson Peak – 2015
After a devastating family loss, a budding writer finds herself caught between her affection for a childhood friend and the allure of an enigmatic stranger. Struggling to flee her haunting past, she is drawn into a peculiar house that seems to possess a life of its own, pulsating with memories and secrets, and exhibiting an eerie, sentient presence that refuses to be forgotten.
Buy on Amazon here.
21. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – 1992
The ancient vampire Count Dracula travels to England with a sinister agenda: to charm Mina Murray, the fiancée of his barrister, Jonathan Harker, and unleash chaos in this foreign land.
Buy on Amazon here.
20. 1408 – 2007
An expert in exposing supernatural phenomena decides to stay in the infamous room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel. Shortly after his arrival, he faces a terrifying reality that challenges his skepticism.
Buy on Amazon here.
19. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – 2007
In 1840s London, a barber, wrongfully imprisoned, seeks vengeance for the brutal assault and death of his wife. Upon his release, he resumes his profession and forms a dark alliance with his fellow lodger, Mrs. Lovett, setting the stage for a chilling tale of retribution and twisted collaboration.
Buy on Amazon here.
18. The Messengers – 2007
A tranquil sunflower farm in North Dakota is plunged into chaos as a sinister darkness descends, tearing the Solomon family apart through suspicion, chaos, and ultimately, murder.
Buy on Amazon here.
17. The Ring – 2002
A journalist is compelled to delve into the enigma surrounding a cryptic videotape that inexplicably leads to the demise of anyone who watches it, exactly one week after viewing.
Buy on Amazon here.
16. The Sixth Sense – 1999
Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist, embarks on the challenging task of treating Cole, a young boy who sees deceased individuals and seeks to assist them. In an unexpected twist, Cole’s unique gift becomes a catalyst for Malcolm’s own healing, leading him to reconcile with his estranged wife.
Buy on Amazon here.
15. Final Destination – 2000
During a school trip to Europe, Alex Browning experiences a horrifying vision of their airplane’s impending crash. Frantically trying to alert others, he is forcibly removed from the plane along with a few fellow students. Moments later, the plane crashes just as Alex foresaw, confirming the eerie accuracy of his premonition.
Buy on Amazon here.
14. Underworld – 2003
Selene, a skilled vampire warrior, finds herself embroiled in a fierce battle between vampires and werewolves. Amidst the chaos, she discovers her heart entangled with Michael, a human inexplicably sought after by werewolves, adding a complicated layer to their perilous world.
Buy on Amazon here.
13. Fear – 1996
Upon meeting David, Nicole was captivated by his handsome charm and affectionate nature. Initially, everything seemed perfect, but it didn’t take long for Nicole to realize that David harbored a darker side. His affection transformed into obsession, their dreamlike romance twisted into a chilling nightmare, and her love morphed into fear.
Buy on Amazon here.
12. I Know What You Did Last Summer – 1997
Four close friends, connected by a tragic past, are brought together once again when they become the target of a knife-wielding maniac in their idyllic seaside town.
Buy on Amazon here.
11. Trick ‘r Treat – 2007
On Halloween night, five interconnected tales unfold: a high school principal conceals a sinister double life as a serial killer; a college student on the brink of romance navigates uncertain territory; a group of teenagers plays a cruel prank; a woman, disdainful of the holiday, copes with her holiday-obsessed husband; and a cantankerous old man encounters a supernatural trick-or-treater, leading to an unexpected showdown.
Buy on Amazon here.
10. Insidious – 2010
A family endeavors to shield their unconscious child from malevolent spirits attempting to ensnare them in a dimension known as The Further.
Buy on Amazon here.
9. The Conjuring – 2013
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren strive to assist a family plagued by a malevolent force haunting their farmhouse.
Buy on Amazon here.
8. Sleepy Hollow – 1999
Ichabod Crane is dispatched to Sleepy Hollow to probe a series of decapitations; the perpetrator being the mythical specter known as The Headless Horseman.
Buy on Amazon here.
7. The Village – 2004
A sequence of occurrences challenges the convictions of a secluded rural village.
Digitally rent or buy on Amazon here.
6. Scream – 1996
Twelve months following her mother’s tragic murder, a teenage girl finds herself haunted by a masked killer. This assailant sets out to terrorize her and her friends by integrating elements of terrifying movies into a deadly, twisted game.
Buy on Amazon here.
5. Blade – 1998
A man born of both vampire and human heritage takes on the role of safeguarding the mortal world, battling malevolent vampires and protecting humanity from their dark threats.
Buy on Amazon here.
4. The Woman in Black – 2012
A young lawyer journeys to a secluded village, only to uncover a chilling truth: the vengeful spirit of a scorned woman is haunting the inhabitants, spreading terror among the locals.
Buy on Amazon here.
3. Interview with a Vampire – 1994
A vampire recounts his sweeping life tale, chronicling themes of love, betrayal, solitude, and insatiable hunger.
Buy on Amazon here.
2. Poltergeist – 1982
A demonic presence haunts the home of a family, unleashing a horde of malevolent spirits.
Buy on Amazon here.
1. The Others – 2001
In the aftermath of World War II in 1945, a woman residing with her two light-sensitive children in their ancestral home on the Channel Islands becomes convinced that their darkened estate is haunted.
Buy on Amazon here.
There you have it, my spooky movie friends – my favorite 25 scary Halloween movies. There are many, many more, and maybe next year, I’ll do another episode, but these are my top favorites.
As you can tell, I love the haunted house movies, historical time periods, and very atmospheric, creepy vibes.
Until next time, happy watching, stay spooky, and Happy Halloween!
*Please note that I am a participant in the Amazon Associates Program and a member of other affiliate programs. I may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made through links in this article.
