Halloween Movie Guide: Spooky Picks For All Ages And Scare Levels

Looking for a spooky movie to set the Halloween mood?

Our list covers a range of Halloween movies by genre, scariness, and age levels—from family-friendly ghost tales to creature features to intense thrillers. Whether you’re seeking a fun flick for the whole family or a serious scare, there’s something for everyone.

However, be sure to check each movie’s ratings and read reviews to ensure it’s appropriate for your family, as some films may be a bit too intense for younger viewers. Dive in to discover the perfect Halloween watch!

In Theaters Now

First, you may be interested in scary and spooky movies that are playing in theaters right now, it's a good list this year including Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (PG-13), Smile 2 (R), Terrifier 3 (Unrated), Venom: The Last Dance (PG-13).

What's Playing In Oklahoma?

The Nightmare Before Christmas & Hocus Pocus are also in limited re-release. You can see both of these films at the Admiral Twin in Tulsa and the Winchester Drive-In in Oklahoma City as they wrap up their season.

Circle Cinema in Tulsa will also be showing cult teen-witch hit The Craft on October 27.

Halloween Movie Guide:

That's what's new, but if you are looking for something to watch in the comfort of your own home there are plenty of options.

1. Classic Horror

Low Scariness (13+)

1. Beetlejuice (1988) – A fun, sometimes spooky classic about a mischievous ghost couple and trickster-demon. Perfect for teens and some younger kids!
2. Stream on: HBO Max

Moderate Scariness (13+)

1. Psycho (1960) – Alfred Hitchcock's iconic thriller about a mysterious motel and the horrifying secrets within. This film is a great showcase of suspenseful storytelling.
2. Stream on: Peacock, Amazon Prime
3. Carrie (1976) – A chilling tale of revenge as a bullied girl with telekinetic powers fights back. Some sequences can be a bit intense.
4. Stream on: Hulu, Amazon Prime

High Scariness (16+)

1. The Shining (1980) – A haunting classic about a man’s descent into madness in a remote hotel. Stanley Kubrick's classic is beloved by horror fans and features some truly unsettling performances from Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.
2. Stream on: Max, Vudu
3. Rosemary’s Baby (1968) – This 60s psychological horror is a bit of a slow burn but is still popular with horror fans. The story is about a woman fearing her unborn child is in danger.
4. Stream on: Paramount+
5. Night of the Living Dead (1968) – The quintessential zombie classic, known for its intense, and claustrophobic terror. Directed by George A. Romero, this film is often credited with modernizing the concept of zombies though they are called "ghouls" in the film.
6. Stream on: HBO Max, Criterion Channel

2. Slasher

Moderate Scariness (16+)

1. Scream (1996) – A clever and suspenseful film with a mix of scares and humor. Wes Craven's film sparked a series of sequels and the Ghostface mask featured in the film remains a Halloween staple.
2. Stream on: Paramount+
3. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) – A story about a group of teens haunted by a secret from their past. Riding off of the success of Scream this slasher hasn't aged quite as well but still features some good scares and funny moments.
4. Stream on: Amazon Prime, Netflix
5. Prom Night (1980) – A chilling high school slasher featuring the Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis in a fight for survival.
6. Stream on: Amazon Prime

High Scariness (18+)

1. Halloween (1978) – Considered by many to be the horror classic that defined the slasher sub-genre, John Carpenter's film follows Michael Myers’ terror-filled rampage. This one also stars Jamie Lee Curtis in one of her film debut. And who can forget the iconic music?
2. Stream on: Peacock
3. Friday the 13th (1980) – Inspired by the success of Halloween, Friday the 13th follows a group of young camp counselors who are working to reopen Camp Crystal Lake. As the counselors settle in, they are stalked and gruesomely murdered one by one by a mysterious killer.
4. Stream on: Peacock
5. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – Freddy Krueger terrorizes teens in their dreams with deadly consequences. Another film by Wes Craven, this one features a lot of creativity and has a way of toying with your perception.
6. Stream on: HBO Max, Amazon Prime

3. Paranormal

Moderate Scariness (13+)

1. Poltergeist (1982) – A chilling tale of a haunted house that keeps viewers on edge. Poltergeist was a huge critical and commercial success when it debuted in 1982 and has been frequently referenced in pop culture with the iconic "They're here" line.
2. Stream on: Max, Amazon Prime
3. The Sixth Sense (1999) – A psychological thriller about a boy who sees spirits, with one of horror’s most famous twists. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan The Sixth Sense is one of the biggest movies of 1999 and Haley Joel Osment was even nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards.
4. Stream on: Amazon Prime, Disney+
5. The Others (2001) – A gothic horror with chilling twists as a mother suspects her house is haunted. Starring Nicole Kidman this, is an underrated option for this time of year.
6. Stream on: Hulu, Amazon Prime

High Scariness (18+)

1. Hereditary (2018) – An intense and disturbing exploration of family secrets and supernatural horrors. Hereditary is the directorial debut of Ari Aster who has quickly become one of the more popular directors in the horror genre
2. Stream on: Max
3. The Conjuring (2013) – Inspired by true events, this film follows paranormal investigators tackling a terrifying haunting.
4. Stream on: HBO Max
5. Sinister (2012) - A true-crime writer moves his family into a house with a dark history and discovers a box of unsettling home videos in the attic, leading to supernatural horrors as he investigates the mystery.
6. Stream on: Peacock, Amazon Prime

4. Psychological Horror

Low to Moderate Scariness (13+)

1. Coraline (2009) – An eerie animated tale about a girl discovering a sinister parallel world.
2. Stream on: Amazon Prime, Max
3. What Lies Beneath (2000) – A ghostly thriller where secrets in a marriage surface in terrifying ways.
4. Stream on: Max

High Scariness (18+)

1. Black Swan (2010) – A psychological horror about the mental toll of obsession and competition.
2. Stream on: Hulu
3. Get Out (2017) - Jordan Peele’s debut film combines horror with sharp social commentary, making for a suspenseful and thought-provoking experience.
4. Stream on: Amazon Prime, Hulu
5. Misery (1990) – A dark, intense story of an author held captive by an obsessive fan. One of the best, Steven King adaptations according to some fans.
6. Stream on: Amazon Prime

5. Monster Horror

Moderate Scariness (13+)

1. A Quiet Place (2018) – A suspenseful monster film where a family must remain silent to survive. While it has its scary moments this film is also filled with some tender family moments as the parents struggle to raise their children in a terrifying world.
2. Stream on: Paramount+
3. Gremlins (1984) – A dark comedy-horror about small creatures creating mayhem in a small town.
4. Stream on: Max, Amazon Prime
5. Tremors (1990) – A fun, and sometimes scary film featuring giant underground creatures terrorizing a desert town.
6. Stream on: Peacock, Amazon Prime

High Scariness (18+)

1. The Thing (1982) – An isolated research crew encounters a terrifying alien creature. John Carpenter's sci-fi horror classic features Kurt Russel and a cast of paranoid characters who have to try not to turn on one another.
2. Stream on: Peacock
3. Annihilation (2018) – A psychological monster horror exploring a mysterious, mutated zone of alien origin.
4. Stream on: Amazon Prime, Paramount+

6. Found Footage

Moderate Scariness (13+)

1. Cloverfield (2008) – A monster attack on New York City captured through intense, realistic handheld footage.

High Scariness (18+)

1. The Blair Witch Project (1999) – A terrifying journey into the woods captured on handheld cameras. The Blair Witch Project grossed nearly $250 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful independent films of all time. This was a massive hit in 1999 thanks to the realistic style.
2. Stream on: Max, Hulu
3. Paranormal Activity (2007) – A supernatural thriller shot in “found footage” style. Mirroring the success of the Blair Witch Project 8 years earlier, Paranormal Activity became a huge hit through word of mouth and strategic marketing.
4. Stream on: Paramount+

7. Horror-Comedy

Low Scariness (13+)

1. Hocus Pocus (1993) – A light-hearted and funny witch movie perfect for families. Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the cooky Sanderson Sisters this '93 film has become very popular with the Pumpkin Spice latte crowd and even got a sequel in 2022.
2. Stream on: Disney+
3. Ghostbusters (1984) – Who ya gonna call? The classic ghost-hunting comedy starring Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis, and Sigourney Weaver. This film is loaded with fun scenes and memorable one-liners.
4. Stream on: Amazon Prime, Max
5. Addams Family (1991) – This creepy, kooky family comedy is filled with dark humor and mild frights.
6. Stream on: Paramount+, Amazon Prime
7. Casper (1995) – This family-friendly ghost story follows a young girl and her father who move into a haunted mansion, where they meet Casper, a friendly ghost longing for companionship.
8. Stream on: Peacock, Amazon Prime

Moderate Scariness (16+)

1. Shaun of the Dead (2004) – A witty zombie comedy with scares and laughs alike. This Edgar Wright original celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.
2. Stream on: Peacock, Amazon Prime
3. Scary Movie (2000) – A satirical spin on classic horror films, combining humor and mild scares. It may be a little inappropriate for younger viewers but if you are a fan of late 90s horror you may love this.
4. Stream on: Max, Hulu
5.  Zombieland (2009) – This horror-comedy has humor, action, and zombies galore. Zombieland stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin on a road trip through a post-apocalyptic United States in search of a place to call home.
6. Stream on: Netflix, Amazon Prime