The 15 best Halloween movie quotes to get you in the mood for spooky season

These iconic Halloween movie quotes perfectly capture the fright and the delight of these classic flicks

Drew Barrymore in Scream
(Image credit: Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo)

The best Halloween movie quotes can be terrifying, exciting, hilarious and sometimes even sweet—so we rounded up the very best one-liners from classic horror films, reboots and those not-so-scary seasonal favorites, that are perfect for your annual costume photo caption come 31 October.

After you've wowed your friends with the most popular Halloween costume (inspired by the most iconic celebrity Halloween costumes, obvs), there's no better time than the spooky season to kick back—candy in hand—for a marathon of the best Halloween movies, from the downright frightening to the kid-friendly. (We love 'em all.) And there are so many to choose from, from campy thrillers like Scream, to the genuinely scary Silence of the Lambs.

So if you're making a plan for how to throw a Halloween movie party and need a little bit of spooky inspo for your screening plans, we have you covered with the best Halloween movie quotes of all time. Just don't turn the lights off...

Our favorite Halloween movie quotes

1. 'IT' (1990)

"I'm every nightmare you've ever had. I'm your worst dream come true. I'm everything you ever were afraid of."

Pennywise the Dancing Clown

While the infamous "You'll float, too" line has lived on in every adaptation of IT, this quote from the 1990 miniseries truly embodies Pennywise in all of his evil glory. 

2. 'IT' (2017)

"Tasty, tasty, beautiful fear!"

Pennywise the Dancing Clown

Bill Skarsgård somehow manages to make Pennywise all the more horrific in the 2017 reboot of IT. Just as he is about to dig in for a bite of poor Eddie, he delights in how sweet the frightened kiddo will taste.

3. 'Scream' (1996)

"Don't you blame the movies. Movies don't create psychos. Movies make psychos more creative!"

Billy Loomis

*SPOILER ALERT* When Sydney uncovers who's behind the Ghost Face murders, the boyfriend she thought she knew shows her a very, very different side with this ultra-creepy quote.

4. 'Silence of the Lambs' (1989)

"I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner."

When Clarice receives a call from Dr. Lecter, he apologies for not being able to have a lengthier chat, as he's "having an old friend for dinner." Given his history, it's safe to say he means that literally (and with a bottle of Chianti, no doubt). 

5. 'The Shining' (1980)

"Here's Johnny!"

Jack Torrance

Could there possibly be a more iconic Halloween movie quote than this one? Cultural references abound when Jack Torrance goes a bit mad in this ultra-famous 80s flick, and his creepy smile in front of terrified wife Wendy just completes this quote.

6. 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984)

"I'm your boyfriend now, Nancy."

Freddy Krueger

Nancy is in for quite a surprise when the phone rings after it's been disconnected. 

7. 'Friday the 13th' (1980)

"I'm a messenger of God. You're doomed if you stay here! This place is cursed. Cursed!"

Crazy Ralph

As it turns out, perhaps Crazy Ralph wasn't so crazy after all? This iconic warning line from the 80s flick precedes plenty of horrific deaths, so we'd say he was right about that...

8. 'The Addams Family' (1991)

"This is my costume. I'm a homicidal maniac. They look just like everyone else."

Wednesday Addams

In the original 90s movie of The Addams Family, Christina Ricci puts a more sinister spin on the spooky-but-adorable Wednesday Addams—and this line is proof! Check out what Jenna Ortega does with the iconic character in the Wednesday Addams Netflix series, too.

9. 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' (1966)

"A person should always choose a costume which is in direct contrast to her own personality."

Lucy Van Pelt

Leave it to Lucy to bestow Halloween wisdom upon her friends as they embark on a trick-or-treat adventure. This rather poignant line is a highlight in this sweet Halloween movie.

10. 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993)

"We've got to find Jack! There are only 365 days until the next Halloween!"

The Mayor

The hunt for Jack Skellington is on, and clearly, time is of the essence! There's no time for the Pumpkin King to fall in love with Christmas, that's for sure...right?!

11. 'Hocus Pocus' (1993)

"It's all just a bunch of hocus pocus!"

Max Dennison

Is it, though, Max? Is it?

Be sure to catch the Sanderson sisters' big return in Hocus Pocus 2

11. 'The Addams Family Values' (1993)

"I'm just like any modern woman trying to have it all. Loving husband, a family. It's just, I wish I had more time to seek out the dark forces and join their hellish crusade, that's all."

Moritica Addams

It's hard being a modern, macabre woman, but if you ask us, Moritica Addams pulls it off with ease! 

In the follow-up to 1991's The Addams Family, Tish delivers this fantastic line while trying to navigate life as a mother of three. (Yes, three.) 

12. 'Beetlejuice' (1988)

"It’s showtime!"

Beetlejuice

An oldie but a goodie!

13. Scream (1996)

"Do you like scary movies?"

Ghostface

This terrifying scene starring Drew Barrymore starts off innocently enough, but before long, this seemingly innocuous line turns much more sinister...

14. Get Out (2017)

"You know I can't give you the keys, right, babe?"

Okay, okay, so it's not strictly a Halloween movie, but it's so disturbing (the quote and the film) we had to include this line in our round-up. Sensing something is wrong at his girlfriend Rose's house, Chris tries to make a hasty exit; only to be stopped at the last moment with the horrifying reveal that Rose is in on it too...

15. 'Halloween' (1978)

"It’s Halloween, I guess everyone’s entitled to one good scare, huh?"

Mr. Brackett

We'll leave you with a classic line for to round out our list of the best Halloween movie quotes; if only it really were just one scare, eh...

Danielle Valente
Digital News Writer

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.

Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few. 

When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again. 

With contributions from