The spookiest time of year is upon us, and a Halloween movie party is a must for those who revel in all-things creepy and kooky. From classic horror films to creepy new favorites, there are plenty of flicks to keep you and your group of ghouls entertained.
If you want to make up for 2020's lack of frightening festivities, now's the time to indulge like kids digging into their candy stashes. We'll ensure that your get-together is a scary-good celebration, from movie selections to decor picks.
Check out some of our picks for the best Halloween movies out there—for every type of horror fan or foe—and prepare accordingly with our party tips. Chances are you're going to be on hosting duties long after your debut watch party.
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A not-so-spooky Halloween movie party
Some of us are not here for the boos, and we sympathize with those who can't appreciate a good horror film. (Just kidding, we totally get it!) If masked murderers and haunted houses aren't your thing, you'll enjoy some of these less-intimidating picks during your not-so-scary movie marathon:
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
- Coraline
- Casper
- Frankenweenie
- Monster House
- Hocus Pocus
- Halloweentown
- Beetlejuice
- Edward Scissorhands
- The Addams Family + The Addams Family Values
A classic horror Halloween movie party
What more festive way to enjoy Halloween than with iconic horror movies? There's a reason these picks live on in infamy—and keep getting reboots. (But let's be honest: the originals are always the way to go!) See what OG's you need to stream this year:
- Friday the 13th
- Halloween
- The Exorcist
- The Amityville Horror
- The Shining
- A Nightmare on Elm Street
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
- Rosemary's Baby
- Poltergeist
- The Silence of the Lambs
- Scream
- The Blair Witch Project
- Child's Play
- It
- Misery
- Psycho
A new-school Halloween movie party
While we certainly love a marathon of the Halloween movies and other old-school picks, there are new films that have rightfully earned a spot on the horror roster. Check out some new movies that you'll scream for!
- Us
- Get Out
- The Babadook
- A Quiet Place
- A Quiet Place 2
- Hereditary
- Insidious
- The Conjuring
- Midsommar
A retro Halloween movie party
Before there was Freddie or Jason, there was Nosferatu. Take a step back in time with some of these scary movies from the 1920s and '30s!
- King Kong (1933)
- Frankenstein (1931)
- The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
- Freaks (1932)
- The Invisible Man (1933)
- Dracula (1931)
- The Mummy (1932)
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)
- Island of Lost Souls (1933)
- Nosferatu (1922)
- The Magician (1926)
If you can't decide on one theme verses another, we highly recommend selecting a few options from each category for one big, super-sized watch party.
What you'll need for an epic Halloween movie party
Well, you have the movies for your Halloween watch party on lock, so now it's time to accessorize.
Be sure your house is filled with the creepiest decor: black and orange streamers, witch hats, eerie-looking party lights. Naturally, anything pumpkin-related is a must and we'd like to emphasize "the more the merrier" mentality.
When it comes time to serving food (and candy, of course), we suggest that your plates, glasses and other kitchenware items get the spooky treatment as well. It'll show that extra effort.
And, if you choose not to go in costume (understandable, you'll want to be comfy for back-to-back hours of horror) make sure to at least have a Halloween-colored sweatshirt for good measure!
