13 Classic Movies You Need to Watch This Halloween

Pumpkin patches, candy corn, and haunted houses are all October staples, but no Halloween is complete without a few classic movies to get you in the spirit!

Ready to get spooky? Whether you want tricks or treats this Halloween (or some of both), we’ve rounded up 13 classics everyone will love.

The Addams Family (1991)

Halloween isn’t complete without this creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky family.

Beetlejuice (1988)

A couple of ghosts hire a “bio-exorcist” to scare away the annoying family that has moved into their old house. No one does weird like Tim Burton, and this classic is no exception – in a good way.

Casper (1995)

A paranormal therapist and his daughter move into a mansion occupied by a group of ghosts. Scary? No. Adorable? Yes. (It is Casper the friendly ghost, after all.)

The Exorcist (1973)

It’s based on a true story, so unless you’re ready for nightmares for the rest of the month, you might want to skip this one.

Ghostbusters (1984)

A group of former professors start an extermination service for ghosts. No offense to the remake, but the classic movie is the one to watch (sorry Melissa McCarthy). Who ya gonna call?

Halloween (1978)

A man escapes a mental hospital and goes on a killing spree on Halloween. This one’s not for the squeamish.

Halloweentown (1998)

Take a horror break with this Disney throwback, and if you really want to get in the Halloween spirit, you can even visit the real life Halloweentown in St. Helen’s, Oregon.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

Fine, this isn’t technically a Halloween movie, but what’s more Halloween-y than witches, wizards, and a bit of magic?

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Amok, amok, amok! If you haven’t seen this one, add it to your list ASAP.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

The definition of a Halloween classic.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Tim Burton proves Halloween lovers can take on Christmas, too – and with a catchy soundtrack to boot.

The Shining (1980)

A man slowly descends into madness while his family takes care of a secluded hotel for the winter. If ghosts and ghouls aren’t your thing, this psychological horror will leave you with the creeps for days.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

What better way to honor Gene Wilder this Halloween than with his spoof on Frankenstein?