As Halloween approaches, the prime scary movie season is rolling in too. With so many different movie genres associated with fall and Halloween time, it can feel daunting trying to pick from all the film world has to offer. If you find yourself searching endlessly for a good movie with no fruit, you can rest knowing you need to look no further.
Here is your 2024 guide to the best movies to watch this Halloween Season.
Classic Horror
You truly can’t go wrong with classic horror movies: Friday the 13th, Scream, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, or, “Freddy Fingers”, as Rocky refers to it. Classic horror movies have a scary atmosphere, monsters/ghosts/supernatural elements, suspense, tension, and iconic characters. These movies are great all year round, but something about a chill in the air and the darker nights make them extra horrifying during the fall.
New Horror
Newer horror is a great option, but maybe not with younger kids or peers with weak stomachs. New horror movies often focus on a wow factor that captures attention; which is often accomplished by adding extensive gore or sadistic violence to the movies. A new horror is not without its advantages though. New Horror offers a more modernized approach and characters that teen viewers connect to easier. It incorporates social commentary, unconventional narration, and relatability to create a unique sub-genre of horror that captures Gen Z’s attention. My favorite films under this category are Fear Street, Smile, and The Conjuring. Reagan Wilkinson, a junior movie lover, told the Ravine,
“I love the Conjuring because it’s a mystery and based on real life so there is a wow factor with that.”
Thrillers
Thrillers can almost always be combined into the horror category, but I would argue they are a sub-genre within horror at the very least. Thriller movies focus on a high-stakes plot line with plot twists to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. These movies incorporate psychological horror to create a wholly different experience than viewers are used to. Examples of this genre would be Bird Box, It, Se7en, Bird Box, Silence of the Lambs, Sixth Sense, Zodiac, A Quiet Place, Get Out, and surprisingly, Die Hard. You may be thinking to yourself, ‘Isn’t that a Christmas movie?’. Ben Wasowski, a junior wolf, argued that Die Hard is, “the perfect movie for every holiday.”
Halloween Classics
Halloween Classics require no explanation. These are the movies that filled the falls of your childhood. Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Addams Family, Girl vs Monster, Spookly the Square Pumpkin, Peanuts: The Great Pumpkin, Frankenweenie, Hotel Transylvania, and so many more. These are the movies for a fun, relaxed family viewing.
Another form of Halloween classics is to watch the Halloween episodes of all your favorite shows, especially Disney Channel!
Click Here for a Link to the Top 30 Disney Channel Monstober Episodes
Romance
When thinking of Halloween and the movies associated with it, romance often does not come to mind. But countless movies and shows such as Gilmore Girls, Twilight, Corpse Bride, Ghost Town, and all the love plots from each movie above! Fall is a beautiful season and Halloween is such a special time, so it makes sense that romance would find itself in the air! Plus, who doesn’t love a good Twilight Movie Marathon? #TeamEdward
Comedy
Comedy is the most underrated Halloween movie drama. From Hubie Halloween to Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters, The Haunted Mansion, and the TV Series, What We Do In the Shadows, Halloween and comedy have proven to be a great matchup thus far.
As Halloween time reaches its peak, don’t let the season pass by you from not capitalizing on all the fun it has to offer! Grab a friend or loved one, snuggle up with a cozy blanket and fall treat, and make sure to watch some Halloween movies!
