As Halloween creeps up, movies are the perfect way to get into the spooky spirit. From a lighthearted children’s film to a classic psychological thriller, these are the 10-top ranked Halloween movies according to IMDb ratings.
These five honorable mentions didn’t make the list but are tried and true classics and beloved by many.
“Scream” (1996):
The masked killer, Ghostface, begins stalking a group of Woodsboro high school students.
“Practical Magic” (1998):
Two witch sisters bear the burden of a curse passed down their lineage. The sisters navigate their struggles in pursuit of lasting love.
“Corpse Bride” (2005):
Tim Burton’s eerie stop-motion tale follows a young man, arranged to marry a young townsfolk girl, who accidentally marries a mysterious corpse bride instead.
“Hocus Pocus” (1993):
On Halloween night in Salem, the new boy in town accidently resurrects three witches from the dead. He and his friends must race to save their town from disaster.
“Beetlejuice “(1988):
The malicious spirit, Beetlejuice, is hired by a recently deceased couple to drive away the new tenants of their home.
- “Halloween” (1978): 7.7
Fifteen years after a horrific childhood crime, Michael Myers escapes captivity and returns to the quiet town of Haddonfield. A group of teens find themselves being stalked on Halloween night.
- Ghostbusters (1984): 7.8
This comedy follows the wild and wacky efforts of a gang of parapsychologists who start a ghost catching business in New York City.
- Get Out (2017): 7.8
A young African American spends the weekend visiting his white girlfriend’s family. A series of strange encounters leads him to believe something more sinister is at play.
- Rosemary’s Baby (1968): 8.0
A young couple moves into an NYC apartment with hopes of starting a family. After discovering she’s pregnant, her neighbor’s suspicious behavior leads her to fear what might be growing inside her.
- The Exorcist (1973): 8.1
A tale of a young girl begins exhibiting disturbing behavior caused by demonic possession. As the supernatural forces grow stronger and more terrifying, they turn to a priest to save her.
- It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966): 8.1
This cozy, lighthearted film follows Charlie Brown and his friends as they navigate Halloween and trick or treating. Linus waits patiently for the infamous “Great Pumpkin” to deliver presents to the pumpkin patch.
- The Sixth Sense (1999): 8.2
A Philadelphia child psychologist works to help a troubled boy who claims he can communicate with the dead. As they work to uncover the truth, a shocking twist is revealed.
- The Shining (1980): 8.4
The aspiring writer, Jack Torrance, along with his family, looks after a hotel. The hotel’s supernatural activity causes Torrance to spiral into insanity, while his family is trapped with him.
- Alien (1979): 8.5
This sci-fi horror classic follows a space crew as they respond to mysterious distress signals from another planet. Unknowingly, a deadly alien organism comes aboard their ship.
- Psycho (1960): 8.5
An iconic thriller that follows a secretary on the run for embezzlement who checks in to the eerie Bates Motel, a decision she later regrets. The movie quickly spirals into a phycological thriller with an infamous twist.
