A movie marathon is a perfect way to get in the Halloween spirit. This list is compiled of must-watch movies for the days leading to Halloween. Whether you’re looking for an animated family-friendly film or a nightmare-inducing thriller, there’s a pick for you on this list. Here are the top 10 best Halloween movies to get you in the mood for a spooky Halloween.

“Halloween easily scores a spot as my favorite holiday, it’s the juxtaposing approaches to morbid aesthetics that make the holiday so universal for all ages and I find myself loving the holiday more and more every year,” Said Sophia Whitbey.

1. Girl vs Monster

   

This movie follows 15-year- old Skylar Lewis who discovers on Halloween that she comes from a long line of monster hunters. But when Skylar accidentally releases monsters from her parent’s secret containment chamber they are out for revenge. It’s up to her to put her fears aside and save her parents by capturing the monsters and returning them to their chamber.

This film is available on Disney +.

“I liked how as the movie progresses the characters overcame their fears and worked to capture the rogue monsters, it was really entertaining and the monsters had a sense of charm to them,” Kendyl Babino said.

2. Beetlejuice

   

When newlyweds Barbra and Adam Maitland die in a car accident, they start to haunt their beloved house that they are unable to let go of. But When a new family moves into the house only their teen daughter, Lydia is able to see the ghostly couple. After many attempts from the Maitlands to scare the new family away from the home they are unsuccessful. Their failed attempts result in them summoning Beetlejuice, a spirit that has mal intentions with helping the couple and puts the Maitlands and Lydia in danger. 

This film is available on Hulu.

“Beetlejuice’s weirdness added to the plot, it gave it that element of being a weird Halloween movie. The movie as a whole was just a really weird and entertaining experience,” Said Emma Cortes.

3. Casper

   

Afterlife therapist James Harvey is hired to get rid of a family of ghosts haunting a mansion in Friendship, Maine. While helping the family of ghosts start the process of crossing over into the afterlife, the young ghost Casper falls in love with Kat, the daughter of James Harvey.

This film is available on Hulu. 

“I really liked the dynamic Casper (the ghost) brought to the movie. It’s such an entertaining film that the whole family can enjoy,” Sophia Whitbey said.

4. The Nightmare Before Christmas

   

In this stop motion film, you see the adventures of the beloved pumpkin king, Jack Skellington. Jack gets bored of doing the same thing every Halloween, so When he discovers a magical door leading to Christmas town he loves the idea of Christmas. Jack then tries to convince the inhabitants of Halloween town to give up their customary ways, and take up the traditions of Christmas instead.

This film is on Disney +.

“I loved the eerie vibe of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and I enjoy the music in the film. Also, I love that type of animation,” Said Avery Carter

5. Hocus Pocus

   

300 years ago, the Sanderson sisters were executed in Salem, Massachusetts for participating in witchcraft. Now in 1993 Max Dennison and his sister Dani accidentally unleashed these witches into the modern world. Now Max, Dani, and their friend Allison must work to defeat the three witches before sunrise.

This film is available on Disney+.

“Hocus Pocus is just a good family-friendly classic film similar to Halloween town,” said Morgan Ponn.

6. Hotel Transylvania 

When monsters want a vacation from scaring humans they go to Dracula’s high-end resort, Hotel Transylvania. One weekend Dracula decides to invite some of his monster friends, Frankenstein, The Werewolves, The Invisible Man, The Mummy, Bigfoot, and others, to celebrate his daughter’s 118th birthday. However when a human crashes this party and falls in love with Mavis complications unfold.

This film is available on Hulu.

7. Halloween (2018) 

Forty years ago Laurie Strode survived an attack from killer Michael Myers on Halloween night. She has lived in fear ever since, and when Myers escapes from the asylum that held him for all those years, she is finally ready for him. 

This film is available on Hulu.

8. Halloweentown

One Halloween Marnie and Dylan’s grandmother, Aggie, comes to town with the intent to teach Marnie about her witch powers before she loses them for good on her thirteenth birthday. However this is not the only motivation for Aggie’s visit, she has also come to defeat the evil thing growing in Halloween town and she needs help to do it. When an argument sparks between the mother of Marnie and Aggie, that results in Aggie using magic that Marnie witnesses, so when the grandmother returns to Halloween town she is unknowingly being followed by Marnie and Dylan. After their grandmother’s attack from the evil force, her grandchildren are determined to defeat it. 

This film is available on Hulu.

9. Goosebumps 

After his move to a new town, Zach Cooper meets the girl next door, Hannah, and can’t help but fall for her. He can’t help but notice how strange her father is. While investigating to find the cause for her father’s mysteriousness, Zack accidentally releases one of the monsters from her father’s stories, because it turned out that he is author R.L. Stine. It’s up to Zack, Hannah, Stine, and one of Zack’s friends to put the monsters back before it’s too late.

This film is available on Hulu.

10. Monster House

When three teens discover that a house across the street is alive and eats anything that goes on the property, they try to get help from adults to investigate the house, but know believes them so they are left to do it on their own.

This film is available on Netflix.