31 Movies to Prep for Spooky Season

It's Spooky Season! Are you ready? From pumpkins and laughter to horror and gore, we've got a movie a day to get you in the mood for the most spooky time of the year! Starting with the most kid-friendly and ending with a quintessential slasher, there's scary and not-so-scary options for all our Halloween fans.

	It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) not rated The ultimate Halloween classic for almost 60 years, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown will put the whole family in the spirit for Halloween decor and nostalgic for trick-or-treating.
	Tim Burton's The Nightmare before Christmas (1993) PG A big debate: Is it a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? Maybe it's both and maybe it ultimately doesn't matter, but director Henry Selick has been quoted saying it is a Halloween movie, so??? I guess you can decide when you watch this stop-motion animated musical with so many fun Halloween songs and a message that encourages all of us just to be who we are. Read the book that was published the same year, too!
	Halloweentown (1998) PG Although it is not actually related to the Halloween Town in The Nightmare before Christmas, Halloweentown does also center around a magical town that's all about the spooky holiday. This one, however, is live-action rather than animated, and it is about a girl's 13th (an auspicious number...) birthday when she discovers she's a witch! This movie is unrated and does contains some mildly scary scenes involving a ghastly-looking warlock with a frightfully angry voice, but it is still considered family-friendly, so we are listing it here as PG.
	Coraline (2009) PG Another Selick film...trust me, we could have added more, but we decided to stick to these two! Neil Gaiman's name has been buzzing recently for his comic series Sandman turned TV series on Netflix for its first season debuting this year. So, we thought it proper to put his Coraline on our list. The movie, based on Gaiman’s book by the same title, walks the line of children's horror with the juxtaposition of reality and fantasy. It's definitely a must for this spooky season!
	Casper (1995) PG Did you know that Casper the Friendly Ghost has been around since 1945!? He first appeared in animated cartoons, then comic books, then TV again before becoming the first computer-generated character to star in a film . The movie, Casper, features a young Christina Ricci who befriends the friendly ghost.
	Hocus Pocus (1993) & Hocus Pocus 2 (now on Disney+) PG No spooky season is complete without this cult classic! AND we get a Hocus Pocus sequel this year, to boot! Yes, the Sanderson Sisters are back and yes, all three original witches—Bette Midler as Winifred, Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah, and Kathy Najimy as Mary—will be summoned to Salem on Halloween night once again.
	Beetlejuice (1988) PG For spooks, laughs, and sing-along/dance-along tunes, Beetlejuice is quite literally Halloween fun for the whole family! The screenplay by Southern gothic horror novelist Michael McDowell was inspired by Ghostbusters and Poltergeist (another movie that could be added to your Halloween watch list). With Tim Burton's direction, this horror/comedy will always be a classic, especially with spin-offs like the Beetlejuce Broadway musical to keep it alive. Just beware of saying his name three times!
	The Witches (1990) PG There are a handful of movie adaptations of Roald Dahl's classic children's book The Witches originally published in 1983, but none better than this version with Angelica Houston at her wicked best! And throw in Jim Henson's ghastly muppet creations and you have a film that will spook and delight kids of all ages.
	Ghostbusters (1984) PG Who you gonna call? Ghosts and ghouls abound in this classic supernatural comedy that spawned an entire franchise and several movies after. Featuring big-name actors like Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, and more, watch this 80s classic on its own, or take a night to watch them all!
	To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) not rated Okay, okay, this film version of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird may not be a Halloween movie, but it will be sure to get you in the spooky mood with its dark undertones and a classic scene that centers around Halloween night when Scout is stuck in a ham costume.
	The Addams Family (1991) & Addams Family Values (1993) PG-13 They're creepy and they're cooky...The Addams Family! Angelica Huston makes it back on our list as Morticia, the matriarch of the Addams Family. For those who love all things Halloween but could do a palette cleanser from the gore, these two movies have everything you need: gothic-style campiness. AND...there’s a new series based on Wednesday Addams coming out this year that’s getting quite the buzz! Fun fact: The Addams Family debuted as a single-panel cartoon series in The New Yorker in 1938 by cartoonist Charles Addams.
	Practical Magic (1998) PG-13 Inspired by Alice Hoffman's 1995 novel of the same name, Practical Magic is a 90s cult-classic starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman about a family of female witches navigating love, sisterhood, and magic. And, of course, who can forget the iconic midnight margarita dance party?? "She put de lime in de coconut, she drank 'em bot' up!"
	Twilight series (2008-2012) PG-13 Of course, vampires, werewolves, and Halloween go hand-in-hand, and what's not to love about this classic love triangle based on Stephanie Meyer's hugely popular series? Sure there are 5 movies in the series, but we're only counting this as one big long vampire movie marathon! LitJoy even has some Twilight fandom products to add to your Twilight obsession.
	Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) PG-13 Based on the iconic children’s book: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz. Set on Halloween in 1968, this horror anthology is packed with strange and frightening tales. A group of kids discover a mysterious book written by a young girl who committed suicide after being accused of witchcraft. From hulking scarecrows to waking up to spider bites spawning millions of tiny spiders, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is an unusual addition to any Halloween.
	Mean Girls (2004) PG-13 "I'm a mouse, duh!" It's the time of year where girls can get dressed in lingerie and animal ears and call it a costume and no one cares, right? Get your own mouse ears from LitJoy! And yeah, this is not an actual Halloween movie, but it's here for the Halloween scene. If you watch this on a Wednesday, you'd better be wearing pink!
	House at the End of the Street (2012)PG-13 Fans of Jennifer Lawrence will love this terrifying horror flick. This film will keep you guessing until the very end, toeing the line between villain and victim, and playing off the “misunderstood loner boy” and “next-door-neighbor” tropes. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, this film is for you!
	Scream (1996) R Wes Craven's Scream is a must-watch for the Halloween season! It flips the classic horror genre on its head, poking fun at all the clichés we love about slasher films while also creating chilling screams that rival Drew Barrymore's. And the iconic mask is still horrifying!
	Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) R Again, vampires are the epitome of spooky season. Many kids don the black cape, fangs, and black haired widow's peak while running around saying "Trick or Treat" and "I vant to suck your blood." So a Dracula movie is amust for gearing up for the ghoulish holiday. While there are many to choose from, we picked the one that specifically mentions Bram Stoker, the author of the original Dracula novel published in 1897. Stoker's Dracula is the definitive origin of modern vampire art and Francis Ford Coppola brings new life to the undead. LitJoy also resurrected a terrifying special edition of the novel to satisfy lovers of the gothic literature genre.
	Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) R This cult classic is probably best seen at a theater mirror show (when live actors perform along with the movie) at midnight in October with your friends. If it's your first time watching live, be prepared to be marked with a "V" on your forehead to declare you a Virgin, but don't worry, you'll be throwing toast with the rest of them in no time. Of course, watching it on your couch is cool, too!
	Us (2019) R Jordan Peele's foray into directing has brought audiences psychological thrillers and thought-provoking horror films with his newest Nope just released this year. His second film Us is violent, bloody, and disturbing as a family is terrorized by their own doppelgangers including twists that you won't see coming.
	Carrie (1976) R Going back to our love of all things literature, we can't leave Stephen King off the list. Our spooky season must-watch is King's first horror novel and first novel-turned-movie Carrie which culminates in an unforgettable senior prom night that includes dancing, destruction, and death.
	What We Do in the Shadows (2014) R A present-day vampire farce created by Taika Waititi, What We Do in the Shadows inspired a television series of the same name that just completed its fourth season. The vampire comedy may not be your typical Halloween thriller, but it sure has a devoted fan base!
	Dorian Gray (2009) R Oscar Wilde's 1891 classic gothic horror novel has been adapted for film many times. Perhaps the most authentic adaptation was the first released in 1945, but probably the most well-known is Dorian Gray with the corrupt Lord Henry (or Harry in the film) played by Colin Firth. This version is a thrill of the senses that takes many deviations from the original text, but does come to a hauntingly satisfying end.
	The VVitch (2015) R Set in Colonial New England, The VVitch is a chilling slow burn that uses documented historical horror folklore and literature to create atmospheric dread and ominous evil. It has everything you want in your spooky season thriller.
	I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) R This teen scream is based on the book by Lois Duncan. The movie is perfect for this spooky season with classic jump scares and heart-pumping chase scenes as well as a maniacal killer seeking revenge while wearing an iconic yellow raincoat and carrying a lethal fisherman's hook.
	The Woman in Black (2012) R Based on Susan Hill's 1983 gothic horror novel of the same name, The Woman in Black is another creepy atmospheric horror film with dark and dreary scenes and plenty of suspense. Fans of Daniel Radcliffe will enjoy seeing their favorite wizard take on a very different kind of haunting role.
	The Lighthouse (2019) R This one is for fans of Twilight's Robert Pattinson. The Lighthouse is a claustrophobic tale of two lighthouse keepers fighting off insanity after being stranded at a remote New England outpost. Shot completely in black and white, the film is a totally new take on the horror genre.
	Orphan (2009) R With Orphan: First Kill having been just released in August, the original Orphan is a must-see for horror fans this October. This disturbing horror movie follows nine-year-old orphan, Esther, as she terrorizes her adoptive family. Full of gore and suspense, this is a terrifying movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
	Halloween (1978) R Last but not least, the movie that popularized the slasher genre of horror and spawned several sequels and reboots is none other than the original Halloween! This quintessential slasher film that introduced the world to the escaped mental patient Michael Myers and gave Jamie Lee Curtis her feature film debut is a classic not to be missed each year.

There you have it! A movie a day in October won't keep the doctor away, but it might give you some scares and a few ideas for a costume contest. Trick or treat? You choose!