It’s the time of year that’s perfect for curling up under a blanket and watching a good scary movie, or maybe just one that reminds you of Halloween.
Ranked from “not scary at all” to “probably going to give you nightmares”.
10) Halloweentown (1998)
A Disney Channel classic, Halloweentown is the one movie that truly resembles Halloween (there’s even a giant pumpkin it it). In this movie, three kids are visited by their grandmother on Halloween. The grandmother wants to train the oldest daughter, who is a witch, but the mother disagrees. When the grandmother leaves, the children follow her to Halloweentown. Once there, the kids must help defeat the dark force, Kalabar, that is trying to take over.
Scariness: This movie isn’t scary, unless of course you’re terrified by the ridiculous ’90s clothing. This classic will mostly have you rolling your eyes at how cheesy it is, but Kalabar can get a little scary if you aren’t paying attention.
9) Hocus Pocus (1993)
In this other Disney classic, three witch sisters are resurrected on Halloween night in Salem, Massachusetts, when a boy is trying to impress his crush. The witches were only revived for Halloween and must take the life force of a child in order to survive.
Scariness: This movie is a little more scary. Witches are slightly terrifying, especially when they’re trying to find someone’s life force to take. But this movie will mostly likely have you laughing, especially when the witch Sarah tries to eat everything in sight.
8) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
In this movie by Tim Burton, Jack Skellington of Halloween Town opens a portal to Christmas Town and decides to celebrate, but he doesn’t quite understand the concept and there are serious consequences.
Scariness: You won’t get nightmares from this movie, but Tim Burton has a way of making his cartoons a little creepy. And Oogie, the bad guy, can give you the creepy-crawlies.
7) Rear Window (1954)
This Alfred Hitchcock movie is the original Disturbia. When a photographer breaks his leg and is stuck in his apartment, he passes the time by watching his neighbors out of his rear window. The photographer and his girlfriend eventually witness a murder that gets them into trouble.
Scariness: While Rear Window won’t have you checking under your bed for monsters, it’s full of suspense. It will have you holding your breath and screaming at the TV for the photographer to realize everything you know is going to happen.
6) The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
A young F.B.I. trainee seeks advice from the imprisoned cannibal and serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter while trying to apprehend another serial killer known as Buffalo Bill.
Scariness: More of a thriller than a horror, The Silence of the Lambs will have you on the edge of your seat. And the truth about Buffalo Bill may have you wrinkling your nose in disgust.
5) Scream (1996)
A high schooler, Sidney Prescott, is haunted by the killing of her mother and has now become the target of a killer known as Ghostface, who is terrorizing her town.
Scariness: Scream will make you jump if you aren’t paying enough attention. And trying to figure out who Ghostface is before the reveal can drive you mad. But the tongue-and-cheek dialogue that talks about scary movies keeps it from being too terrifying.
4) Halloween (1978)
Originally tilted the “Babysitter Murders,” Halloween opens with a young boy killing his older sister. He is sent to a psychiatric facility and later escapes, returns home and stalks teenager Laurie Strode and her friends on Halloween.
Scariness: Halloween will make you jump, especially with Michael Myers creepily placed in one scene and then not there in the next. This movie will make you highly reconsider babysitting the next time a family friend asks.
3) Friday the 13th (1980)
Synopsis: A group of teenagers are at an abandoned camp and are trying to revive it, but are being killed off one by one.
Scariness: Even though the ’80s effects are pretty awful, this movie will make you jump and the ending will make your mouth drop. Oh, and you may want to avoid lakes for a little while after seeing this one.
2) It (1990)
Based on a Stephen King novel, the film features an inter-dimensional predatory life-form that transforms itself into its prey’s worst fears. The main form it takes is “Pennywise the Dancing Clown.” A group of outcast kids discover Pennywise and are determined to destroy him.
Scariness: Clowns. Need we say more? But in actuality, this movie is creepy, the first part more so that the second. But this movie will have you avoiding the circus and children’s parties starring clowns for the next few months.
1) The Conjuring (2013)
Based on the true story of paranormal investigators and authors Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring follows the two to their most prominent case in assisting the Perron family, who is increasingly experiencing paranormal events.
Scariness: With a mixture of pop-out scenes and just plain creepiness, The Conjuring will have you checking under your bed for evil spirits.