For movie lovers who have always loved the horror genre or are just starting to get into it, there's no better time than the present to catch up on classic horror movies than right now. Not only is it halfway through October, with Halloween on the horizon, but many of us have more time at home now than ever before. (Just think of all the hours of commuting to and from work that are now available for movie watching!) That doesn't even include the time once spent shuffling kids between school and activities, many of which have now also gone remote, leaving most of us with a whole lot more time at home than we once had.
Even for those of us who may be busier than ever (hey there, essential workers), Halloween — and the night before — are the perfect time to watch a good, tried-and-true horror flick to get in the spirit of things. To be honest, 2020 has actually brought us some really interesting horror films, but we still prefer the classics. That's especially so this time of year, when many of us are full of nostalgia and love the idea of being spooked by the same movies that freaked us out as kids.
Whether just in need of a refresher or checking out the classics for the first time, these are the 18 iconic horror movies everyone should be watching on Halloween. Keep scrolling to find out which classic horror films are our favorites.
'Nightmare on Elm Street'
Otherwise known as "Freddy," Nightmare on Elm Street has been terrifying kids and adults alike since 1984. It's about a serial killer who preyed on children and was killed for his crimes … but begins to haunt the dreams of the teenagers whose parents he blames for his death. The imagery in this film is iconic, and the dream sequences are definitely nightmare-inducing.
'Friday the 13th'
Hailing from the same era as Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th is another '80s horror flick that has spawned a dedicated following and a number of sequels and remakes. In this incredibly gory film, serial killer Jason Voorhees dons a hockey mask as he unleashes his evil at a summer camp where a young boy, presumed to be the killer himself, drowned years before.
'Child's Play'
Upon rewatching Child's Play as an adult, it initially seems pretty goofy, but once Chucky gets going it's definitely fear-inducing. Chucky is a "Good Guy Doll" who's been possessed by the soul of a deranged serial killer. The doll ends up in the hands of a young boy, and shortly after he confesses his crimes to the child, the pint-size terror embarks on a new killing spree.
'Rosemary's Baby'
Based on a novel of the same name by author Ira Levin, Rosemary's Baby is an absolutely chilling story about a woman who becomes pregnant with the anti-Christ after moving into a New York City apartment building brimming with supernatural forces. As Rosemary's pregnancy progresses, she begins to suspect something sinister is being planned by her neighbors — and perhaps even her husband.
'The Omen'
Released almost a decade later, The Omen has a similar theme to Rosemary's Baby. It's about an American ambassador who adopts a little boy from a hospital in Italy and begins to notice strange things occurring around him. Soon, he and his wife come to suspect there is evil lurking within the child and wonder whether he could be the devil's earthly son.
'Poltergeist'
In 1982's Poltergeist, a family moves into a new home and discovers it's haunted by what they think are friendly ghosts. Soon, they realize the spirits are indeed evil and intend to terrorize them. But wait, there's more. The family's youngest member, Carol Anne, is kidnapped by the evil forces via their television. Sounds wacky, and it is, but the film is far more terrifying than it sounds.
'The Exorcist'
Still considered one of the best horror movies of all time, The Exorcist was ahead of its time. The 1972 film is about a young girl whose parents call in a priest to perform an exorcism on her after her behavior becomes increasingly disturbing, leading them to the realization that she's been possessed by a demon. While many of us may be desensitized by the prevalence of the exorcism theme in movies, this film, and its graphic imagery, are what started it all.
'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'
Starring the legendary Tim Curry, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is part horror, part musical, and we're talking full glam 1970s musical. This cult classic is about a newly engaged couple who stumble upon a strange home when their car breaks down, leading them to meet "Dr. Frank-N-Furter," an eccentric, cross-dressing mad scientist, whose house is brimming with bizarre and totally creepy oddities.
'The Shining'
The Shining is an absolutely petrifying film from 1980, starring Jack Nicholson, and based on the novel of the same name by author Stephen King. There's a lot going on in the film, but to sum it up, a stepfather goes mad after becoming the victim of supernatural forces at the resort he has just moved his family to so he can work as its winter caretaker. Meanwhile, his young stepson discovers he has supernatural abilities of his own, all of which leads to a series of unbelievably scary events. Redrum.
'Carrie'
Also a Stephen King tale, Carrie is one of the most completely disturbing films on this list. It's about a repressed teenager who's bullied by nearly everyone at her high school. The school's popular kids pull a massive prank on her that culminates on prom night, inciting Carrie to unleash her powerful telekinetic abilities on her tormentors. Cue the bloodbath.
'The Craft'
For every '90s girl obsessed with Clueless, there are just as many of us who were — and still are — obsessed with The Craft. The Craft is about a group of misfit teenage girls who decide to take control of their social lives and get revenge on their high school rivals by practicing Wicca, using their increasingly powerful magic to get exactly what and who they want.
'Halloween'
There are countless remakes and sequels to the original 1978 Halloween movie, and some of them are really good, but if there's one to watch on Halloween day, it's the original. For those unfamiliar, this iconic film is about a brutal and ruthless killer who's been in a mental institute since he was a child. Michael escapes and immediately sets out on a bloody killing spree in his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois.
'It'
Based on the Stephen King book of the same name, if any horror movie is likely to cause nightmares or say, cause lifelong coulrophobia, it's going to be It. Also starring Tim Curry, the original 1990 film — which has now spawned a two-part modern remake — is about a demon who takes the form of a clown in order to lure children and kill them. When the clown, known as Pennywise, returns 30 years after a group of kids banished him, now adults, they are tasked with defeating him once again.
'Candyman'
In this 1992 film, the evil soul of the "Candyman" is inadvertently summoned by a graduate student who is writing her thesis on myths and urban legends. She learns of the hook-handed "Candyman" while interviewing residents of a town where nearly everyone knows not to say his name five times. Not buying into the legend, the student calls out for him anyway, setting off a series of brutal murders.
'Psycho'
Director Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho has made an indelible impression on generations of movie watchers. It's about a woman whose on the run after embezzling money from her employer. When she stops for the night at a rural motel, she meets manager Norman Bates, whom she perceives as sweet and innocent.
Too bad Norman is driven utterly insane by his domineering mother.
'Scream'
Scream is the teen horror flick that basically took over the world when it debuted in 1996. It's about a serial killer who slowly picks off a group of teenagers in a terrifying game of cat and mouse, with one of them, Sydney Prescott — who comes to believe the murders are connected to her mother's death the year before — fighting to survive. Not only did this film introduce all of us to the still-ubiquitous "Scream" mask, but it was the start of a massive film franchise, a series of spoof films, and even a television show.
'Idle Hands'
The 1999 film Idle Hands, starring Devon Sawa, Seth Green, and Jessica Alba, is about a teen slacker whose life is turned upside down when his hands are possessed by the devil on Halloween. With no control over his own appendages, he ends up committing a bunch of bloody murders. The movie is admittedly kind of silly, and there are plenty of laughs throughout, but it's also really, really, spooky.
'An American Werewolf in London'
An American Werewolf in London may not be as ubiquitous as some of the classic horror films on this list, but werewolf movies in general don't get quite as much fame and glory as some of the other niches. This 1981 film is about an American student who's viciously attacked by a werewolf while studying abroad in London. When the full moon comes around, he discovers that he's been turned, but none of the locals will 'fess up to any knowledge of the creature, so he's only left with his own nightmares to help him figure out his predicament.
