Let’s talk about my favorite Halloween Movies! Specifically, my top 3 required Halloween Films …especially since you all had so many questions about my favorite Christmas films. When I am suggesting Halloween Movies, this is beyond the basic slasher, horror movies, these are pretty much given in and have their own time and place. These are movies I put on for baking, decorating, getting into the Halloween spirit. Also, it really just doesn’t feel like Halloween without these.

Ok, first my mentions that kind of fit in a weird, oddly specific category of “Spoopy Season.”

• The Crow *but this is actually my Halloween Eve, aka “Devil’s Night” tradition. It also must be the original with Brandon Lee, I actually had to link to his Wiki page, just in case you didn’t know about him, his dad, or how he sadly died in the making of this film.
• Evil Dead, bonus if it’s LIVE, aka “Evil Dead the Musical”. Pre-COVID days this would be our adults’ night out requirement. Sit in the splatter zone if you ever get the opportunity. Thank me later. 😉
• Kid’s Cringy Bonus – Spookly the Square Pumpkin. Good for those with littles, and there is a book for this one as well.

Honorable Mentions: (still just as required but miss my top slot)

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown – Family winner.

Rocky Horror Picture Show – A CLASSIC! And, another bonus, if you can see it live with a shadow cast or the musical play format.

…actually, that one got me thinking…

Though I feel like this may be an injustice to these films and casts, I kind of want to lump similar caliber classic Halloween humor ones together here. High Spirits, if you haven’t heard of it, just check out the cast. Much like these classics as well, Haunted Honeymoon, Transylvania 6-5000, Clue, and of course Young Frankenstein. All required cinema viewing that just must be seen at least once in a lifetime.

Thinking of some great casts, also The Burbs and Dragnet.

Little Shop of Horrors – Another great cast, plus an excellent musical!

My Boyfriends Back – Ok, just gonna quickly suggest you google this one if you haven’t heard of it. Super campy Zombie movie, teen romance, comic book nerdy….just it’s too good. Has a very 80’s way, but tries to hint at the 50’s feel. It’s just so goofy and I flipping love it!

Hocus Pocus – A give-in and a sequel is in the works.

The Lost Boys – Sadly, I hear they are planning to remake it. I hope I eat my words and it’s actually good.

Teen Witch – Very dated. Pretty cringy, but it’s hilarious, especially looking back knowing how much I loved this movie!!! The “Top That” rap is so ridiculous too! I’m dying just typing about it.

Monster Squad – 80’s film with all the classic Universal Studios Hollywood Monsters.

American Werewolf in London – I actually loved American Werewolf in Paris just as much, even have both film’s soundtracks.

The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad – Ichabod and the headless Horseman was actually included in Disney’s Halloween Treat.

And of course, Nightmare Before Christmas, but let’s be real, this one goes all the way from Halloween through Christmas. And really any Tim Burton film is really a good choice for Halloween.

Honestly, this list can get rather long and really fast! A lot of these movies are just part of my Halloween requirements, so even knocking it down to just a top 3 is so super hard. And most of these I just watch at random throughout the year. But there must be some top favorites!

So Let’s Dive in!! My Top 3 Halloween Film Musts!

3 ) Shaun of the Dead– Like who doesn’t love Shaun of the Dead at this point? Probably the best of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Probably the most hilarious and realistic version of Zombies with too many good quotes not to use on a regular. “….You got red on you.”

2 ) Disney’s Halloween Treat – Basically, this was Disney’s villain clip show. I think later they morphed it into Mickey’s House of Villains. I would say this would be the hardest to find, but actually, I found a slightly different version on Vimeo thanks to SamDisneyDiary. Though I personally prefer a tweaked version that I believe came out in 1984, but I’ve survived watching the 1982 version for a while now. At some point, we lost the old family VHS recording of it, but I laugh just remembering being tiny and holding my old Fisher Price tape recorder to the speaker cause even then I needed the soundtrack.

disney’s halloween treat (1982) from SamDisneyDiary on Vimeo.

And the Big Top Spot in My Heart!

1 ) Worst Witch, MOVIE, not the show…and TIM CURRY! Ok, a young Fairuza Balk (best known for The Craft and Waterboy) is in it as well as Charlotte Rae. This was a must when I was little and has continued to be throughout my years. It’s even been a requirement for my kiddo. This one became a total Halloween tradition. It’s so British Witchy 80’s, it’s too good!

So tell me, was your favorite mentioned? Did I miss it???? Drop it below! Always happy to watch more. How about my list Top 3 Halloween list? How many of those did you know or remember? I wanna hear!

Happy Spoopy-Spooky Season!!!