31 Best Horror Movies You MUST Watch Before Halloween
I am a horror junkie. Halloween is, by far, my favorite holiday so I’m really stoked when October comes around. I put together my favorite list of 31 best horror movies you MUST watch before Halloween for you, one for each day in October. No purist pretense here.
Click the title of each movie to have it come up on Amazon in a new window for more information. Affiliate links are used in this post, which means I would earn a small percentage of the sale price, at absolutely no cost to you, which helps support The Art of Better.
1. House on Haunted Hill [2008 Version] – This one has been a favorite for years. The dialogue is quippy in the best of ways and the ending leaves one restless.
2. 13 Ghosts
4. The Gate – OMG, the part with the eye in his hand. AH!
5. Cabin Fever
6. The Conjuring – A solid horror movie that is hair-raising without cussing, nudity or a lot of gore. It is just that good. Supposedly based on a true story.
7. The Shining – classic.
8. Oculus – One of the more interesting, and scary, movies I’ve seen in recent years. Keeps you on the edge of your seat.
9. Trick ‘r Treat – We found this little gem wandering the wall at Blockbuster. Remember that?
10. The Evil Dead [2013 version] – Not for the faint of heart, The Evil Dead, is pretty damn gory. Now, I actually prefer the 2013 version but if you are looking for an old school 16-mm style, the 1981 version is also solid.
11. The Babadook – This is a new favorite. Truly creepy and unsettling, it will have you saying “BA-BA-DOOK-dook-dook” for days. A friend recommended this to us after he saw it on Netflix. Solid movie.
12. Nightmare on Elm Street [take your pick!] – Sorry folks; Freddy trumps Michael and Jason any day. This is a common bone of contention in our house, but I’m always right of course. Whether you go for the original 1984 movie, the rebooted 2010 version or anything else in between, you can’t go wrong here.
13. Planet Terror – Grindhouse craziness with a little parody thrown in for good measure. Bonus: Rose McGowan is a badass.
14. The Crazies
16. Creepshow – Five fantastic horror shorts brought to us by George A Romero & Stephen King
17. 1408
18. 28 Days Later – This is an interesting mix of fast-paced horror and slower shows of humanity that works well together.
19. Pumpkinhead – Scared the crap out of me as a kid and still creeps me out to this day.
20. Twilight Zone: The Movie – Each one of the four tales that make up the movie are fantastic, no fluff or filler here!
21. Tales from the Darkside: The Movie – Another fabulous horror anthology, this one is packed with stars. Lover’s Vow is the best of the three stories, in my opinion, but they’re all good.
22. The Exorcist
23. The Omen
24. Demon Knight
25. Motel Hell – Bizarre but everyone must see it.
26. Dawn of the Dead [2004 version]
27. Body Snatchers [1994 version]
28. They Live – “I’ve come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass…and I’m all out of bubblegum.” Best. Line. Ever.
29. Pan’s Labyrinth – Guillermo del Toro’s gorgeous masterpiece.
30. From Dusk till Dawn – Rowdy, fun, horror movie fun! Plus boobs and George Clooney. Perfect for any Robert Rodriguez / Quentin Tarantino fan. Good God, just don’t waste your time with the sequels.
31. Silent Hill – Truly terrifying every time the alarm goes off. One of the better endings I’ve seen to a horror movie also.
What would you add? Anything you disagree with?
I’ve seen every single one of these movies and I’d have to agree that Drag Me To Hell just wasn’t that great.. I’d replace it with American Werewolf in London /Paris.. I’m A HUGE fan of werewolf movies :) Amityville should have been on the list too…. Either way, I thought your list was fantastic – you have some classics plus some hidden gems (Trick ‘r Treat? Yaaasss!) love, love, love :)
I’m a horror junkie, too! I really enjoy Hellraiser when I want to watch good old fashioned 80’s horror! The only thing on this list I don’t think I enjoyed was Drag Me to Hell. That poor woman!! :)
Well.. Looks like I’m binge watching as many of these as possible before tomorrow!
Excellent! I love horror!!!
Awesome list! I’ve seen 5 out of all of them :) I think “The Others” should be here, too as well as the classic Child’s play!
This is a great list! I’m always looking for new obscure horror movies to add to my list! I’ve seen all on this list and a good one to add is The Darkness with a young Anna Paquin…
I was so excited when I saw this on Pinterest. I clicked over right away! I’ve always loved horror movies. I know you’re a true horror junkie because you have Motel Hell on the list. Not many people know about that one. :) If I could add to it, I would add Dawn of the Dead and Night of the Living Dead.
Oh wait, I see you already added Dawn of the Dead! I must have overlooked it.
I rented and watched The Ring in late summer of 2006 I think. I was a grown adult of 43 yrs old. Turned on every light in the house and the radio and slept that way for two nights in a row.
Hey Elizabeth! Holy cow, that’s funny! I watched The Ring once when it first came out but didn’t love it. I’ll have to try again, maybe I’m missing something! Thanks for stopping by.
You have to add Candyman!
– I agree- some I have not seen- I would add Rosemary’s Baby with Mia Farrow and the original Exorcist with Linda Blair!! That’s it great list!💀🎃
Sinister. Seriously, of you haven’t seen it, it’ll scare the crap out of you. Both. Either. True horror!
Funny one , good for kids, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken with Don Knotts
Love that movie!!!
Oooh & The Craft!
Oh man, Renfield (ha!), I did love The Craft as a kid. Definitely need to show my teenager that one! Good call.
Where’s hocus pocus???
ha! So, Hocus Pocus used to be a good one to me until my kid got obsessed with it when she was 10-12 y/o and watched it literally three times a month for two years. Honorable mention!
The Orphanage (If you don’t mind subtitles), May, Sweeney Todd & Rocky Horror Picture Show (If you don’t mind musicals), The Revenant (not Leo!), Shaun of the Dead, The Descent, Grindhouse, Hostel.
I agree that The Orphanage was good and Sweeney Todd was excellent. I CANNOT freaking believe I left Rocky Horror Picture Show off this list. OMG. Thanks for the *duh* moment! Hostel was a little much for me but Hostel II was excellent.
Still think the original “Halloween” is one of the greatest ever!!! And the original “The Thing” with James Arness as the thing. Can’t do ANY better than those !!!
I also could add Insidious (both although the first one is epic), Two that I think would make my tops list easy is Serpent and the Rainbow and The Watcher in the woods. The watcher in the woods is 1970s Betty Davis and its DISNEY. Seriously the scariest movie i have ever seen and I showed to some big brave men because they were like Disney? whatever. Well they both nearly peed their pants, and one ran up the stairs from fear. You may have to buy it from Amazon to watch it, but you will be able to shock people with the scariness of it!
Hey there, Lisa! I haven’t heard of The Watcher in the Woods, like at all! I’m going to have to go looking for that one. Thanks for the recommendation!
The Babbadook is the only movie on this list i’ve seen. I can’t handle scary movies. I recommend Capser. haha!
Love this list ! Conjuring & Babbadook are great !
WOW! You know your stuff! The conjuring is my favorite on the list, I think because I actually believe some houses can actually cause you to need to move! LOL Nice halloween post :-D
I am a chicken but I think you inspired me to try a few of these – I will curl up under my blanket though – while watching – great post – thank you for sharing
So glad to read this. I love horror movies and Halloween. Thanks for the list…there are a few I haven’t seen.
Night of the Living Dead (the original)
Poltergeist (the original)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the first original)
Dead Silence
wow, great picks! i haven’t watch so many of these! maybe i will check some out this halloween!
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Good list! But where’s Resident Evil and Shaun of the Dead? Hubby says the original Evil Dead Trilogy.
Hey Stella! UGH, I KNOW! It was torturous pairing the list down to 31. I did have Resident Evil on the big list! LOL I have the first Evil Dead- saying trilogy would be cheating. Thanks for poppin over!