Spooky season is finally here, and as Halloween is just around the corner, you may have plans to go out for the weekend. However, if you’re the type of person who’d rather stay home and have a movie marathon of classic horror films of all time, then we have just the list for you. Here are some of the most iconic horror movies and franchises that will make your Halloween extra spooky.
A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
Freddy Krueger, Wes Craven’s signature horror creation, is the stuff of nightmares to be sure, with his scarred face and bladed glove. But, as the franchise goes on, Freddy almost becomes the hero of the series — or at least he’s a character audiences love to see again and again. This is a lucky thing because, after this first film, he goes on to be in seven other movies, a reboot and a TV series.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Three film students are intrigued by the Blair Witch legend and head into a Maryland forest to film a documentary about it. They never returned, but their terrifying video was unearthed. This movie kicked off the “found footage” craze in horror movies, inspiring many imitators that followed.
The Exorcist (1973)
When a young girl becomes possessed and starts to behave in disturbing ways, her mother seeks out help from a local priest, but things take a deadly turn as soon as he arrives. Can his faith save him? A new Exorcist movie, The Exorcist: Believer from director David Gordon Green, came out this year.
Halloween (1978)
John Carpenter, another master of the horror genre, directs this movie, about the unstoppable Michael Myers and the lengths he will go through to get revenge on his family. Even though this came out in 1978, the Halloween franchise is still ongoing: Halloween Ends came out in 2022.
The Shining (1980)
One of the best classic horror movies: after newly sober writer Jack Torrance goes to an isolated hotel with his family to help with his writer’s block, his son begins to see horrific forebodings. Soon after, Jack becomes manic, leading the family into heightened fright. Pay attention to the pattern on the carpet in the hotel: Once you notice it, you’ll recognize it everywhere, from rugs to pillows to purses.
The Ring (2002)
A reporter investigates a mysterious tape that leads people to their deaths after seven days of watching it. After she watches the tape herself, she tries to solve the mystery before her time is up. This movie is based on a Japanese film, Ringu, and ushered in an era of “J-horror” remakes.
The Omen (1976)
Gregory Peck stars in this horror movie by Richard Donner, the director of the 1978 Superman. In it, after a politician’s son dies at birth, he takes another baby from the hospital to raise as his own. As the child, Damien begins to grow into a young boy, a series of deaths start happening, and Damien looks like he may be responsible.
The Amityville Horror (1979)
When a family moves into a house that was previously a crime scene, they discover that it’s haunted and the presence of evil spirits is trying to destroy them. The movie claims it is based on a true story.
The Conjuring (2013)
A family seeks out help from demonologists after witnessing strange paranormal activity when moving into an old home in Rhode Island. While the story is pure Hollywood, it’s based on the real lives of paranormal researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren, who also investigated the Amityville house.
Insidious (2010)
A James Wan film, though this one is more spooky than gory, it is one of the top horror movies in my opinion: After a family moves into a new home and their son falls into a coma, they realize that something dark is lurking in the house. They will have to fight off the evil spirits that are trapping the young boy. Like The Conjuring, this one also spawned a series, and the most recent entry, The Red Door, came out earlier this year.
