6 Best Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween for a Spooky Night: From Slasher Classics to Obsession

Halloween is not just an annual holiday but also the name of the iconic horror movie franchise that helped pave the way for slasher films. With 13 movies released between 1978 and 2022, the franchise follows serial killer Michael Myers (Nick Castle) as he chases Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) over the years. If you're looking for the perfect horror binge this Halloween, this franchise is a great place to start!

Where to Stream: AMC+, Peacock, Paramount+, Tubi

Obsession is the newest film on this list, but it became a sensation following its release this year. To give you an idea of what it’s about, here’s the official synopsis: “After breaking the mysterious ‘One Wish Willow’ to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.” We can’t spoil all the fun, so you’ll have to watch the film to find out what price he ultimately has to pay!

Where to Stream: Peacock

Trick 'r Treat is a horror-comedy anthology that doesn't follow just one story, but multiple ones! Warner Bros. describes the 2007 movie as: “On the night when demons and tortured souls are free to walk the earth alongside mortal revelers, four tales of terror--of a staid high school principal who is a Halloween serial killer, a college-age virgin seeking that special guy, a woman who hates dressing up for Halloween and whose husband is obsessed with the holiday and a group of young teens who pull a cruel prank--will make you laugh even while scaring you.”

Where to Stream: HBO Max

It would be a crime not to mention Friday the 13th. The franchise spans ten main entries, followed by the crossover film Freddy vs. Jason (2003) and a 2009 reboot. The 1980 movie that started it all has the following logline: “A new owner and several young counselors gather to reopen Camp Crystal Lake, where a young boy drowned and several vicious murders occurred years earlier. They’ve ignored the locals’ warnings that the place has a death curse… and one by one they find out how unlucky Friday the 13th can be as they are stalked by a violent killer.” But if you want to start watching the story from the very beginning, check out Crystal Lake, a prequel series from Peacock that recently debuted on October 15.

Where to Stream: Netflix, Paramount+, Peacock, Tubi

And who doesn’t know about The Texas Chainsaw Massacre? In this cult horror classic, “five friends pick up a traumatized young hitchhiker and find themselves stalked and hunted by a deformed chainsaw-wielding killer and his family of psychopaths.” If you really, really want to feel haunted, this is a must-watch! But first, make sure someone is beside you to hold your hand. Since the original 1974 movie, eight more films have followed, turning it into a popular horror franchise. But the first one will always be the OG!

Where to Stream: Netflix, Peacock, Tubi

Not every Halloween movie needs to be a slasher, horror flick, or creepy thriller. Some should be perfect for a cozy movie night, and that’s where Hocus Pocus comes in. The franchise has two movies so far, with a third installment currently in development and no release date announced yet. In the first movie, released in 1993, “conjured up by some unsuspecting pranksters, a tricky trio of 300-year-old witches set out to cast a spell on the town and reclaim their youth. But first, they must get their act together and outwit three kids and a talking cat.” If you’re looking for some “zany fun and comic chaos” this Halloween, this is the perfect pick!

Where to Stream: Disney+