Halloween movies 2025: last-minute streaming picks, comfort classics, and fresh chills for tonight

If you’re spending Friday, October 31, 2025 on the couch, you’ve got options—from cozy kid-friendly favorites to brand-new screamers. Viewing data this month shows horror’s audience share surging again, and programmers have stacked the day with marathons while theaters mix new releases with anniversary re-issues. Here’s a clean, spoiler-light guide to Halloween movies you can cue up right now, grouped by vibe and intensity.

Family night: sweet-spooky, zero nightmares

These charm more than they terrify, with warm colors, brisk pacing, and clear happy endings.

• Hocus Pocus (1993) — Broad, quotable, endlessly rewatchable witchy romp.

• Casper (1995) — Softhearted ghost story with slapstick and a gentle message about loss.

• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) — The eternal October-or-December debate; either way, the songs slap.

• Monster House (2006) — Inventive “haunted house” adventure that plays great for tweens.

• ParaNorman (2012) — Stop-motion gem with laughs, empathy, and a perfect autumn palette.

• Goosebumps (2015) — Gateway thrills, creature cameos, and no lingering scares.

Tip: If you’re marathon-ing with mixed ages, alternate a feature with a 22-minute Halloween special to keep energy up.

Starter scares: spooky, stylish, and not too intense

Great for viewers who want goosebumps without going full nightmare fuel.

• The Others (2001) — Candlelit chills and a slow-burn mystery.

• A Quiet Place (2018) — Tense, cleanly staged set pieces; watch the volume meter.

• The Sixth Sense (1999) — Atmosphere first, jump scares second.

• Poltergeist (1982) — Classic suburban haunt that still crackles.

• Happy Death Day (2017) — Slasher-meets-time-loop with a comedic streak.

• Ghostbusters (1984) — Paranormal fun with one or two mild frights.

Hardcore horror: the lights-out lineup

When you want the room silent and the blankets high.

• Halloween (1978) — The lean, relentless original; perfect for late night.

• The Shining (1980) — Symphonic dread; give it your full attention.

• Hereditary (2018) — Domestic horror that detonates in act three.

• The Exorcist (1973) — Blunt, bold, and still unsettling decades later.

• The Descent (2005) — Claustrophobic creature feature; avoid if caves are a trigger.

• Scream (1996) — Self-aware slasher that still lands its scares.

New this season: fresh 2025 chills to sample at home

You asked for Halloween movies that feel new—here are buzzy titles from this fall’s release slate and festival circuit. Availability varies by region; most can be rented digitally if not included in your subscription bundle.

• Sinners — Prestige-grade chiller with muscular craft and awards chatter.

• Good Boy — Smart, sharp, and mean in just the right ways.

• Shell — Slick techno-paranoia that pairs well with midnight.

• Bone Lake — Woods, water, and a creeping sense of wrongness.

• Coyotes — Survival horror with teeth; tight runtime, big tension.

• Trick ’r Treat (re-release) — Anthology favorite back in select theaters; works at home as a treat-size mini-marathon.

Comfort-creepy for background vibes

Hosting? You want movies that set a mood without hijacking every conversation.

• Beetlejuice (1988) — Maximalist production design; laughs every few minutes.

• Practical Magic (1998) — Cozy witchcraft and autumn kitchens.

• Sleepy Hollow (1999) — Candlelit gothic with pumpkin-patch colors.

• The Addams Family (1991) — Deadpan perfection and party-safe gags.

Pro move: Turn on subtitles and lower volume a notch; you’ll keep ambience without stepping on playlists or chatter.

Triple-bill blueprints (tonight’s best mini-marathons)

Classic Slash & Stalk

1. Halloween (1978) → 2) Scream (1996) → 3) You’re Next (2011)
   Arc: From foundational form to meta mayhem to home-invasion twist.

Gothic Romance & Ghosts

1. Crimson Peak (2015) → 2) The Others (2001) → 3) Rebecca (2020)
   Arc: Lush sets, soft-boil dread, lingering haunt.

Kid-to-Teen Ramp-Up

1. Monster House → 2) ParaNorman → 3) Poltergeist
   Arc: Each step nudges the scare dial up without going overboard.

TV and theater notes for October 31

• Expect all-day marathons built around ’70s slashers, ’80s creature features, and black-and-white classics tonight; late-night slots lean bloodier.

• Select cinemas are mixing new releases with anniversary screenings; check local listings for showtimes—some chains add after-midnight shows on Halloween proper.

• Streaming hubs have rolled out seasonal rows so you can hop from family to fright without deep scrolling.

Quick planner: how to make the most of Halloween movie night

• Decide your ceiling. Pick the scariest title you’re comfortable with, then build around it.

• Mind the runtime. Two 95-minute features beat one 140-minute stamina test if you’re hosting.

• Set the room. Warm lamps, one blanket per guest, and a snacks “flight” (salty → sweet → sour) keep energy steady.

• Subtitle etiquette. On for party ambience, off for peak-scare immersion.

Whatever your threshold—cozy pumpkins or pulse-pounding terror—there’s a Halloween movie tonight that fits. Start with one of the lists above, match it to your crowd, and let the opening credits do the rest. Happy haunting.