5 Classic Movies You Can Stream For Halloween Season
Now's the time to trick or treat yourself to some Halloween movies. The season simply wouldn't be the same without watching witches, skeletons, and vampires springing across our screens. Yet, what may make these movies even more enjoyable is the fact that you can enjoy the scares safely from the comfort of your couch — along with some Halloween candy in hand and nearby candles for an eerie ambiance, of course.
When it comes time to cuddle up for a frightening film, however, it can be difficult to choose exactly which one would be perfect to watch. After all, there are literally millions of Halloween movies to pick. From downright terrifying thrillers to slasher films to more family-friendly versions of the holiday, where in the world does one start?
In our opinion, it's always a good idea to turn to the classics. These timeless treats depict exactly what the scary holiday is all about, and we're all about it. Here are our top five favorite classics you can stream for Halloween season.
Hocus Pocus
"Hocus Pocus" is a true classic — so much so that it has kept fans spellbound for nearly three decades. The 1993 film follows three witches who, after being executed centuries ago, are accidentally resurrected by a teenager one Halloween night. It's a major mistake for the young boy seeing as these three sisters' favorite food is children.
Following the success of the first installment, the magical sisters were reborn in a sequel this season — something that the film's stars never anticipated at the start. "There was something in this film that was 'The Wizard of Oz'-ish, where the generation shows it to their kids, who then show it to their kids, and so on," actress Kathy Najimy, who plays Mary, told Collider. "And it becomes part of the fabric of the history of the family."
For many families around the world, Halloween wouldn't be the same if it weren't for watching "Hocus Pocus." Both the original and its sequel are available to stream now on Disney+.
Halloween
We couldn't put together the ultimate list of Halloween films without including the film that's named after the holiday itself: the 1978 John Carpenter classic "Halloween." The terrifying thriller takes place on Halloween night. Yet, what makes the movie even more menacing is the fact that a murderer named Michael Myers has escaped from a mental facility and is out for his revenge — making it a holiday that no one character will ever be able to forget.
The film is something that fans haven't been able to forget either. Two remakes were made in 2007 and 2018, and many startling sequels have hit big screens over the years. Still, Michael Myers' wrath isn't over yet. A 13th installment in the franchise, "Halloween Ends," hits theaters and Peacock on October 14 this year.
Star Jamie Lee Curtis has been along for the ride since the very start. "I've been an actress since I was 18, 19 years old, and horror films have been my livelihood," she told NBC's "Today." "They've given me my life."
The original "Halloween" film is available to stream on AMC+.
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble
Any Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen project — from "Full House" to "It Takes Two" — is a true classic, and their 1993 Halloween film, "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble," is no different.
The made-for-TV film follows the 7-year-old sisters as they set out to save their great aunt, who has been cursed and trapped in a mirror. If they don't get her out in time before Halloween night, she will be stuck in there for the rest of eternity.
Although the Olsen twins have since retired from the entertainment industry altogether, the success of their Halloween film "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble" continues to this day — a true shock to "Will & Grace" star Eric McCormack, who plays their father in the film. "I didn't even know if it had a life anymore," he admitted recently to Entertainment Weekly. "I'd expected a Christmas movie or two to have lives, but I didn't know people were watching 'Double, Double, [Toil and Trouble].'"
"Double, Double, Toil and Trouble" is available to stream on Hulu.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Before the bustling Christmas season starts, a true nightmare is first in store each Halloween. For Jack Skellington, the scary holiday has always been the center of his life. Yet, spreading Christmas cheer becomes his goal instead in the Tim Burton classic "The Nightmare Before Christmas."
The stop motion animated film has turned itself into a timeless piece that Halloween fans have turned to again and again since its initial release in 1993. In fact, the face of Jack Skellington has since become synonymous with the holiday itself. "It incorporates two of the holidays we love the most, and that hasn't happened today to my knowledge," actor Ken Page, who plays Oogie Boogie, told E! News.
Due to its individuality, families have played it on repeat every Halloween. "And I think in that, just the generation that's being introduced to it for the first time will carry it forward and on to their kids," Page said. It's a holiday tradition that will truly never end.
"The Nightmare Before Christmas" is available to stream on Disney+.
Halloweentown
What better way to celebrate the spookiest holiday than to take a trip to "Halloweentown?" In the Disney Channel original movie from 1998, Marnie doesn't want the fun with her grandmother to ever end. To keep the games going, she decides to follow her home — only to discover that her grandmother's hometown is a truly spooktacular place. Halloweentown is filled with all kinds of creatures that are able to live out their supernatural lives, and her grandmother seems to fit in perfectly. That's because — surprise! — she's a witch.
The popularity of the film has since spawned three sequels: "Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge," "Halloweentown High," and "Return to Halloweentown."
Though it's been nearly two decades since the last film in the franchise was released, actress Kimberly J. Brown continues to hear from fans specifically about her role in the series. "I'm so honored and touched that people have [not] only enjoyed the movies, but that they continue to enjoy them, so much so that they continue to talk to me about them and want to continue to hear about them," Brown said during an interview with SpoilerTV. "It's such an honor as an actor, not only to have interest and feedback from fans, but to have it continue for all of these years."
"Halloweentown" is available to stream on Disney+.