In my opinion, Halloween is the best holiday of the year. And no, you cannot change my mind. On what other evenings can you dress up, walk around when it’s dark out while looking at all the creepy decorations on people’s lawns, get candy from strangers for free, and scare children with spooky stories without seeming deranged? Sorry, Christmas, guess you’ll have to settle for second. And I stand by that decision. So now that we have that out of the way, it’s time to talk about one of my favorite Halloween pastimes, watching horror movies. There really isn’t anything quite like sitting in the dark while stuffing your face with candy, switching from laughing at gory scenes because of how fake they look to hugging your close friends and family members because of a tense chase scene, all while still wearing your Halloween costume because you just can’t bear to part with it. Unless you’re either boring or just a complete freak, you know what I’m talking about. So here’s my list of top ten scary movies to watch on Halloween. 

10. Final Destination (2000)

Ok, I will admit that this movie is dumb. Unbelievably dumb. There were actually several scenes where I was yelling at the TV because of how completely stupid the characters were being. But this movie still gave me nightmares for weeks after, so I’ll give it that. Also, I’m now way more nervous when boarding airplanes. If you know, you know. 

9. It (2017)

When I was 10 and this movie first came out, I absolutely refused to watch it because of the trailer alone. Fun fact: I was deathly afraid of clowns back then, and this movie did not help that at all. I finally caved and watched it maybe two or three years ago, and to be honest, it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. Still, it’s pretty terrifying, and on top of that, it’s actually a pretty great coming-of-age movie. Highly recommend it. 

8. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

One of the best horror movie villains of all time. OF ALL TIME. And Freddy Krueger’s theme song? Unironically a bop. A spooky bop, but a bop nonetheless. Plus, there are so many good themes and so many simply iconic moments. What can I say? It’s a classic for a reason. 

7. Halloween (1978)

Come on now. Did you really think I could make a list of best movies to watch on Halloween without including Halloween? Get out of here. Sure, the movie is a bit cheesy, and personally I think this franchise has been beaten to death. But if you have gone a single Halloween without watching this movie, and you’re over 13, seriously, what are you doing with your life?

6. Carrie (1976)

Amazing. Just amazing. Sure, it takes like ¾ of the movie to get to the “scary” part, but I would argue that Carrie’s whole living situation – her mother, the bullying, etc. – was horrifying enough. And the prom scene is just iconic. There really isn’t a better word to describe that scene. And this movie is also really sad, and has a very good message, especially for teen girls. (Also, I dressed up as Carrie for Halloween in 6th grade. So yeah.)

5. The Ring (2002)

There was a time in my life when I was obsessed with this movie, and it was for a good reason. I mean, the PLOT TWIST? I could write a 15-page essay about the plot twist alone. This movie is dark and gripping, and from beginning to end each new reveal has you on the edge of your seat. 

4. Coraline (2009)

You know, this movie really solidified for me the fact that just because a movie has no swearing or drugs or nudity, that does not make it a kid’s movie. Because wow. Just wow. This movie is creepy. Between some absolutely terrifying moments with the Other Mother and the generally unsettling vibe in almost every scene, I feel like this movie is way too scary for a child. Like, it still gives me the shivers as a teenager. Aside from that, though, every detail of this movie is absolutely gorgeous. The concept is genius, the neighbors and the other world are so well-developed, and all around the movie is just super original and imaginative. Simply put, it is a work of art. Definitely a top 5 for me, and definitely worth a watch, no matter what age group you are. 

3. Psycho (1960)

There is only one word that can perfectly capture my feelings for this movie, and that word is: ICONIC. Just iconic. I’ve thrown that word around a lot in this article, but seriously, there is no better word. The shower scene? The reveal? And don’t even get me started on the music.  Truly, it was ahead of its time. 

2. The Shining (1980)

It is no accident that three out of ten of the movies on this list are adapted from Stephen King books, and even though I have a love-hate relationship with his writing, I still can’t deny his influence, and this movie is a prime example of it. I mean, I don’t think I can count the number of iconic (yes, I’m using that word again) and instantly recognizable scenes that are scattered throughout the film. Between the writing, the direction, and the acting (because Shelley Duvall and Jack Nicholson absolutely killed it), this movie is as close to perfect as it gets. Not to mention, it is terrifying, and when I think about the horror genre as a whole, this movie is the first that comes to mind. 

1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Could I really have made a list of top scary movies to watch on Halloween without naming the first zombie movie? No. I couldn’t have. Simply put, this movie is a classic. Everything about it just screams the word. Like with Psycho, it was ahead of its time. From the effects to the story to the genius ending, this movie is a masterpiece.