With Halloween taking place on a Friday this year, scare-lovers and horror-heads are looking forward to a three-day celebration of the holiday over the weekend. With preparation for the “Halloweekend” festivities fast approaching, a good petrifying movie is a great way to kick off the enthusiasm. Listed below are spooky suggestions for the perfect movies to match your Halloween mood and provide a wicked good time.
Halloween party: ‘Scream’ or ‘Scary Movie’
It wouldn’t be a proper Halloweekend without a classic themed party to celebrate. Two quintessential films for the function: the 90s slasher “Scream” and its 2000 parody “Scary Movie.” Playing either or both of these movies creates the perfect thrilling atmosphere for hosting friends. Scream blends witty and suspenseful with a plot engaging for all partygoers—which Scary Movie develops into a campy satire that fits a more humorous gathering.
Editor’s Rating: 9/10 and 7/10, respectively
Hauntingly good honorable mention: “Tarot” (2024)
Gameday: ‘Carrie’
For the spirited Lions cheering on the varsity football team during our last home game of the season, you cannot go without a scary movie to match the game’s festive theme. Whether it’s after school while getting ready or following the game to keep the thrill going, consider the classic “Carrie” (1976). The movie follows a lonely teenage girl with telekinetic powers who takes a gruesome advantage with the day of her senior prom. The supernatural screening has the high school setting to match the spooky gameday energy.
Editor’s Rating: 7/10
Babysitting: ‘Goosebumps’
Those spending Halloween with the younger generation, the scariest horror movies off the table, one of the best family-friendly watch options is “Goosebumps” (2015). The PG-rated feature is short enough to keep the kiddo’s attention, yet, as entertaining to turn a time of one or two hours into a childhood movie experience for they’ll cherish for years to come.
Editor’s Rating: 8/10
Hauntingly good honorable mention: “Ghostbusters” (1984)
Birthday: ‘Happy Death Day’
For the late-October birthdays, blending holiday elements with your celebrations can add exciting fright to the fun. Whether guests are decked out in costume or bringing their own festive drinks, a fitting movie to play throughout the festivities is the 2017 dark comedy “Happy Death Day.” Stuck in a birthday timeloop, Jessica Rothe plays a cunning college student that ends every night brutally murdered, not able to escape the terror until she identifies the criminal.
Editor’s Rating: 9/10
Game night: ‘Ready or Not’
In “Ready or Not” (2019), a newlywed couple is forced to participate in a chilling game of hide and seek, seeing deadly consequences if the groom’s family successfully hunt the bride down. The tension and riveting need to win skillfully raises competitive spirits for a killer game night.
Editor’s Rating: 9/10
Hauntingly good honorable mention: “Talk to Me” (2022)
Date night: ‘Heart Eyes’
Though its plot is centered around the earlier holiday of Valentine’s Day, “Heart Eyes” (2025) mixes typical slasher elements with romantic comedy to develop a whodunit that leaves you feeling warm-rather than gutted-inside. Complementing the suspense, the on-screen chemistry between the leads is simply to die for.
Editor’s Rating: 8/10
