In honour of halloween coming up this thursday, I decided to ask chatgbt what the top halloween movies are from 1980-present.
The Shining (1980) – Stanley Kubrick’s chilling adaptation of Stephen King’s novel.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – Introduced Freddy Krueger and the concept of dream-based horror.
Beetlejuice (1988) – A darkly comedic look at the afterlife.
Hocus Pocus (1993) – A beloved family film featuring three resurrected witches.
The Sixth Sense (1999) – A psychological thriller with a famous twist ending.
Scream (1996) – A slasher film that reinvigorated the genre with self-aware humor.
The Ring (2002) – A haunting horror film that popularized J-horror in the West.
Get Out (2017) – A groundbreaking horror film addressing social issues through a thrilling narrative.
A Quiet Place (2018) – A tense thriller about survival in a world of sound-sensitive monsters.
Hereditary (2018) – A deeply unsettling film about grief and family secrets.
Midsommar (2019) – A folk horror film set in a bizarre Swedish festival.
The Invisible Man (2020) – A modern take on the classic monster story with a focus on domestic abuse.
The list is varying in types of movies from slashers to intense psychological thrillers.
If I were to create my own list for someone to watch halloween movies this is what I would recommend:
Halloween (1978)
The shining (1980)
Friday the 13th (1980)
Nightmare on Elm street (1984)
Beetlejuice (1988)
The Adam’s Family (1991)
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Scream (1996)
I Know What you did Last Summer (1997)
Halloweentown (1998)
Scary Movie (2000)
IT (2017)
Conjuring (2017)
The Black phone (2022)
Long Legs (2024)
My list includes a range of classic halloween movies, some kid friendly movies, and a few more current halloween movies. I think this is a good list of movies because it includes a diverse range with some that are more comedic and have a blend of humour and horror. Many films on the list are considered classics or have had a significant impact on the horror genre, such as A Nightmare on Elm Street and Halloween. They are essential viewing for any horror fan. By including more recent films like IT (2017) and The Black Phone (2022), the list stays relevant and showcases modern takes on horror. Each film contributes to the Halloween spirit, whether through supernatural elements, creepy settings, or seasonal themes, making them perfect for a Halloween starter pack.