On Halloween night, E.T., a kind, gentle alien, lands on Earth and is discovered by a boy named Elliot (Henry Thomas). He befriends the alien and decides to keep his existence a secret. He and his sister try to disguise him for as long as they can until E.T. becomes sick, which forces government officials to get involved. This turn of events puts both E.T. and Elliot in a bad situation, and they need to find a solution quickly. E.T. demonstrates ideas of love and friendship through a special connection that is a must-see this Halloween. When looking for a Halloween movie that offers more than the usual scares and seasonal clichés, E.T. stands out with its mix of aliens, UFOs, and an unforgettable story.
Keeping in theme with Tim Burton’s creations, Frankenweenie takes place in a town following the story of young Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan), who is seen as an outsider at his school and experiences tragedy when his dog, Sparky, gets hit by a car. However, as he is in his science class, his teacher, Mr. Rzykruski (Martin Landau), inspires him to bring Sparky back to life—a plan that succeeds but ultimately leads to serious consequences when his classmates discover his secret, landing him in major trouble.
This movie follows the curious mind of Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), Halloweentown’s pumpkin king, who has grown bored with the town’s tradition of scaring people in the real world for the celebration of Halloween. So when he finds Christmastown and its warm, cozy, and bright colors, he develops a plan to make this holiday his own by kidnapping Santa and replacing him on Christmas Eve. The movie shows how Jack’s curiosity could be detrimental to his beloved Halloweentown. The Nightmare Before Christmas blends two beloved holidays, creating a fun and interesting watch for the spooky season.
When a team of scientists, Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) lose their university jobs in New York City, it is this that leads them to the decision of becoming GhostBusters for the city in exchange for money. They come across a new world that will release supernatural evil upon the city, and it is up to them to save the city and fight off unwanted guests. This movie blends comedy with thrills, capturing the fun of the spooky season.
The movie starts when couple Barbara (Genna Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) pass away in a car accident, finding themselves stuck in their own house, unable to leave. So when the uninviting new residents, the Deetzes, move in with their teen daughter, Lydia (Winona Ryder), it is the Maitlands’ mission to haunt them to the point of leaving. When the Maitlands’ attempts don’t seem to be working, they call upon Beetlejuice, a spirit to “help” them, which quickly becomes a dangerous adventure for young Lydia and the Maitlands. This is on the spookier side of the Halloween classics. Still, the plot and characters, with exaggerated personalities, make it the ultimate movie to watch with some popcorn and a cozy blanket.
Coraline (Dakota Fanning), has just moved to a new town, and while exploring her new home, finds a door leading to an alternate world that almost identically mirrors her world back home, but is somehow better. She enjoys her discovery until the Other Mother (Teri Hacher) in the parallel world tries to take Coraline for herself, so it is up to her to find a way to escape and return back home. The whimsical and eerie world, with its unsettling feel, is best suited for viewers looking for a more creepy movie night.
The Addams Family is a classic film that takes place when a long-lost cousin, Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd), arrives, throwing the family’s peculiar day-to-day life into a spiral. As the family explores the mystery of their Uncle Fester’s past and true identity. It shows how a family that some might think is strange and out of the ordinary have a special bond and understanding of each other. This Halloween classic is a great watch because of its humorous celebration of the family’s unusual traditions and its dive into a world where those in it embrace being eerie. It is also on the lighter side of Halloween scares, making it suitable for the whole family to enjoy. In addition, Wednesday Addams’ gloomy and out-of-the-ordinary attitude makes the movie all the more fun to watch.
When Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) moves from the big city to a small town, he is disappointed, but finds an upside when he meets his neighbor, Hannah (Odeya Rush). Zach then finds out that Hannah’s dad is R.L. Stine (Jack Black), a famous author who wrote the best-selling book series Goosebumps. When Zach accidentally releases the monsters from their pages, it is up to all three of them to return them to where they belong. The movie’s focus on monsters, its suspense, and its comedy aspects make it a perfect setting for a Halloween movie night at home.
Corpse Bride follows Victor Van Dort (voiced by Johnny Depp) and his accidental marriage to a corpse named Emily (voiced by Helena Bonham Carter), which leads him on an unexpected journey into the land of the dead. In the new place, Victor discovers a world different from his own and explores a world of color, a new culture, and makes some unexpected connections. Tim Burton brings his classic style and charm to the story, making it all the more interesting and fun to watch, much like his other film, Edward Scissorhands, but with an animated twist. The themes of love, death, and the supernatural are perfect for the spooky season.
Hocus Pocus is a movie that follows the story of the Sanderson Sisters, Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary (Kathy Najimy). The three witches come back to life in modern-day Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween Night. The witches plan to take the town as their own and regain their youth, all while challenging a group of kids who are trying to take them down and outsmart them. This is the number one Halloween classic because it captures magical moments set against an eerie backdrop, making it perfect to watch this Halloween season.
