20 Best Horror Halloween Movies That Take Place on Halloween

Every year I look forward to October to binge watch horror movies on every cable and streaming platform. But whats better than horror movies in October? Well horror movies that take place on Halloween, of course!

So, lets explore the most frightening horror Halloween movies to binge watch in October.

These horror films are all set against the backdrop of Halloween, making them a perfect choice for your Halloween movie marathon. 

My favorite, hands down, is Trick-r-Treat. I watch this every Halloween. In my opinion, this movie get everything right! Takes place on Halloween, check. Creepy, pint sized, jack-o-lantern inspired killer, check. Some serious unique unique kills, check.

Lets get to the list and enjoy your horror Halloween movie marathon!

Don’t forget to download the FREE MOVIE CHECKLIST to keep track of what movies you want to watch!

The Ultimate Halloween Movie Marathon Guide for Horror Fans: The Best Horror Halloween Movies to Watch in October

So What Makes a Horror Movie Halloween Themed?

A Halloween themed horror movie incorporates elements of the holiday, such as costumes, jack-o’-lanterns, trick-or-treating, or a spooky atmosphere. These films often take place on or around Halloween and may feature supernatural creatures, witches, ghosts, or other thematic elements associated with the season.

What information is provided about each Halloween horror movie in this selection?

• The movie title and release year of the movie
• YouTube movie trailer
• Director
• A list of actors in the movie
• The MPAA rating
• Link to the movie in IMDb – For movie reviews, where to stream, ratings, trailers and lots more.
• Link to where movie is streaming for FREE (if available)
• A movie summary

Here are the Top 20 Horror Movies set on or around Halloween

1. Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

• Director: Michael Dougherty
• Cast: Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker
• Genre: Horror, Comedy
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Summary: Trick ‘r Treat is a Halloween themed anthology horror film that brilliantly weaves together multiple interlocking tales of terror set in a suburban town on Halloween night. Each story explores different aspects of the holiday, from urban legends to sinister traditions. With its clever storytelling, dark humor, and iconic character, Sam, who enforces the rules of Halloween, this film captures the true essence of the holiday. Trick ‘r Treat is a must watch for horror enthusiasts and Halloween lovers, offering a perfect blend of scares and Halloween nostalgia.

2. Halloween (1978)

• Director: John Carpenter
• Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Summary: Halloween is the quintessential slasher film that set the standard for the genre. The story revolves around the escaped mental patient, Michael Myers, who returns to his hometown on Halloween night to wreak havoc. The film’s tense atmosphere, John Carpenter’s iconic score, and Jamie Lee Curtis’s memorable performance as Laurie Strode make Halloween a masterpiece of horror cinema. It’s a suspenseful and terrifying experience that has stood the test of time and continues to be a cornerstone of Halloween movie marathons.

3. Satans Little Helper (2004)

• Director: Jeff Lieberman
• Cast: Alexander Brickel, Katheryn Winnick, Amanda Plummer
• Genre: Comedy, Horror
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Summary: Satans Little Helper is a darkly comedic horror film that follows a young boy named Dougie who becomes enthralled with a video game called Satans Little Helper. On Halloween, he encounters a man dressed as Satan and mistakenly believes him to be the game character. Dougie decides to team up with this mysterious stranger, unknowingly getting involved in a series of gruesome murders.

4. Terrifier (2016)

• Director: Damien Leone
• Cast: Jenna Kanell, Samantha Scaffidi, David Howard Thornton
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Rating: NR
• IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi
• Summary: Terrifier is a relentless and gruesome slasher film that takes place on Halloween night. The story follows two young women who encounter Art the Clown, a sadistic and silent killer, while on their way home from a Halloween party. What follows is a nightmarish game of cat and mouse as Art torments his victims in increasingly brutal ways. The film’s practical effects, intense gore, and the unforgettable performance of David Howard Thornton as Art create a horrifying and unapologetic cinematic experience.

5. The Crow (1994)

• Director: Alex Proyas
• Cast: Brandon Lee, Michael Wincott, Rochelle Davis
• Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Summary: The Crow is a haunting and visually stunning film that takes place on Devil’s Night, the night before Halloween. Eric Draven, portrayed by Brandon Lee, returns from the dead to seek vengeance on those who murdered him and his fiancée. Set against a dark and gothic backdrop, the film is a poetic and action packed tale of love and revenge. Brandon Lee’s iconic performance, tragic backstory, and the film’s moody atmosphere make The Crow a cult classic that’s perfect for a Halloween night.

6. Donnie Darko (2001)

• Director: Richard Kelly
• Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell
• Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Streamng FREE on Tubi
• Summary: Donnie Darko is a mind-bending and atmospheric cult classic that unfolds during the Halloween season. The film follows Donnie Darko, a troubled teenager who begins experiencing strange visions of a giant, creepy rabbit named Frank. As Donnie’s reality becomes increasingly distorted, he becomes obsessed with the concept of time travel and the impending end of the world.

7. The Guest (2014)

• Director: Adam Wingard
• Cast: Dan Stevens, Sheila Kelley, Maika Monroe
• Genre: Action, Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Summary: The Guest is a thrilling and suspenseful film that takes place during the Halloween season. The story centers on David Collins, a charming and enigmatic stranger who arrives at the Peterson family’s doorstep, claiming to be a friend of their deceased son. As David’s true intentions become increasingly sinister, the Petersons find themselves caught in a web of danger and intrigue. Dan Stevens delivers a charismatic and chilling performance.

8. Haunt (2019)

• Director: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
• Cast: Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Lauryn Alisa McClain
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Summary: Haunt is an intense horror film that follows a group of friends who decide to visit an extreme haunted house attraction on Halloween night. What starts as a thrilling and fun experience quickly turns into a nightmarish ordeal as they realize that the horrors inside the haunt are all too real.

9. Hell Fest (2018)

• Director: Gregory Plotkin
• Cast: Cynthea Mercado, Stephen Conroy, Amy Forsyth
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi
• Summary: Hell Fest is a petrifying horror film that unfolds in the midst of a Halloween themed amusement park. A group of friends attends the event, seeking thrills and scares, but their excitement takes a dark turn when they realize that a masked serial killer is hiding among the park’s costumed performers. The characters must navigate the park while being pursued by a relentless and sadistic murderer.

10. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)

• Director: André Øvredal
• Cast: Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush
• Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDb
• Summary: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is an electrifying and visually striking horror film based on the beloved book series. The story takes place on Halloween night in 1968 when a group of teenagers discovers a mysterious book filled with chilling stories. As they read the tales, the terrifying events described in the stories begin to come to life, and they must confront the supernatural horrors that haunt their town.

11. House of Wax (2005)

• Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
• Cast: Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Brian Van Holt
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Summary: House of Wax is a chilling and gruesome horror film that centers around a group of friends who become stranded in a seemingly abandoned town on their way to a college football game on Halloween weekend. They soon discover that the town’s wax museum holds a horrifying secret, the wax figures are made from the bodies of unfortunate victims. The film combines elements of slasher horror and gore as the group fights to survive and unravel the town’s dark history.

12. Halloween Party (2019)

• Director: Jay Dahl
• Cast: Amy Groening, T. Thomason, Marietta Laan
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Rating: Not Rated
• IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi
• Summary: Halloween Party unfolds during a Halloween party at a fraternity house. When a group of university students decides to host a costume party on Halloween night, they inadvertently awaken an ancient evil that lurks within an artifact. As the night progresses, supernatural forces take hold, and the partygoers must confront their worst fears and battle malevolent entities.

13. All Hallows’ Eve (2013)

• Director: Damien Leone
• Cast: Katie Maguire, Catherine A. Callahan, Marie Maser
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Rating: Not Rated
• IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi
• Summary: All Hallows’ Eve is a chilling anthology horror film that follows a babysitter and her two young charges who find a mysterious VHS tape in their trick-or-treat bag on Halloween night. As they watch the disturbing footage, they discover a series of terrifying and interconnected stories involving a sinister clown like figure. This film is quite disturbing and haunts you long after the movie ends.

14. Night of the Demons (1988)

• Director: Kevin Tenney
• Cast: Cathy Podewell, Amelia Kinkade, Linnea Quigley
• Genre: Comedy, Horror
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi
• Summary: Night of the Demons is a cult classic horror film that unfolds on Halloween night during a wild party at an abandoned funeral parlor. A group of teenagers inadvertently releases malevolent demons while partying, leading to a night of chaos, possession, and gruesome deaths.

15. May (2002)

• Director: Lucky McKee
• Cast: Angela Bettis, Jeremy Sisto, Anna Faris
• Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Streamng FREE on Tubi
• Summary: May is a psychological horror film that takes place in the weeks leading up to Halloween. The story follows May, a socially awkward and isolated young woman who has a penchant for creating and collecting dolls. As her loneliness intensifies, she becomes obsessed with creating the perfect friend and she begins to descend into madness.

16. The Houses October Built (2014)

• Director: Bobby Roe
• Cast: Brandy Schaefer, Zack Andrews, Bobby Roe
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Rating: Not Rated
• IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi
• Summary: The Houses October Built is a found footage horror film that follows a group of friends on a road trip to explore and document haunted houses and extreme Halloween attractions. As they delve deeper into their quest to find the most terrifying experiences, they become targets of a group of sinister and unpredictable haunters. The film keeps you guessing about what’s real and what’s part of the act.

17. Tales of Halloween (2015)

• Directors: Darren Lynn Bousman, Axelle Carolyn, Adam Gierasch, Andrew Kasch, Neil Marshall, Lucky McKee, Mike Mendez, Dave Parker, Ryan Schifrin, John Skipp, Paul Solet
• Cast: Adrianne Curry, Barry Bostwick, Booboo Stewart
• Genre: Comedy, Horror
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Streaming FREE on Tubi
• Summary: Tales of Halloween is an anthology horror film that weaves together ten interconnected stories set in a single town on Halloween night. Each segment explores different aspects of the holiday, from witches and monsters to trick or treating and urban legends.

18. House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

• Director: Rob Zombie
• Cast: Sid Haig, Karen Black, Bill Moseley
• Genre: Horror
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Streamng FREE on Tubi
• Summary: House of 1000 Corpses is a gritty and disturbing horror film directed by Rob Zombie. The story follows a group of friends who, while on a cross country road trip, encounter the sadistic Firefly family, a group of deranged killers. The film offers elements of exploitation cinema, dark humor, and extreme violence, and has become a cult classic among horror fans.

19. Scream VI (2023)

• Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
• Cast: To be announced
• Genre: Horror, Mystery
• Rating: Not yet rated
• IMDb
• Summary: In the sixth installment of the Scream horror movie franchise, the four survivors from Woodsboro have relocated to New York City in search of a fresh beginning. However, just as they start to find a sense of security in their new lives, the chilling ring of a familiar call sends shivers down their spines. Ghostface resurfaces, more ruthless and determined than ever, and is unrelenting in the pursuit of his prey, leaving them with nowhere to hide.

20. Halloween III: Season Of The Witch (1982)

• Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
• Cast: Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, Dan O’Herlihy
• Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
• Rating: R
• IMDb
• Summary: In “Halloween III: Season of the Witch,” the franchise takes a departure from the Michael Myers storyline. Instead, it offers a unique and eerie tale centered around a sinister plot involving a toymaker who plans to use Halloween masks to trigger a deadly and apocalyptic event. When Dr. Daniel Challis becomes entangled in the mystery behind the masks and a series of gruesome deaths, he must uncover the truth before it’s too late.

BONUS Halloween Horror Movies Streaming FREE on Tubi

Terrifier: The Short (With Director Commentary)
All Hallows’ Eve 2
The Houses October Built 2
Pumpkinhead
Halloween Night
Halloween at Aunt Ethel’s
Halloween Jack
Halloween Horror Tales
Sharp Candy
Tales From All Hallows’ Eve

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Thanks for checking out our article on the 20 Best Horror Halloween movies to watch in October.

Happy Halloween, and let the October horror movie marathon begin!

For a complete list of all Halloween movies, visit here.

Grab the free movie checklist below for future reference.