In the spirit of the spooky season, we have rounded up all our favourite ghouls, ghosts, witches and clowns and compiled the definitive list of the best Halloween movies ranked from least to most spooky.
We have thought of the children and included plenty of not-too-scary Halloween themed flicks but we also haven’t held out on you and we have included the scariest films we could possibly think of. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Our fear factor scale is from 1 to 5, 1 being the least scary, and 5 being the most. We have ordered them from least to most scary so you don’t have to see anything you can’t handle.
Don’t scroll to the bottom if you can’t do clowns. I’m not going to.
What we do in the shadows
Starring such icons as Taika Waititi, Rhys Darby and Jemaine Clement, this Kiwi classic about a Wellington flat of vampires will have you in stitches.
Fear factor: 1/5
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Technically this is a kids movie, and yes it could count as a Christmas movie, but it is also a heartwarming (and expertly animated) tale of how a skeleton learns to love and brings fun to Halloween town.
Fear factor: 1/5
Casper
If you like your ghosts cute, friendly and garden variety, this is the one for you. Kid-friendly.
Fear factor: 1/5
Mean Girls
Yes, it counts. Not only does this movie feature an epic wrap up of how Halloween works in high school, it also features awkward social situations that are every bit as scary as ghosts and monsters.
Fear factor: 1/5
Hocus pocus
This movie features Sarah Jessica Parker before she was Carrie Bradshaw. That is probably enough to convince you, but if not, it is spooky, fun and a classic 90s hit. Did I mention it has Sarah Jessica Parker?
Fear factor: 1/5
The Addams Family
Dun dun dun dun click click and you’re on board. Creepy cool fun for the whole family. A must-see.
Fear factor: 2/5
Beetlejuice
This spooky classic will produce more laughs than fear, but is also features plenty of ghosts, grave yards and scary faces.
Fear factor: 3/5
Nosferatu
The original vampire movie, based pretty heavily upon Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Fair warning, this is a silent film (yes, it still has music) but it still manages to be excellent.
Fear factor: 3/5
The Shining
If this gif hasn’t scared you off already, then I’m scared of you. Adapted from the book by Stephen King (who also wrote It), this movie has young Jack Nicholson, creepy child twins, and lots (lots and lots and lots) of blood.
3/5
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Its all in the name, isn’t it.
3/5
Friday the 13th
Classic, murder thriller. Not for children.
Fear factor: 3/5
The Ring
When I said movies that will make you feel like you aren’t alone, I meant this movie. Do not show this movie to anyone under 16. Also, please go back in time and tell 16 year old me not to watch it? Thanks. I’m still scared.
Fear factor: 4/5
The Descent
As if getting stuck in a cave wasn’t scary enough, in The Descent they get stuck in a cave, then it gets scarier.
Fear factor: 4/5
House of Wax
Even if you can get past Paris Hilton’s acting, this is really very, very, very scary.
Fear factor: 5/5
It
Whether you watch the 2017 movie or the 1990 miniseries, make sure you don’t do it alone. Even it you aren’t scared of clowns, you will be.
Fear factor: 5/5
The Human Centipede
Just don’t do it. Really do not. Told you not to scroll down. This is banned in several countries.
Fear factor: 97/5
