Forget the cliches, these Halloween films are a must-watch this weekend
The pumpkins are out and the temperature has dropped, which means this weekend is the perfect time to watch all your favourite Halloween films. Whether it's a thriller, a slasher or a feel-good ghost story, there's a huge selection of Halloween films out there for you to devour.
We've rounded up our top Halloween films to help you find a new favourite or revel in the nostalgia of '90s horror. Grab a Halloween sweet treat and settle down with these hypnotic Halloween films.
9 Halloween films you have to watch this October
1. Attack the Block
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Many may claim the 2011 hit Attack the Block isn't a Halloween film, but we beg to differ. Alien invaders, South London at night and a group of unlikely protagonists – what's not to love? Featuring stars such as John Boyega and Jodie Whittaker, this sci-fi comedy horror has it all and includes some iconic lines you'll be quoting for days after. If you still need convincing, it has a 91% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
2. Weapons
Where to watch: currently in cinemas and available to buy through Amazon Prime and Apple TV
Watching the new blockbuster film Weapons is a truly terrifying experience. This Pied Piper-like horror/mystery follows the hunt for a group of missing children to some rather horrific consequences. This film isn't for the faint of heart, but it's perfect for those who want a new Halloween horror to fall in love with.
Throw a Halloween watching party!
Use our collection of Halloween party ideas to organise your very own bash. We cover themes, food, games and costumes.
3. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Wererabbit
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer & NOW
Yes, we all love The Nightmare Before Christmas, but for us, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is our Halloween must-watch. Family-friendly and a masterpiece in stop animation, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit follows pest-control pair Wallace and Gromit on a mission to save the town's crops. Chaos ensues, and our favourite Northern duo set out to save the vegetable competition, but not all is as it seems...
4. The Strangers
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
There's something about Halloween films being based on true stories that makes them all more horrific. The Strangers, released in 2008, is rumoured to be based on the 1981 Keddie murders and 1969 Tate–LaBianca murders, both home intrusion homicides.
In this psychological horror film, three masked intruders terrorise a couple in their home to increasing levels of violence. It's a cult-classic among horror fans and is worth watching if you want to be scared witless.
Craft while you watch
Choose from our huge selection of Halloween crafts here on Gathered and make something spooky while you watch.
5. Hocus Pocus 1 & 2
Where to watch: Disney+
It's important to pay homage to the classics, and no film is more nostalgic to us than Hocus Pocus. We don't need to explain the plot of this funny witchy film, but thanks to the sequel released in 2022, this duology is a great binge-watch. Watch them back-to-back, and you'll experience everything from 90s animatronics to 21st-century humour.
6. A Quiet Place (the trilogy)
Where to watch: Paramount+ and Netflix
This film is ideal for those who want suspense but not gore (rated PG-13). Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the film follows a family struggling to survive in silence. The deadly aliens roaming the planet are highly attuned to sound, meaning noise costs lives. There are three films in this collection for you to binge, each more jumpy than the last.
7. From Dusk Till Dawn
Where to watch: Paramount+, YouTube, Amazon Prime
It's not Halloween without a ridiculous and overly violent vampire film. Follow George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino as two on-the-run criminals encounter a club full of vampires. What ensues is a bloody battle between vampires and humans that doesn't skimp on gore. Rated PG-18, this vampire film isn't for those with a weak stomach.
Make a costume inspired by your favourite Halloween film!
Explore our collection of over 200 DIY Halloween costume ideas and make a fancy dress outfit you love.
8. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime
Made by the king of Halloween himself, Tim Burton, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a fantastic Halloween watch. Based on a popular novel, the protagonist, Jake, sets sail to Wales to find out what happened to his grandfather as a child. There, he meets the 'Peculiars' and an epic adventure ensues.
9. His House
Where to watch: Netflix, BBC iPlayer
With a whopping 100% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, His House is a complex horror film that's packed with nuance and fear. Bol, Rial and their daughter arrive in England after fleeing war-torn Sudan, and what follows is a series of disturbing events which blur their past, present and future.
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