Halloween is one of the most popular holidays celebrated by Americans every year and, similar to the Christmas season, it has spawned an entire genre of movies, many of which are considered classics today. So as old hallows eve to draw closer and closer, consider quenching your spooky thirst with some Halloween must-sees. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas is an icon of the Halloween season and genre that was released in 1993. The film is a claymation style, fantasy musical created by renowned director Tim Burton and scored by Danny Elfman. The story takes place in the fictional world of Halloween land where the main character Jack Skelington must overcome the ghost Oggie-Boogie and rescue Santa in order to save Christmas. 

Another cult classic Halloween film from Tim Burton is the comedy-horror film Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice was released in 1988 and it stared Michael Keeton as Beetlejuice himself, along with Winnona Ryder and Cathrine O’Hara. The film follows Lydia, Winona Ryder’s character, as she attempts to convince her family to leave their new house with the help of the maniacal trickster, Beetlejuice. 

Rounding out the classic family-friendly Halloween picks is Ivan Reitman’s 1984 hit, Ghostbusters. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Akyroyd, Sigourney Weaver, and many others as the Ghostbuster team. Ghostbusters follows a team of scientists who use futuristic technology to capture and contain mischievous ghosts that cause chaos all across New York City which ends in an epic fight, in the climax, against a giant Stay Puff Marshmallow Man. 

Halloween movies aren’t just fun comedies with some spooks here and there though, some movies watched throughout October can be quite the thrill(er). 

A more mature but still campy Halloween film is the classic horror movie of the same name, Halloween. This classic horror flick was released in 1978 and stared stunt man Nick Castle as the killer Micheal Miers and Jamie Lee Curtis as the heroine Laurie Strode. The story follows Laurie Strode and her thrilling defeat of escaped mental patient Micheal Miers on Halloween night. 

Another horror heavy Halloween classic is Wes Cravens’ Scream. The film was released in 1996 and it stars Neve Campbell as the heroine Sidney Prescott and the antagonist, Ghostface, is played by both Skeet Ulrich and Mathew Lillard. Scream follows the main character Sidney who solves riddles that eventually lead her to survival against the serial killer known as, Ghostface. 

For me, movies this year have been a welcome escape from the terrible situation the world is currently working through and although Halloween is known for being spooky and creepy, it has an odd way of bringing people together. Even if you don’t enjoy scary or thrilling movies, I guarantee that there is a seasonal movie for you to enjoy hopefully with some close (socially distant) friends and lots of candy.