October calls for a movie list that works for every kind of night. The most popular Halloween movies in 2025 blend cosy autumn atmosphere with crowd friendly laughs and a few iconic frights, so you can move from pumpkin carving to a midnight jump scare without changing the vibe. The mix below covers family Halloween movies, Disney Halloween movies, animated favourites, and essential slashers. If you want the best fall movies that still feel like Halloween, this is your easy to follow lineup.

At a Glance

Essential classics for a true fright night include Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Disney Halloween movies anchor family nights, with Hocus Pocus and Haunted Mansion as easy wins.
Fall vibe champions like The Addams Family, Beetlejuice, and Sleepy Hollow deliver cosy gothic energy.
Animated favourites Coraline and Corpse Bride bring mood, music, and style without heavy gore.

1. Scary Movie Series

If your idea of the best Halloween movies mixes goofy and gory, the Scary Movie parody series is a perfect opener for a friends-night queue. It riffs on slashers and supernatural hits with rapid-fire gags, pop-culture jabs, and familiar horror setups you can laugh through together. To keep things tidy for a marathon, it helps to watch Scary movies in order so the recurring bits and running jokes land properly across films. And because the humour is broad and fast, this franchise slots nicely between heavier picks on your 2025 list of the best Halloween movies.

Why it works: High-recognition parodies, easy laughs, and zero lore homework—ideal when your crowd wants “Halloween energy” without the nightmares.
Best for: Group watch parties, mixed comfort levels, and palate-cleansers between scarier titles.
Queue tip: If you’re organizing Scary movies in order, stick to release order (below) and limit the run to two or three entries for the tightest laugh ratio.

2. Halloween Movie Series

If your perfect night is a franchise marathon, lean into Michael Myers and build around the original classic. For viewers who want to watch Halloween movies in order, begin with 1978, then choose the timeline you enjoy most. Modern audiences often start with the 1978 original and jump to the 2018 return to keep the arc clean. If you are hosting a mixed crowd and still want Halloween movies in order, consider pairing the original with one modern entry, then move to a lighter pick from this list to reset the tone before bedtime.

Tone: Franchise comfort for slasher fans.
Best for: Dedicated horror nights that still need variety.

Halloween Movie Series — Image Credit: IMDb

3. Sleepy Hollow

Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is the definition of cosy spooky. Lantern light, foggy woods, and period costumes create an autumn postcard that you can feel in the room. It belongs on any best fall movies list because it wraps a murder mystery inside a gothic fairy tale, which gives you Halloween energy without leaning on constant shocks. In 2025, it is a perfect bridge between family Halloween movies and the scarier picks, since it keeps atmosphere high while the gore stays stylised rather than relentless.

Tone: Gothic mystery, candle lit and elegant.
Best for: Date nights and small groups that want October mood over jump scares

4. Mean Girls

Not every entry in the best Halloween movies needs a monster. Mean Girls earns a spot because fall energy runs through the entire setup, from school hallways to that famous costume party scene. It works as a palate cleanser between weightier horror titles, and it shines when you want best fall movies comfort that still fits the season. In 2025, it is the title you drop into the middle of the queue when the room needs a reset and everyone wants to quote lines together.

Tone: Light and quotable with a seasonal detour into costume chaos.
Best for: Mixed groups and friends who want a break from scares without losing the October spirit.

5. Corpse Bride

Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride gives you melancholy romance, waltzing bones, and a gentle afterlife that plays beautifully in a living room with the lights low. It belongs with the best Halloween movies because it is unmistakably October, yet soft enough for teens and sensitive viewers. In 2025, it pairs perfectly with Coraline for an animated double feature, which gives your night music, colour, and a mood that feels like a storybook that grew up.

Tone: Macabre fairytale with songs and sentiment.
Best for: Animation fans and anyone who prefers mood over menace.

6. Coraline

Coraline is careful, clever, and quietly brave, which is why it stays near the top of family Halloween movies lists. The world building is precise, the buttons are eerie, and the lesson about courage lands for kids and adults. For 2025, it is one of the best Halloween movies to show when you want a real story that still produces tingles. It also serves as an ideal early evening pick before older viewers switch to a scarier title later in the night.

Tone: Eerie adventure with heart.
Best for: Families with tweens, animation nights, and people who love a crafted world.

7. Hocus Pocus

When you say Disney Halloween movies, most people picture Hocus Pocus. The Sanderson sisters bring pure October comfort, and the Salem setting adds leaves, lanterns, and a town that feels built for trick or treat. In 2025, it remains an instant crowd pleaser that can open or close a family night, and it is still one of the best Halloween movies for all ages because it delivers laughs, light frights, and a true fall feeling.

Tone: Campy, colourful, and friendly for kids.
Best for: Family Halloween movies nights and multi age gatherings.

8. The Addams Family

The Addams Family is cosy gothic at its most charming. Gomez and Morticia are romantic goals, Wednesday is iconic, and the mansion is a perfect October set. It belongs on any best fall movies list because it gives the season’s look without demanding full attention from small children. In 2025, it is a reliable pick for early evening when you want laughs, cobwebs, and a gentle glide into the later, darker titles.

Tone: Kooky comedy with elegant gothic style.
Best for: Mixed ages and friends who like a Halloween theme without heavy scares.

9. Beetlejuice

Pick Beetlejuice when you want Halloween to feel playful and inventive. The afterlife bureaucracy, the model town, and the music all come together to make a classic that still feels fresh. For 2025, it is one of the best Halloween movies for friends who enjoy design, makeup, and a little chaos. It also works as a capstone to the family side of your queue before you flip to the scarier classics.

Tone: Fun weird with a mischievous streak.
Best for: Groups that want laughs, style, and a lively pace.

10. A Nightmare on Elm Street

Wes Craven’s 1984 dream-stalker classic, A Nightmare on Elm Street, sits near the top of the best Halloween movies for a reason. Suburban streets turn sinister the moment the lights go out, practical effects sell the surreal terror, and Freddy Krueger becomes the face you can’t shake. In a best Halloween movies 2025 lineup, it supplies the true late-night jolt—moody enough to satisfy purists and propulsive enough for casual viewers. File it with Halloween and Sleepy Hollow when you want best fall movies atmosphere.

Why it works: Unforgettable premise, eerie score, and set pieces that still shock.
Best for: After-dark sessions where the room wants a definitive classic.

Honorable Mention: The Haunted Mansion

For a newer Disney pick, The Haunted Mansion is an easy add to your Disney Halloween movies stack. It pulls from the theme park favourite, keeps the tone friendly, and drops in just enough ghosts to earn a place in October. In 2025, it is a safe option when you need something recent that still counts as family Halloween movies, especially if your group wants a modern look rather than a deep cut.

Tone: Light hauntings with heart.
Best for: Families and guests who prefer gentle bumps over sustained suspense.

FAQ

What are the best Halloween movies if I only have one night?

Start with Hocus Pocus for everyone, then Beetlejuice, then Halloween for a final scare.

Which titles work best for a family Halloween movies night?

Hocus Pocus, The Addams Family, Coraline, and Haunted Mansion keep things fun and seasonal.

I want cosy fall vibes without heavy horror. What should I pick?

Sleepy Hollow and The Addams Family are ideal best fall movies that still feel like October.

Where do Disney Halloween movies fit in the order?

Open with Hocus Pocus, place Haunted Mansion before bedtime, then move to classics if the room is still awake.

How do I plan a queue that suits every guest?

Rotate one family-friendly title, one cosy gothic title, and one classic slasher, so everyone gets a favourite.

Curtain Call: Halloween Movie Marathon

Wrap these fall nights in layers: start with family Halloween movies and Disney Halloween movies like Hocus Pocus or Haunted Mansion, then warm the room with cosy best fall movies such as The Addams Family or Beetlejuice. When the lights dim, pivot to a classic chiller—Halloween or A Nightmare on Elm Street—to keep the pulse up. Add animated favourites like Coraline or Corpse Bride if you want style and a gentler edge. With that mix, your best Halloween movies 2025 lineup feels effortless, memorable, and unmistakably October.