The Best Halloween Movies on Netflix Right Now (October 2023)

Director: David Yarovesky | Run Time: 1 hr 43 min

Cast: Winslow Fegley, Krysten Ritter, Lidya Jewett

Somewhere between spooky and downright scary, Nightbooks is a wonderful new entry in the “gateway horror” canon that’s delightful for (not too young) kids and adults alike. The Sam Raimi-produced YA adventure stars Krysten Ritter as a glamorous but very wicked witch who traps children to do her bidding. Following two kids (played by Winslow Fegley and Lidya Jewett) attempting to escape her grasp, Nightbooks builds a fantastical world of magic and monsters that steers clear of gruesome gore while still delivering plenty of ooey-goeey scares. It’s one of the best Netflix originals of the year and the perfect pick for folks looking for something new to add to their Halloween watchlist. – Haleigh Foutch

Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Genre: Comedy | Director: Brad Silberling

Cast: Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle

An iconic take on Harvey Comics’ Casper the Friendly Ghost character, Casper follows afterlife therapist Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman) and his daughter Kat (Christina Ricci), who stumble across a ghost inside a haunted mansion but have their expectations deceived when the ghost, Casper (Malachi Pearson), turns out to be famously friendly. A fun Halloween romp for the whole family, Casper was, in fact, impressively the first feature to use only CGI to craft its main character. Brad Silbering makes his directorial debut in a film that balances friendly humor with the odd scare, all set in the impressive shadow of the gorgeous Whipstaff Manor. Casper is a great movie to take in on a spooky-season Sunday afternoon with a charming atmosphere that makes anyone and everyone feel welcome. – Jake Hodges

Run Time: 2 hr 6 min | Genre: Comedy | Director: Christopher Landon

Cast: Jahi Di’Allo Winston, David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, Jennifer Coolidge

Written and directed by veteran horror screenwriter Christopher Landon, We Have a Ghost follows Kevin (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) and his family’s journey from regular nobodies to overnight social media sensations following the discovery of a ghost, Ernest (David Harbour), in their new house. Together, Kevin and Ernest form the unlikeliest of duos as they try and uncover the truth behind Ernest’s past. Likened to the Casper film of 1995, We Have a Ghost finds true charm in the juxtaposition of its story and tone, with the discovery of a spooky ghost nicely matched by cute humor and a family-friendly plot. We Have a Ghost relishes its own genre, using long-standing techniques audiences have come to expect from such a film to its own advantage. A tale with a child-like wonder at its heart, We Have a Ghost is only elevated by its great supporting cast that includes the likes of Jennifer Coolidge and Anthony Mackie. – Jake Hodges

Run Time: 1 hr 29 min | Director: Jeff Wadlow

Cast: Marlon Wayans, Priah Ferguson, Kelly Rowland, John Michael Higgins

The Curse of Bridge Hollow is a delightfully playful Halloween comedy bursting with hilarious talent and family-friendly adventure. The Curse of Bridge Hollow follows teen Sydney (Priah Ferguson) as she’s forced to team with her skeptical science teacher father (Marlon Wayans) to stop the mischievous spirit she accidentally released from causing chaos all over town. The Curse of Bridge Hollow evokes the spirit of Hocus Pocus with the physical comedy style of the Scary Movie franchise, albeit toned down for a much younger audience. The Curse of Bridge Hollow allows Ferguson to shine, supported by comedy greats like Wayans, Lauren Lapkus, John Michael Higgins, and Rob Riggle. Destined to be a Halloween classic, The Curse of Bridge Hollow deserves to be added to the annual rotation. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 53 min | Director: J.J. Perry

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, Snoop Dogg, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Meagan Good

Jamie Foxx kicks undead ass in Day Shift, a fast-paced, action-heavy vampire hunter movie directed by J.J. Perry. Perry’s history in stunt work is undeniable, with the intricate and inventive fight choreography, as well as the use of props within an action sequence. Infused with snappy and vulgar dialogue written by Tyler Tice and Shay Hatten, Day Shift doesn’t shy away from opportunities to solidify its R rating. Foxx’s performance is expectedly fantastic and highlighted by the gore, weaponry, and his unique supporting cast, which includes Dave Franco and Snoop Dogg. Day Shift is a thrilling ride from the first kill to the last. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 49 | Director: Rob Zombie

Cast: Sheri Moon Zombie, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Daniel Roebuck, Richard Brake

Inspired by the American sitcom of the same name, Rob Zombie’s The Munsters is a prequel-esque reboot of the beloved 1960s television program. Building on the foundation of the basic premise, which follows a Transylvanian family of monsters as they move into an American suburb, The Munsters film begins before Mockingbird Lane, with a love story revealing how the 150-year-old vampire Lily (Sheri Moon Zombie) met the green experiment with a heart of gold named Herman (Jeff Daniel Phillips). Varying greatly from Zombie’s gory and frightful reputation, The Munsters is goofy, silly, and wildly campy above all else. – Yael Tygiel

Director: Mike Flanagan | Run Time: 1 hr 39 min

Cast: Elizabeth Reaser, Annalise Basso, Lulu Wilson, Henry Thomas

While the original Ouija was a cheap gimmick of a horror film that was more laughable than scary, Mike Flanagan’s surprisingly excellent prequel proved that the concept wasn’t entirely misconceived. By relying less on jump scares and more on grounding the characters, Flanagan was able to explore the ways trauma can inspire our deepest nightmares. The film follows the widow Alice Zander (Elizabeth Reaser) as she falsely claims to be a spiritual medium; Zander and her daughters are forced to shed their personas when an actual demon appears. It’s an essential watch for fans of The Haunting of Hill House and the The Haunting of Bly Manor. –Liam Gaughan

Director: Steven Brill | Run Time: 1 hr 42 min

Cast: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Kevin James, Ray Liotta, Shaquille O’Neal

Okay so Hubie Halloween may not be “high art,” but if you’re looking for a silly comedy with all the Halloween trappings, this might be a good pick for you. The Adam Sandler film follows a deli employee in Salem, Massachusetts who fancies himself a “Halloween Monitor” on Halloween. The role becomes much more serious when news arrives about an escaped convict. This movie is silly and frankly not great, but it’s a valid choice if you’re looking to watch something that’s very Halloween-themed. – Adam Chitwood

Director: Guillermo del Toro | Run Time: 1 hr 59 min

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, and Charlie Hunnam

Everyone loves a great ghost story, and nobody tells a ghost story like filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. The director’s underrated 2015 film Crimson Peak is less a horror movie than a gothic romance, but there are scares and terorrs to be sure. Set in 1901, the story follows an aspiring author (Mia Wasikowska) who meets a dashing English gentleman (Tom Hiddleston) and falls in love. The two quickly marry, and she moves to a remote part of England to live in an aging estate with her new husband and his icy sister (Jessica Chastain). The estate ends up being full of ghosts, and frightful twists abound as our young protagonist finds herself in over her head. This is the perfect Halloween movie for folks who love Gothic stories with a capital “G.” – Adam Chitwood

Director: Leigh Janiak | Run Time: 5 hr 30 min

Cast: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Sadie Sink, and more

For the ultimate Halloween movie marathon, you can’t go wrong with the Fear Street trilogy. These three movies were released this past summer, and offer up a buffet of slasher and horror movie goodness, tracking one story across three different timelines. It begins with Fear Street: 1994, where teens in the town of Shadyside are chased by unkillable slashers who they believe are tied to a curse on the town. Fear Street: 1978 is a full-on summer camp slasher as more is revealed about the curse and town’s backstory, and the final installment Fear Street: 1666 tells the full origin story of the Shadyside witch. All three movies are a blast. – Adam Chitwood

Director: David Bruckner | Run Time: 1 hr 34 min

Cast: Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier, Sam Troughton

It’s been a long wait for David Bruckner’s first feature film, but fortunately, it was worth it. The filmmaker behind standout segments in Signal and V/H/S made his feature debut this year with The Ritual, a Netflix original that digs into the well of shame and regret to mine piercing, distinctly adult terrors. Oh, and there’s a great monster too. The Ritual follows four friends into the woods, where they venture out mourn the death of a dear friend, but once they’re there, a spindly, scarcely seen creature haunts them every step of the way. Bruckner takes his time building the terror, offering brief glimpses at their monstrous stalker and using the natural camouflage of the forest to his advantage in staging his scares, and between the chilling looks at the creature, he takes his time fleshing out the trauma shared by these old friends and the conflicts that would threaten to tear them apart even if they weren’t being hunted by a supernatural force. The end result is a mature, understated horror movie that slowly settles in under your skin with plenty of spooky folklore vibes that feel right at home in the Halloween season. — Haleigh Foutch

Director: Osgood Perkins | Run Time: 1 hr 27 min

Cast: Ruth Wilson, Bob Balaban, Lucy Boynton

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House doesn’t have much in the way of story, but what it lacks in narrative, it makes up in atmospheric chills and slow-burn dread. That said, if you like your horror with propulsive action, move right along to the next entry because this one’s definitely a slow burn. The payoff is the sensation that you’re watching some immersive, slippery nightmare unfold on screen.

Writer-director Oz Perkins never gets flashy or too-clever with his tale. Instead, he sets a simple table with elegance. Told in dulcet, almost whispered voiceovers by Ruth Wilson’s hospice nurse, Lily, the film makes two things clear from the start — ghosts are real, and Lily is about to become one of them. As always, Wilson is enchanting on screen and her terror is always convincing. Pensive and patient, the movie is more about mortality than ghosts (though it’s got one or two chilling visual gags up its sleeve), and the unavoidable fact that death waits, unrelenting, for us all. — Haleigh Foutch

Director: McG | Run Time: 1 hr 25 min

Cast: Samara Weaving, Bella Thorne, Judah Lewis, Robbie Amell

This action-packed horror comedy sets a perfect Halloween mood for folks who might be looking for a little blood-soaked thrill without giving themselves nightmares. Based on a killer script from Brian Duffield, The Babysitter stars Samara Weaving in an absurdly stunning, star-promising performance as the titular babysitter, who’s hiding some deviously dark secrets from the boy she sits for. Indulging in a bit of a rebellious streak one night, the kid doesn’t take the shot she gives him and stays awake long enough to walk right into a Satanic ritual, setting off an insane, combustive series of events that pit him against a bunch of beautiful and ambitious young adults who are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want. Robbie Amell, in particular, has deliciously unhinged charisma, but in general, the whole movie is crackling with personality and crowd-pleasing surprises. — Haleigh Foutch