From shark killers to friendly ghosts: 10 Halloween movies for every mood

Halloween usually conjures images of pumpkins, trick-or-treating and Heidi Klum’s annual costume party. But for the homebodies who feel more comfortable on the couch rather than on the spiderweb-strewn streets, it’s Halloween movies that truly make the season.

That means, of course, horror galore. Nothing says All Hallows’ Eve more than watching a freaky tale in the dark. But not all spooky season fans want to be spooked.

Fear not, for there are plenty of Halloween-themed films to suit everyone’s tastes.

Whether you’re watching with the family, keen for a laugh with friends, or looking for a serious fright, here are 10 movies you can stream this Halloween – ranked by fear factor.

Weapons (HBO)

From the mind that brought the breakout success Barbarian (Zach Cregger), Weapons sees an entire classroom of third-graders go missing, bar one child. What’s even more mysterious is that they all disappear on the same night at the same time.

The idea of missing children is freaky enough, but the film’s tendency to constantly shift the focus between different characters keeps you even more on edge. It has clearly resonated, grossing more than $411 million globally – an impressive figure given it’s an entirely original horror movie that cost only $58.5 million to produce.

Fear factor: You’ll want to sleep with the lights on.

Vicious (Paramount+)

Looking for a straight-cut, no-frills supernatural scare? This film from the directors of The Strangers should do the trick.

A stranger knocks on a young woman’s door and tells her she’s going to die that night unless she places three things into a mysterious box: something she needs, something she hates and something she loves. What follows is a classic paranormal nightmare, as the woman (played by Dakota Fanning) desperately attempts to save herself before daylight.

Fear factor: You’ll never look at a box the same.

Speak No Evil (2022) (Stan*)

The original Speak No Evil is arguably three-times as unsettling as the decent 2024 James McAvoy remake.

Two families hit it off while on holiday in Italy. Months after, they agree to meet at one of the family’s remote homes in the Netherlands. But it quickly becomes apparent their newfound friends have sinister ulterior motives.

Verging on something between horror and thriller, this will suit anyone comfortable being uncomfortable but may leave those desperate for bloodshed wanting.

Fear factor: Stranger danger will never feel so pertinent.

The Monkey (Amazon Prime Video)

This film is based on a 1980 short story by Stephen King – the king of horror novels – so you know it’s going to be a little weird and a lot scary. Directed by Osgood Perkins (Longlegs), it follows twin brothers who find their father’s old cymbal-banging monkey toy, only to suddenly become haunted by a string of violent deaths. They get rid of it, but years later find themselves crossing its path once again.

The deaths in this film are too zany and outrageous to be taken seriously (one person is trampled by dozens of wild horses while in a sleeping bag), but the monkey’s eerie smile and its symbolism for an absent father still send shivers up your spine.

Fear factor: It’ll put you off your dinner.

Dangerous Animals (Binge)

Australians arguably make the best creature features (think of Russell Mulcahy’s Razorback). But Sean Byrne takes it one step further by blending shark thriller with serial killer horror.

A shark-obsessed killer holds a surfer captive on his boat, planning to feed her to the predators below. It’s genre-fusing at its finest, leaving viewers uncertain over whether to be more afraid of sharks or humankind.

Fear factor: You won’t feel safe on land or in water.

Heart Eyes (Binge, Paramount+)

Every Halloween streaming guide needs a slasher. A masked killer with, you called it, heart eyes murders innocent couples on Valentine’s Day. However, one couple eventually decides it’s time to end cupid’s reign of terror by fighting back.

It’s no Scream or Nightmare on Elm Street, but it’s just the right amount of silly and gory for a fun night with mates.

Fear factor: Unrealistic enough to sleep soundly afterwards.

VelociPastor (Amazon Prime Video)

The IMDb synopsis says it all: “After losing his parents, a priest travels to China, where he inherits a mysterious ability that allows him to turn into a dinosaur. At first horrified by this new power, a [sex worker] convinces him to use it to fight crime. And ninjas.”

A movie about a dinosaur priest isn’t going to petrify, and it’s certainly not going to make sense. But if you’re searching for something so-bad-it’s-good, VelociPastor will be “dino-mite”.

Fear factor: Outrageously entertaining.

The Craft (Stan, Netflix, Paramount+)

It’s basically Mean Girls meets the occult. A girl befriends three teens at her new school who practise witchcraft against their nemeses. There are consequences for joining a coven, however, which they all soon discover.

A nostalgic ’90s favourite combined with Wiccan lore and Gothic outfits to die for – what more could you want on All Hallow’s Eve?

Fear factor: Teenagers – enough said.

Hocus Pocus (Disney+)

Speaking of nostalgic witchy films, Hocus Pocus is a Halloween must. Witch sisters Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy resurrect after 300 years to seek revenge on a young boy who lights the cursed “Candle of Blake Flame”.

Both parents and children can delight in this movie, but it features a pretty realistic zombie and kidnapping, so parents of little ones should proceed with caution.

Fear factor: Nostalgia trip with minor scares.

Casper (Disney+, Paramount+)

Not all ghosts are scary, as evidenced by Casper who peacefully “haunts” Whipstaff Manor. He befriends Kat (Christina Ricci), the daughter of a paranormal investigator hired to rid the house of spirits, thus making the investigator’s job a lot more complicated.

While it explores heavier themes, such as grief and the afterlife, Casper keeps it light with its cutesy animation and slapstick ghost comedy.

Fear factor: Not a trick, but a treat for the whole family.

*Stan is owned by Nine, which also owns this masthead.

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