SCREAM SCREEN: Hollywood Obsessed’s Top Halloween Movie Picks

When October 31st rolls around and the moon is full (cue the Psycho violins), most of us trade in trick-or-treating for a bowl of popcorn, a cozy blanket, and a good old-fashioned scare. Sure, costumes and candy are great, but let’s be honest — the real Halloween ritual is deciding which horror movie to watch. It’s a decision that can feel as terrifying as opening the wrong door in Castle Dracula.

Do you go for the suspenseful slow burn that keeps you peeking through your fingers (The Shining, anyone?), a horror-comedy that makes you scream and laugh in the same breath (Shaun of the Dead says hi), or a blood-soaked gorefest that would make even Freddy Krueger blush? Maybe you’re in the mood for a moody ghost story or a vintage monster flick that reminds you why you still check under the bed — you know, just in case.

Whatever your preference, the movie-picking ritual is half the fun — whether you’re watching with your family, your significant other, or braving it solo in the dark (because who doesn’t love pretending they’re the final girl?).

And speaking of thrills — in honor of my brand-new two-part Hollywood Obsessed podcast episodes (141 & 142) featuring actor-turned–Emmy-winning producer Jeffrey Kramer — yes, that bumbling yet lovable Deputy Hendricks from the film that made us all afraid to go back in the water (Jaws) — I’ve put together a list of must-see horror favorites guaranteed to make your Halloween one frightful, fabulous night at the movies!

So grab your popcorn (extra butter… or is that blood?), dim the lights, and prepare for a cinematic séance of screams, shrieks, and spine-tingling delights. From haunted houses to a possessed tween, masked killers to misunderstood monsters, these are the movies that remind us why we love to be scared senseless every Halloween.

So, without further ado (and before the lights start flickering), here are Hollywood Obsessed’s Top Halloween Movie Picks — guaranteed to send chills up your spine and maybe, just maybe, make you sleep with one eye open.

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HALLOWEEN (1978)

I know, I know — it’s cliché. But honestly, celebrating All Hallows’ Eve without paying homage to Halloween is like skipping the candy on trick-or-treat night — just sinful. John Carpenter’s low-budget masterpiece introduced the world to the silent, white-masked embodiment of evil known as Michael Myers (or, as horror fans affectionately call him, “The Shape”). The film’s premise is deceptively simple: a masked killer stalks a group of suburban high school girls — including a then-unknown Jamie Lee Curtis in her star-making debut — while Donald Pleasance’s haunted Dr. Loomis frantically tries to stop him.

What makes Halloween endure isn’t just its scares — though Carpenter’s tension-building and that iconic synth score will have you checking behind the shower curtain — it’s the atmosphere. The falling leaves, the empty streets, the sense that something wicked is lurking just beyond the hedge. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a haunted house ride: slow, suspenseful, and unforgettable. Watching Halloween every October is less of a choice and more of a sacred ritual — the official kickoff to spooky season.

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JAWS (1975)

Who says you can’t celebrate Halloween with a little summer terror? Steven Spielberg’s Jaws might technically be a beach movie, but it has more genuine scares than half the haunted house flicks out there. The premise is primal: something big, hungry, and very toothy is turning the peaceful seaside town of Amity Island into an all-you-can-eat buffet. Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss deliver powerhouse performances as three men on a mission to take down the monstrous great white shark — and along the way, redefine the word suspense.

The film’s power lies in what you don’t see. Thanks to a malfunctioning mechanical shark (nicknamed “Bruce”), Spielberg was forced to rely on suggestion — rippling water, ominous music, terrified faces — proving that imagination can be far scarier than CGI. Watching Jaws on Halloween night is a different kind of thrill: instead of things going bump in the night, they lurk beneath the surface.

And if you want to hear some fantastic behind-the-scenes stories from someone who was actually there, check out my brand-new two-part Hollywood Obsessed podcast episodes (141 & 142) featuring actor-turned–Emmy-winning producer Jeffrey Kramer, who played the bumbling but lovable Deputy Hendricks in both Jaws and Jaws 2!

Click here to listen. https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/guests/jeffrey-kramer/

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THE SHINING (1980)

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy…” and one heck of a terrifying movie night. Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining isn’t just a horror classic — it’s a masterclass in psychological dread. Adapted (loosely, and much to Stephen King’s eternal dismay) from King’s novel, the film follows Jack Torrance, played by a wildly unhinged Jack Nicholson, as he takes a job as caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel for the winter — and promptly loses his mind.

From the moment that foreboding music kicks in and the camera glides over those icy mountain roads, you know something isn’t right. Between the creepy twins in the hallway, rivers of blood pouring from the elevator, and Shelley Duvall’s unforgettable scream, The Shining is the cinematic equivalent of a fever dream. It’s not just a ghost story — it’s a descent into madness, a haunted house movie turned psychological nightmare. If you’re looking for a film that will chill your bones and make you question reality, come play with the Torrances… forever and ever and ever.

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PSYCHO (1960)

Before masked slashers, haunted dolls, and possessed teenagers, there was Norman Bates — the polite, boyish motel manager with one very disturbing hobby. Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho changed horror forever, turning audiences’ expectations upside down and making them think twice about ever taking another shower. (Even after sixty-five years, that screeching violin score still makes your skin crawl.)

Janet Leigh stars as Marion Crane, a woman on the run who checks into the wrong roadside motel, where she meets the seemingly mild-mannered Norman — played to perfection by Anthony Perkins. What follows is a twisted, shocking, and masterfully crafted tale of guilt, identity, and mother issues that would make Freud proud. Psycho didn’t just scare people — it redefined how films were made and marketed. Hitchcock famously instructed theaters to ban late arrivals so no one would spoil the surprises. To this day, Psycho remains one of the most elegantly terrifying movies ever made. And once you’ve seen that famous shower scene, you’ll never take one again without thinking about it — trust me.

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A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)

Just when you thought it was safe to go to sleep, along comes Freddy Krueger — the wisecracking, razor-fingered boogeyman who made nightmares deadly again. Written and directed by Wes Craven, A Nightmare on Elm Street gave the slasher genre a supernatural twist and introduced one of horror’s most iconic villains. Freddy (played with gleeful menace by Robert Englund) haunts the dreams of teenagers — and what happens in your dreams, well… let’s just say it doesn’t stay there.

The film’s genius lies in its concept: nowhere is safe, not even your own mind. One minute you’re in your bedroom, the next you’re running through a boiler room while Freddy’s glove scrapes along the pipes. Between the surreal dream sequences, shocking deaths, and a young Johnny Depp’s unforgettable bed scene (RIP, Johnny), Elm Street is equal parts terrifying and imaginative. It’s a perfect pick for Halloween night — just remember, whatever you do… don’t fall asleep.

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DRACULA (1931)

Long before vampires sparkled or fell in love with high school girls, there was Dracula — the original gothic nightmare that started it all. Bela Lugosi’s hypnotic performance as the Count is still the gold standard for elegant horror: seductive, eerie, and just plain mesmerizing. From the cobwebbed halls of Castle Dracula to the foggy streets of London — and with practically no music throughout — the film drips with old-school atmosphere and creepy charm. Sure, it’s a bit creaky by today’s standards, but that’s part of its eerie magic. Dracula is the ultimate black-and-white classic to sink your teeth into on Halloween night.

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GET OUT (2017)

Jordan Peele’s Get Out blew audiences away by turning social satire into pure psychological terror. What starts as an awkward weekend trip to meet the girlfriend’s parents spirals into one of the most unsettling commentaries on race, privilege, and identity ever put on film. It’s smart, suspenseful, and wickedly funny — a modern horror masterpiece that proves you don’t need monsters to make your skin crawl. With its chilling tension and sharp wit, Get Out is the perfect modern-day thriller to keep you on edge this Halloween night.

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THE EXORCIST (1973)

There’s a reason this classic is still called the scariest movie ever made — because it is! Even decades later, The Exorcist remains absolutely terrifying. From spinning heads and projectile vomiting to demonic voices and levitating bodies, it’s pure nightmare fuel from start to finish. And the fact that it was made long before CGI only makes it more chilling — everything feels disturbingly real. If raw, old-school fear is what you’re after this Halloween, watch Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, and Max von Sydow face off against the devil himself in this spine-tingling masterpiece.

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ALIEN (1979)

“In space, no one can hear you scream.” That tagline alone tells you everything you need to know. Ridley Scott’s Alien is a masterclass in slow-burn sci-fi horror — claustrophobic, suspenseful, and dripping with dread. Sigourney Weaver’s iconic turn as Ripley made her a legend, and H.R. Giger’s horrifying creature design is still unmatched. Between the eerie silences, the flickering lights, and that infamous chestburster scene, Alien will have you clutching your popcorn (and possibly your blanket). It’s the perfect pick for Halloween when you want your scares served cold — and in outer space.

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SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004)

If you like your horror with a side of laughs (and a pint), Shaun of the Dead is the ultimate Halloween pick. Director Edgar Wright’s brilliant zombie comedy follows Shaun and his mates as they stumble through the apocalypse armed with cricket bats and sarcasm. Simon Pegg’s dry wit and the film’s clever blend of gore and heart make it endlessly rewatchable. It’s smart, funny, and surprisingly touching — proving you can fight off zombies and still make it to the pub by closing time. This one’s perfect for anyone who wants Halloween chills served with a big helping of laughs.

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SCARY MOVIE (2000)

Sometimes the best way to survive the horror genre is to laugh at it — and that’s exactly what Scary Movie delivers. A hysterical spoof of slasher classics like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, it skewers every horror cliché imaginable. From over-the-top jump scares to ridiculous plot twists, this parody doesn’t hold back — and that’s what makes it so fun. It’s crude, chaotic, and endlessly quotable — the perfect guilty-pleasure choice for Halloween when you’d rather giggle than scream.

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THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)

Few films have disturbed, thrilled, and scared audiences quite like The Silence of the Lambs. Jodie Foster’s determined FBI trainee and Anthony Hopkins’ chilling Dr. Hannibal Lecter create one of the most unforgettable duos in film history. It’s not just a horror movie — it’s a psychological masterpiece that keeps you glued to the screen with equal parts fear and fascination. Dark and haunting, it’s the kind of film that lingers long after the credits roll. For a truly spine-tingling Halloween, pour a nice Chianti and settle in with this Oscar-winning classic. I dare you.

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Whether you’re in the mood for black-and-white chills, psychological thrills, paranormal terror, or horror-comedy laughs, there’s a Halloween movie here for every kind of scare-seeker. So dim the lights, grab some popcorn (and maybe a blanket), and let the screams — and laughter — begin. After all, what’s Halloween without a good movie marathon?

Afterward listen to my brand-new two-part interview with actor-turned–Emmy-winning producer Jeffrey Kramer — aka Deputy Hendricks himself from Jaws and Jaws 2 — on the latest episodes of the Hollywood Obsessed Podcast!

Packed with exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, never-before-heard memories, and plenty of Jaws trivia, this is one conversation no movie fan should miss.

Listen now and get hooked!

Episode 141 – HERE

Episode 142 – HERE