The short answer
The best Halloween movies to stream in the US this October are spread across almost every service: Disney+ has Hocus Pocus, HBO Max has Trick ‘r Treat and Weapons, Shudder and AMC+ have the original Halloween, and Netflix has KPop Demon Hunters, Ready or Not and Halloween Ends. In short, one or two subscriptions cover most of a full marathon.
- Best for families: Hocus Pocus (Disney+) and Coraline (HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock)
- Best classic slasher: Halloween, 1978 (Shudder, AMC+)
- Michael Myers in order: 13 films from 1978 to 2022, split across Shudder, Peacock, HBO Max and Netflix
- Best modern horror: Weapons (HBO Max, Prime Video)
- Best Halloween-night pick: Trick ‘r Treat (HBO Max, AMC+)
- New this October: Carrie on Prime Video (Oct. 7), Below on Netflix (Oct. 8), V/H/S/Mixtape on Shudder (Oct. 9) and Clayface in theaters (Oct. 23)
42%
Of Halloween celebrants plan to watch scary movies (NRF 2026)
13
Films in the Halloween franchise, about 21 hours in total
Oct. 23
Clayface opens in US theaters
Sat., Oct. 31
Halloween 2026 falls on a weekend
In this article
Halloween movies are films built around the October 31 holiday or its spirit of costumes, candy, witches, ghosts and things that go bump in the night. They range from G-rated family classics to R-rated slashers, so this guide sorts them by mood, lays out the full Michael Myers watch order, and tells you exactly where each one streams in the US right now. Halloween 2026 lands on Saturday, October 31, which makes it a perfect night for a full marathon. For costumes, decor and party ideas, start with our complete Halloween 2026 guide.
Watching scary movies is a genuine tradition, too. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2026 Halloween survey, 42% of people celebrating this year plan to watch scary movies, the same share that plans to decorate or carve pumpkins. However, streaming rights move constantly, so we rechecked every title below against JustWatch US (a streaming search engine that tracks where titles are available) on October 20, 2026. When a film is not on any subscription service, we say “rent/buy.”
Pro tip. Before you sit down, search the title in your TV’s universal search or on JustWatch. Licensing deals often end on the first of the month, so a film that streams today could leave on November 1.
What are the best Halloween movies to stream right now?
Our five top picks are Halloween (1978), Hocus Pocus, Trick ‘r Treat, Weapons and Coraline, because together they cover slasher, family, anthology, modern and animated tastes. Each one also streams on at least one major subscription service this month.
1. Halloween (1978) — Best classic
John Carpenter’s original is still the definitive October 31 movie. It is lean, quiet and patient, and Michael Myers stalking a small Illinois town on Halloween night set the template for every slasher that followed. If you only watch one film this month, make it this one.
- Where to stream (US): Shudder, AMC+; free with ads on Plex
- Rated: R, 91 minutes
- Best for: The main event at 10 p.m. on Halloween night, and the first stop in the full watch order below
2. Hocus Pocus (1993) — Best for families
The Sanderson sisters return to Salem after a teenager lights a black-flame candle, and the result is a witchy comedy that families revisit every October. It is funny rather than frightening, so it works for kids around 7 and up. Plus, the sequel is right next to it on the same app.
- Where to stream (US): Disney+ (Hocus Pocus 2 is listed on Hulu)
- Rated: PG, 96 minutes
- Best for: A late-afternoon family double feature
3. Trick ‘r Treat (2007) — Best Halloween-night anthology
Michael Dougherty’s anthology weaves four Halloween stories together through Sam, a small trick-or-treater in orange pajamas and a burlap mask who punishes anyone who breaks the holiday’s rules. Because it takes place entirely on October 31, it captures the holiday’s mood better than almost any other horror film.
- Where to stream (US): HBO Max, AMC+
- Rated: R, 82 minutes
- Best for: Adults who want spooky fun rather than pure dread
4. Weapons (2025) — Best modern horror
Zach Cregger’s follow-up to Barbarian starts with a whole classroom of children vanishing at the same minute one night, then retells the mystery from several points of view. It is tense, darkly funny and, in our view, the best wide-release horror film of recent years.
- Where to stream (US): HBO Max, Prime Video
- Rated: R, 129 minutes
- Best for: Horror fans who have already seen the classics
5. Coraline (2009) — Best animated pick
Laika’s stop-motion adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel follows a bored girl who finds a door to a “better” home run by an Other Mother with button eyes. It is genuinely eerie, beautifully made and easy to find, since three services carry it this month.
- Where to stream (US): HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock; free with ads on The Roku Channel
- Rated: PG, 100 minutes
- Best for: Older kids and teens ready for a real (but gentle) scare
Halloween movies in order: the full Michael Myers watch order
There are 13 Halloween movies, released between 1978 and 2022, and watching them in release order is the simplest way through. However, the series has been rebooted several times, so the films actually split into separate timelines that ignore one another. The table below lists every film by release date, the timeline it belongs to, and where it streams in the US today.
| # | Movie (year) | Timeline | Runtime | Where to stream (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halloween (1978) | Starting point for every timeline except the remakes | 91 min | Shudder, AMC+; free with ads on Plex |
| 2 | Halloween II (1981) | Classic and Loomis/Jamie Lloyd | 92 min | Peacock, Prime Video, AMC+ |
| 3 | Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) | Standalone (no Michael Myers) | 96 min | Peacock, Prime Video, AMC+ |
| 4 | Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) | Loomis/Jamie Lloyd | 88 min | Shudder, AMC+ |
| 5 | Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) | Loomis/Jamie Lloyd | 98 min | Shudder, AMC+ |
| 6 | Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) | Loomis/Jamie Lloyd | 88 min | HBO Max |
| 7 | Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) | Classic (H20) | 85 min | HBO Max |
| 8 | Halloween: Resurrection (2002) | Classic (H20) | 89 min | HBO Max |
| 9 | Halloween (2007) | Rob Zombie remake | 110 min | Peacock, AMC+; free on Tubi |
| 10 | Halloween II (2009) | Rob Zombie remake | 105 min | Peacock, AMC+; free on Tubi and Pluto TV |
| 11 | Halloween (2018) | Modern trilogy | 106 min | Peacock |
| 12 | Halloween Kills (2021) | Modern trilogy | 106 min | Peacock |
| 13 | Halloween Ends (2022) | Modern trilogy | 111 min | Netflix |
Which order should you watch the Halloween movies in?
Pick one timeline rather than watching all 13 back to back, because each branch ignores the events of the others. Every Michael Myers timeline except Rob Zombie’s starts with John Carpenter’s 1978 original, so watch that first and then choose a path:
- Modern trilogy (best for newcomers): Halloween (1978), Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends. Director David Gordon Green’s trilogy ignores every sequel and brings back Jamie Lee Curtis as an older Laurie Strode.
- Classic timeline: Halloween (1978), Halloween II (1981), Halloween H20, Halloween: Resurrection. H20 skips parts 4 to 6 and also brings back Laurie.
- Loomis and Jamie Lloyd timeline: Halloween (1978), Halloween II (1981), Halloween 4, Halloween 5, The Curse of Michael Myers. Donald Pleasence’s Dr. Loomis chases Michael after he targets his niece, Jamie Lloyd.
- Rob Zombie remakes: Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009), a separate, more brutal retelling that spends more time on young Michael Myers.
- Standalone: Halloween III: Season of the Witch, an anthology-style experiment about cursed Halloween masks that you can watch at any time.
Where can you stream all the Michael Myers movies?
No single service carries all the Michael Myers movies, so you need at least four apps for a complete run. Peacock has the most (Halloween II, III, both Rob Zombie films, Halloween 2018 and Halloween Kills), while HBO Max has the three late-’90s and 2000s sequels. Meanwhile, Shudder and AMC+ hold the original, Halloween 4 and Halloween 5, and Netflix currently has Halloween Ends. If you would rather own the whole saga, physical box sets are easy to find with a Halloween complete collection Blu-ray search on Amazon.
Is there a new Halloween movie in 2026?
No, there is no new Michael Myers movie in 2026; Halloween Ends (2022) is still the latest film. Miramax, which holds the franchise rights, announced a Halloween TV series in 2023, but recent trade reports say the series has been shelved and that a new film is being developed instead, possibly for the franchise’s 50th anniversary in 2028. Nothing about a cast, director or date has been officially confirmed.
Pro tip. Short on time before October 31? Then watch just the 1978 original and Halloween (2018). Together they run about three and a half hours, and the 2018 film works as a direct sequel, so you get the whole Laurie-versus-Michael story without any homework.
Which Halloween movies are on Netflix right now?
Netflix’s best Halloween movies right now range from KPop Demon Hunters and Hubie Halloween for families to Psycho, Friday the 13th, Halloween Ends and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein for real scares. Netflix also added a big batch of licensed horror on October 1, including Crimson Peak, The Ring, The Sixth Sense and Ouija: Origin of Evil, so its US library is unusually strong this month.
| Movie (year) | Rating | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Spookley the Square Pumpkin (2004) | G | Toddlers; 47 minutes |
| KPop Demon Hunters (2025) | PG | Music-mad kids |
| Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018) | PG | Kids 8+, set on Halloween |
| The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018) | PG | Witches and warlocks for tweens |
| Wendell & Wild (2022) | PG-13 | Stop-motion for teens |
| Hubie Halloween (2020) | PG-13 | Adam Sandler comedy |
| Happy Death Day 2U (2019) | PG-13 | Time-loop horror comedy |
| The Sixth Sense (1999) | PG-13 | Ghost story with a famous twist |
| The Ring (2002) | PG-13 | Cursed-videotape chills |
| Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) | PG-13 | Sleepover scares for teens |
| Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025) | PG-13 | Video-game fans |
| Psycho (1960) | R | Hitchcock classic |
| Friday the 13th (1980) | R | Summer-camp slasher |
| I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) | R | ’90s teen slasher |
| Halloween Ends (2022) | R | Final Michael Myers film |
| Crimson Peak (2015) | R | Gothic ghost romance |
| Evil Dead (2013) | R | Gory cabin horror |
| Ready or Not (2019) | R | Horror comedy |
| Frankenstein (2025) | R | Del Toro’s monster epic |
| Black Phone 2 (2025) | R | Supernatural sequel |
| 28 Years Later (2025) | R | Zombie apocalypse |
What are the best Halloween movies on Netflix for kids?
For kids, the best Halloween movies on Netflix are Spookley the Square Pumpkin for preschoolers, KPop Demon Hunters for ages 7 and up, and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween for kids who want a mild scare. In addition, The House with a Clock in Its Walls suits tweens, while Wendell & Wild and Hubie Halloween are better for teens because both are rated PG-13.
What is new on Netflix for Halloween 2026?
Netflix’s new Halloween 2026 originals are mostly series rather than movies. For example, the creature series Below arrived October 8, Haunted Hotel Season 2 and Is It Cake? Halloween Season 2 followed on October 9, and the Filipino horror-thriller Balaraw: Blood Island lands October 29. On the movie side, the 2026 releases The Whisper Man and The Last House are also streaming now.
What are the best family Halloween movies for kids?
The best family Halloween movies are the G and PG picks below, led by Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Disney+ carries the most of them, while HBO Max, Hulu and Peacock share the stop-motion favorites. Still, a PG rating covers a wide range, so preview anything new if you have a sensitive younger viewer.
| Movie (year) | Rating | Where to stream (US) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) | G | Apple TV | Toddlers; 25 minutes |
| Spookley the Square Pumpkin (2004) | G | Netflix, Prime Video, Peacock | Preschoolers; 47 minutes |
| Halloweentown (1998) | G | Disney+, Hulu | Youngest viewers |
| Halloweentown High (2004) and Return to Halloweentown (2006) | G | Disney+ | Sequel binge |
| Twitches (2005) | PG | Disney+ | Twin-witch adventure |
| Under Wraps (2021) | PG | Disney+ | Friendly-mummy comedy |
| Hocus Pocus (1993) | PG | Disney+ | Whole-family classic |
| Hocus Pocus 2 (2022) | PG | Hulu | Sequel night |
| The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) | PG | Disney+ | Music lovers |
| Frankenweenie (2012) | PG | Disney+ | Pet lovers |
| Coraline (2009) | PG | HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock | Tweens |
| ParaNorman (2012) | PG | HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock | Tweens |
| Monster House (2006) | PG | Peacock | Kids 8+ |
| Casper (1995) | PG | Hulu, Peacock | Gentle ghost story |
| Hotel Transylvania (2012) | PG | Hulu, Paramount+ | Laughs, no scares |
| Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018) | PG | Netflix | Kids 8+ |
| Ernest Scared Stupid (1991) | PG | Hulu, Prime Video | Parents’ nostalgia pick |
| KPop Demon Hunters (2025) | PG | Netflix | Music-mad kids |
| Ghostbusters (1984) | PG | Hulu | Family movie night |
| The Addams Family (1991) | PG-13 | Paramount+ | Teens |
| Haunted Mansion (2023) | PG-13 | Disney+ | Teens and parents |
| Wendell & Wild (2022) | PG-13 | Netflix | Teens |
Halloween movies for toddlers and preschoolers
For kids aged 2 to 5, choose short, G-rated Halloween movies with no real villain. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (25 minutes) and Spookley the Square Pumpkin (47 minutes) both fit a toddler’s attention span, and Halloweentown is a gentle next step for 4- and 5-year-olds. Similarly, Hotel Transylvania offers monsters played purely for laughs.
Halloween movies for kids 6 to 9
School-age kids are ready for witches, ghosts and a little suspense. Start with Hocus Pocus, then work through the Halloweentown sequels, Twitches and Under Wraps on Disney+. After that, Casper and KPop Demon Hunters add music and heart, while Ghostbusters is a fun family movie night pick if your kids can handle a few jump scares.
Halloween movies for tweens and teens
Tweens usually love the stop-motion trio of Coraline, ParaNorman and Frankenweenie, plus Monster House and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween. Once they hit 13, PG-13 picks such as The Addams Family, Haunted Mansion, Wendell & Wild and Happy Death Day make a good bridge to real horror. For sleepovers, Ouija: Origin of Evil and The Ring on Netflix deliver proper scares without an R rating.
Which Halloween movies aren’t scary?
The least scary Halloween movies are Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, Hotel Transylvania, Casper and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, because they treat witches and monsters as comedy. For grown-ups who want the mood without the fear, also try Practical Magic, Beetlejuice and Hubie Halloween from our cozy picks below.
Meanwhile, KPop Demon Hunters is the Netflix hit of the moment, and plenty of kids will want to dress as Rumi, Mira or Zoey after watching. If that sounds like your house, our KPop Demon Hunters Halloween costumes guide has easy outfit ideas, and you can find copies of the family classics with an Amazon search for Hocus Pocus on DVD.
Where can you stream the classic slashers?
Most classic slasher Halloween movies stream on Shudder, Peacock, HBO Max or Netflix this October. A slasher, for anyone new to the term, is a horror film where a masked or mysterious killer stalks a group of victims one by one. Notably, Netflix added Friday the 13th, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Hush to its US library around October 1.
| Movie (year) | Rating | Where to stream (US) | Why watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psycho (1960) | R | Netflix, Peacock | The original twist |
| The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) | R | Netflix, Prime Video, Peacock, Shudder; free on Tubi | Raw and relentless |
| Black Christmas (1974) | R | Prime Video, Peacock, Shudder; free on Tubi | Early holiday slasher |
| Halloween (1978) | R | Shudder, AMC+ | The definitive Oct. 31 film |
| Friday the 13th (1980) | R | Netflix, Paramount+, Peacock; free on Tubi | Summer-camp terror |
| A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) | R | HBO Max | Freddy’s dream logic |
| Child’s Play (1988) | R | Prime Video, AMC+ | Killer-doll classic |
| Scream (1996) | R | Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock | Smart, self-aware fun |
| I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) | R | Netflix | ’90s teen slasher |
| Trick ‘r Treat (2007) | R | HBO Max, AMC+ | Set on Halloween night |
| Hush (2016) | R | Netflix, Prime Video, Peacock, Shudder | Lean home-invasion thriller |
| Halloween (2018) | R | Peacock | Laurie Strode’s rematch |
| Halloween Ends (2022) | R | Netflix | The final showdown |
If you want the whole Michael Myers saga, jump back to our Halloween movies in order table. In short, Peacock has Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills, Netflix has Halloween Ends, and the 1978 original lives on Shudder and AMC+.
Best modern horror of the 2020s
The best modern horror from the 2020s, including Weapons, Sinners, Talk to Me and Barbarian, mostly streams on HBO Max and Hulu. Netflix, however, has the 28 Years Later films and Black Phone 2, which makes it a strong single-subscription option for recent scares.
| Movie (year) | Rating | Where to stream (US) | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbarian (2022) | R | Hulu | Rental-house nightmare |
| Pearl (2022) | R | HBO Max, Hulu, Prime Video | Technicolor madness |
| Talk to Me (2023) | R | HBO Max; free on Tubi | Party game gone wrong |
| Evil Dead Rise (2023) | R | HBO Max | Gory and gleeful |
| Longlegs (2024) | R | Hulu | Slow-burn serial-killer dread |
| Heretic (2024) | R | Hulu; free on Tubi | Hugh Grant mind games |
| Nosferatu (2024) | R | Hulu | Gothic vampire epic |
| The Substance (2024) | R | Hulu, MUBI | Body horror satire |
| Smile 2 (2024) | R | Netflix, Paramount+, Prime Video | Pop-star curse |
| Sinners (2025) | R | HBO Max | Vampire period piece |
| Weapons (2025) | R | HBO Max, Prime Video | Missing-kids mystery |
| Bring Her Back (2025) | R | HBO Max | Bleak and brutal |
| 28 Years Later (2025) | R | Netflix | Zombie apocalypse |
| Black Phone 2 (2025) | R | Netflix | Supernatural sequel |
Several 2026 releases have also reached streaming already, which is handy if you want newer Halloween movies you missed in theaters. For example, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is on Disney+ and Hulu, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy and Evil Dead Burn are on HBO Max, and Return to Silent Hill and Send Help are on Hulu. Likewise, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has joined Netflix, and Scream 7 is now streaming on Prime Video.
Cozy and comedy picks for scaredy-cats
If you want spooky season without nightmares, cozy Halloween movies like Practical Magic, Beetlejuice and Hubie Halloween are the answer. HBO Max is the best home for this mood, although Netflix and Peacock each carry a couple of the best horror comedies.
| Movie (year) | Rating | Where to stream (US) | Mood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beetlejuice (1988) | PG | HBO Max | Gothic comedy |
| Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) | PG-13 | HBO Max | Sequel fun |
| Practical Magic (1998) | PG-13 | HBO Max | Witchy and cozy |
| Little Shop of Horrors (1986) | PG-13 | HBO Max | Musical sing-along |
| Hubie Halloween (2020) | PG-13 | Netflix | Goofy small-town comedy |
| Happy Death Day (2017) | PG-13 | HBO Max, Peacock | Time-loop slasher-comedy |
| Shaun of the Dead (2004) | R | Peacock | British zombie comedy |
| Zombieland (2009) | R | HBO Max | Road-trip zombie comedy |
| The Craft (1996) | R | HBO Max | ’90s teen witches |
| Ready or Not (2019) | R | Netflix | Deadly wedding-night game |
| Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) | R | Free on Tubi, The Roku Channel | Backwoods misunderstanding |
| What We Do in the Shadows (2014) | R | Rent/buy (the TV series is on Hulu) | Vampire mockumentary |
| The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) | R | BroadwayHD or rent/buy | Midnight-movie party |
Comedy picks also make the best background viewing for a party, since guests can drift in and out without losing the plot. So if you are hosting, pair a horror comedy with a spread from our Halloween sweets and treats list.
Halloween TV episodes and specials worth a rewatch
The best Halloween TV episodes are short, rewatchable and easy to fit between movies, from It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown to The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror. Most of them stream on Disney+, Hulu, Peacock and Netflix, so you probably already have access to several.
| Special or episode | Where to stream (US) | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) | Apple TV | The 25-minute special, rated G |
| The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror | Disney+, Hulu | Annual three-story Halloween anthology episodes |
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Netflix, Peacock | “Halloween” (Season 1, Episode 6), the first heist |
| The Office (US) | Peacock | “Halloween” (Season 2, Episode 5) |
| Community | Hulu, Peacock | “Epidemiology” (Season 2, Episode 6) |
| Bob’s Burgers | Hulu | “Full Bars” (Season 3, Episode 2), its first Halloween episode |
| Werewolf by Night (2022) | Disney+ | Marvel’s 55-minute black-and-white monster special |
| LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales (2021) | Disney+ | Kid-safe spooky Star Wars special, rated G |
| Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985) | Paramount+ | Retro animated special |
| Over the Garden Wall (2014) | Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video | Autumnal animated miniseries in short episodes |
| Goosebumps (1995) | Netflix | Classic kids’ anthology series |
| Wednesday | Netflix | Addams Family spinoff for teens |
| IT: Welcome to Derry | HBO Max | Stephen King prequel series for adults |
Watch out. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown no longer airs on broadcast TV and streams on Apple TV. This year’s free viewing weekend for non-subscribers was October 17 and 18, according to Local 12’s report on Apple’s announcement, so on Halloween night you will need an Apple TV subscription or a free trial.
What new horror is out this October 2026?
This October’s biggest new horror and Halloween releases are Mike Flanagan’s Carrie series on Prime Video, Netflix’s sea-monster series Below, Shudder’s V/H/S/Mixtape and, in theaters, Other Mommy, Crawlers and DC’s Clayface. Here is the full list of Halloween movies and shows coming out this month, with confirmed dates.
| Title | Release date | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrie (series) | Oct. 7 | Prime Video | Mike Flanagan’s eight-episode Stephen King adaptation |
| Below (limited series) | Oct. 8 | Netflix | Josh Hartnett fights a sea creature in a Newfoundland town |
| Other Mommy | Oct. 9 | Theaters | Jessica Chastain vs. a supernatural double, rated R |
| V/H/S/Mixtape | Oct. 9 | Shudder | Music-themed found-footage anthology |
| Haunted Hotel (Season 2) | Oct. 9 | Netflix | Adult animated horror comedy |
| Is It Cake? Halloween (Season 2) | Oct. 9 | Netflix | Spooky baking competition |
| Dead-End Job | Oct. 9 | Netflix | Korean fantasy-horror series |
| Crawlers | Oct. 16 | Theaters | Venomous spiders overrun an apartment complex, rated R |
| Clayface | Oct. 23 | Theaters | DC Studios body-horror film, rated R |
| Balaraw: Blood Island | Oct. 29 | Netflix | Filipino horror-thriller series |
Of these, Clayface is the big Halloween event film. Warner Bros. moved it from September 11 to October 23 specifically to take advantage of the Halloween period. James Watkins directs from a script that Mike Flanagan co-wrote, and Tom Rhys Harries stars as an actor whose face is disfigured before a scientist turns his body into clay. Meanwhile, Carrie dropped all eight episodes at once, so it is easy to binge before the 31st. For the rest of the year’s slate, see our 2026–27 movie release calendar.
How should you plan a Halloween movie marathon?
Plan a Halloween movie marathon by mood first and runtime second: start light while kids are awake, then build toward your scariest pick after trick-or-treating ends. Since Halloween 2026 is a Saturday, you can comfortably fit four or five features into one evening. The runtimes below come from JustWatch listings.
| Marathon mood | Lineup (in order) | Total time | Apps needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little monsters | Spookley the Square Pumpkin, Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus | About 3.8 hours | Netflix, Disney+ |
| Stop-motion night | The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, ParaNorman | About 4.5 hours | Disney+, Hulu |
| Slasher starter pack | Halloween (1978), A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream | About 5 hours | Shudder, HBO Max, Hulu |
| Michael Myers, modern | Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends | About 5.4 hours | Peacock, Netflix |
| Netflix-only night | KPop Demon Hunters, Ready or Not, Black Phone 2 | About 5 hours | Netflix |
| Modern dread | Talk to Me, Sinners, Weapons | About 6 hours | HBO Max |
| Laughs, not nightmares | Beetlejuice, Shaun of the Dead, Happy Death Day | About 4.8 hours | HBO Max, Peacock |
A sample Halloween night schedule (Saturday, Oct. 31)
- 4:00 p.m.: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (25 minutes, Apple TV) while the kids finish their costumes.
- 4:30 p.m.: Hocus Pocus (96 minutes), then head out trick-or-treating.
- 8:30 p.m.: Trick ‘r Treat (82 minutes) once the candy has been sorted and the little ones are in bed.
- 10:00 p.m.: Halloween (1978, 91 minutes) with the lights off.
- Midnight (optional): A short Treehouse of Horror episode to end on a laugh.
Pro tip. Watching with a group? Then let everyone vote on one “wild card” from the Halloween movies to watch in the tables above. It keeps the marathon feeling fresh, and it settles the classic-versus-new debate fairly.
Which streaming service is best for Halloween?
HBO Max is the best all-round service for Halloween 2026, because it carries the most Halloween movies on our list across modern horror, classics and cozy comedies. That said, Disney+ wins for young kids, Shudder wins for die-hard horror fans, and Netflix is the strongest for brand-new originals this month.
| Service | Best for | Highlights from this guide |
|---|---|---|
| HBO Max | Best overall | Trick ‘r Treat, Weapons, Sinners, Talk to Me, Beetlejuice, Practical Magic, A Nightmare on Elm Street |
| Hulu | Recent horror | Barbarian, Longlegs, Nosferatu, The Substance, Heretic, Scream, Hocus Pocus 2 |
| Netflix | New originals | Below, KPop Demon Hunters, Frankenstein, Halloween Ends, Ready or Not, Black Phone 2, Friday the 13th |
| Disney+ | Young kids | Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloweentown, Werewolf by Night |
| Peacock | Michael Myers fans | Halloween II, Halloween III, the Rob Zombie films, Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills, Monster House, The Office |
| Shudder | Horror die-hards | Halloween (1978), V/H/S/Mixtape, Black Christmas, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre |
| Prime Video | New series | Carrie, Weapons, Scream 7, Child’s Play, Smile 2 |
| Paramount+ | Family comedies | The Addams Family, Hotel Transylvania, Garfield’s Halloween Adventure, Smile 2 |
Can you watch Halloween movies for free?
Yes, a handful of Halloween movies stream free with ads. For instance, Tubi carries Rob Zombie’s Halloween (2007), Friday the 13th, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Black Christmas, Talk to Me, Heretic and Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, while The Roku Channel has Coraline and ParaNorman. Your public library may also offer films through Kanopy or Hoopla with a library card.
Our verdict
If you can only pick one service for Halloween movies this October, choose HBO Max: it has Trick ‘r Treat, Weapons, Sinners and the best cozy comedies in one place. Families should add Disney+ for Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown, while Michael Myers fans will lean on Peacock and Shudder for most of the franchise. Finally, Netflix is stronger than usual this year, with Halloween Ends, Frankenstein and the October 1 horror additions. Whatever you choose, double-check availability on the night, because streaming rights change monthly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Halloween movies are there?
There are 13 Halloween movies in the Michael Myers franchise, from John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) to Halloween Ends (2022). They include eight original-era films, two Rob Zombie remakes and the three-film modern trilogy. Halloween III: Season of the Witch is the only entry without Michael Myers. Watching all 13 back to back takes about 21 hours.
What order should you watch the Halloween movies in?
Start with Halloween (1978), then pick one timeline. For newcomers, the easiest route is the modern trilogy: Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, which ignore every other sequel. Alternatively, follow Halloween II (1981) with either H20 and Resurrection, or Halloween 4, 5 and The Curse of Michael Myers. Rob Zombie’s 2007 and 2009 remakes stand on their own.
What are the best Halloween movies on Netflix right now?
The best Halloween movies on Netflix in the US right now include KPop Demon Hunters and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween for families, Hubie Halloween and Ready or Not for laughs, and Psycho, Friday the 13th, Halloween Ends and Frankenstein for real scares. Netflix also added The Ring, The Sixth Sense and Crimson Peak on October 1, 2026.
Where can I watch Hocus Pocus in 2026?
Hocus Pocus streams on Disney+ in the US as of October 2026, and you can also rent or buy it on Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home. Its 2022 sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, is currently listed on Hulu. So a Disney+ and Hulu bundle covers a full Sanderson sisters double feature in one evening.
Where is the original Halloween (1978) streaming?
John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) streams on Shudder and AMC+ in the US as of October 2026, and it also appears free with ads on Plex. In contrast, Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills stream on Peacock, while Halloween Ends is on Netflix. So if you want the original plus the modern trilogy, you will need three services.
What is a good Halloween movie for young kids?
Halloweentown is a strong first pick for young kids because it is rated G and streams on Disney+ and Hulu. For toddlers, the shorter It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and Spookley the Square Pumpkin work even better. After that, try Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas or Hotel Transylvania, which are all rated PG and more funny than frightening.
