Halloween Must-Watch List

To start off October, The Groovy Moo is here to help you navigate what to watch this halloween season!  Let’s get a MOOve on

Halloween Town (1998)

When jack-o’-lanterns flicker and costumes start crowding closets, one film quietly makes its way back onto screens: Halloweentown. The 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie has become a seasonal tradition, and for good reason—it balances whimsy, nostalgia, and just enough spookiness to feel festive without being frightening.

At its heart, Halloweentown is a story about discovering who you are. Marnie Piper, a teenager who feels out of place in the human world, finds belonging and courage in a hidden town full of witches, goblins, and skeletons. The movie captures the magic of Halloween through imaginative world-building—pumpkin-headed town squares, talking skeleton cab drivers, and spells gone awry—without losing its warmth and humor. 

Whether you’re revisiting the Cromwell witches or watching for the first time, Halloweentown remains one of the best ways to step into the spirit of the season—a place where Halloween isn’t just celebrated, it’s lived every day.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Every October, pumpkins get carved, candy flies off the shelves, and the Sanderson Sisters rise from the grave once more—on your TV screen, at least. Hocus Pocus (1993) isn’t just a movie anymore; it’s basically part of the Halloween starter pack. You’ve got your fake cobwebs, your plastic skeleton, and—of course—Winifred, Sarah, and Mary cackling their way through Salem. It’s hard to say what makes Hocus Pocus so addictive. Is it Bette Midler belting “I Put a Spell on You” like she’s headlining Madison Square Garden? Is it Sarah Jessica Parker gleefully chanting “Amok! Amok! Amok!” while bouncing around like Halloween’s hyper little sister? Or maybe it’s just the fact that Thackery Binx, a talking cat, has better comedic timing than most sitcom stars. So grab your broomstick—or vacuum cleaner if that’s more your speed—and remember Halloween isn’t official until someone shouts “SISTERRRSSS!” at the top of their lungs.

Beetlejuice (1988)

If Halloween movies had a class clown, it would be Beetlejuice. Released in 1988, Tim Burton’s haunted house comedy proved that the afterlife can be messy, chaotic, and strangely fashionable (thanks, striped suit). Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice isn’t your average ghost—he’s part used car salesman, part stand-up comic, and entirely too much energy for one dimension. So this Halloween, if you’re tired of “serious” horror, just remember the rules: don’t build miniature towns in your attic, avoid shady bio-exorcists, and above all—be careful whose name you chant three times.

The Witches (1990)

If you grew up in the ’90s, chances are The Witches left you with two things: an irrational fear of women in gloves and a sudden distrust of hotel conventions. Based on Roald Dahl’s book, the film stars Anjelica Huston as the High Witch—a woman so glamorous yet so terrifying that she could sell you skincare and then turn you into a mouse in the same breath.

So if you want Halloween viewing that’s equal parts camp, creepy, and oddly stylish, skip the broomsticks and go straight for The Witches. Just remember: avoid purple eyes, steer clear of strange chocolate, and for goodness’ sake, never sit too close to the front row at a “children’s charity” meeting.

A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

In 1984, Wes Craven flipped the slasher genre on its head with A Nightmare on Elm Street. Unlike the silent, masked killers of the era, Freddy Krueger was something new: talkative, sadistic, and able to attack where no one was safe—in their dreams. The film’s surreal kills, inventive effects, and concept of nightmares bleeding into reality set it apart from its peers. More than just a horror movie, it became a cultural milestone that played into the universal fear of losing control when you close your eyes. Four decades later, Freddy’s glove, striped sweater, and burned grin are instantly recognizable Halloween icons.

Ghostbusters (1984)

Few films have blended genres as effortlessly as Ghostbusters did in 1984. With a mix of supernatural scares, sharp comedy, and groundbreaking special effects, it became a cultural juggernaut. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson brought irreverence to ghost-hunting, while villains like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man proved that horror can be absurd and still effective. Beyond the laughs and slime, Ghostbusters tapped into the excitement of invention—those proton packs and ghost traps felt futuristic yet oddly believable. Decades later, it remains both a comfort watch and a Halloween party staple, with a theme song that’s basically a seasonal anthem.

Annabelle (2014)

As part of The Conjuring universe, Annabelle (2014) capitalized on one of the franchise’s most unsettling side characters—a possessed doll that seems to radiate evil from its glass case. Dolls have long been a horror trope, but Annabelle stands out for her sheer presence: cracked face, unblinking stare, and the uneasy sense that she’s waiting for the right moment to move. While the film itself leans heavily on jump scares, it also builds an atmosphere of creeping dread, reminding audiences that the things we keep close—decor, heirlooms, toys—can sometimes be the most threatening. Annabelle turned a simple inanimate object into one of horror’s modern icons.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands (1990) is as much a love story as it is a gothic fable. The film tells the story of Edward, an unfinished creation with blades for hands, who is taken in by a suburban family and struggles to fit into a world that fears what it doesn’t understand. Burton’s signature visual style—quirky suburbia contrasted with dark, fantastical imagery—creates a timeless atmosphere. Johnny Depp’s performance makes Edward both otherworldly and heartbreakingly human, while Danny Elfman’s score enhances the film’s bittersweet tone. Though not a traditional Halloween film, its blend of gothic imagery, melancholy, and whimsy has made it a seasonal favorite, offering a reminder that even monsters can have gentle hearts.