Spooky! These are the best Halloween movies

Pumpkins on the table, candles lit, your favorite oversized sweater out of the closet, and of course a bowl of popcorn that you just can't stop eating all evening. Halloween is the excuse to flop down on the couch and start playing one spooky movie after another. And no, it doesn't have to be a horror movie that makes you find every little sound in the house scary afterwards.

From the mysterious world of Coraline to the monsters from Hotel Transylvania: there is plenty of choice for a night of spookiness. Whether you're in the mood for nostalgia, a bit of dark humor, or a film you've secretly watched for the tenth time, here are eight Halloween movies for your watchlist.

1. Coraline

If you think animated films are inherently sweet and child-friendly, Coraline has a surprise in store for you. In this stop-motion film, Coraline discovers a secret door in her new house. Behind it lies an alternative world where everything initially seems better than in real life. Her other mother is sweet, her other father has all the time for her, and everything seems perfect. Until you see those button eyes, brrr.

Because of course, that dream world turns out to be just a bit less cozy than expected. The other mother has her own plans, and before you know it, you want to warn Coraline through the screen.

2. Corpse Bride

A love story, but one where the bride literally rises from the grave. In Corpse Bride, the nervous Victor practices his wedding vows in the woods. When he slips the ring onto a branch, it turns out to be no branch at all, but the hand of Emily: a deceased bride who then considers him her fiancé. Oops. She has some explaining to do.

The film is made with stop-motion animation and has that typical Tim Burton atmosphere: a bit dark, a bit strange, and at the same time incredibly beautiful. Extra fun is the contrast between the dreary world of the living and the colorful, lively realm of the dead. Apparently, it's even cozier down there than you would think. Emily is also one of the most recognizable spooky film brides ever.

3. Hotel Transylvania

Not everyone wants to spend the whole evening looking over their shoulder after a Halloween movie. Fortunately, there's Hotel Transylvania, where the monsters are mostly busy with family issues, parties (lots of parties), and protecting their own bubble.

Dracula runs a hotel where monsters can vacation undisturbed, far away from humans. Everything goes fine until the human Jonathan accidentally walks in and falls in love with Dracula's daughter Mavis. And yes, an overprotective vampire father trying to protect his daughter from a human friend? That naturally creates enough chaos.

4. Hocus Pocus

A Halloween list without Hocus Pocus feels a bit like celebrating Christmas without a Christmas tree. In this film, three witch sisters, the Sanderson sisters, are accidentally brought back to life in Salem. They have only one goal: to get their magic back. And that's bad news for the people who cross their path.

The 1993 film is somewhat old-fashioned, but has since become a true cult favorite and has just the right mix of humor, magic, and old-fashioned Halloween vibes. Think witches, black cats, spells, and once again, a lot of chaos.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Can't choose between Halloween and Christmas? Then you don't have to with The Nightmare Before Christmas. In this classic, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town. He gets so excited about everything related to Christmas that he decides to organize the holiday himself. What could go wrong when a skeleton wants to play Santa Claus?

Well, quite a lot. But that's what makes it so fun. The film combines the dark, imaginative world of Halloween with the cheerful atmosphere of Christmas. And of course, there's music that will be stuck in your head for days afterward. This is the kind of film you can watch starting in October and then again in December. Two holidays, one excuse to hang out on the couch again.

6. Beetlejuice

Some films are so strange that they are fantastic because of it. Beetlejuice is, in my opinion, a perfect example of that. When a recently deceased couple discovers that new residents have moved into their house, they try to scare them away. For that, they enlist the help of Beetlejuice, a rather unpredictable ghost who quickly turns everything upside down.

Don't expect a standard ghost story, but a mix of dark humor and unusual characters. The film was released in 1988 and grew into a classic. Michael Keaton gives Beetlejuice exactly the energy of someone you absolutely do not want to invite to a party, but who you love to see on screen. Perfect if you want to watch something that is just a bit different from the standard Halloween movie. And if you want to try saying Beetlejuice in front of the mirror afterward: I would just stick to the film.

7. Wednesday

Okay, not a movie, but the series Wednesday deserves a spot on this list in my opinion. Wednesday Addams ends up at Nevermore Academy, where she investigates mysterious events while trying to cope with her unusual classmates. Cozy is different, but it's certainly entertaining.

And let's be honest: her outfits are enough inspiration for a Halloween look on their own. Black dress, braids, and a face that clearly shows you're not in the mood for small talk. I say: totally fine.

8. Scream

After all the animated films and simple witches, are you in the mood for something scarier? Then Scream is a good choice. In this well-known horror film, a group of teenagers is harassed by a masked killer. It quickly becomes clear that no one can be trusted. What makes Scream different from many other horror films is that the story also plays with the clichés of the genre.

Some dialogues are truly hilarious. The characters know the well-known horror rules, but that doesn't mean they are safe. It's precisely that combination of tension and a lot of humor that makes the film so popular. This is the choice for a Halloween night when you do want to be scared and where you might occasionally look through your fingers. My advice: don't put it on if you have to walk through a dark house afterward. Or maybe do, hehehe.

Which Halloween movie are you putting on?

Whether you choose the button eyes of Coraline, the romance of Corpse Bride, or the tension of Scream: Halloween it's the perfect moment to put on your favorite spooky films again and enjoy a cozy evening.

My advice? Just make it a wonderfully long movie night. Put on your comfiest outfit, get some snacks, and silence your phone. And if Scream becomes a bit too intense for you, you can always switch to Hotel Transylvania. A little balance is necessary.