Spooky season isn’t just October 31st—it’s an entire vibe. Chilly nights, pumpkin-spice everything, and the irresistible thrill of watching shadows flicker on your living room wall while a creepy movie plays on-screen. If Halloween is your favourite holiday (or even if you’re just dipping your toes into the eerie waters), I’ve got the perfect way to celebrate: the 31 Days of Halloween Movie Challenge.
This challenge is your excuse to curl up under a blanket every night in October and indulge in a different film—from nostalgic family flicks to terrifying horror classics. It’s like an advent calendar…but for Halloween lovers.
Whether you’re a horror newbie, a lifelong fan, or somewhere in between, this list will keep your October filled with chills, thrills, and plenty of popcorn.
🎬 Why Do a Halloween Movie Challenge?
You might wonder—is it really worth watching a scary movie every single night? Absolutely! Though honestly, I think I might only manage a few days here and there, haha. I can’t really watch that many movies every single day, but it’s still fun to share this post—and maybe you can complete the full challenge! Who knows?
Here’s why it’s worth trying:
- It’s festive. Lean fully into spooky season and enjoy the atmosphere.
- It’s fun for all tastes. From lighthearted family films to spine-tingling horror, there’s something for everyone.
- It’s a great tradition. Movie marathons become memories you’ll look forward to every year.
- It’s perfect for sharing. Post your challenge progress on social media or host mini watch parties with friends.
🎃 What to Prepare for Halloween While Watching Movies
1. 🕯️ Set the Mood: Build a Haunted Movie-Watching Atmosphere
- Dim the lights, light some autumn-scented candles (like pumpkin spice, cedarwood, or cinnamon).
- Use orange or purple fairy lights, LED pumpkins, or flickering lanterns to create that eerie glow.
- Add cozy throws, Halloween-themed pillows, or even fake spiderwebs for a festive setup.
🧡 Pro tip: Set up a “spooky corner” in your living room that becomes your dedicated horror zone for the whole month.
2. 🍿 Create Themed Movie Snacks
- Make snacks that match the movie of the night! For example:
- “Witch’s Brew” hot chocolate for Hocus Pocus
- Ghost-shaped sugar cookies for Casper
- Bloody popcorn (red food coloring + caramel) for Scream
- Gummy worms in chocolate pudding for Monster House
- Or prepare a Halloween snack board with candy corn, Reese’s, pretzels, and caramel apples.
🧟♀️ Turn it into a challenge: try one new spooky snack recipe per week!
3. ✂️ DIY Halloween Crafts While You Watch
- Make decorations like paper bats, mini tombstones, or hanging ghosts while the movie plays.
- Try painting pumpkins with movie quotes or characters from that night’s film.
- Create “spooky jars” with LED tea lights and gauze or creepy labels like Witch’s Tongue and Zombie Brains.
🎨 Want something easy? Grab a coloring book or print Halloween-themed pages to color while watching.
4. 🕸️ Costume Planning Nights
Pick one night each week to:
- Research DIY costume ideas while watching.
- Try on costumes or makeup during family-friendly movies like Monster House or Ghostbusters.
- Watch The Craft while testing witchy eye makeup or black lipstick looks.
💄 Pair movies with your costume themes for inspo (ex: vampire films = vampire costume trial night!)
5. 🕷️ Design a Haunted Playlist
Design a Haunted Playlist
Let your movie choices inspire you to build the perfect Halloween playlist:
- Add This Is Halloween from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
- Include spooky scores like John Carpenter’s Halloween theme.
- Pop in fun tracks like I Put a Spell on You from Hocus Pocus.
🎶 Let it play as background music when you decorate or carve pumpkins!
6. 💌 Make Spooky Greeting Cards
While enjoying cozy films like Practical Magic, craft Halloween cards to send to friends and family:
- Use rubber stamps, stickers, and black or orange cardstock.
- Write fun Halloween movie quotes inside for a personal touch.
✉️ You’ll brighten someone’s October mail with a bit of Halloween spirit!
🎬 The 31 Days Of Halloween Movie Challenge
🕯️ Day 1 — Hocus Pocus (1993)
Start the challenge with a dash of magic and mischief. Hocus Pocus is the quintessential Halloween classic for many, thanks to its playful tone, iconic witch trio (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy), and that unforgettable “I Put a Spell on You” scene. Set in Salem with Halloween night in full swing, this film is pure seasonal energy. It’s nostalgic, fun, and the perfect warm-up.
🪞 Day 2 — Beetlejuice (1988)
Tim Burton’s offbeat style is in full force here. Beetlejuice is weird, whimsical, and packed with gothic charm. It’s not traditionally scary, but it’s full of ghosts, the afterlife, and Halloween-worthy strangeness. Michael Keaton’s wild performance as the bio-exorcist gives this cult classic its chaotic heart. A great reminder that spooky can also be silly.
🖤 Day 3 — The Addams Family (1991)
Few fictional families embody the Halloween spirit better than the Addamses. Their mansion, macabre humor, and twisted wholesomeness are endlessly charming. This film balances creepy aesthetics with clever wit, making it a delightfully dark comedy that works for all ages. Plus, it gives us one of the most iconic Wednesday Addams portrayals ever.
🧵 Day 4 — Coraline (2009)
Don’t let the animation fool you—Coraline is chilling in the best way. With its stop-motion brilliance and eerie “Other Mother” storyline, this tale is unsettling, imaginative, and strangely beautiful. It’s a modern gothic fairytale that taps into childhood fears (and adult unease) while maintaining a dreamlike aesthetic.
🔪 Day 5 — Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock’s legendary thriller is psychological horror at its finest. Psycho revolutionized the genre with its shocking plot twist and infamous shower scene. While not supernatural, it’s deeply suspenseful and deals with themes of isolation and madness—perfect for adding classic dread to your movie lineup. I watched this movie before and absolutely love the story. I’ll update the movie review as soon as possible!
🌲 Day 6 — The Witch (2015)
This slow-burning folk horror masterpiece immerses you in 1600s Puritan New England. With its old English dialogue, haunting visuals, and a creeping sense of dread, The Witch is a chilling dive into religious fear, female agency, and the allure of darkness. Atmospheric and artful, it’s horror for those who love to be unsettled.
👻 Day 7 — Ghostbusters (1984)
This supernatural comedy blends science fiction with playful paranormal fun. It’s less about scares and more about slimy ghosts, smart-mouthed scientists, and that unforgettable theme song. Ghostbusters is a great mid-week breather and a Halloween essential for those who want laughs with their ghosts.
🎃 Day 8 — Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Tim Burton returns with a darkly romantic take on Washington Irving’s classic tale. This film is dripping in gothic atmosphere—foggy woods, flickering candles, and a terrifying Headless Horseman. Sleepy Hollow offers a beautiful mix of murder mystery, horror, and period-piece drama, all wrapped in fall aesthetics.
📸 Day 9 — The Conjuring (2013)
Based on real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, this modern horror hit brings traditional haunted house scares back with terrifying effect. The Conjuring doesn’t rely on gore—it’s all about suspense, eerie buildup, and old-school jump scares. It’s one of the most effective supernatural films in recent memory.
☁️ Day 10 — Casper (1995)
A friendly ghost for a feel-good night. Casper is light-hearted and heartwarming, making it ideal for younger viewers or anyone who needs a break from heavier horror. It’s got ghostly charm, nostalgic 90s vibes, and surprisingly emotional depth for a family movie.
🏚️ Day 11 — Monster House (2006)
An animated haunted house story that doesn’t pull punches. Monster House is creative, surprisingly dark, and visually striking. It’s about a trio of kids who discover the creepy house in their neighborhood is literally alive. Spooky enough for Halloween, yet family-friendly.
🧙♀️ Day 12 — The Craft (1996)
Teen witches, girl power, and grunge-era fashion. The Craft is a cult favorite for good reason. It captures the angst of teen life with a supernatural twist and explores how power can corrupt even the most well-meaning outcasts. Dark, moody, and oh-so-90s.
⛺ Day 13 — Friday the 13th (1980)
If today’s the 13th, it’s basically mandatory. This slasher classic introduced the world to Camp Crystal Lake and set the bar for future horror villains. While Jason doesn’t don his hockey mask just yet, the groundwork for his legend is all here. A must for horror history fans.
👣 Day 14 — It Follows (2014)
An indie horror film that feels fresh, disturbing, and hypnotic. The premise: a supernatural force that follows you… slowly… until it catches you. It’s minimalist horror at its best, creating unease without over-explaining. Atmospheric and unsettling in all the right ways.
💀 Day 15 — Corpse Bride (2005)
This is Tim Burton doing what he does best—mixing death with beauty. Corpse Bride is a touching tale of love, loss, and the afterlife, brought to life through stunning stop-motion animation. Its eerie visuals and hauntingly sweet soundtrack make it an underrated Halloween gem.
🔪 Day 16 — Scream (1996)
Wes Craven’s meta-horror slasher changed the game. Scream is self-aware, funny, and still genuinely scary. It mocks horror tropes while using them effectively, making it perfect for horror lovers who know the rules—and for newcomers who want a crash course.
📺 Day 17 — Poltergeist (1982)
“They’re heeere…” This suburban ghost story blends family drama with chilling paranormal activity. Directed by Tobe Hooper (and produced by Spielberg), Poltergeist is a timeless haunted house story that mixes emotion, spectacle, and true fear.
🌙 Day 18 — Practical Magic (1998)
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as witchy sisters navigating love, curses, and sisterhood. Practical Magic is a cozy, feel-good film with witchcraft that’s more comforting than frightening. Great for a relaxed night of autumn feels.
🪦 Day 19 — Hereditary (2018)
One of the most emotionally harrowing and disturbing horror films ever made. Hereditary begins as a family drama and devolves into full-on nightmare territory. Grief, possession, and generational trauma combine for a slow descent into terror. Not for the faint of heart.
🏚️ Day 20 — The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Silly, spooky, and perfect for kids. Eddie Murphy brings comedy to this adaptation of the Disney ride. While not super scary, it’s visually fun, full of ghosts, and a nice breather after something intense like Hereditary.
🧟♂️ Day 21 — Young Frankenstein (1974)
Mel Brooks spoofs the classic monster movies in this hilarious black-and-white comedy. Young Frankenstein is full of clever gags and loving homage to old horror films. It’s perfect for classic horror fans who want to laugh a little.
🕯️ Day 22 — The Others (2001)
A slow, eerie ghost story with a fantastic twist ending. Nicole Kidman leads this haunting tale set in a gloomy mansion, where things aren’t as they seem. It’s deeply atmospheric and perfect for fans of subtle, psychological horror.
🎭 Day 23 — The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Is it a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? The answer is yes. This stop-motion musical from Tim Burton is an ode to both holidays. With unforgettable songs and hauntingly beautiful visuals, it’s essential Halloween viewing.
👹 Day 24 — The Exorcist (1973)
The gold standard of possession films. The Exorcist is terrifying, intense, and spiritually disturbing. With unforgettable imagery and sound design, it’s a must-watch if you want a full-body horror experience.
📼 Day 25 — The Ring (2002)
A cursed videotape, a ghostly girl, and a seven-day countdown. This American remake of the Japanese horror Ringubecame a cultural phenomenon and introduced a new kind of horror villain to the West. Perfect for tech-era chills.
🐇 Day 26 — Donnie Darko (2001)
A psychological mystery with sci-fi and horror undertones. Donnie Darko is more cerebral than terrifying, but its dark atmosphere and creepy imagery (hello, Frank the bunny) make it a perfect deep-cut for Halloween thinkers.
🍬 Day 27 — Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
A hidden gem that captures the spirit of Halloween night through interwoven stories. From creepy neighbors to vengeful kids and werewolves in disguise, it’s a love letter to all things October 31st.
👦 Day 28 — The Sixth Sense (1999)
More than just its famous twist ending, The Sixth Sense is a beautifully crafted ghost story with emotional weight. Perfect for those who want something thoughtful and eerie rather than full-on terrifying.
🔥 Day 29 — Carrie (1976)
Stephen King’s debut novel comes to life in this bloody prom-night horror. Carrie is about bullying, repression, and revenge—wrapped in supernatural telekinesis. The final act is unforgettable.
😱 Day 30 — A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Freddy Krueger is the stuff of dreams—literally. This slasher classic brought surreal horror into the bedroom. It’s imaginative, bloody, and essential for any horror fan’s education.
🎃 Day 31 — Halloween (1978)
End strong with the definitive Halloween movie. John Carpenter’s Halloween introduced the world to Michael Myers and the final girl trope. It’s the perfect film to close out the month with suspense, dread, and a soundtrack that still haunts.
🎃 Wrapping It Up
Ta-da! Here’s the entire list of movies you can watch this Halloween. Many of them lean more toward the funny side—like Casper, which is one of my favorites. And of course, Psycho (1960)—the movie itself isn’t super scary, but what really gets under your skin is the way it shows human nature and how every truth eventually comes to light. It gave me chills by the end.
Anyway, no matter which one you pick, I hope you find your favorite! Happy Halloween—yay!
Read More
🌸 For more cozy content, here’s my post on simple joys in daily life.
🍿For Movie Review, Read my The Truth About Dazed and Confused – Movie Review & Cultural Impact
✈️ Want something travel-themed instead? Read my Top Reasons Japan Should Be on Every Traveler’s Bucket List
Thanks so much for reading.
Have a beautiful day.
— Jerserry 🌸
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