Best movies to watch this Halloween on Netflix

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It’s spooky season, and that means it’s time for scary movies! Here are our top picks for the best horror films currently available on Netflix.

Horror movies are having a huge moment right now. In 2025, they’ve been consistently making more money than typical big-budget films, particularly during the summer.

April saw the huge success of *Sinners*, followed by a strong performance from *28 Years Later* in June. *Weapons* impressed both critics and viewers in August, and *The Conjuring: Last Rites* brought the series to a profitable close in September.

The films mentioned earlier were shown in theaters. Here’s a list of scary movies available on Netflix, ordered by release date, to get you in the Halloween spirit as October approaches…

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Director: George A. Romero
Cast: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman

This story follows a group of strangers who find themselves trapped in a farmhouse as the dead come back to life and roam the earth. They must work together and fight to survive the terrifying onslaught.

Night of the Living Dead is a perfect Halloween pick because it essentially created the modern zombie movie. Its realistic, documentary-style approach and shocking ending give it lasting power and a surprisingly relevant social message.

Death Becomes Her (1992)

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis

This story follows two long-time enemies who try to achieve eternal youth with a special potion. They soon find out that living forever isn’t what they expected and comes with terrible consequences.

Death Becomes Her is a great Halloween choice because it’s a really funny movie with fantastic performances from Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis. They play off each other brilliantly, and the film is delightfully dark, campy, and over-the-top – guaranteed to make you both laugh and jump!

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves

This story follows Count Dracula as he journeys to England, seeking a lost love. He leaves a trail of victims until a courageous group rises up to stop his terrifying actions.

This Dracula movie is ideal for Halloween because it beautifully combines the classic horror of Bram Stoker’s novel with Francis Ford Coppola’s stunning visual style. It’s a visually rich experience, featuring gorgeous costumes, impressive sets, and frightening special effects that truly bring Gary Oldman’s Count Dracula to life as a terrifying monster.

28 Days Later (2002)

Director: Danny Boyle
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson

Okay, so the game starts with me waking up from a coma, and everything’s totally messed up. London is completely empty – no people anywhere! But it’s not just empty, it’s crawling with these crazy, rage-fueled zombies. Basically, I have to head north to figure out what happened and try to survive.

This movie is ideal for Halloween because while *Night of the Living Dead* created the modern zombie film, *28 Days Later* completely revitalized it. Thanks to a dark script by Alex Garland, the fast-paced directing of Danny Boyle, and a standout performance by Cillian Murphy as a survivor, it makes you question if living is even worth it.

Creep (2014)

Director: Patrick Brice
Cast: Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice

A videographer takes on a seemingly simple job after responding to an ad online, but quickly realizes his new client is acting strangely and the situation is becoming very unsettling.

Creep is a fantastic choice for Halloween because it’s a uniquely unsettling experience. The movie starts with humor, gradually becomes strange, and ultimately delivers genuine scares. It’s a clever take on the found-footage style, and Mark Duplass gives an incredible performance, keeping you guessing about his character’s true motives until the very end.

The Babysitter (2017)

Director: McG
Cast: Samara Weaving, Judah Lewis, Robbie Amell

Okay, so this movie is seriously wild! It’s about this kid who finds out his babysitter isn’t who she seems – she’s actually involved in a satanic cult! The whole night turns into a terrifying fight for his life, and it’s super intense and bloody. Definitely not for the faint of heart!

If you’re looking for a fun and scary Halloween movie, check out *The Babysitter*. It’s a horror-comedy with plenty of laughs, a cool vibe, and inventive scares. Samara Weaving is fantastic as the titular babysitter – you’ll find yourself both rooting for and terrified by her!

His House (2020)

Director: Remi Weekes
Cast: Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu, Matt Smith

This story follows a refugee couple who escape the war in Sudan, only to discover their new life in England is disturbed by a sinister force.

This spooky, but affordable, horror film didn’t get much attention in theaters, but it’s definitely worth watching if you enjoy scary movies that also make you think. It tells a heartbreaking story about a couple starting over, powerfully exploring themes of trauma, regret, and the difficulties faced by refugees. Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu give especially moving performances.

Hubie Halloween (2020)

Director: Steven Brill
Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Julie Bowen

The story follows a unique and good-hearted volunteer who has to rescue his town when Halloween festivities are thrown into chaos by a string of puzzling disappearances.

Looking for a lighthearted Halloween movie the whole family can enjoy? While it’s not a cinematic masterpiece, *Hubie Halloween* starring Adam Sandler is a silly and funny choice. It’s full of goofy humor and has a surprisingly sweet story, making it a perfectly acceptable option for October.

Smile (2022)

Director: Parker Finn
Cast: Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, Caitlin Stasey

The story follows Rose, a therapist, who becomes haunted by a terrifying curse after seeing a strange suicide. The curse spreads through a disturbing, unsettling smile, jumping from one person to the next.

If you’re looking for a scary movie this Halloween, Smile is a great choice. Released in 2022, it expertly blends unsettling visuals, a growing sense of unease, and well-timed scares with a thoughtful story about dealing with loss and past trauma. And if you enjoy the first one, Smile 2 is now available on Netflix and many find it even scarier.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega

Lydia Deetz and her daughter are in serious danger when Beetlejuice returns and starts wreaking havoc in the afterlife.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a fantastic choice for Halloween! After 36 years, the sequel delivers everything fans hoped for: Tim Burton returns to his classic, spooky style with stunning visuals and incredible practical effects. Plus, Michael Keaton is perfectly cast in his iconic role, bringing a delightfully dark sense of humor to the film.

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2025-10-09 13:51