As a full-time college student, watching a movie every night for a month may not be the best use of your time, but if you’re up for the challenge and have a love for Halloween, I would like to introduce to you the 31 movies I will be watching this October.

This list includes fall nostalgia, my favorite spooky movies, ghosts, witches, and more Johnny Depp than I was expecting to recommend.

Note: I have included content warnings, however this is not a definitive list, and you should investigate to ensure you avoid your own triggers.

1. October Sky (1999) 

1h 48m 

October Sky is a family favorite, and I always feel like it’s an excellent way to bring in the month.

2. Dead Poets Society (1989)

2h 8m

As a student in the Vermont autumn season studying poetry, I have a personal bias here. But even if you aren’t, one can never go wrong with Robin Williams.

CW: Blood 

3. Clue (1985)

1h 37m

Hilarious, mysterious, and sometimes spooky, Clue is the pinnacle of murder mystery movies.

CW: Blood/Gunshots

4. Good Will Hunting (1997)

1h 50m

Bringing back Robin Williams for this iconic film that pulls at the heartstrings.

5. Labyrinth (1986)

1h 41m

Goblins, helping hands, and David Bowie make an excellent October movie choice.

6. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

2h 15m

“Terrified, mortified, petrified, stupefied, by you.” is one of my favorite quotes of all time.

CW: Blood/Self Harm

7. Coraline (2009)

1h 55m

Regarding claymation, I chose Coraline over Nightmare Before Christmas because Coraline is an October movie, and I believe Nightmare Before Christmas is a December movie.

8. The Sixth Sense (1999)

1h 47m

I recommend looking for the color red while watching this movie if you haven’t before.

CW: Gore/Hanging/Self-harm 

9. Scream (1996)

1h 40m

I will be watching the original Scream because nothing beats “do you like scary movies?”

CW: Blood/Gore (However, it is unrealistic)

10. The Shining (1980)

2h 26m

While this movie mostly takes place in winter, I can’t pass up on a classic Steven King film.

CW: Blood (lots)

11. Twilight (2008)

2h 2m

Hot vampires are part of Halloween, right?

CW: Blood

12. Children of the Corn (1984)

1h 32m

As a native Nebraskan, I morally can’t go an autumn season without a viewing of Children of the Corn.

CW: Blood/Self harm/Flashing lights

13. Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

 1h 38m

I’ve had “Creature of the Night” stuck in my head since July, and while I’d love to see it live again soon, the movie will suffice until I can.

CW: Blood/Flashing Lights

14. BeetleJuice (1988)

1h 32m

I prefer the movie, but if you want to watch the musical, be my guest.

CW: Mention of Self Harm

15. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

1h 45m

Arguably a Christmas movie, Edward Scissorhands is just cheesy and gothic enough to be an October movie.

CW: Mild blood

16. Cabin in the Woods (2011)

1h 35m

An interesting take on a horror movie; it’s funny and bizarre.

CW: Suicide/Gunfire/Gore/Blood

17. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

1h 27m

What makes stop-motion movies fit the fall atmosphere? Whatever it is, I love it.

CW: Flashing Lights

18. Ghostbusters (1984)

1h 45m

The first Ghostbusters movie is hilarious, and “ghosts” is literally in the title.

CW: Flashing Lights

19. Carrie (1976)

1h 38m

I could not add every Steven King movie made, but I did try to pick the Halloween classics.

CW: Flashing Lights/Blood

20. Gremlins (1984)

1h 46m

This is probably the most Christmas-like movie on this list, but I still feel like a horror movie revolving around Christmas is better than a Christmas movie revolving around a skeleton.

CW: Flashing Lights/Blood

21. The Conjuring (2013)

1h 52m

Probably considered the scariest movie on this list, I have not seen The Conjuring, and I feel it’s a requirement for horror/Halloween movie fans.

CW: Self-harm/Mild blood

22. Hotel Transylvania (2012)

1h 31m

I have no plans to watch Hotel Transylvania 3, but I think the first one is underrated.

23. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

1h 56m

I would like to acknowledge the amount of Johnny Depp involved in this list. I won’t apologize, though.

CW: Blood/Gore

24. It (2017)

2h 26m

To be honest, deciding whether to watch the original or the new It was the hardest choice on this list because I have an affinity for the classics, but I’m such a fan of the remake in this case.

CW: Flashing Lights/Blood/Gore

25. The Blair Witch Project (1990)

1h 27m

I am such a fan of the 90’s horror classics, and Blair Witch fits perfectly in that criteria.

CW: Blood Gore

26. Monster House (2006)

1h 31m

Many people told me not to add this, but Monster House will not be erased from Halloween culture if I can help it.

27. Hocus Pocus (1993)

1h 36m

Witches, black cats, graveyards, and costume parties make the perfect Disney Halloween Movie.

28. Halloweentown (1998)

1h 24m

Hocus Pocus is probably the perfect Disney Halloween Movie, but Halloweentown is my personal favorite, as it played more during the late-night October reruns I watched as a kid.

29. Halloween (1978)

1h 31m

I think this one is fairly self-explanatory.

CW: Flashing Lights/Mild Blood

30. Scooby Doo Zombie Island (1998)

1h 19m

Why not watch a specifically Halloween-themed episode? Because Scooby Doo Zombie Island is the most terrifying, well-done Scooby Doo movie ever made.

31. Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

1h 31m

I have decided to end the month and celebrate the best holiday with my favorite Halloween movie. 

CW: Self Harm/Mild Gore