It’s October, which means that spooky season is finally upon us. This is one of my favorite times of the year for so many reasons — cold weather, the leaves changing colors, warm sweaters, pumpkin patches, and, of course, Halloween-themed movies. During my childhood, I remember watching so many different spooky movie marathons throughout the month. With that being said, whenever I watch these types of movies now, it’s like diving back into a treasure trove of nostalgic fun. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite classic Halloween movies that I love to rewatch every October because they warm my heart and feel like home.
Halloweentown (1998)
This film was obviously going to be at the top of this list, but it fully deserves to be recognized as one of the best childhood Halloween movies ever. Halloween doesn’t feel complete without at least one rewatch of Halloweentown. The strength and courage of Marnie (played by Kimberly J. Brown) and Grandma Aggie (played by Debbie Reynolds) always inspired me when I was growing up as they always fought for what was right. This is certainly one of my favorite comfort movies to rewatch every year.
Coraline (2009)
Based on the book by Neil Gaiman, this adaptation has become somewhat of a cult classic. There are so many reasons to adore this movie. The animation, the soundtrack, the plot, and the subtly creepy vibes make Coraline so memorable. Plus, the dark fantasy elements of this movie are perfect for the Halloween season. This film held such a vivid place in my childhood and I look forward to immersing myself in its world every October.
Monster House (2006)
Monster House is such an underrated movie. On the surface it might just appear to be a typical animated kids movie, but the plot of it has so much substance. There are themes of grief and loss layered throughout this film, and it is intertwined so nicely together with family-friendly horror and suspense. It even has the classic kid-movie-sense-of-humor that still makes me laugh, even in adulthood. I definitely recommend checking this movie out if you haven’t yet.
Twitches (2005)
Along with Halloweentown, Twitches is another classic Disney Channel original film that deserves to be rewatched every October. Tia and Tamara Mowry were some of my favorite actresses because of their roles on Sister, Sister, so when they starred in a film about long-lost twin witches, I immediately fell in love with their characters. Twitches is a wonderfully witchy movie with so many iconic moments that I quote all year long.
Scream (1996)
Last but certainly not least, Scream remains as one of my favorite movies of all time. If I’m being honest, I have a habit of watching this movie during any month of the year. Nevertheless, I always watch it in October because it’s arguably one of the best slasher movies ever made. It’s scary, creepy, funny, and I could rewatch it over and over again and never get tired of it. From Neve Campbell shining as the legendary heroine Sidney Prescott to Matthew Lillard’s character Stu Macher having some of the most iconic one-liners, Scream is always worth rewatching.
Those are just a few of the films that are must-watches for me every October. Some of them aren’t necessarily scary, but they definitely get me into the Halloween spirit. They were with me throughout the duration of my childhood, so now they hold a prominent place in my heart when I rewatch them every single year.