Horror Movies: My Top 31 for Halloween

Hey everyone! As you all likely know by now, I loooooove horror movies. My sisters and I grew up watching them. I started watching them when I was about 5 years old and I have several memories from those times. I even have a tattoo sleeve of some of my favorite horror characters (that I’m adding onto soon, hehehe!) So, as we approach October, I want to make sure that everyone else who loves all things scary and spooky can be fully stocked and ready for their horror movie marathon. So, without further ado, these are my top 31 horror movies!

Horror Movies #31-26:

TRIGGER WARNING: NEARLY ALL MOVIES ON THIS LIST HAVE SCENES OF BLOOD, GORE, KILLINGS, ETC. While I try my best to include all appropriate trigger warnings for each movie, it has been a very long time since I’ve seen some of these. My apologies if I forget a trigger warning for certain events in any of the films.

31. Us – Only available for purchase at this time.

When their average family goes on vacation to her hometown, Adelaide Wilson gets the strange feeling that something bad is about to happen. She finds that her gut feeling is right when her family is terrorized by 4 intruders. The catch is that they happen to be their doppelgangers.

30. Final Destination Series – Streaming on HBO Max.

In this series, a teen has a premonition saving the lives of those around them from dying in a terrible accident. However, they have to find a way to save themselves again. Everyone who was supposed to die in the accident begins to be killed off one by one after cheating death.

29. Last House on the Left (2009 remake) – Only available for purchase at this time.

• TRIGGER WARNING: This movie has a very graphic rape scene.

After two teen girls meet up with a new “friend,” they end up kidnapped and assaulted by his family. The family, leaving the girls for dead, then seek refuge with one of the girls’ parents unknowingly. Once the parents find out what happened to their daughter, they devise a plan to get back at her attackers.

28. Hellraiser – The first few are on Amazon Prime Video.

• TRIGGER WARNING: This movie features scenes with graphic violence and torture.

Kristy’s dad, Larry, and stepmom, Julia, move into Larry’s brother Frank’s former home after his disappearance. It turns out that using a puzzle box, Frank had opened a portal to hell where creatures called cenobytes tore his body apart. Frank having had a one night stand with Julia prior to his disappearance, he has Julia lure men to him to use their blood to reconstruct his body.

27. Cabin in the Woods – Streaming on Peacock with ads.

When a group of college students go on vacation to a secluded cabin, they end up attacked by zombies. However, they soon discover this is all part of a bigger plan.

26. The Omen (2006 remake or original) – The original is streaming on Paramount + and the remake is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

• TRIGGER WARNING: This movie discusses death of a baby. A nanny also commits suicide.

When American ambassador Robert Thorn’s baby is born stillborn, he adopts another newborn without informing his wife as to what happened. However, it turns out the newborn he adopted just might be the Antichrist.

Horror Movies #25-20

25. Resident Evil Series – The original is streaming on Fubo TV, Amazon Prime Video with AMC + Subscription, and DirecTV. The rest are all on DirecTV, TNT and TBS.

Based on the hit video game series, after the t-virus is released by the Umbrella Corporation, Alice and her allies have to fight zombies, mutants and other monstrous creatures. Throughout the series, they attempt to find the antidote to stop the virus from spreading.

24. Saw Series – Only available for purchase at this time.

• TRIGGER WARNINGS: Kidnapping is a major theme in these horror movies. Intense torture is also shown in these films. Needles and drug use is discussed in some films (Saw 2 and others.) A miscarriage is discussed and shown in later films. A rape is shown and discussed in Saw 4.

In this series, the jigsaw killer kidnaps those he sees as being either ungrateful for the lives they’ve been given or wasting their life causing harm to others in some way. They’re found in traps or “games” where they have to beat the clock to escape before they die, often causing serious harm to themselves or others in order to redeem themselves.

23. The Devil’s Rejects – Streaming on Tubi with ads and Amazon Prime Video with AMC + Subscription.

• TRIGGER WARNINGS: This movie contains sexual assault/ rape and kidnapping. Drug use is also shown. Much of the movie is disturbing.

The firefly family, a family of serial killers, is on the run from Sherriff Wydell. As Sherriff Wydell pursues them, they commit even more heinous crimes as they attempt to escape.

22. Thirteen Ghosts – Streaming on HBO Max.

After his uncle Cyrus dies, Arthur Kriticos and his children inherit his estate, which isn’t exactly what they were expecting. They quickly discover that within the glass house they inherited await 12 murderous ghosts that they have to avoid.

21. Don’t Breathe – Streaming on Fubo TV, FXNow and DirecTV.

• TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual assault/ rape take place in this movie. One scene also shows violence toward an animal.

When Rocky and her friends decide to rob a wealthy, old, blind man, they soon realize that his other heightened senses allow him to put up more of a fight than they expected.

20. The Lost Boys – Streaming on Amazon Prime Video with an AMC + Subscription.

When they move to a new town with their mother, Mike and Sam find themselves fitting in with two very different crowds. Sam befriends teen vampire hunters, whereas Mike falls in with a local biker gang who also happen to be the vampires being hunted.

Horror Movies #19-15

19. The Silence of the Lambs – Streaming on Roku with ads or Tubi with ads.

• TRIGGER WARNING: A kidnapping is part of the main plot of the movie. Disturbing imagery of decomposing or mutilated bodies is found throughout the film as well.

When the daughter of a senator is kidnapped by serial killer “Buffalo Bill,” young FBI agent in training, Clarice Starling, is assigned to help with his capture. To accomplish this, she enlists the help of an incarcerated, cannibalistic psychiatrist, Dr. Hannibal Lecter who is a master manipulator.

18. The Exorcist – Only available for purchase at this time.

• TRIGGER WARNING: This movie contains a graphic sexual scene.

When her daughter Regan begins behaving abnormally, Chris MacNeil, desperate for answers turns to two priests when it turns out she’s been possessed by a demon.

17. The Exorcism of Emily Rose – Only available for purchase at this time.

This movie based on true events follows the case of a priest who is being charged with homicide after a college girl died after undergoing an exorcism that he performed.

16. Orphan – Streaming on Tubi with ads.

• TRIGGER WARNING: This movie discusses miscarriage/ death of a child.

After Kate and John suffer a horrible loss, they decide to adopt a child to complete their family and join their other two children, their son Daniel and their deaf daughter, Max. However, when they adopt 9 year old Esther, it turns out that the angelic child they fell in love with at the orphanage isn’t exactly who she said she was.

15. Joy Ride – Only available for purchase at this time.

• TRIGGER WARNING: Kidnapping takes place in this movie.

College freshman, Lewis, goes on a cross country road trip to meet his crush, Venna. His older brother, Fuller, decides to tag along, installing a CB radio for entertainment to pass the time. Things go haywire when Fuller and Lewis prank a psychotic trucker who goes by the CB handle Rusty Nail.

Horror Movies #14-10

14. Fright Night (original) – Streaming on Fubo TV, Amazon Prime Video with AMC + subscription, and DirecTV.

When a new neighbor, Jerry Dandridge, moves in next door, high school student, Charlie Brewster, soon realizes that he has some pretty interesting habits. Charlie thinks Jerry’s a vampire, so he teams up with former tv actor, Peter Vincent, a former vampire killer, to defeat him.

13. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003 remake) – Streaming on HBO Max.

• TRIGGER WARNING: A suicide takes place at the beginning of this movie. Marijuana use is also present. Graphic sexual comments are also made about someone who dies.

A group of young adults on their way to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert pick up a traumatized hitchhiker. When she brutally kills herself in the back of their van, they stop to ask local authorities in the area for help. They quickly realize the locals are part of the problem themselves.

12. The Hills Have Eyes (remake) – Streaming on Tubi with ads.

• TRIGGER WARNING: Rape/ sexual assault, suicide, and kidnapping take place in this movie. Animal mutilation is also present.

When a family goes on vacation for their parents’ 30th anniversary, things start to go awry after taking the advice of a shady gas station attendant who informs them of a short cut to their destination. They realize that they’re not alone and are attacked by a family of inbred mutants who are living in the hills.

11. The Craft – Streaming on HBO Max.

• TRIGGER WARNING: Suicide is discussed, and there is an attempted rape.

When Sarah, a girl with mysterious natural powers, moves to a new home and starts attending a new private school, she meets up with three other girls with similar abilities and they form a coven of witches. When they use their powers in an attempt to better their lives, thinking they’re unstoppable, they soon find that every reward comes with a cost.

10. Amityville Horror (original or remake) – Both are streaming on HBO Max and DirecTV.

• TRIGGER WARNING: Death of a child occurs during this movie.

When George and Kathy Lutz move into a new home with their family, George begins changing into a different person with an abrasive personality. They soon learn that their new home was the site where Ronnie DeFeo shot and killed his entire family the year prior and that the house itself may be the cause. Now Kathy has to save George and the rest of her family before it’s too late.

Horror Movies #9-5

9. Evil Dead (remake) – Streaming on Hulu or Amazon Prime Video with a Starz subscription.

• TRIGGER WARNING: Drug use is discussed in this movie. There is also a rape scene. Some of the gore in this movie is extremely graphic.

When a group of friends head to a remote cabin to help get their friend Mia sober, one of them discovers The Book of the Dead in the basement. When they read from the book, they unknowingly summon evil forces dwelling within the woods nearby. One by one, each of them is possessed as they try to quickly find a way to rid themselves of the demons they’ve unleashed.

8. The Shining (original) – Streaming on HBO Max.

• TRIGGER WARNING: Death of a child is shown graphically and is discussed. Alcoholism is also prevalent. Suicide is mentioned as well.

When Jack Torrance, his wife, Wendy, and his psychic son, Danny, go to The Overlook Hotel to take care of it over the winter, the family discovers that the hotel has a history of terrible events taking place. Jack begins to go insane from cabin fever and Danny is having horrible visions of previous hotel guests that have died. Now Wendy has to save her family before Jack’s cabin fever takes over and he succumbs to the evils of the hotel.

7. It (original and remakes chapter 1 and chapter 2) – The original is streaming on Hulu or HBO Max. The 1st chapter of the remake is streaming on HBO Max or DirecTV. The 2nd chapter is streaming on DirecTV, Sling, TNT, and TBS.

• TRIGGER WARNING: These movies depict deaths of children, child/ physical abuse, racism, and suicide.

When children in the town of Derry begin to disappear, a group of kids come together to form The Losers Club. Their goal is to defeat a shapeshifting demon that takes the form of a dancing clown named Pennywise that feeds on children’s fear in order to kill them. They manage to do this along with narrowly escaping their school bullies at the same time. After defeating Pennywise once, they make a pact that if “It” should return, they’ll come back to destroy “It” once and for all. 30 years later, they hear from Mike Scanlon, the only one of them left in Derry, that “It’s” come back.

6. Carrie (this bundle comes with the original, sequel and remake) – The original is streaming on Amazon Prime Video with AMC + subscription or Shudder.

• TRIGGER WARNING: These films contain bullying and emotional/ physical abuse.

A teen girl with an overbearing, religious fanatic mother wreaks havoc on her high school bullies on prom night using her telekinetic abilities.

5. Pet Sematary (original or remake) – The original is streaming on Amazon Prime Video with AMC + subscription. The remake is streaming on Paramount +.

• TRIGGER WARNING: These horror movies feature death of a child and animal deaths.

When Lewis Creed, his wife, Rachel, and their two young children move to a new home on a busy truck route, they make friends with their neighbor Jud. After their family pet dies, Jud shows Lewis that there’s a mysterious cemetery behind their home where things that have died can be brought back to life. Though Lewis quickly learns that “sometimes, dead is better.”

Horror Movies #4-1

4. Child’s Play Series – The first one is streaming on Peacock, DirecTV, and Fubo TV. The rest are on DirecTV and Fubo TV. The remake is on Paramount +.

• TRIGGER WARNING: Some of the films feature kidnapping, but the movies are fairly tame in comparison to others on this list.

Young Andy is obsessed with Good Guy dolls and asks his mother, Karen, for one for his birthday. When Charles Lee Ray is on the run from the law, he uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Good Guy Doll named Chucky. Thinking that there wouldn’t be anything seriously wrong with a child’s toy, Karen mistakenly brings Chucky into their home where he tries to take over Andy’s body before his soul becomes trapped in the doll forever.

3. Scream Series – The first three are streaming on HBO Max. The last one is streaming on Hulu or Amazon Prime with a Starz subscription.

• TRIGGER WARNING: There are a few mentions of rape throughout the series.

After her mother was murdered the year prior, a series of gruesome murders near a high school target a young teenager named Sidney and her friends one by one. The only clue that they have is that the killer wears a long black robed outfit with a white ghost mask, which several teens in the area think it’s funny to mockingly wear. Gale Weathers, local news reporter, is determined to find out who’s really behind the mask.

2. Halloween (original, Rob Zombie remake, and 2018 sequel) – The original is streaming on Shudder, The Roku Channel, and Amazon Prime Video with an AMC + subcription. The Rob Zombie remake is streaming on FXNow. The 2018 sequel is streaming on Fubo TV and DirecTV.

• TRIGGER WARNING/ 2018 sequel Spoiler: In Rob Zombie’s Halloween remake, there is a rape scene. In the 2018 sequel, there is a scene where it appears that Michael will kill an infant. However, this does not happen.

After stabbing his sister Judith to death on Halloween night 15 years earlier, Michael Myers escapes from the mental health facility where he’s being kept. Young babysitter Laurie Strode has no idea the danger she’s in as Michael targets her and her friends on Halloween, killing once again.

1. A Nightmare on Elm Street Series – The whole series is streaming on HBO Max.

• TRIGGER WARNING: One of the deaths in the original movie is dismissed and appears to others as a suicide, though this is not the case. In subsequent films, drug addiction and suicide are discussed, especially in the third movie.

The spirit of a horribly burned child murderer with knives for fingers haunts the dreams and kills the children of those who killed him. The teens now have to stay awake in order to survive long enough to kill him once and for all.

Honorable Mentions and Horror Movies I Haven’t Seen:

Horror Movies – Honorable Mentions:

These movies are great, but just didn’t make the cut in terms of ones that I grew up with or consider to be my favorites. These definitely deserve an honorable mention though:

#1-5

1. A Quiet Place pt 1 and pt 2 – Streaming on Paramount +
   • TRIGGER WARNING: Death of a child happens in these films. There is also a traumatic birth experience.
   • In a post apocalyptic world where supernatural monsters have a heightened sense of hearing, a family must live in silence to avoid being killed.
2. Doctor Sleep – Only available for purchase at this time.
   • TRIGGER WARNING: Multiple deaths of children, including a young toddler, happen in this movie. Drug use, overdose and alcoholism are also present.
   • In this sequel to The Shining, Danny Torrance has moved on from the horrors he once lived through at The Overlook Hotel. That all changes when young Abra uses her similar mindpowers to summon him for protection against a cult called The True Knot who plan to eat her “shine” to remain immortal. Danny soon finds that he has to return to The Overlook to save her.
3. Fear Street Series – Exclusively streaming on Netflix
   • TRIGGER WARNING: Deaths of children happen in this series. There are also homophobic slurs used. Illegal use of prescription drugs also takes place.
   • The town of Shadyside has been plagued with brutal murders for the past 300 years. The people seem to think this is because of the curse of Sarah Fier who was executed for witchcraft 300 years prior. Deena and her younger brother Josh as well as several of her friends set out to seek the truth as to what’s been happening all this time.
4. The Purge Series – Only available for purchase at this time.
   • TRIGGER WARNING: Rape is discussed in some of the films. Kidnapping is also present in many of the films. I’m also fairly certain that in many of the films, racism and classism are prevalent. I haven’t seen all of them though, so please watch at your own risk.
   • In the future, when America becomes excessively overcrowded and prisons are overrun, for one night, all crime including murder becomes legal during the annual 12 hour “purge” in order to maintain low crime throughout the rest of the year. Now families have to fight to stay alive before they become killed themselves.
5. Cabin Fever – Streaming on Peacock with ads
   • TRIGGER WARNING: Contains racist and homophobic slurs. Animal mutilation occurs.
   • A group of college friends go on vacation to a small cabin in the woods. When they get there, they soon realize that they’re being infected one by one with a flesh-eating disease.

#6-10

6. Hostel Series – Streaming on Peacock with ads
   • TRIGGER WARNING: This series features torture and kidnapping. It’s extremely gruesome. Suicide also occurs.
   • When young men go backpacking through Europe partying, they end up locked out of their hostel. They spend the night with a local man who tells them of another hostel filled with gorgeous women who “only want tourists,” they soon discover that this is too good to be true.
7. Paranormal Activity Series – Streaming on Hulu or Amazon Prime with Starz subscription
   • TRIGGER WARNING: A kidnapping takes place in Paranormal Activity 2.
   • When a couple moves into their new home they find that they may not be as alone as they thought. In this series, watch as strange happenings go from bad to worse as families find themselves battling the supernatural.
8. The Ring – Streaming on Hulu or Paramount +
   • TRIGGER WARNING: There is a video in this movie with graphic imagery, such as suicide, bugs, mutilation of a finger nail, etc. The film also features a suicide in addition to what is shown in the video.
   • A journalist investigates a case where after watching a cryptic video, four now deceased teens received a phone call saying they were going to die in seven days. When Rachel’s son watches the video himself, she has to race against time to save her son and figure out how to stop the tape from killing others.
9. Drag Me to Hell – Streaming on Fubo TV or on Showtime
   • TRIGGER WARNING: Animal mutilation takes place during this movie.
   • When Christine denies an elderly woman, Mrs. Ganush, a third extension on her home loan, she quickly discovers that the old lady isn’t quite who she seems to be. Mrs. Ganush places a curse on Christine which will result in her being taken to hell in only a few days if she can’t find a way to break it.
10. The Conjuring – Streaming on HBO Max and Netflix
    • TRIGGER WARNING: This movie shows animals that have died or are injured.
    • When Roger and Carolyn move to an old farm house with their children, they discover that there are paranormal forces at play haunting their family. They decide to bring in famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren to help bring their family peace, though this is a larger task than any of them could have anticipated.

Horror Movies I Haven’t Seen… But Want To

These movies I just haven’t gotten around to yet but want to see! I have had to cut back on the number of horror movies I watch since my son was born, but maybe I’ll make time to watch these ones this year! As I haven’t seen these movies, I cannot speak to their trigger warnings or summaries, so watch at your own risk.

1. Midsommar – Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
2. Krampus – Only available for purchase at this time
3. The Babadook – Streaming on Amazon Prime Video with AMC + subscription
4. The VVitch – Streaming on Fubo TV and Showtime
5. Trick ‘R’ Treat – Streaming on HBO Max
6. The Strangers – Streaming on Netflix
7. Hereditary – Streaming on Fubo TV and Showtime

8. The Dark and the Wicked – Streaming on Amazon Prime Video with AMC + subscription and on Shudder
9. Hush – Streaming exclusively on Netflix (not available for purchase on dvd/ blu-ray)
10. Freaky – Streaming on HBO Max and DirecTV
11. The Lodge – Streaming on Hulu
12. Run – Streaming exclusively on Hulu (not available for purchase on dvd/ blu-ray)
13. Sinister – Streaming on Fubo TV and Showtime
14. Suspiria – Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
15. The Mist – Streaming on Fubo TV and Amazon Prime Video with an AMC + subscription.

Now, I’m well aware some of these movies have been around for a while, I just haven’t found the time. But, I do definitely want to see them. Some of them I’m just terrified to watch, haha! I’m looking at you, Midsommar.

Top 31 Horror Movies: In Conclusion

These movies are the ones that I feel are most creative, most memorable, and honestly the ones that had a lasting impression on me. And yes, I know, I didn’t mention Friday the 13th *gasp!* I’m gonna be honest, it’s not my fave. But that’s okay. We all have different opinions, and that’s great! But these are the movies I remember growing up with for the most part.

I remember my sisters and my cousin and I would stay up late watching Chucky and Carrie with our grandma. One time during a sleepover my sister was having, I remember my dad scaring the shit out of us when we were watching Pet Sematary by banging on my sister’s window. We used to watch Tales from the Crypt (which I know isn’t on this list because it’s not a movie, but it’s still a favorite) and still have our favorite moments and quotes memorized. We used to watch Fright Night on a regular basis too. But the first horror movie I ever saw was A Nightmare on Elm Street and it’s my favorite to this day. It was my first horror tattoo I ever got and then we just went from there, haha!

Which horror movies are your favorites? Are there any that you think I need to see this year? Let me know in the comments! And like always, make sure you subscribe for weekly updates for fun ideas to do with the family. If you enjoyed this post and want more, feel free to check out my fun and more page or any of the posts below. Thanks everyone! Have a happy and safe October 🙂

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