Trick or treat.
The spookiest time of year is here. Whether you celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating or going to a costume party, it’s the perfect time of year to watch something chilling on your TV.
From movies to TV shows, we’ve got you covered on a wide range of new releases, old favorites, family friendly fare, and true horror.
Here’s what to watch and stream on Halloween 2024.
“Trap”
M. Night Shyamalan’s latest twisty thriller is finally streaming. This buzzy 2024 movie stars Josh Hartnett as a caring dad who takes his daughter to a Taylor Swift-like concert. Oh, and he also happens to be a serial killer. And the entire concert is a trap to catch him.
Where to watch: Max.
“Goosebumps”
There have been several adaptations of the classic R.L. Stine children’s book thrillers, but the 2023 TV series is surprisingly good spooky programming that kids and teens can watch, too. The story follows a group of high schoolers investigating a mystery from the past. Justin Long stars as a teacher. Season 2 will be a new plot with a new cast, coming January 10, 2025.
Where to watch: Disney+
“Practical Magic”
This 1998 movie stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as two witchy sisters who are unlucky in love. It’s not a horror movie, but the iconic house and candle-filled atmosphere makes it an autumn classic, plus it’s got some creepy witchy hijinks, in the form of the sisters accidentally resurrecting an evil ex boyfriend.
Where to watch: Max.
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
This modern classic show is a great Halloween watch in general, as Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) has to battle vampires and various creatures every episode. However, if you want an especially chilling hour, look no further than the Season 4 episode, “Hush.” In this eerie silent episode, everyone loses the power of speech, thanks to a group of terrifying ghouls. Say what you will about the outdated special effects in “Buffy” but the ghouls’ floating jerky movements remain genuinely scary to this day. This episode also has the show’s signature mix of horror with some laugh out loud moments.
Where to watch: Tubi, Disney+, Hulu.
“What We Do in the Shadows”
If you don’t have the nerves for true horror, don’t fear: the vampires of Staten Island are here to deliver comedy. This hilarious show follows vampire roommates Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), Nandor (Kayvan Novak) and their various enemies and friends such as Guillermo (Harvey Guillén). It’s quirky and hilarious, and it’s currently on its sixth and final season, so it’s the perfect time to catch up.
Where to watch: Hulu.
“The Fall of the House of Usher”
If you missed this show from horror master Mike Flanagan – or just want to revisit it – now is the time. This creepy miniseries is both ancient and modern, as it takes inspiration from the classic Edgar Allan Poe story of the same name, but also infuses it with the “ripped from the headlines” story that’s a thinly veiled version of the Sackler family. In this show, which stars Cala Gugino, Mark Hamill, Mary McDonnell, and Rahul Kohli, members of a wealthy and corrupt family that helms a pharmaceutical empire meet their deaths in ways that echo Poe’s timeless gruesome tales.
Where to watch: Netflix
“Late Night with The Devil”
This 2023 horror film is a relatively recent release that’s now streaming. In case you missed it, it follows Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian), a 70s era late-night talk show host doing an occult-themed Halloween special where things go horribly wrong.
Where to watch: Hulu
“The Cabin in the Woods”
This 2011 movie is an underrated horror-comedy classic. Starring a pre-fame Chris Hemsworth, the plot follows the usual “Evil Dead” style formula of college kids partying in the woods when things go awry and they start dying one by one. But it has several twists, and it a winking self-awareness that pokes fun at the genre while also paying tribute to it. It’s simultaneously a horror movie, and also a satire of them.
Where to watch: Peacock.
“Evil”
This under-appreciated drama recently ended after four seasons, so it’s the perfect time to watch. Created by “The Good Wife” duo Robert and Michelle King, it’s a supernatural drama following forensic psychologist Dr. Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers), former war journalist turned aspiring priest David Acosta (Mike Colter) and tech expert Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi) as they investigate seemingly supernatural events.
Where to watch: Paramount+, Netflix.
“I Saw the TV Glow”
This 2024 movie follows Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddie (Brigette Lundy-Paine) who become fans of a mysterious TV show, where their view of reality begins to break down.
Where to watch: Max
“Nope”
Jordan Peele’s other movies, “Get Out” and “Us,” were more popular, but his most recent release, 2022’s “Nope,” is still worth a watch. Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun, the story follows a family that trains horses for film productions who discover UFOs.
Where to watch: Starz, Hulu.
“Psycho”
If you want to revisit a classic, Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” is streaming. Starring Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates, the plot centers on a woman on the run (Janet Leigh) who gets mysteriously murdered at a motel with a shy proprietor, and the spiraling events following her death.
Where to watch: Netflix.
