Ready for Halloween horror movies that are actually scary? This list is for adults only: slashers, possessions, haunted houses and a few modern films that will make you check the locks. We also cover the three big Halloween franchises, Halloween, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and A Nightmare on Elm Street, with the order to watch them in.
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Before You Start
Every movie here is rated R or close to it, so this is a night for after the kids are asleep. We left out the pure gore films; the picks below scare you with tension and atmosphere more than blood.
15 Best Halloween Horror Movies for Adults
1. Halloween (1978)
Rated: R. The masked man in a quiet suburb on Halloween night. The blueprint for everything that followed.
Shop Halloween (1978) on Blu-ray and DVD
2. The Exorcist (1973)
Rated: R. A mother fights for her possessed daughter. Still one of the most disturbing films ever made.
Shop The Exorcist (1973) on Blu-ray and DVD
3. The Shining (1980)
Rated: R. Snow, an empty hotel and a father coming apart. Pure dread.
Shop The Shining (1980) on Blu-ray and DVD
4. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Rated: R. A road trip ends at the wrong farmhouse. Raw and relentless, with far less blood on screen than its reputation suggests.
Shop The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) on Blu-ray and DVD
5. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Rated: R. A killer who gets you when you fall asleep.
Shop A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) on Blu-ray and DVD
6. Trick 'r Treat (2007)
Rated: R. Four stories set on one Halloween night, each punishing someone who breaks a Halloween tradition.
Shop Trick 'r Treat (2007) on Blu-ray and DVD
7. Hereditary (2018)
Rated: R. A family grief story that turns into something much worse. Not for a light night.
Shop Hereditary (2018) on Blu-ray and DVD
8. The Conjuring (2013)
Rated: R. A haunted farmhouse and a real-life investigator couple. Classic jump scares done right.
Shop The Conjuring (2013) on Blu-ray and DVD
9. Sinister (2012)
Rated: R. A true-crime writer finds a box of old home movies in his new house. Very hard to watch alone.
Shop Sinister (2012) on Blu-ray and DVD
10. Insidious (2010)
Rated: PG-13. A boy falls into a coma and something follows him back.
Shop Insidious (2010) on Blu-ray and DVD
11. It Follows (2014)
Rated: R. A slow-walking curse that never stops coming. Simple idea, lasting fear.
Shop It Follows (2014) on Blu-ray and DVD
12. Scream (1996)
Rated: R. Scary and smart: a killer who knows the rules of horror movies.
Shop Scream (1996) on Blu-ray and DVD
13. Barbarian (2022)
Rated: R. A rental home double-booked with a stranger, and a basement no one should open.
Shop Barbarian (2022) on Blu-ray and DVD
14. Talk to Me (2023)
Rated: R. Teens use an embalmed hand to let spirits in for fun. It goes very wrong.
Shop Talk to Me (2023) on Blu-ray and DVD
15. Smile (2022)
Rated: R. A therapist is haunted by a grin she cannot stop seeing.
Shop Smile (2022) on Blu-ray and DVD
The Halloween Movies in Order (Including Halloween 2007)
The Halloween series has several timelines, so you do not need to watch every film. Our suggested paths:
- The original night: Halloween (1978) and Halloween II (1981).
- The modern trilogy: Halloween (1978), then Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021) and Halloween Ends (2022). The 2018 film ignores every sequel in between.
- Rob Zombie's version: Halloween (2007) is a remake that spends much more time on Michael Myers as a child. It is far more brutal than the original; watch it as a separate story, followed by Halloween II (2009) if you want more.
See the Halloween collection on Blu-ray
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movies in Order
- Start here: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974).
- The remake: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), glossier and more violent.
- The direct sequel: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022), set decades after the original.
Get the 1974 original on Blu-ray
A Nightmare on Elm Street Movies in Order
- Must watch: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).
- Best sequel: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987).
- For fans: Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994), a clever film about the films.
- Skip unless curious: the 2010 remake.
See the Elm Street collection on Blu-ray
Set the Mood for a Horror Night
Real horror needs real darkness, but not total blackout: a warm white LED strip behind the TV keeps your eyes comfortable and makes the black parts of the picture look deeper. A couple of flameless LED candles and black metal lanterns set the scene, and a chunky knit throw gives you something to hide behind. Our midnight Halloween TV night guide has the full setup.
Where to Watch These Horror Movies
Streaming libraries change every month, so check a free tracker like JustWatch before movie night to see which app has each film right now. Most of these titles can also be rented for a few dollars, and the Amazon links above take you to the Blu-ray or DVD if you want to own them.
If you would rather have one place for films and live channels, Ovello TV and ScreenHouse are two streaming services we partner with. Both work on Fire TV, smart TVs, Apple TV and Android, and you can message them before you sign up. No smart apps on the TV? An Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max plugs into any HDMI port.
More Halloween Movie Lists
- 80s and 90s classic Halloween movies
- Every Tim Burton movie, ranked
- The 20 best Halloween movies, ranked
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