Top Halloween Movies to Watch
Weeks from now, Halloween will be celebrated, and if you’re not sure or somehow undecided about how you’ll spend it, perhaps watching a scary movie could be the first step. You can start with the classics and go to the recent releases. We have some films to suggest below.
Psycho (1960)
A classic thriller by Alfred Hitchcock and is considered one of the greatest horror films of all time. It’s based on a novel written by Robert Bloch in 1959. The story follows an embezzler named Marion Crane who was on the fun for stealing $40,000 from her employer, and a motel owner named Norman Bates. Marion’s disappearance is being investigated by her sister Lila alongside a private investigator (who’s also her sister’s lover) named Sam Loomis.
Despite the initial controversy that this movie received, it received four Academy Award nominations as a result of its box-office success and critical reviews. This movie became one of Hitchcock’s greatest and is considered one of the earliest examples of slasher films.
One of its iconic scenes is the shower scene, which gave a chilling suspense and made it a horror movie standard.
The Exorcist (1973)
A supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin and based on the 1971 novel written by William Peter Blatty. The film follows a horrific story of a 12-year-old girl who is demonically possessed, and her mother attempts to rescue her by having an exorcism by two Catholic priests. Before it was produced, they encountered problems such as difficulty in casting, principal photography, and the production itself—resulting in several accidents and a belief that the movie was cursed.
When it was released in the United States on December 26, 1973, the movie grossed $193 million. After multiple releases, its lifetime total gross has grown to $441 million. This film is considered one of the greatest horror movies ever made and has had a big impact culturally.
Halloween (1978)
An independent slasher film that was directed and scored by John Carpenter. The story is set in Haddonfield, where it follows a mentally ill man named Michael Myers who escaped from a sanitarium for murdering his sister. It gained $70 million at the box office and is considered one of the greatest and most influential horror movies ever made. A franchise of the film was produced, and it was also turned into a novel; there’s also a video game and a comic book series. It was also selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
The Shining (1980)
A psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, which is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same title. The movie stars Jack Nicholson, Danny Lloyd, Shelley Duvall, and Scatman Crothers.
The story follows a novelist who is recovering from being an alcoholic and takes the job as a caretaker at a haunted resort hotel during winter. This movie was produced at EMI Elstree Studios and received mixed reactions, but it also received two controversial Razzie nominations. Regardless of criticism, the movie became a favorite and was also selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry in 2018.
Scream (1996)
A meta-slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. The setting is Woodsboro, California, and it follows a high school student named Sidney Prescott and her friends who become targets of a masked killer whom they start to call Ghostface. This film was inspired by reports of a series of murders by the Gainesville Ripper and was produced under the title Scary Movie.
Regardless of the skepticism, the film grossed $173 million globally, making it a successful and one of the highest-grossing films of the year. The movie also helped boost the writer’s career and the cast members as well.
Today, the movie is considered one of the greatest horror and slasher films ever made. The younger viewers have also regained interest in the genre.
Get Out (2017)
An American psychological horror film directed by Jordan Peele. It stars Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, and many more. The movie follows a young black man who meets the family of his white girlfriend and uncovers secrets about the girlfriend’s family. Even though the movie was filmed for 23 days only, it grossed $255 million worldwide and became a huge commercial success.
It became one of the year’s top ten movies in 2017 and was praised greatly by critics. Furthermore, the movie received multiple honors, including the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award.
Hereditary (2018)
An American psychological horror movie directed by Ari Aster. The movie stars Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, and other actors. The movie follows a family that gets haunted by sinister events after the death of their unsociable grandmother. This movie received the go signal from A24 after being influenced by Aster’s short horror films. It gained over $87 million when it premiered during the Sundance Film Festival.
It (2017)
Another American supernatural horror movie is based on Stephen King’s classic novel, and it was directed by Andy Muschietti. The movie was also written by Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman.
The movie follows a group of seven children who are part of the loser’s club, and they’re being terrorized by a clown named Pennywise the Dancing Clown. The movie was developed by Warner Bros. and produced by New Line Cinema, KatzSmith Productions, Lin Pictures, and Vertigo Entertainment.
The movie premiered in Los Angeles on September 5, 2017, and gained over $701 million worldwide. The movie became the third highest-grossing R-rated film when it was released. It received positive feedback, numerous awards, and nominations, which included two Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association nominations and three Bogey Awards.If watching movies isn’t your cup of tea, perhaps you’d want to celebrate Halloween in Spin Genie’s bingo room.