From horror classics like ‘Scream’ to psycological thrillers like ‘Hereditary’, this list covers every scary movie you must watch this Halloween.

These movies will either have you doubled over in laughter at the stupid decisions of the characters or locking all your doors in fear of the Boogeyman paying a visit. After all, Halloween is about celebrating the art of scary, and what better way to do so than watching 10 frightening scary movies.

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Home Invasion Movies

1. The Purge (2013)

Vibe: Thriller

Scare factor: 7/10

Director: James DeMonaco

Plot: America celebrates an annual holiday in which all crime becomes legal for 12 hours. Subsequently, an intruder breaches the security of the house and a wealthy family struggles to protect each other from dying and becoming the very thing they sought to avoid.

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane, Edwin Hodge, Rhys Wakefield, Tony Oller and Arija Bareikis.

Fun Facts

• The movie was inspired by an act of road rage DeMonaco and his wife witness after a driver almost killed them.
• A similar event to the Purge occured in Ancient Rome called, Saturnalia. Therefore, for one week in the year, the people of Rome could do what they wanted for a week without consequences, even murder.

2. Don’t Breathe (2016)

Vibe: High suspense

Scare factor: 8/10

Director: Fede Álvarez

Plot: 3 robbers break into the home of blind Gulf War Veteran, Norman, however, he is not as weak appears to be.

Cast: Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto, and Stephen Lang,

Fun Facts

• Ironically, the street where the blind man lives is called “Buena Vista,” which is translated to mean “Good View” in Spanish.
• The original name for the movie was going to be ‘Man in the Dark’

3. The Strangers (2008)

Vibe: Jumpscares

Scare factor: 8/10

Director: Bryan Bertino

Plot: A couple spending the evening at their vacation home is interrupted by the torment of 3 masked intruders.

Cast: Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman

Fun Facts

• The screenplay was inspired by two real-life events: the multiple-homicide Manson family Tate murders as well as a series of break-ins that occurred in Bertino’s neighborhood as a child.
• The movie was filmed entirely with hand-held cameras or steady cams

Movies Involving a Cult

4. Get Out (2017)

Vibe: Psychological thriller

Scare factor: 9/10

Director: Jordan Peele

Plot: Chris Washington meets his white girlfriend’s parents for the first time, uncovers their dark secrets, and consequently realises he is in extreme danger.

Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Stephen Root, and Catherine Keener.

Fun Facts

• Peele’s directional debut
• Peele has voice cameos as a deer and in a background commercial in Get Out
• In 2018, Peele was awarded Best Original Screenplay making history as the first black director to receive the honour

5. Hereditary (2018)

Vibe: Psychological thriller and gory

Scare factor: 10/10

Director: Ari Aster

Plot: Following the death of their secretive grandmother, a family is haunted by an ominous entity.

Cast: ​​Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, and Gabriel Byrne

Fun Facts

• Alex Wolff offered to break his own nose for the movie
• Aster’s directional debut
• A theatre in Western Australia accidentally played the trailer for Hereditary before Peter Rabbit

6. Midsommer (2019)

Vibe: Psychological thriller and gory

Scare factor: 10/10

Director: Ari Aster

Plot: A group of friends travel to Sweden for a fun cultural festival. However, when it’s far too late, they discover they are involved in a Scadanavian Pagan cult ceremony that occurs once every 90 years.

Cast: ​​Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, Ellora Torchia, Archie Madekwe, and Will Poulter.

Fun Facts

• Aster’s breakup inspired the couple’s relationship in the movie
• Most of the movie was filmed in Hungary
• The flower dress in the final scene sold at A24 Charity Auction for $65,000. Furthermore, Ariana Grande bid on the dress

Haunted House Movies

7. Insidious (2010)

Vibe: Jumpscares and suspense

Scare factor: 7/10

Director: James Wan

Director: James Wan

Plot: A family moves into a new house and on one of the first nights the little boy enters a coma. Subsequently, the boy becomes a vessel for a demonic spirit in the astral dimension.

Cast: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, and Barbara Hershey

Fun Facts

• The entire movie was shot in 3 weeks
• The original title for the film was ‘The Further’
• The film won two Fright Meter Awards in 2011, Best Horror Movie and Best Supporting Actress for Lin Shaye

8. The Conjuring (2013)

Vibe: Jumpscares

Scare factor: 8/10

Director: James Wan

Director: James Wan

Plot: A family discovers their new farmhouse is haunted after a series of strange events occur. In response, they contact paranormal Investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, who investigated the demonic doll, Annabelle.

Cast: Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga star as Ed and Lorraine Warren,

Fun Facts

• The movies had been in the works for 20 years
• The original title was ‘The Untitled Warren Filed Project’
• Wilson and Farmiga spent 3 days with the real Ed and Lorraine Warren in order to prepare for the role
• The real Lorraine Warren has a cameo in the front row of the classroom listening to Warren’s lecture

Slapstick Scary Movies

9. Scream (1996)

Vibe: Jumpscares

Scare factor: 6/10

Director: Wes Craven

Plot: Sidney Prescott is a high school student who becomes the target of a mysterious slasher wearing a Ghostface costume.

Cast: David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan and Drew Barrymore

Fun Facts

• Inspired by the real-life case of the Gainesville Ripper
• The original title was ‘Scary Movie’
• Drew Barrymore backed out of playing the lead 5 weeks before production
• The killer’s voice on the phone was played by voice actor Roger L. Jackson who also starred as Mojo Jojo in The Powerpuff Girls

10. Ready or Not (2019)

Vibe: Thriller

Scare factor: 9/10

Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett

Plot: A newlywed bride is surprised with a wedding night tradition. Although, it’s not all fun and games when she finds out she’s being hunted by her new family.

Cast: ​​Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O’Brien, Henry Czerny, and Andie MacDowell.

Fun Facts

• 17 versions of the same dress were made to show the deterioration of Grace’s night
• Samara Weaving had to be taught to drive for the movie
• Margot Robbie was considered for the role of Grace