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Halloween is an incredibly fun holiday and in my opinion, has THE best movies! Now that could just be because there’s a whole genre of films that fit the season…Horror movies! But, Halloween is more than just scary movies. There are so many films that embrace the thrilling, spooky side of film without the terror! There’s comedy, action, fantasy, and even family films that can take Halloween to the next level!
First, I commissioned the Nerd Initiative crew with submitting to me their top 10 favorite movies for the Halloween season. Each list was so fascinating and unique in their own way! It really was a pleasure to review them! Then, it was time to tally the favorites, crunch the numbers, and finally…LIST THEM!
So, now that everyone is filled with…antici…PATION, lets get to the movies!
10. Poltergeist (1982)
This horror film written by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper is in my opinion a perfect example of collaboration between 2 filmmakers. Hooper knows how to push the limits of horror and Spielberg knows how to make a film into a grande spectacle. That’s what Poltergeist is, a horror spectacle.
9. Ghostbusters (1984)
Talk about iconic! This comedy/action/fantasy film revolves around the supernatural. It’s a wild ride, with ghosts, ghouls, an ancient Sumerian God, and a Marshmallow Kaiju! It’s also full of laughs and heart from beginning to end and I believe the librarian ghost at the beginning of the film is one of the most fun scares in the history of film!
8. It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966)
Charlie Brown is a mainstay and still going strong for over 50 years! This is a classic film and one that many families still watch traditionally. There’s just something about the Peanuts that relates to generation after generation.
7. The Addam’s Family (1991)
The most eccentric family to ever grace the silver screen made the jump to the big screen in 1991. A fun story, some great special effects, and a stellar cast endeared this movie to an entirely new generation of fans.
6. Halloween (1978)
One of the masters of horror, John Carpenter, dropped this iconic film in 1978 that became and instant classic. Not only did this film redefine the american horror movie industry, Michael Myers became the face of fear and a symbol of the Halloween season!
5. Scream (1996)
If John Carpenter and Michael Myers may have changed the trajectory of the horror movie genre, then Wes Craven, a horror master in his own right, and Ghost Face blew the top off! Scream was a cultural phenomenon that payed homage to every slasher to come before it while still doing something new and fresh and ultimately cementing itself a deserving spot in the Pantheon of horror.
4. The Monster Squad (1987)
“Wolfman’s got nards!” What would happen if The Goonies took on the Universal Monsters? That’s an over-simplified breakdown of this black comedy, but it checks out for the most part. We won’t try to convince you that it’s Criterion Collection worthy, but it’s a cult classic plain and simple.
3. Beetlejuice (1988)
If you didn’t know who Michael Keaton and Tim Burton were before Beetlejuice, you certainly did after this film. The movies horror motif is fun and interesting, seeing the haunted house trope from the ghost point of view. Keaton wows with an eccentric and iconic performance, with so many quotable one liners. Tim Burton is a Halloween guy, though and through, as several of his movies showed up on our lists, but Beetlejuice was a widespread favorite!
2. Trick R’ Treat (2007)
It’s funny that a film that never got a theatrical release nor any widespread press coverage at the time has become such an staple in “favorite horror movie” lists. Trick R’ Treat was a near unanimous pick among the Nerd Initiative crew. This horror anthology birthed a new iconic character, Sam, who you can now see in merchandise and artwork along with the likes of Jason, Freddy, Michael Myers, Pinhead, and so on! That’s some impressive company for a film that was released straight to DVD in a world before streaming services!
1. Hocus Pocus (1993)
I’ll be honest with you, when I started this project I knew that this was going to end up being the clear favorite. Hocus Pocus was on almost every Halloween top 10 movie list. It’s hard to deny the popularity and charm of this film. Most young adults and 40 somethings were introduced to The Sanderson Sister’s in ’93 but it was not an immediate hit. The film was a bust at the box office, but Hocus Pocus found it’s footing as most people gained access to The Disney Channel and then The Sanderson Sister’s put a spell on all of us!
And that’s a wrap guys and ghouls! The first annual Nerd Initiative Halloween Top 10 Movie List is in the books and I’m loving the results. These are some great films ranging from terrifying to flat out hilarious, but all are worthy of watching for a great Halloween season!
