10 Spooky Movies and Shows to Binge This Halloween (From Classics to Modern Chills)
So, Halloween’s knocking again. The decorations are still in the box, your candy stash looks suspiciously smaller than it should, and you’re staring at your OTT apps like they owe you a horror recommendation. Relax. We’ve got you covered.
Whether you’re into slow-burn psychological horror, jump-scare chaos, or that brand of “I can’t watch this but also can’t look away” gore, these spooky movie suggestions will cover every mood. Some of them are classics you’ve heard a thousand times before. And that’s okay. Because Halloween isn’t about being original… It’s about watching the same terrifying comfort movies again and pretending the twist still shocks you.
Here are ten picks to wrap up your Add to Watchlist: Spooky Edition marathon, from haunted hotels to flesh-eating monsters, from horror-comedy chaos to pure cinematic dread. Make sure to check the streaming availability in your regions here.
1. Cabinet of Curiosities (2022) – a masterclass in short-form terror
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is like a cursed chocolate box. Eight stories, each more unhinged than the last, and all wrapped in that signature Del Toro aesthetic. It is beautiful, grotesque, and oddly elegant.
You’ll find directors like Jennifer Kent (The Babadook) and Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night) each putting their own twisted stamp on horror. Some episodes are gothic slow-burns. Others go full Lovecraftian nightmare.
What makes this show perfect for Halloween is that it doesn’t drag. You can pick any episode, watch it as a standalone, and still feel like you got the chills you came for. And if you’re into practical effects, eerie creature design, and that sense of creeping cosmic dread, this anthology is gold.
Where to Watch: Streaming on Netflix.
2. The Babysitter – gore that remembers to have fun
Let’s be honest, not every Halloween night needs to end with you sleeping with the lights on. Sometimes, you just want a movie that’s equal parts ridiculous and gory. Enter The Babysitter.
The film starts with a simple setup: a kid realizes his hot babysitter is part of a satanic cult. They’re not trying to reinvent horror. They’re just here to have a blast. Think Scott Pilgrim meets Scream, but with better one-liners and way more fake blood.
And yes, it is technically not scary. But when you’re halfway through your candy, a little chaos and camp might be exactly what you need.
Where to Watch: Both films are available on Netflix.
3. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – horror that doesn’t need a ghost
This isn’t just a film. It’s an education in psychological horror.
The Silence of the Lambs is proof that sometimes, real monsters wear human skin and speak politely while they size you up. Jodie Foster’s Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter are locked in a mental chess game that’s both terrifying and hypnotic.
There are no ghosts, no creaking doors, no demons. Just intellect, manipulation, and dread so thick you could slice it. Watching this on Halloween hits different especially when you realize how clinical fear can feel when it’s stripped of all the supernatural fluff.
Where to Watch: Available on Amazon Prime Video (MGM+ channel) and rentable on Apple TV.
4. Train to Busan (2016) – the zombie film that actually made people cry
If you think zombie movies are all the same, Train to Busan will change that.
Set on a high-speed train during a sudden zombie outbreak, this South Korean thriller manages to blend pure chaos with real emotion. You care about the characters. You feel the panic in each carriage. And by the time the credits roll, you’ll realize you just got emotionally devastated by a zombie flick.
The pacing is perfect, the action relentless, and the heart absolutely unmissable. It’s not just one of the best zombie movies… it’s one of the best horror movies, period.
It’s also a great “gateway horror” for people who don’t usually like the genre. You get tension, character depth, and yes, a little gore. But it’s all earned.
Where to Watch: Streaming on Prime Video and JIO Hotstar in India.
5. Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) – desi horror comedy that still holds up
You knew this one was coming.
Before jump-scare universes and fancy camera work, Bollywood gave us Bhool Bhulaiyaa, a film that somehow balances comedy, superstition, and genuine psychological horror. Akshay Kumar brings his chaotic charm as the eccentric psychiatrist, while Vidya Balan’s performance as Avni remains one of the best in Indian horror cinema.
The movie takes its time. It lures you in with jokes, catchy songs, and a seemingly harmless haunted mansion. Then it switches gears and reminds you that laughter and fear can live uncomfortably close together.
Sure, you’ve probably seen it already. But there’s something about watching it again, maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it’s that eerie tune that refuses to leave your head. Either way, it earns its place.
Where to Watch: Streaming on Netflix
6. The Shining (1980) – a snowstorm of madness
The Shining isn’t just horror. It’s a fever dream disguised as a film.
Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel takes everything unsettling about isolation and cranks it up. The Overlook Hotel becomes a living, breathing character, and Jack Nicholson’s slow descent into insanity feels both terrifying and inevitable.
You’ve heard the quotes. You’ve seen the memes. You already know what happens. But nothing prepares you for how uncomfortable this movie still feels. Every sound, every camera angle, every empty hallway builds a world where time itself feels haunted.
And yes, King wasn’t thrilled about this version, and we agree the book is definitely scarier. But the movie has become iconic for a reason… It’s cinematic hypnosis. The kind that crawls under your skin and sets up camp.
Where to Watch: Available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube Movies.
7. The Conjuring (2013) – the modern haunted house blueprint
Before every horror film had a “based on a true story” caption, The Conjuring came along and reminded everyone what fear feels like when done right.
James Wan directs with such confidence that even a clap in the dark can make you flinch. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren give the supernatural a strange sincerity; you believe them even when you shouldn’t.
It’s formulaic, sure, but that’s because it became the formula. The Conjuring-verse practically defined the 2010s horror aesthetic: muted colors, dread-heavy atmosphere, and the promise that something unseen is waiting just off-screen.
If you’re introducing someone to horror, this is the safest gateway. If you’re a horror veteran, it’s still a comfortable revisit to the kind that delivers chills without crossing into trauma.
Where to Watch: Streaming on Prime Video and Netflix (region-dependent).
8. Get Out (2017) – social horror at its smartest
Jordan Peele’s Get Out is one of those rare films that completely redefines what horror can mean.
It’s not about ghosts or monsters. It’s about systems, society, and the everyday terrors of being watched, controlled, and used. It’s razor-sharp, wickedly funny, and horrifying in a way that feels too real.
The brilliance is in how Peele hides commentary inside the tension. You think you’re watching a simple thriller, but every scene is laced with unease. By the time it ends, you’re not sure if you should clap or stare blankly at the credits.
And yes, everyone talks about the teacup scene. But go back and rewatch it… the sound design, the pacing, the performance. It’s horror built on atmosphere, not jump scares.
Where to Watch: Streaming on JIO Hotstar.
9. Jaws (1975) – the monster that made people fear swimming
You know this one. Everyone knows this one. But that doesn’t mean it’s lost its bite.
Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is the reason entire generations developed irrational fear of beaches. The shark barely shows up for most of the movie, and yet your heart’s pounding like it’s chasing you personally. That’s mastery.
What’s wild is how watchable it still is. The pacing, the characters, the tension, it’s not “modern horror,” but it’s storytelling at its purest. Sometimes the scariest thing isn’t what you see. It’s what you imagine waiting under the surface.
If you want something spooky without diving into blood-soaked possession films, this one’s a safe yet thrilling bet. Bonus points if you play it with surround sound and dim lights.
Where to Watch: Streaming on JIO Hotstar.
10. Jurassic Park (1993) – A film that still rules
Okay, technically not horror. But come on, tell me the raptor kitchen scene didn’t mess you up as a kid.
Steven Spielberg again, proving that the unknown doesn’t have to be supernatural to be terrifying. Jurassic Park is adventure, science fiction, and horror rolled into one perfect popcorn masterpiece.
Every sound, every screech, every moment of silence before the T-Rex steps out of the rain, it’s all designed to make your heart skip. And because the effects still hold up decades later, it’s as effective as ever.
For Halloween, this works as your cool-down movie. It’s the bridge between real horror and blockbuster thrill. You get tension without the trauma, and enough nostalgia to end the night with a grin instead of a scream.
Where to Watch: Available to rent on APPLE TV.
The Halloween Wrap-Up
If you’ve made it this far, you clearly take your scares seriously or at least your movie marathons. These ten titles are the perfect way to wrap up the spooky season, mixing horror with humor, psychology, and nostalgia.
You don’t need every pick to terrify you. Some will just keep you entertained. Some will quietly get under your skin and stay there long after the credits roll. The beauty of Halloween is that it’s never just about being scared… It’s about that delicious in-between space where you’re thrilled, a little uneasy, and kind of loving it.
So go ahead. Dim the lights, grab the last of the candy, and hit play.
And when you’re done, check out the full Add to Watchlist: Spooky Edition collection for more haunted picks, hidden gems, and cult classics that slipped through the cracks this season.
You may also like
