Copyright The Boston Globe
Halloween falls on a Friday this year, so plan a family movie night to enjoy all of the candy spoils after the trick or treating is done. A few classics that should be on the list: 1966’s “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (Apple TV); 1993’s Salem-set “Hocus Pocus” (Disney+); and 1995’s Maine-set “Casper” (Netflix). A personal favorite of mine, the live-action “The Addams Family” film and its sequel, “Addams Family Values,” are both streaming (Paramount+, Pluto TV), as are the 2019 animated adaptation (Paramount+, Prime Video), and its 2021 sequel (Prime Video). And for the teens in the house, the series “Wednesday,” starring Jenna Ortega as the famed Addams daughter, is streaming on Netflix. Fans of Mystery Inc. can watch the 2002 live-action “Scooby-Doo” movie (HBO Max) and its 2004 sequel (HBO Max, Prime Video), as well as “Scoob!”, the 2020 animated flick (HBO Max). Millennial parents may want to introduce their kids to nostalgic ‘90s shows like “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” (Paramount+, Prime Video) and “Goosebumps” (Netflix, Tubi). The 2023 “Goosebumps” series is also streaming (Disney+), as are the 2015 film adaptation and its sequel (both on Peacock). Looking for more Disney titles? Queue up the Disney Channel original “Halloweentown” and its sequels, or haunted hits like Eddie Murphy’s “The Haunted Mansion” and 2023’s Lakeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson-starring “Haunted Mansion,” plus the 2021 “Muppets Haunted Mansion” (all streaming on Disney+). Meanwhile, the animated film “Hotel Transylvania” and its first sequel are on Hulu, while the third installment is on Netflix. And for fans of the the Wizarding World, the “Harry Potter” movies are available to stream (HBO Max, Peacock). Last month, Globe film critic Odie Henderson shared his horror movie picks, offering “streaming suggestions for movies past and present that will satisfy your ghoulish viewing pleasures.” A couple of 2025 films made the list, including Michael B. Jordan’s period vampire flick “Sinners” and filmmaker Zach Cregger’s modern fairy tale “Weapons” (both streaming on HBO Max). Additional highlights from Henderson’s list include “The Fog” (Criterion Channel); the 1986 remake of “The Fly” (Hulu, Paramount+); and “Christine” (HBO Max, Tubi). Globe TV and pop culture critic Chris Vognar paid tribute to New England’s master of the macabre with a guide to H.P. Lovecraft adaptations. Among the highlights available to stream: “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities” (Netflix) and the series “Lovecraft Country” (HBO Max). Halloween is the perfect time to revisit the Maine author’s spookiest works, and there’s plenty of adaptations of them available across the different platforms. Viewers can stream both “The Shining” (HBO Max) and its sequel, “Doctor Sleep” (Hulu). The 1989 version of “Pet Sematary” (Paramount+, Pluto TV) is also streaming, as is “Pet Sematary Two” and the 2019 remake (both on Paramount+), plus 2023’s “Pet Sematary: Bloodlines” (Paramount+ and Prime Video). Fans of the author should also check out the original “Carrie” movie (AMC+), based on King’s debut novel, which turned 50 last year. Other King adaptations streaming include: Hulu’s “Castle Rock” series; “Children of the Corn” (HBO Max, Tubi) and its 2020 remake (Hulu); 1983’s “Cujo” (AMC+, Pluto TV); “The Dead Zone” (AMC+, Pluto TV); “Misery” (HBO Max); “The Mist” (Peacock); and “The Monkey” (Hulu). Additionally, the original “It” miniseries, along with the recent film reboot and its sequel, are all streaming on HBO Max, as is the new prequel show “It: Welcome to Derry,” which airs a new episode on Halloween. There’s more New England-themed spooky fun to be had beyond King adaptations. Enjoy a creature feature with the Massachusetts-set “Jaws” and its three sequels (all on Netflix) or the Maine-set “Lake Placid” (Paramount+). Viewers can also have a spell-binding night with the cult classic romance-comedy “Practical Magic” (HBO Max, Tubi), which takes place in the Bay State. Or, if you’re brave enough, sit back for a spookier movie night with New England-set period flicks “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse” (both on HBO Max), courtesy of Granite State native and filmmaker Robert Eggers. In need of a laugh instead? Check out fellow New Hampshire native Adam Sandler in the Salem-set comedy “Hubie Halloween” (Netflix). And while it may be a little early to serve up turkey, Massachusetts native Eli Roth brings the horror mayhem to his home state in the slasher flick “Thanksgiving” (Hulu). The classic Universal monster movies from the ‘50s and earlier are required viewing for serious horror fans, and there are plenty streaming right now, including: “Frankenstein” (Prime Video); “Dracula” (Prime Video); “The Wolf Man” (Peacock); “The Phantom of the Opera” (Pluto TV, Tubi); “The Invisible Man” (Prime Video); “Bride of Frankenstein” (Prime Video); “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man” (Peacock); “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (Prime Video); and my personal top choice from the Universal monster universe, “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” (AMC+). Grab the gang and have a laugh with the original “Ghostbusters” and its first sequel (both streaming on Peacock). The recent reboots and remakes are streaming too, including “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (Starz), “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (Netflix), and the Boston-filmed, all-women version, “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call” (Hulu). Michael Myers is the type of character who can keep a franchise going, considering how many films in the “Halloween” series are streaming across various services, including: 1978’s original “Halloween” (AMC+); installments two and three (AMC+; Peacock) and four and five (AMC+); “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” (HBO Max); “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (HBO Max); “Halloween: Resurrection” (HBO Max); the 2007 reboot (AMC+) and its 2009 sequel (Paramount+ with Showtime); the 2018 reboot (Hulu, Tubi); and “Halloween Ends” (Peacock). Spend a night with Freddy Krueger and the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” films, with the original and its sequels through the fifth installment all streaming on HBO Max, along with the 2010 reboot. Nemesis Jason Voorhees also has movies available to stream this season, with “Friday the 13th” and its first two sequels streaming on Paramount+ and Peacock (Paramount+ has all of the sequels through the eighth installment as well). Meanwhile, HBO Max has both “Freddy vs. Jason” and the 2009 “Friday the 13th” remake. Fans of extraterrestrial mayhem can check out all of the “Predator” films, as well as the “Alien” movies and the new “Alien: Earth” show, on Hulu (HBO Max is also streaming “Alien: Covenant”). More of a slasher horror aficionado? Stream the original “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (Netflix, Peacock, Pluto TV, Tubi). Also streaming from the franchise: “Part 2″ (Prime Video, Tubi); “Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III” (Peacock); “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation” (Peacock, Prime Video, Tubi); “Texas Chainsaw 3D” (Peacock, Tubi); “Leatherface” (Peacock); and the 2022 reboot (Netflix). All of the “Saw” movies, except for the most recent 10th installment, are on Hulu. Creepy dolls like Chucky are also on the lineup this season, with the original “Child’s Play” (AMC+) streaming, as well as its various sequels and TV show (Peacock). The 2019 reboot is also available (Tubi). Meanwhile, all of “The Conjuring” universe movies except the most recent, “Last Rites,” as well as the spinoff film series “Annabelle” and “The Nun,” are available on HBO Max. “The Nun II” is also on Hulu. Stalker-slasher franchises are streaming too, including 1997’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (Paramount+), and its sequels “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” (Netflix, Tubi) and “I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer” (Tubi). The 2025 latest installment is also streaming on Netflix. Ghostface fans can check out the first three “Scream” movies on Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and Pluto TV. The fourth installment is also available to watch (Paramount+, Peacock, Tubi), with the fifth and sixth movies both streaming on Paramount+ (the 2022 fifth installment is also on Hulu). Skip the screams for crazy, fatal accidents with the “Final Destination” movies (all on HBO Max). Malevolent spirits dominate “The Evil Dead” (Paramount+, Pluto TV, Tubi) and “Evil Dead II” (HBO Max). The 2013 reboot (Hulu) and “Evil Dead Rise” (HBO Max, Hulu) are streaming too, as is the fan-favorite TV series, “Ash vs Evil Dead” (Pluto TV, Starz). Also bringing the spooky vibes is “Paranormal Activity‚" with the franchise’s first six movies streaming on both Paramount+ and Pluto TV, while the latest installment, “Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin,” is available on just Paramount+. Catch-up on the classics and stream these horror favorites from over the decades. Enjoy spooky spirits and demonic possessions in hits like “The Exorcist” (HBO Max); “Poltergeist” (HBO Max); “The Grudge” (Tubi, Pluto); “The Ring” (Paramount+, Peacock, Pluto TV, Tubi); and “The Amityville Horror” (both the 1979 and 2005 versions are on HBO Max). Other ghoulish titles to stream include the original “Candyman” (Prime Video); “Hellraiser” (Tubi); and “The Omen” (AMC+, Peacock, Tubi). Looking for more thrills than chills? “The Silence of the Lambs” is on HBO Max, along with “Hannibal,” while “Red Dragon” is on Netflix and “Hannibal Rising” is on Pluto TV and Tubi. Meanwhile, “American Psycho” is on Paramount+, Peacock, and Prime Video, and “Jacob’s Ladder” is on Paramount+. Halloween fans can also stream ‘30s cult classic “Freaks” (HBO Max); ‘50s flicks “House of Wax” (HBO Max) and “House on Haunted Hill” (HBO Max, Pluto TV, Tubi); ‘60s hit “Night of the Living Dead” (HBO Max, Peacock, Netflix, Prime Video, Pluto TV, Tubi); plus ‘70s and ‘80s remakes “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (HBO Max) and “The Thing” (AMC+, Peacock). Other horror highlights include “An American Werewolf in London” (AMC+, Tubi); “The Birds” (AMC+, Peacock); “Eraserhead” (HBO Max, Tubi); “Event Horizon” (Peacock, Pluto TV); “Psycho” (AMC+, Peacock); “Rosemary’s Baby” (Paramount+, Pluto TV); and “Suspiria” (Tubi). And don’t forget to do the time warp with the cult classic musical “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Hulu). Always a good watch on Halloween, there are plenty of Tim Burton movies streaming, including: “Beetlejuice” (HBO Max) and its sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (HBO Max, Netflix); “Sleepy Hollow” (Paramount+, Pluto TV); “Edward Scissorhands” (HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock); “Corpse Bride” (HBO Max, Peacock); “Frankenweenie” (Disney+); “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (Paramount +, Pluto TV); and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (Disney+). M. Night Shyamalan has no shortage of horror hits streaming too, with “The Sixth Sense” (HBO Max, Hulu), “Signs” (HBO Max), “The Village” (Hulu), “The Happening” (Hulu), and “Split” (HBO Max) available to watch. Fans can also watch all of Jordan Peele’s horror films, including “Get Out” (HBO Max), “Us” (Hulu, Prime Video), and “Nope” (Peacock). If you’ve seen all the classics, check out some of the newcomers to the horror movie genre, like this year’s hit sequel “28 Years Later” (Netflix). “28 Days Later” (Pluto TV) and “28 Weeks Later” (Hulu) are streaming as well. Watch aliens attack people who make noise in Bay State native John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place” (Paramount+). Fans of the franchise can also stream “A Quiet Place II” (Paramount+, Hulu) and the prequel, “A Quiet Place: Day One” (Paramount+, Prime Video). Actress Mia Goth has become a breakout star thanks to 2022’s “X” and its sequels “Pearl” and “MaXXXine,” with all three films streaming on HBO Max. Meanwhile, AI-powered dolls who maim and murder are all the rage in “M3GAN” and “M3GAN 2.0″ (both on Peacock). And move over Pennywise, Art the Clown has become a fan-favorite in recent years thanks to the “Terrifier” movies, which are extremely gory (you’ve been warned). The first two films are on Peacock, Prime Video, Pluto TV, and Tubi, while the third and most recently installment is streaming on Peacock. Other recent horror flicks worth streaming this Halloween: “I Saw the TV Glow” (HBO Max) “Skinamarink” (Tubi) “Nosferatu” (Prime Video) “The Black Phone” (Peacock) “Longlegs” (Hulu) “Bring Her Back” (HBO Max) “Hereditary” (HBO Max) “Midsommar” (HBO Max) “Barbarians” (Hulu) “The Menu” (Hulu, Paramount+) “The Substance” (HBO Max) And if all of these titles haven’t been enough to satiate your horror hunger, here are a few more hidden gems to check out: “Audition” (Tubi) “World War Z” (Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+) “Drag Me to Hell” (HBO Max, Peacock, Tubi) “Mama” (Peacock) “Train to Busan” (Netflix, Pluto TV) “Ginger Snaps” (Peacock, Pluto TV, Tubi) “Jennifer’s Body” (Hulu, Tubi) “Don’t Breathe” (Peacock, Tubi) “Zombieland” (Peacock) “The Strangers” (Netflix) “Shaun of the Dead” (Peacock)
