Copyright gqindia
Halloween isn’t just a date on the calendar; it’s a whole mood. It’s the season of flickering jack-o’-lanterns, eerie soundtracks, and that delicious mix of fear and fun. Whether you are in it for the jump scares, the candy, or the cozy thrill of a good ghost story, it's the perfect time to revisit those classic movies that make your heart race and your imagination run wild. So grab your popcorn and dive into the best Halloween movies that never get old. 7 classic Halloween movies that still give us chills; on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix & more 1. Halloween franchise – Amazon Prime Video Few horror franchises have left as deep a mark as Halloween. It all began in 1978, when director John Carpenter introduced the world to Michael Myers – the silent, mask-wearing embodiment of pure evil. What started as a low-budget independent movie turned into a cultural phenomenon that shaped the entire slasher genre. The franchise begins with the first movie released in 1978, on Halloween night in Haddonfield, Illinois. A masked killer named Michael Myers escapes from a mental institution, 15 years after murdering his family. As he returns to his hometown, he begins stalking teenager Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), leading to a terrifying night of survival. 2. Beetlejuice (1988) – Amazon Prime Video When a young married couple, Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin), die in a car accident, they find themselves stuck haunting their own house. But soon discover that it’s been sold to an eccentric new family. Desperate to scare the family out, they summon a mischievous ‘bio-exorcist’ from the afterlife named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton). But their plan backfires when Beetlejuice’s chaotic tricks spiral out of control, leading to ghostly mayhem and hilarious chaos. Beetlejuice isn’t as scary as it is playfully macabre — the perfect pick for those who love Halloween’s spooky vibe without the nightmares. There’s also a sequel that carries the story forward and is set 36 years after the events of the first movie. 3. Trick ’r Treat – Amazon Prime Video Set on Halloween night in a small town, the movie weaves together five interconnected stories, each revealing a dark twist behind seemingly ordinary celebrations. From a sinister school principal with a deadly secret, to a young woman’s eerie encounter at a party, to mischievous kids uncovering a chilling legend, every tale unfolds under the watchful eye of Sam, a creepy, childlike figure in orange pajamas and a burlap sack mask. As night deepens, the stories intertwine in unexpected and scary ways, proving that breaking Halloween traditions can come with deadly consequences. 4. Sleepy Hollow – Apple TV+ In 1799, New York constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent to the eerie village of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of mysterious decapitations. The locals believe the killer is the Headless Horseman, a ghostly rider who haunts the woods seeking vengeance. Skeptical yet determined, Ichabod uses science and logic to solve the case until he comes face to face with the supernatural terror himself. The movie blends horror, mystery, and gothic beauty like few films can. With its eerie aesthetic, haunting score, and clever twists, it makes for a perfect Halloween watch – one that’s as enchanting as it is chilling. 5. The Shining – Apple TV+ Aspiring writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) takes a job as the winter caretaker of the remote Overlook Hotel, bringing his wife Wendy and young son Danny along. But as snow traps them inside, the hotel’s dark past begins to seep into Jack’s mind, driving him slowly, terrifyingly insane. Danny, who possesses psychic abilities known as ‘the shining’, begins to see horrifying visions, while Jack’s descent into madness turns the family’s isolation into a nightmare. Its haunting atmosphere and timeless dread make it one of the most rewatched and most quoted Halloween staples of all time. 6. Psycho – Amazon Prime Video When secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) steals a large sum of money and goes on the run, she stops for the night at the lonely Bates Motel, run by the shy, nervous Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). What follows is a shocking turn of events that changed cinema history – a mix of psychological terror, twisted secrets, and one unforgettable shower scene. Psycho remains timeless because its terror isn’t about monsters or gore – it’s about the darkness hidden inside an ordinary man. Decades later, it still grips, shocks, and fascinates. 7. Goosebumps – Netflix Teenager Zach moves to a small town and discovers that his mysterious neighbor is none other than R.L. Stine (Jack Black), the author of the Goosebumps books. But when Zach accidentally opens one of Stine’s original manuscripts, every monster from the stories – from Slappy the Dummy to the Abominable Snowman – escapes into the real world, unleashing hilarious and spooky chaos across town. Goosebumps is pure, light-hearted Halloween fun – a monster mash that celebrates imagination, adventure, and spooky nostalgia.
