Celebrate Halloween with some of the best Halloween movies!
Halloween, celebrated on October 31st, marks the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. This day ushers in Allhallowtide, a period in the liturgical calendar devoted to honoring the deceased, including saints, martyrs, and all the faithful departed. In contemporary culture, Halloween has evolved into a celebration of horror with themes of the macabre and the supernatural. Let’s celebrate the spirit of the season by indulging in a binge-watch of some of the best Halloween films of all time!
John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’ (1978) is an independent slasher film that he directed and scored. Set primarily in the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois, the story revolves around Michael Myers, a mental patient who was institutionalized for killing his teenage sister on a Halloween night during his childhood.
It’s not uncommon to enjoy a comedy film on Halloween, and ‘Hocus Pocus’ perfectly fits the bill. Directed by Kenny Ortega, this fantasy comedy features a mischievous trio of witches who are accidentally brought back to life by a teenage boy on Halloween night.
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‘Trick ‘r Treat’ is an anthology horror film that marks the directorial debut of Michael Dougherty, who also wrote the film. It weaves together four chilling Halloween tales, all linked by a common character: Sam, a trick-or-treating demon clad in orange footie pajamas and a burlap sack mask. Sam makes his presence known in each story whenever a character violates a Halloween tradition.
‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ is a stop-motion animated musical fantasy film directed by Henry Selick in his feature directorial debut. The story follows Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town, who stumbles upon Christmas Town and hatches a plan to take over the holiday.
‘Halloween III: Season of the Witch’ is a science fiction horror film and the third entry in the Halloween franchise, marking the directorial and writing debut of Tommy Lee Wallace. Unlike its slasher-focused other installments, this installment veers into a unique "witchcraft" theme infused with elements of science fiction.
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‘Pumpkinhead’ is a supernatural horror film that marks the directorial debut of acclaimed special effects artist Stan Winston. Since its release, the film has garnered a dedicated cult following, and it’s easy to see why: nothing captures the essence of Halloween quite like a vengeful pumpkin creature.
‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ is a science fiction film produced and directed by Steven Spielberg. The story follows Elliott, a young boy who forms a friendship with an extraterrestrial known as E.T., who has been stranded on Earth. Together with his friends and family, Elliott embarks on an adventure to help E.T. return home.
‘Donnie Darko’ is a science fiction psychological thriller written and directed by Richard Kelly. Set in October 1988, the film follows Donnie Darko, an emotionally troubled teenager who narrowly escapes a strange accident while sleepwalking. Haunted by visions of Frank, a mysterious figure dressed in a rabbit costume, Donnie learns that the world is set to end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds.
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‘House of 1000 Corpses’ is a black comedy horror film written, co-scored, and directed by Rob Zombie in his directorial debut, and it serves as the first installment in the Firefly film series. The story follows a group of teenagers who, while traveling across the country to research a book, find themselves kidnapped and tortured by a psychotic family during Halloween.
‘The Karate Kid’ is a 1984 martial arts drama film written by Robert Mark Kamen and directed by John G. Avildsen. The story follows Daniel LaRusso, an Italian-American teenager who relocates with his widowed mother to the Reseda neighborhood of Los Angeles. There, Daniel faces bullying from local teens. To help him defend himself and prepare for a karate tournament against his tormentors, he is taught martial arts by Mr. Miyagi, a wise handyman and war veteran.
