Halloween Movies

The best movies to watch on Halloween in Australia

Halloween and movies go hand in hand. Whether you love full-blown horror, spooky nostalgia, cult classics or family-friendly fun, the right movie can instantly set the tone for the season.

This guide brings together some of the best Halloween movies to watch in Australia — from timeless classics to modern favourites — perfect for parties, cosy nights in, or a full October movie marathon.

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Classic Halloween Movies

  • A dark, foggy street at night illuminated by a single streetlamp, with a person standing near a house in the shadows, fallen leaves on the wet sidewalk.

    Halloween (1978)

    John Carpenter’s iconic slasher that helped define the genre. Atmospheric, tense and unforgettable.

    Studio: Compass International Pictures

  • The Exorcist (1973)

    The Exorcist (1973)

    A slow-burn classic that still remains deeply unsettling decades later after its initial release.

    Studio: Warner Bros.

  • Long, dark hotel corridor with patterned carpet, closed doors on both sides, and dim lighting from ceiling fixtures.

    The Shining (1980)

    Brilliant psychological horror with unforgettable imagery, outstanding direction and performances.

    Studio: Warner Bros.

  • Psycho (1960) – Alfred Hitchcock’s genre-defining thriller that changed horror cinema forever. Stylish, unsettling and still deeply effective.

    Psycho (1960)

    Alfred Hitchcock’s genre-defining thriller that changed horror cinema forever.

    Studio: Shamley Productions / Paramount Pictures

  • Dark, foggy night scene of a tall apartment building with one lit window at the top.

    Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

    A chilling psychological horror centred on paranoia and control, slowly building dread through atmosphere.

    Studio: William Castle Productions / Paramount Pictures

  • Dark, eerie scene of zombies approaching a haunted house at night, with some zombies on the porch and others in the yard, all in black and white.

    Night of the Living Dead (1968)

    A groundbreaking zombie film that reshaped horror cinema, combining social commentary with stark, relentless tension and unforgettable imagery.

    Studio: Image Ten

Spooky But Fun - Not Too Scary

  • Five people standing on a wet street at night, silhouetted against a misty background with palm trees and neon lights, wearing dark jackets.

    The Lost Boys (1987)

    Stylish vampire horror with a cult following.
    Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

  • Spooky dark house on a hill with glowing windows, a winding stone path, leafless trees, and a night sky with swirling clouds.

    Beetlejuice (1988)

    Darkly funny, visually iconic and endlessly quotable.
    Studios: The Geffen Company, Warner Bros.

  • A dark city street at night with ghostly spirits floating around and a mysterious green-lit building in the background.

    Ghostbusters (1984)

    Supernatural comedy that works for all ages.
    Production Companies:Columbia-Delphi Productions, Black Rhino

  • Two women stand barefoot on a stone path, gazing at a moonlit ocean and a large, rustic house with warm-lit windows and a porch with candles, surrounded by trees and hanging dried plants.

    Practical Magic (1998)

    A witchy, romantic fantasy centred on sisterhood, spells, and small-town supernatural charm.
    Studios:Fortis Films, Di Novi Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures

  • A spooky, dark Victorian mansion with lit windows sits atop a hill, viewed through an open wrought iron gate. A winding stone pathway leads up to the house, flanked by lanterns and leafless trees, under a cloudy, moonlit sky.

    The Addams Family (1991)

    Macabre charm with heart and humour.
    Studio: Paramount Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions

Family-Friendly Halloween Movies

  • Three witches casting a spell in a haunted graveyard on a spooky Halloween night, with a large full moon, flying bats, and a haunted house in the background.

    Hocus Pocus (1993)

    A Halloween classic filled with witchy mischief, humour, and nostalgic charm for all ages.
    Studio: Walt Disney Pictures, Touchwood Pacific Partners

  • A spooky Halloween scene featuring a haunted house on a hill illuminated by glowing lights and a full moon in the night sky. Four people, including a werewolf, a ghost, a witch, and a vampire, stand in front of the house on a cobblestone path bordered by carved pumpkins with glowing faces.

    Hotel Transylvania (2012)

    A lively animated film that reimagines classic monsters with humour, warmth, and fast-paced fun.
    Studio:Sony Pictures Animation

  • Haunted Victorian mansion illuminated from within, surrounded by dark trees with a full moon and purple night sky. Ghostly spirits float around the house.

    Casper (1995)

    A sweet ghost story balancing light spookiness with friendship, emotion, and gentle humour.
    Studio: Amblin Entertainment, The Harvey Entertainment Company

  • Dark, spooky Halloween scene featuring a cobblestone street lined with haunted houses and glowing pumpkin lanterns, under a full moon with a spooky, twisted castle in the background amidst eerie, leafless trees.

    The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

    A visually stunning musical blending Halloween and Christmas through imaginative storytelling and song.
    Studio: Disney/Touchstone & Tim Burton Production

  • Haunted village with pumpkin lanterns, illuminated windows, full moon, bats, and orange autumn leaves.

    Halloweentown (1998)

    A cosy, family-friendly fantasy that follows a young girl discovering a magical town where Halloween creatures live year-round, celebrating imagination, identity, and seasonal charm.

  • A young boy holding an open book, looking at a graveyard filled with zombie-like creatures in a spooky, lit-up haunted village at sunset.

    ParaNorman (2012)

    A smart, stop-motion adventure that tackles spooky themes while celebrating kindness and bravery.
    Studio: Laika

Modern Horror Faves

  • Dark living room with a staircase leading up to a lit doorway

    Hereditary (2018)

    A disturbing, slow-building horror that explores grief, family trauma, and creeping supernatural dread.
    Studio: A24

  • A person walking down a quiet neighborhood street at dusk, with the car headlights in the distance and streetlights on, surrounded by houses and trees.

    It Follows (2014)

    A minimalist, eerie film driven by tension and a relentless, inescapable supernatural presence.
    Studio: Radius-TWC / Northern Lights Films

  • A cozy living room with a leather armchair, a lamp, bookshelf, side table with a lamp, framed picture, and a coffee cup on a table.

    Get Out (2017)

    A sharp, socially aware horror film that blends suspense with biting commentary and escalating tension.
    Studio: Universal Pictures / Blumhouse Productions / Monkeypaw Productions

  • A dimly lit table with a lit candle, red cups, bottles, a smartphone, and a hand resting on the table in a cozy, dark room.

    Talk to Me (2023)

    A modern Australian horror that combines social anxiety, possession, and intense emotional stakes.
    Studio: Causeway Films / RackaRacka / A24

  • A dark, grimy, bloodstained hospital hallway with a sinister figure in a bloodied coat walking towards the camera, illuminated by dim, harsh fluorescent lighting.

    Terrifier (2016)

    A brutal, no-holds-barred slasher that leans into extreme gore and relentless tension, introducing Art the Clown as a modern cult horror icon.
    Studio: Dark Age Cinema / Dread Central Presents

  • A dimly lit hallway with wooden floors, religious portraits, a cross on the wall, a table with lit candles, and an open door at the end.

    The Conjuring (2013)

    When a family moves into a secluded farmhouse, they soon experience terrifying supernatural disturbances that escalate rapidly.
    Studio: New Line Cinema

  • A house at night with illuminated window and porch light, outdoor wicker furniture with a cordless landline phone, and a dark sky with trees.

    Scream (1996)

    In the quiet town of Woodsboro, a series of brutal murders shatters the illusion of suburban safety. As a masked killer targets teenagers one by one, the lines between horror movies and real life begin to blur.
    Studio:     Dimension Films / Miramax

Australian Horror Picks

  • A solitary person standing in shallow water near a forested shoreline at dusk or dawn, with dark, overcast sky overhead and reflections on the water.

    Lake Mungo (2008)

    A quiet, documentary-style horror that builds dread through realism, mystery, and emotional restraint.
    Studio: Mungo Productions

  • A desolate stretch of highway in a remote desert area with dark clouds overhead. An abandoned white van is on the side of the road with its door open. A large, dark bloodstain with blood splatters is visible on the road in the foreground.

    Wolf Creek (2005)

    A brutal outback horror inspired by true crime, tapping into isolation and primal fear.
    Studio: South Australian Film Corporation

  • Dimly lit vintage living room with a lamp on a wooden sideboard, framed photo, and a cozy armchair with a blanket, leading to a dark hallway.

    Relic (2020)

    A slow, atmospheric horror using supernatural elements to explore aging, memory, and family bonds.
    Studio: Carver Films

  • A birthday party celebration setup with a wooden table, pink balloons, pink party hats, a pink birthday cake with candles, and pink decorations in a dimly lit room.

    The Loved Ones (2009)

    A darkly twisted horror combining violence, satire, and unexpected emotional depth.
    Studio: Fulcrum Media Finance

  • A dimly lit, abandoned warehouse with scattered debris, a blood-stained kitchen knife on the floor, and horror film lighting creating an eerie atmosphere.

    Scare Campaign (2016)

    A fast-paced horror thriller set within a reality TV prank show, blending social commentary, escalating tension, and graphic shocks as things spiral dangerously out of control.
    Studio: Cyan Films

  • A backyard scene at dusk with clothes hanging on a rotary clothesline, a weathered metal shed, a rusty barrel, a shovel, and overgrown grass and dirt ground.

    Snowtown (2011)

    A deeply disturbing true-crime horror that explores manipulation, violence, and psychological terror, offering one of Australia’s most confronting and uncompromising films.
    Studio: Warp Films Australia

  • A scene of destruction with a wrecked, modified black car in the foreground, surrounded by burning vehicles, smoke, and debris in a chaotic, apocalyptic landscape.

    Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (2014)

    A high-energy Australian zombie film that blends action, dark humour, and post-apocalyptic chaos, set against a distinctly outback backdrop.
    Studio: Wyrmwood Pty Ltd