Top 10 Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween

Tis the season for spooky films! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Horror Movies to Get Excited About This Halloween.



For this list, we’ll be looking at films being released on, in the lead up to, or shortly after Halloween 2019. If it’s on this list, it’s a perfectly spooky (or maybe even downright terrifying) movie for the occasion - just the sort of film that you need to get into the holiday mood.

Release Date: November 15, 2019 [U.S.]



This film doesn’t come out until two weeks after Halloween, but we still think it warrants a mention. For the All Hallows’ Eve devotees out there, consider it your aftercare package - a little something to look forward to while coming down from the festivities. An American-British co-production, “The Lodge” brings audiences along for a tense, nail-biting trip to an isolated cabin, where a young woman named Grace attempts to bond with her stepchildren over a few dreary winter days. But there’s far more going on here than familial tensions, with the past returning to torture the characters and thoroughly rattle viewers. The film premiered at Sundance in January 2019 to very positive reviews. Translation? It’s well-worth the wait.

Release Date: August 15, 2019 [U.S.]



Sharks feel a little played out in horror film, as does the survival horror subgenre as a whole. But in 2017, director and co-writer Johannes Roberts delivered a surprisingly enjoyable addition to the genre, proving that properly executed (and with the right cast) killer animal flicks can still have teeth. Two years later, Roberts is back with another shark misadventure to scare you out of the water. This time around, as the title suggests, there’s no cage between our young heroines and the oceanic predators. By moving the action to an underwater cave setting, “Uncaged” also adds an element of claustrophobia to maximize the scare factor. So be sure to load up on Halloween candy so you can comfort yourself by chomping back!

Release Date: August 21, 2019 [U.S.]



When Halloween rolls around, people in the mood for a scare tend not to be overly discerning about the horror films they watch, sticking to the classics or simply throwing on whatever scary movie Netflix recommends. This year, however, we urge you to make your Halloween movie night count. “Ready or Not” is a black comedy/horror thriller and an absolute must-watch. It stars Samara Weaving, who you might recognize from 2017’s wickedly fun “The Babysitter,” alongside everyone’s favorite “O.C.” alumni, Adam Brody. In the film, an innocent game of newlywed hide-and-seek with the family is soon revealed to be a far more sinister, deadly hunt, and it's up to our heroine to turn the tables on her would-be killers. It’s a bloody good time.

Release Date: September 6, 2019 [U.S.]



Honestly, with a title like that, do we really need to say more? Anyone who’s likely to enjoy a film named “Satanic Panic” will already be sold based on the title alone! The movie follows a pizza delivery girl who gets way more than she bargained for when her customers turn out to be a gang of high class Satanists. Instead of an appropriate monetary tip as a thank you for her service, our heroine finds herself drugged and kidnapped to be served up as a virgin sacrifice. The film is a whole lot of fun, leaning heavily into the camp and kitsch of old school B-movies, but elevated by committed over-the-top performances and razor-sharp script.

Release Date: September 16, 2019 [U.S.]



Musician, filmmaker, and horror icon Rob Zombie made his directorial debut in 2003 with “House of 1000 Corpses.” In 2005, he continued the harrowing story of Captain Spauldin, Otis Driftwood, and “Baby” Firefly with a sequel, “The Devil's Rejects.” Neither film fared particularly well with critics, but they’ve nonetheless become minor classics of horror cinema with a devoted cult following. And so, it’s with great enthusiasm that we welcome the return of this devilish trio nearly 15 years after we last saw them. From the looks of the trailer, time hasn’t done much to temper their madness, violent tendencies, or maniacal bloodlust. And fans wouldn’t have it any other way! Consider yourself warned, this film is strictly intended for gore-hounds, be it Halloween or not.

Release Date: October 18, 2019 [U.S.]



This isn’t your typical horror film. As anyone who saw director Robert Eggers’ previous film, “The Witch” will attest, he’s big on mood and atmosphere, putting the audience on edge early and keeping them there for pretty much the whole film. With “The Lighthouse,” which stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, it looks as if he’s pushing those inclinations to the extreme. Shot in black and white, the film follows two lighthouse keepers as they struggle with isolation, living in close quarters and various psychological fears and torments. It’s already being heralded as a masterpiece, so if you’re looking for something a little weird this Halloween, this is it!

Release Date: November 15, 2019 [U.S.]



We wouldn’t call Lupita Nyong'o a scream queen; she’s making a huge impact in Hollywood across a wide variety of films. That being said, considering her inspired performance in Jordan Peele’s “Us” earlier in 2019, there’s no denying that she’s one of the most exciting stars operating in the horror genre, a status further cemented by her role in this film. In “Little Monsters” (which bears no relationship to the 1989 film by the same) Nyong’o plays Miss Caroline, a children’s teacher who must get creative when her class field trip is interrupted by a zombie invasion. An action horror comedy firing on all cylinders, “Little Monsters” is a lot of fun. It’s actually scheduled to be released as a double bill with “The Lodge.”

Release Date: November 8, 2019 [U.S.]



When Stephen King finally released a long-awaited sequel to his 1977 novel, “The Shining,” with 2013’s “Doctor Sleep,” it was only a matter of time until it got the film treatment. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the movie adaptation of “The Shining,” which King famously hated, is today considered one of the greatest horror movies ever made. “Doctor Sleep” catches up with Danny Torrance, now middle-aged but still struggling to lead a normal life after the traumatic events of his childhood. When he encounters a young girl who shares his gifts, he’s forced to face his past and implications of his abilities. Directed by Mike Flanagan, who gave us the excellent series, “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Doctor Sleep” seems primed for success.

Release Date: October 18, 2019 [U.S.]



Speaking of sequels long in the making, who’s ready to catch up with Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita, and Little Rock? It’s been a decade since we last saw them, and as Abigail Breslin’s character reminds us, a lot has changed during that time. Then again, some things don’t! While we’ll be seeing evolved zombies and some new faces, the dynamic between our core foursome seems every bit as snarky, dysfunctional, and begrudgingly loving as we remember. This sequel suffered in development hell for WAY too long, but it does seem fitting that it finally managed to crawl its way out just in time for Halloween. From the trailer, the film looks committed to making up for lost time with twice the action, comedy, and zombie fun.

Release Date: September 6, 2019 [U.S.]



With the first instalment, director Andy Muschietti delivered one of the best mainstream horror films in recent memory. Critics loved it, fans saw it multiple times in theaters, and it went on to smash a number of box office records. The film managed to deliver the scares, an inspired updated take on Pennywise the Clown, and, most crucially, a cast that audiences really connected with. Now those characters are all grown up, and the actors bringing them to life feel perfectly cast once again. The sequel sees the Losers’ Club returning to Derry to face the childhood horrors they’d rather forget. Muschietti promises a film that continues the emotional journey while drastically upping the scares. Sounds like the recipe for a perfect Halloween movie night!