Halloween movies to watch

Cheers, witches! It's Hallo-week!

I think Halloween is SUCH a fun holiday. I love any excuse to get dressed up, obviously. Plus, I get super into fall flavors. I know Halloween can be super tempting with all the candy, but you can totally enjoy the season without messing up on your health goals.

Don't believe me? Check out these healthy and oh-so-good pumpkin oat bars.

I think they're a super perfect treat to enjoy while watching a movie, one of my fave fall activities. There's just something about getting snuggled on the couch with a treat and a fun flick!

And because it's basically Halloween, there are SUCH GOOD movie options!! Seriously, if you're trying to pull an on-theme movie marathon, I've got you covered with a whole bunch of Halloween movies to watch. Here are some of my faves.

The best Halloween movies to watch this week

#1: Hocus Pocus

I mean, come on. This is an absolute classic. Sarah Jessica Parker? Check. Musical numbers? Check. Amazing witch costume inspo? Check. It's not scary at all but it still has ultra-Halloween vibes. Plus, Dani is definitely empowered girl goals.

If you haven't seen Hocus Pocus before, seriously, what are you doing? You're going to love it!

#2: Nightmare Before Christmas

I think part of the reason I love Halloween so much is that it kicks off the holiday season. And Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my fave Halloween movies to watch because it's not just perfect for the spooky holiday, but it gives you that little taste of Christmas, too. The movie's stop-motion, which is super cool, and directed by Tim Burton, so you kind of know what to expect there.

The music in this movie is SO GOOD. If you're looking for a soundtrack to put on to give your house some Halloween feels, I'd definitely recommend it. Plus, Catherine O'Hara's in it (she's Sally —I know it can be hard to tell with the stop-motion), and who doesn't love her?

#3: Beetlejuice

Another Tim Burton movie featuring Catherine O'Hara —she's not just the queen of Schitt's Creek, but Halloween, too, I guess! Plus, Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Geena Davis… Beetlejuice is totally star-studded. And it has just the right amount of creepy-crawly vibes to be perfect for Halloween without keeping you up at night.

#4: Halloween (1978)

If you're looking for Halloween movies to watch to give yourself a good scare, this one's a classic. It's a true slasher film. And people love it so much that there are eight (yes, eight!) sequels, a handful of spinoffs, and two more Halloween movies on the way.

There's a reason people keep coming back to these ones. Michael Myers is such a formidable character! I definitely recommend locking the doors and watching with a friend for this one.

#5: Scream

Another slasher flick, I think Scream is a little less scary than Halloween — but it still gives you some real thrills and chills. The movie's pretty tongue-in-cheek and it's from 1996, so there's some fun fashion there, for sure.

Here's me last year on Halloween, I was a mermaid!! Stay tuned to see what I'm going to be this year...

#6: The Addams Family

I love the show The Addams Family from the 60s. The theme song is just perfect, for starters. And the black and white makes it extra creepy, plus Morticia is a QUEEN.

The 1991 The Addams Family movie captures what makes the show so great, but modernizes it, too. You still get all the classic characters and a fun story, to boot.

#7: Sleepy Hollow

If you want Halloween movies to watch with an excellent fall aesthetic, def check this one out. It's got such an autumnal feel. This one borders on scary, for sure, so be advised, but you'll have Johnny Depp there to comfort you.

(I know I'm putting a lot of Tim Burton movies on this list, but he just really gets Halloween, you know?)

#8: What We Do in the Shadows

THIS MOVIE IS HILARIOUS. It's a mockumentary about vampires living in modern-day Staten Island. It's not technically a Halloween movie, I guess, but the vampire vibe really suits the holiday, I think.

If you like the movie, there's a spinoff show of the same name on Hulu that I would definitely recommend.

#9: Rocky Horror Picture Show

Another not-technically-Halloween movie that's absolutely one of the best Halloween movies to watch. This one is weird, so be prepared. But it's really fun, has excellent music, and you get to see Susan Sarandon really knock it out of the park.

#10: Nightmare on Elm Street

I had to add one more scary movie to this list! This one blends supernatural and slasher and features another horror icon: Freddy Krueger. It's good enough to have inspired a whole bunch of sequels. This is another one I wouldn't necessarily recommend watching alone —unless you like a good scare!

Now that you have a lineup of great Halloween movies to watch, you need a drink to go with it. And I have the perfect thing! This Cider Spritz isn't too sweet or too cidery — it's perfectly balanced for a little hint of fall without overdoing it.

Cider Spritz recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 2 to 3 ounces apple cider (look for 100% or no sugar added)
• 1 ounce Aperol
• 1 ounce soda water
• Prosecco or dry sparkling wine
• Sprinkle of cinnamon
• Apple wedges and/or star anise for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Fill a wine glass with ice.
2. Add the apple cider and Aperol and gently stir together
3. Add soda, then fill with prosecco to top.
4. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon and an apple wedge and/or star anise

I'll say it again: cheers, witches! Make your Cider Spritz, grab your coziest blanket, and curl up to watch your Halloween flick of choice. 'Tis the season!