Classic Halloween Movies, Ranked From Iconic To Downright Silly

Movies depicting monsters and shadows in the night have had a long track record. There’s something about being scared, but knowing that it’s just a movie that has intrigued horror fans for decades. People have been taking pointers from the classics that came from the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and Stephen King, and the films they’ve made will remain the classics that everyone refers to years to come.

There is an abundance of movies that can be considered classics but might not have the following that others do. When Halloween rolls around, people want to tune into films that put them in a festive mood, whether they have aged well and remain scary or because they contain the comedic relief that fans yearn for in the fall months.

10 Psycho – (1960)

Psycho tells the classic tale of a woman from Arizona that steals thousands of dollars from her employer, goes on a run and once she feels safe, karma catches up with her. The beautiful Marion Crane thinks she’s gotten away with her plan but makes the fatal mistake of checking into a remote hotel run by an unhinged grown man that can quite let go of his mother.

Horror fans will never forget the shower scene and how that one moment paved the way for many horror films for decades. Psycho is definitely one of the most iconic horror movies of all time and it can still conjure up a scare after all of this time.

9 The Shining – (1980)

Starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, when a family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter, they have no idea what evil awaits them. Jack Torrance, played by Nicholson, is almost immediately influenced by a sinister presence and is thrust into a violent trance. At the same time, his son sees horrific scenes from the past and the future, and eventually, worlds collide.

The Shining is another one of those films that has the ability to stay in its decade, but has definitely left a mark on horror fans forever. It’s also noteworthy that the iconic story was written by the original horror master Stephen King and directed by Stanley Kubrick. There’s something terrifying about an empty hotel and evil ghosts that got under the audience’s skin and never quite went away. Reboots ensued, including the recent film, Doctor Sleep. This is definitely one of Jack Nicholson’s most well-known roles, to date.

8 The Exorcist – (1973)

The Exorcist brought on a whole new genre when it comes to demonic possession. Perhaps there were other films before it with the same narrative, but this film was truly the first of its kind that made an impact on the industry. Starring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair, the story is centered around poor little Regan, a 12-year-old girl, who is possessed by a mysterious entity when her mother seeks the help of two local priests to save her.

It was an eye-opening film and pushed the boundaries for what a good horror film was in the 1970s. It was considered to be before its time for its shock value and many theatergoers left because they were either nauseous or completely traumatized by what they saw.

7 Halloween – (1978)

By now, everyone knows that when it comes to films to watch to get into the festive season, Halloween is one to add to the list. Even though other films, such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Black Christmas, came before it, this film truly paved the way for hundreds of slasher movies to come. Michael Myers is, without a doubt, one of the most popular serial killers to come out of the horror industry and remains an important fixture because of the franchise.

Fifteen years after Michael commits a horrendous crime on a family member on Halloween night, he escapes from the mental facility he’s been held at and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, to finish what he started. This is as classic as it gets and when Jamie Lee Curtis made her acting debut as Laurie Strode, it sealed the deal of becoming one of her most recognized roles. Curtis also one of the original “final girls” that had substance and a storyline.

6 Scream – (1996)

When the mid-1990s hit, Wes Craven gave horror fans a film that changed the game when it comes to masked killers: Scream. This was an incredibly successful film with just the right amount of gore, suspense, and bad decisions. When high-school student Sidney Prescott’s mother is murdered, the year anniversary of her death brings … more death.

Sidney and her friends are terrorized by a masked killer in a Halloween costume who uses horror films as a part of his deadly game. Starring Neve Campbell and Rose McGowan, this film was by far one of the best slasher films to come out of the 1990s.

5 Poltergeist – (1982)

The 1980s brought horror fans a lot of great films that have stood the test of time, and when it comes to Steven Spielberg’s best movies, Poltergeist is unfortunately not often named. Maybe it’s because Spielberg is known for suspenseful movies, such as Jurassic Park and Jaws, rather than a supernatural thriller about a little girl talking to a fuzzy television.

Poltergeist is another movie that is considered a classic horror film, but re-watching it, it does seem a little silly. From the parents’ parenting skills to the clown dolls coming to life and beyond, the original Poltergeist can be considered a little bit campy, rather than scary.

4 Ghostbusters – (1984)

There’s something fun about four men dressed in mechanic jumpsuits, complete with laser beams, fighting off ghouls. When writer Dan Aykroyd came out with Ghostbusters in 1984, the world was ready for it. Even though it was a huge hit, it’s a silly premise looking back, thinking about how parapsychology professors put together a plan to save their city from the supernatural.

Ghostbusters is, without a doubt, an iconic film because of its ghoulish fun. Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Sigourney Weaver, it’s a fun film filled with nostalgia at every turn.

3 Childs Play – (1988)

Child’s Play is a mix of an iconic 1980s film and a silly storyline, looking back. When a single mother gives her son a sought-after doll for his birthday, the boy discovers that the doll isn’t as innocent as it should be.

Chucky the Doll is, in fact, possessed by a serial killer named Charles Lee Ray, and years later, it seems a bit laughable. Nonetheless, it’s a memorable film and has spawned several other movies since.

2 Pumpkinhead – (1988)

Pumpkinhead starts out as a sad story of Ed Harley, a father who lost his son in a freak accident. Soon the idea of revenge takes over and the film takes a turn. Ed goes to see an old woman who is allegedly a witch and asks her to conjure up a demonic creature to unleash on the bikers that killed his son.

The premise is silly and the creature’s name doesn’t exactly scream terrifying, but nonetheless, it’s a classic that often gets forgotten. Apparently, a remake is in the works, so fans will get to see what can happen to this creature in today’s world.

1 Killer Klowns From Outer Space – (1988)

Killer Klowns from Outer Space is by far the silliest film on this list. Even though it has a good rating for a horror movie, the fact that the story revolves around aliens disguised as clowns is enough to tell the audience what they are in for. When the clown aliens decide to visit Earth, they specifically terrorize a small town.

No one takes them seriously with their clown-like weapons and smiles, except for the younger crowd, but no one believes them. This is a classic story of adults being oblivious to the danger and only the kids knowing the truth.