Halloween is here. According to the release of pumpkin spice at every coffee shop and grocery store, it’s time to rank everyone’s favorite genre of films: Halloween movies. This top 10 consists of gore, family favorites, and all-over witchy classics that movie lovers everywhere adore.
10. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice
The 2024 rendition on the 1988 classic, ‘Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice’ takes number ten on our Wildcat Top 10. Just like the original, the film is quirky and odd with vibrant colors, eccentric costume choices, and exact theme with a bit of kinks to the story line. The movie stars returning characters such as Lydia Deetz played by Winona Ryder, Beetlejuice played by Michael Keaton, and Delia Deetz played by Catherine O’Hara. With it being a sequel, there are new twins to the cast and movie overall.
In the 1988 film, it explores Beetlejuice’s constant harassment of the Deetz family with his goal to marry Lydia so he could return to the mortal world. In the new movie, the audience is introduced to a new character named Astrid. Astrid is the teenage daughter of Lydia Deetz and the two often butt heads, particularly because of the death of Astrid’s father and Lydia’s late husband, Richard. Astrid’s anger with her mother comes from the disappointment that Lydia can see other ghosts but Richard. Another twist in the plot is that Lydia’s father, Charles Deetz, has passed away which leads Astrid and Lydia back to Winter River and the infamous “ghost house” from the original film for the memorial of his death. There, Astrid meets a boy whom she believes understands her in her moments of anger but turns out to be a ghost who is using her to become a human again. This plot is parallel to what happens to Lydia when she was a teenager, and what’s more captivating about the film is that in the Netherworld, Beetlejuice is still looking for Lydia to be his wife. During the film, the mother and daughter duo fight to escape the immortal city and get rid of Beetlejuice forever. With its classic touches, new and funky humor, ‘Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice’ makes number ten on our list.
9. The Addams Family (1991)
Taking number nine is “The Addams Family (1991).” This cinematic masterpiece is an absolute original that has influenced Halloween culture entirely—from family and couple costumes as the characters to remakes, a featured meal at McDonald’s, and a fresh Netflix original. It’s clear the impact “The Addams Family” has on the holiday.
The movie is categorized as a comedy/horror film but completely made for the family-friendly scene. This film was a staple in many households growing up and is significant to those who grew up watching it. The motion picture is staged in a small American town where the Adams are the “odd ones out,” as they are a gothic and dark family in a predominantly traditional, cookie-cutter kind of neighborhood.
The movie stars Anjelica Huston as Morticia Addams, mother of the family; Raul Julia as Gomez Addams, the father; and two children—Wednesday Addams, played by Christina Ricci, and Pugsley Addams, played by Jimmy Workman. Another notable character is Uncle Fester, Gomez’s older brother and an eccentric, quirky uncle to the children.
Each person has a distinct personality: Gomez is passionate, romantic, and peculiar, deeply devoted to his wife, Morticia, and his family as a whole, with a suave demeanor and love for all things dark and mystical. Morticia is confident, elegant, and a kind, supportive mother. Their daughter Wednesday is a perfect mix between the couple—never quirky or playful, yet sharing her mother’s confidence and her father’s fascination with morbid subjects such as death and torture. Pugsley, her younger brother, is seen as the complete opposite. He’s known for his mischievous nature and love for explosives and gadgets that often cause havoc in the family.
With this peculiar household, the film is ecstatic. Filled with comedy, a little horror, and a macabre theme, the motion picture is a Halloween masterpiece claiming its spot as number nine on the Wildcat Top Ten.
8. Halloweentown
Placing at number eight is the Disney original, ‘Halloween Town’. The movie captures what it’s like to be a ‘Piper’ in the suburbs ridden by resident supernatural beings. On Halloween night, 13-year-old Marnie Piper, follows her grandma to a small congregation called Halloween Town against her mother’s will; to later find out she’s a witch and that she and her family are involved in a fight against the evil that lives inside of the spooky themed city. The cinema is a heart throb, exploring themes about the importance of family, acceptance of fear, and adapting to the culture of those who are unlike you. All of these topics come together to make one beautiful and enjoyable one of a kind movie that individuals of all ages can watch in delight, making this an easy choice on the list of top ten Halloween Movies.
7. Scary Movie
‘Scary Movie 1’ places itself at seven in the ranking. Defying the idea of anything classy, Scary Movie 1 is the complete and total opposite of anything normal. For starters, the movie is a play on Wes Craven’s ‘Scream’. The film used for inspiration is a go-to Halloween flick for a cardiac arrest causing slasher. Yet in the parody, instead of nail biting and screeching in terror, you can often catch the audience dying of laughter.
The picture was written by comedy idols Marlon and Shawn Wayans, who also play parts as Ray and Shorty Wilkins on the screen. Both of these two cause chaos among those closest around them. Firstly, Shorty is known for his addiction to smoking while Ray is seen as the boyfriend of main character Cindy; starred by Anna Faris, who turned out to be a copycat killer alongside Bobby Prinze; performed by Jon Abrahams. Throughout the movie, Prinze and Wilkins spend their time contributing to the death toll of the actual Ghostface who is later revealed to be Officer Doofy. Doofy, played by Dave Sheridan, is a special needs police officer and was made to replicate Dewey Riley from the Scream franchise. With everything being said, the movie is filled with raunchy humor and a bit of suspense making it a perfect break from absolutely terrifying horror films.
6. Scream (1996)
By far one of the most reputable horror films and inspiration for the movie above, Scream (1996) takes the cake for number six on this top ten series.
For starters, the movie inspired the annual holiday in various ways. Halloween costumes, decorations in front yards, and stickers of the famous serial killer known as Ghostface. Secondly, the movie is the definition of suspense. When watching, featured in the plot is nail biting mystery, a little bit of gore, and high adrenaline jump scares.
These effects keep viewers on the edge of their seats as the mystery of Ghostface plays out right in front of their eyes. The movie surrounds the city of Woodsboro, Calif., where high school student; Sidney Prescott and her friends are hounded by a masked-murdering maniac who leaves strange calls to each of Prescott’s friends in a sequence.
Every individual call leads to a murder, convincing Prescott that the murders are related and that she needs to find who the slasher must be. For a motion picture filled with uncertainty and a jaw dropping plot, Scream (1996) is an immaculate pick for the ghostly season.
5. Halloween (1978)
The icon, the moment, the original slasher movie, is Halloween (1978) at number five on this top rated ranking. The movie is iconic itself, as it invented the renowned character of Michael Meyers and set the stage for terror inflicting slashers to become a mainstream movie theme. In the first few minutes, we are introduced to 6-year-old Meyers brutally stabbing his older sister Judith with a kitchen knife.
This led him to being sent away to a sanitarium for 15 years and on the day before Halloween, Meyers escaped back to his hometown of Haddonfield. Here, his eye catches onto Laurie Strode; a young teenage girl who turns out to be his long lost little sister that was put up for adoption after the deaths of their parents. This eerie film is entirely horrifying as it focuses on gut wrenching suspense, relentless murders back to back, and an eye opening plot. When combining these factors together, it is obvious why Halloween (1978) placed in the top five on this list.
4. Coraline
As one of the most popular Halloween motion pictures ever, the movie Coraline created a new genre of animated cinema by combining the genre of children films and dark fantasy to create an all over favorite among many. For a cartoon movie, Coraline is insanely deep. First off, the movie’s plot is centered around the life of Coraline Jones, a young girl who moved into a new apartment called the Pink Palace. There we see Coraline socializing with other residents of the complex, such as Mr.Bobinsky and Wybie Lovat who fill her need for attention while her parents are busy with their work or stressed about the move. As the movie progresses, it is obvious to see that the Jones’ sometimes neglect Coraline, forcing her to rebel and act upon her own imagination. This leads her to discovering a hidden door which lies in an alternate world that closely mirrors her own, but in many ways it’s better. This well-rounded children’s movie is an adored autumn classic with a huge impact on the season and holiday as a whole, making the memorable film fourth on our Wildcat rating.
3. The Corpse Bride
“The other woman”. A common saying coming from one place: the beautiful, timeless Halloween cartoon The Corpse Bride, directed by Tim Burton, the film exceeds all expectations of ‘just another kid’s film’. For starters, the film is based in an old Victorian English town and based around the arrangement of Victor Van Dort and Victoria Everglot . Even though they like each other, Victor is nervous about the marriage and wanders in the forest to rehearse his lines. Here he accidentally drops her ring, then as he’s searching for it, a hand pulls him underground to the land of the dead. The hand belongs to that of Emily, a dead bride who longs to marry Victor. Throughout the movie, we follow Victor’s struggle to be released from Emily’s leashes to return to who he truly loves, Victoria. The movie is well rounded; has a tad bit of romance, suspense, and a memorable theme of letting go of things you’ve lost even though you love them. Putting this all together, creates top 3 on this beautiful list of fall movies.
2. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
One of the best films created for the season of jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin spice; specifically for its dual usage for two of the major annual holidays, is number 2: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Directed by Tim Burton like the Corpse Bride, the movie is an eerie cartoon based around the character Jack Skellington. While watching, the storyline follows Skellington’s mischievous adventures as he longs for something more than scaring people and the darkness surrounded by being Pumpkin King in Halloween Town. When he discovers the holiday of Christmas, he is inspired by the bright and warm feeling the holiday brings and plots to reign over Christmas instead. But of course, things go awry. This fun and friendly film not only is loved by people of all ages but can be watched for both Halloween and Christmas making it an all-time favorite for many.
1. Hocus Pocus
Witches, scares, and most importantly family; Hocus Pocus checks all three boxes and the number 1 spot on the top ten. This spot is hard to land, but this film easily takes its place. First of all, this movie is an absolute classic. Created in 1993, the film follows Max Dennison; a teenager who just moved to Salem, Mass. who does not believe in all things supernatural until Hallows Eve where he, his sister Dani, and their friend Allison stumble across an abandoned house and resurrect 3 sister witches. Even though it was an accident, this decision wreaks havoc on the city and all the children in it as the witches use children’s souls to rewind them in age. With help from a magical cat ; Thackery Binx, who was also freed with the witches, the kids had to steal the book of spells from the coven to stop them from permanently coming back to the real world. This film meets all the requirements of an incredible story for all to love and watch, which is why it takes first place.
Every movie on this list is notable in its own way, whether it’s scary, sweet, funny, or freaky, making perfect sense for their placing on the Wildcat Top 10. Stay tuned for more top 10’s in the future.
