In theory, we love to get scared while watching a classic horror movie. But in reality, some of us were the friends who requested that the lights stay on at slumber parties and opted more for the chick flick movie night pick. Even as adults, after watching an especially creepy movie, we sometimes see faces in dark corners and hear strange noises from empty rooms. Despite this, we're not destined to be left out of the Halloween horror movie craze altogether.
Luckily, for those who can only take so many James Wan movies (Insidious, The Conjuring) or eerie A24 hits (Hereditary, The VVitch) before we start to fear the day as much as the night, there are a fair amount of great spooky, not scary, seasonal films to watch. Some are straight-up horror comedies and feminist horror movies—with no shortage of thrills—and some are wholesome, autumnal favorites we've been rewatching since the '90s. And all are mild enough that even a scaredy cat like me can sleep soundly after viewing. Below, find the best not-too-scary horror movies.
'Army of Darkness' (1992)
The scares-to-silliness ratio skews heavily on the latter with this time-traveling sequel to the first two Evil Dead movies. Bill Campbell's Ash is extra hammy as the obnoxious chainsaw-for-a-hand anti-hero battling demons while stuck in King Arthur’s court.
'Beetlejuice' (1988)
The production design and practical effects in his iconic '80s movie are some of director Tim Burton’s wackiest (watch for the dinner party scene alone). The gist: After their lame attempts fail to drive out the humans now living in their home, two mild-mannered ghosts (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) enlist an annoying demon named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to finish the job.
'Ben' (1972)
A lonely boy (Lee Harcourt Montgomery) befriends a rat named Ben, whose army of rodents protects the sweet kid from bullies. Then, they start to kill. If you get too creeped out, Michael Jackson’s sweet theme song for the movie will bring you back to your happy place.
'Blade' (1998)
The sexy vampires and their partying subculture give this movie lots of style and may leave you longing for the darkness rather than fearing it.
'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (1992)
The movie that predates the beloved Sarah Michelle Gellar series is still plenty badass. A self-centered cheerleader (Kristy Swanson) learns she’s part of an ancient order destined to rid the world of evil vampires.
'The 'Burbs' (1989)
When creepy new neighbors move in next door to Ray Peterson (Tom Hanks), he and his friends become obsessed with finding proof that the Klopeks are murderers. The bored suburbanites hatch schemes and harass the poor family. Are the neighborhood vigilantes just mean-spirited busybodies aching for an adventure or is something nefarious going down?
'Cabin in the Woods' (2012)
Cabin in the Woods takes from horror movie tropes to create something unexpected. While you might know what could play out going into the film about a group of four friends—each filling a scary movie cliche—as they stay in a desolate cabin for the weekend, where it ends up is unexpected.
'Casper' (1995)
They don't call him a friendly ghost for nothing: In this classic '90s movie, an adorable young Christina Ricci plays Kathleen "Kat" Harvey, a young girl who befriends Casper, a ghost of a 12-year-old boy who haunts her family's new manor.
'Casper Meets Wendy' (1998)
While you're on a Casper kick, check out this sequel. In this follow-up flick based on the Harvey Comics, Casper meets Wendy the Good Little Witch (played by a then 10-year-old Hilary Duff, in her breakout role). Though the movie was direct-to-video and received negative reviews, it's a cute one to play in the background at your Halloween bash.
'Chopping Mall' (1986)
Killer robots and an '80s shopping mall after-hours? Sold! Bring on the B-movie campiness and incredible, nostalgic fashions.
'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (1977)
Some alien movies give us the heeby-jeebies about what might be out there, but this Steven Spielberg classic promises excitement. When a suburbanite father (Richard Dreyfuss) refuses to accept the reality that he saw a UFO, inexplicable phenomena take over his life. A certified sci-fi classic unfolds—that’s as much about male obsession as it is about the mysteries that science can’t always explain.
'Coraline' (2009)
Being the new kid in town isn't going as well as 11-year-old Coraline (Dakota Fanning) thought it would go. Her parents are MIA, she has no real friends, and her new house is total boredom central. Desperate to find anything to do, she decides to snoop around her new digs and finds a trap door leading to the world of her wildest dreams. But like any good person knows, nothing comes for free, and Coraline needs to find out before it's too late.
'The Corpse's Bride' (2005)
Tim Burton’s stop-motion film is a love story for the ages (and beyond). When Victor (Johnny Depp) feels cold feet about his upcoming nuptials, he’s swept away to the land of the dead by a forlorn ghost bride (Helena Bonham Carter) and must try to find his way back to the land of the living. Incorporating gothic Victorian elements and Burton’s signature ghastly quirks, the animation is stunning and what Halloween lovers dream of.
'The Craft' (1996)
A new girl (Robin Tunney) gets bullied. The girl gets back at bullies with witchcraft. Witchy friends turn on her and she shows them all who’s got the real power. This movie has made a bit of a resurgence in the last few years, thanks to our recent reappraisal for all things witchy (and its incredible' '90s fashion inspiration).
'Crimson Peak' (2016)
If you love a gothic romance, allow Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak to be your bloody valentine. Inspired by Victorian-era ghost stories, the film follows newlywed Edith (Mia Wasikowska) after she marries the charming, wealthy bachelor Thomas Sharpe (Thomas Hiddleston) and moves into his manor known as Crimson Peak. Aside from her new sister-in-law (Jessica Chastain), it seems as though secrets and evil forces lurk around every corner of the ornate home, perhaps making her new marriage the thing of nightmares.
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'Fright Night' (1985)
Not as serious or as dark as the Colin Farrell 2011 remake, this movie centers around a horror-obsessed teenager (William Ragsdale) and a late-night television host (Roddy McDowall) who team up to defeat the charming vampire next door (Chris Sarandon).
'The Gate' (1987)
'80s movies are full of absentee parents, so it’s no wonder the two kids (Stephen Dorff and Louis Tripp) left alone in The Gate open a portal to a dark dimension and release a legion of small but terrifying creatures in their backyard. Those tiny dirtbags will haunt your dreams.
'Ghostbusters' (1984)
In this classic but controversial choice (for this list anyway), a motley crew (played by comedy legends) slaps modified vacuums on their backs and hoover up ghosts around N.Y.C. as it's suddenly plagued by paranormal activity.
'Gremlins' (1984)
When a teenage boy (Zach Galligan) receives a strange creature named Gizmo for Christmas, he's instructed never to get it wet or feed it after midnight. You know what happens—he doesn’t listen to any of it. Be warned: Gizmo may be adorable, but the menacing, little creatures he spawns are the things of nightmares.
'Happy Death Day' (2017)
In this slasher version of Groundhog Day, a sorority girl (Jessica Rothe) relives the same day of her life and it always ends the same way—with her dead. With every death (it's different every time), she not only gains insight into who kills her and how she might end the loop, but she slowly evolves into a more empathetic version of herself. The feel-good ending and comedy temper the amount of blood.
'The Innkeepers' (2011)
During the final days of business for a once-grand New England inn, the boredom of the front desk staff turns into dread when old guests—alive and long-deceased—come back to visit. Morbidly curious about the hotel's tragic past, employees Luke (Pat Healy) and Claire (Sara Paxton) go ghost hunting with the help of a psychic played by Kelly McGillis. The movie is a slow burn but gets scary pretty fast at the end—you've been warned!
'Hocus Pocus' (1993)
Kids will be kids, they say, but most children don't casually awake a trio of wicked nasty witches (Bette Middler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) who were executed in the 17th century for being seriously evil. It's up to the little guys and girls to get rid of the sinister sisters once and for all, or else they can say goodbye to life as they know it.
'Hubie Halloween' (2020)
In this feel-good (but surprisingly, clever) Halloween flick, Adam Sandler plays the ever-endearing Hubie Dubois. He's a self-dubbed neighborhood watchman who takes it upon himself to look out for the citizens of his town, Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween night. See how many comedic all-stars you recognize in the cast.
'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' (1966)
If you have a taste for nostalgia and not for scares, opt for this classic animated Halloween special, which follows the Peanuts gang on their Halloween adventures.
'Jeepers Creepers 2' (2003)
The second installment in this franchise is easier to swallow than its predecessor. Maybe that's because we know what the flesh-eating monster looks like, or the idea of being trapped in a school bus with a bunch of your close friends doesn't seem that bad right now. Either way, this movie is more fun than freaky.
'Jennifer's Body' (2009)
Megan Fox playing a possessed high school cheerleader with a taste for her male classmates, is exactly as fun as it sounds. Watch to see if her best friend, played by a glasses-wearing Amanda Seyfried, can stop her murder spree before Fox gets her claws into Seyfried's boyfriend.
'Knives Out' (2019)
Who dunnit? Bring on the Halloween murder mystery party! This campy movie has all the trimmings of one in the classic genre, but a modern, fun twist. After Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), a wealthy mystery writer, dies at his 85th birthday party, his greedy, dysfunctional family (made up of an all-star ensemble cast) tries to uncover what happened—while fighting for the family fortune.
'Lady In White' (1988)
Along the lines of the popular horror theme of children seeing dead things, Lady In White centers around an awkward, bullied boy named Frankie (Lucas Haas) who befriends the ghost of a murdered girl. Set in a small town (another common horror trope) haunted by the suspicious deaths of 11 kids, Frankie vows to find the person responsible at whatever cost. Upstate New York in the 1960s and Haas' earnest depiction of Frankie create an air of nostalgia and sweetness that keeps this movie from being too scary.
'Little Shop of Horrors' (1986)
Being a plant parent to some is a gift. To others, it's a nightmare. In the case of this movie musical, it's the latter, especially when you're housing a giant plant whose diet consists of only human flesh. How quirky is that?
'The Love Witch' (2016)
Anna Biller’s horror-comedy isn’t all that scary; in fact, it’s somewhat inspiring for ladies who may be intrigued by the divine feminine. Shot beautifully in technicolor and featuring astounding costume and production design that imagines a surreal version of modern L.A. with a swinging ‘60s flair, it follows a young witch Elaine (Samantha Robinson) looking for love. When her spells and flings go awry, she can’t help but kill every one of her suitors, making for a mystical, hilarious feminist film.
'The Monster Squad' (1987)
This children's picture features Dracula and other classic horror characters teaming up to take over the world. Fortunately, a group of scrappy outcasts foil their plans. Mwahahahaha!
'Night Of The Comet' (1984)
After an asteroid strikes Earth, the only folks alive or not turned into zombies in L.A. (and possibly the world) are two Valley girls (Kelli Maroney and Catherine Mary Stewart). In the end, they have to get to the mall and save humanity.
'Night of the Creeps' (1986)
'50s sci-fi meets Revenge of the Nerds meets John Hughes. After two goofy fraternity pledges (Jason Lively and Steve Marshall) accidentally defrost the body of a teenager who was infected by an experimental brain-eating lifeform in the 1950s, Greek Row is overwhelmed with zombies.
'Practical Magic' (1998)
Two witch sisters (Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) like to avoid their magical family history at all costs. This includes falling in love. Why, you may ask? Because unfortunately for them, any fool who falls in love with them faces an untimely death. You would think this would stop them from dating, but one sister likes to walk on the wild side, no matter the cost.
'A Quiet Place' (2018)
In this thrilling movie starring Emily Blunt and her husband John Krasinski (also the film's director), Earth has been overrun by bloodthirsty aliens who depend on their hyper-sensitive hearing to pinpoint their human prey. With kids in tow and another on the way, the challenge of staying silent is amplified (pun intended).
'The Return of the Living Dead' (1985)
Despite its misleading title, this is not part of the same universe as Night of the Living Dead or Dawn of the Dead. (Those are legit scary). This relies more on zombie jump-scares and a colorful cast of characters.
'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' (1975)
Most people's first thoughts when they find themselves stranded on the side of the road would be to not venture two or so miles down the road to a nearby creepy mansion. Goody-two-shoes married couple Brad (Barry Bostwick), and Janet (Susan Sarandon) think differently, leading them to Dr. Frank-N-Furter's (Tim Curry) humble adobe where a night beyond their imagination exists. Get ready to sing along... like a lot.
'Shaun of the Dead' (2004)
This horror-comedy has the gore of The Walking Dead without the endless brooding and plodding pace. The title character of Shaun is a pop-culture-obsessed British slacker played by Simon Pegg who must awake from his video game-induced stupor to save his girlfriend and mates from the hordes of undead. Cowritten by Pegg and director Edgar Wright, you'll scream with laughter.
'The Sixth Sense' (1999)
The thrill of this movie lies in what's implied not seen and quick glimpses of restless spirits. All that tension is hinged upon star Haley Joel Osment's moving performance as Cole, a boy with the power to see dead people. Toni Collette also gives a heartfelt performance as his loving but frustrated mother.
'Slither' (2006)
The feature debut of James Gunn (now better known for the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise) has slug-like creatures from outer space invading a small rural community. It’s funny and gross and will make you squirm with delight.
'Something Wicked This Way Comes' (1983)
A strange wind blows through town and with it a mysterious carnival. But the citizens of this idyllic hamlet harbor secret desires and the carnival barker, appropriately named Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce), is just the man to draw them out. Two young boys stand between him and the souls of his unsuspecting victims. Based on the fantasy novel by acclaimed author Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles), there isn't any gore but the movie sets a tone of foreboding that can be hard to shake well after it's over.
'Tremors' (1990)
There’s something about remote desert towns: The folks are always quirky and bad shit goes down. In this case, the creatures come up from underground and people start disappearing one by one. The weirdos are the best part of this and, frankly, every movie.
'Twilight Zone: The Movie' (1983)
The Twilight Zone movie is made up of four sci-fi and horror vignettes. Each is directed by a renowned filmmaker like Joe Dante and George Miller and tells a creepy tale. It may not be as eerie as the original series—which is always worth a rewatch—but it holds onto its storytelling sensibilities.
'What We Do in the Shadows' (2015)
This cult mockumentary follows a group of centuries-old vampires maneuvering the mundane quotidian tasks of modern life as housemates. It's the classic fish-out-of-water story mixed with blood and Big Brother shenanigans. Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) co-starred, co-directed, and co-wrote the film, and, as always, they give memorably offbeat performances. The movie was such a hit that it spawned a television show.
'The Witches of Eastwick' (1987)
The amount of star power in this film led by Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jack Nicholson makes it one spellbinding watch. Based on John Updike’s novel of the same name, it follows three women who are feeling unlucky in love and unintentionally form a coven, leading a mysterious man (Nicholson) to come into their lives. Chaos ensues, but we’d do voodoo and make potions with these three any day.
'Zombieland' (2009)
Clever, fun, and (dare we say?) realistic. What would you do if zombies had taken over the planet? Find your people, look for cool places to hang out, eat what you want, and kill anything that got in your way, including Bill Murray.
