Here’s my one simple rule for all cinephiles in October: you absolutely must watch horror movies and horror movies only all the way up until Halloween. Often, folks will watch the same classic, frightening films year after year, but some crazy souls out there like to mix it up and try new things.
Whatever way you like to organise your Halloween movie viewing, this list will help you keep your finger on the pulse – and if there is no pulse, perhaps you’re hanging out with zombies! Here are ten of the most popular and most terrifying horror movies that JustWatch users have been watching lately, sending them soaring up our streaming charts.
30 Days of Night (2007)
Finding a vampire movie that breaks the mould can be difficult. Bloodsuckers tend to live by a pretty strict rulebook, so you’ll often be stuck with cliches. 30 Days of Night really offers something fresh and exciting, though. The film is set in a sleepy, snowy Alaskan town where the sun quite literally doesn’t come up for… You guessed it, 30 days. It’s a movie that bursts at the seams with frenetic energy, violence and gore.
Josh Hartnett is the hero of the hour, but it’s villainous turns from Danny Huston and Ben Foster that really stand out here. 30 Days of Night climbed as high as number 18 on the JustWatch streaming chart this month, and yet it still feels like an underseen, underappreciated gem among modern vampire movies. If you’re looking for something sub-two hours and easy to access, this one is on Prime Video now, and I’d say it’s right in the sweet spot of being scary without being traumatising.
Nosferatu (2025)
Nosferatu is one of the best horror movies of 2025. In fact, for me, it’s right up there as one of the best films of the year, period. I was absolutely stoked to see this when I first heard Robert Eggers was putting his own spin on the iconic story, and he did not disappoint at all. Nosferatu is visually stunning, deliciously dark, and crammed with star talent like Nicholas Hoult and Willem Dafoe. But it’s a surprisingly brilliant performance from Lily-Rose Depp and a bone-chilling portrayal of Count Orlock by Bill Skarsgard that steal the show.
If you like what Eggers did with The Witch, or if you’re a fan of films like Crimson Peak and Bones and All, you’ll really relish sinking your teeth into Nosferatu. The film jumped up to number 23 on our charts in the last week, and it’s a great option if you want something new and fairly universal. You’ll either need a Sky Movies package or rent the film elsewhere, but it’s a price worth paying.
It (2017)
It comes as no surprise that this classic Stephen King story just keeps on rising through the JustWatch streaming charts – peaking at the top spot. It was a huge hit when it first hit cinemas in 2017, and the Andy Muschietti flick actually delivered one of my favourite-ever moviegoing experiences. Aside from Avengers: Endgame, I can’t recall a theatre so full of people buzzing about one film; once I was seated, there were screams and jumps aplenty throughout. I’m not usually one for a reactive screening, but it worked a treat for this one.
If you’re tired of waiting for more Stranger Things, I’d say It fills that void perfectly with a brilliant combination of fun adventure and a foreboding undertone; a cracking choice for all audiences of an appropriate age – it’s scary, sure, but in an exciting way. You’ll either need Sky Movies for this one, or you could rent it for the bargain price of £1.99 on Apple TV. You may also want to save some time to watch It: Chapter Two after, although I think that you can just watch the first film and still be satisfied.
Scream (1996)
We all know Wes Craven is a horror master. Between A Nightmare on Elm Street and the Scream franchise, the legendary filmmaker has got Halloween covered, but we’re not here to talk about Freddy right now. No, it’s the original meta horror, Scream, that’s been making waves on our streaming chart in the run-up to October 31st. This is such an iconic movie: not only has it spawned five sequels to date, with another on the way, but it was also the blueprint that the Scary Movie franchise initially riffed off of, too.
The playful nature of Scream and the tantalising mystery at its heart have stood the test of time, with audiences still frantically theorising about Ghostface’s identity (or often, identities) each time a new entry is released. Revisiting the original is at the top of my Halloween movie plans this year, and it’s the ideal kind of film to watch with a group of friends, too. It’s available on Paramount Plus, or you can watch for free on BBC iPlayer.
Halloween (1978)
From one horror master to another, it’s time for John Carpenter to get in on the action here. Just like the Scream franchise, the aptly titled Halloween has become a pillar of the spooky season, and there are now a whopping 13 films in the series. Admittedly, the quality of each instalment varies wildly; the rebooted Halloween of 2018 was fantastic, but its sequels were real misfires, while the less said about Halloween: Resurrection, the better…
Still, the original Halloween is a real classic. From the chilling music to Carpenter’s wonderful use of shadows and jumpscares, down to Jamie Lee Curtis’ kickass turn as the ultimate final girl, this ‘70s flick is brimming with dread and style in equal measure. If you’re into films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre or Suspiria, you’ll love seeing Michael Myers stalking his prey in Halloween. Catch it on Shudder now.
Barbarian (2022)
If you’re looking for something to really surprise you this Halloween, I’d say Barbarian is your best bet on this list of streaming chart hits. It’s from Zach Cregger, who you may recall blew all our minds with his new movie, Weapons, earlier this year. Frankly, I think Barbarian is more creepy, fun, and altogether better. The film is split into three chapters, which include an unsettling performance from Bill Skarsgard (yes, that guy, again), a hilarious turn from Justin Long, and a balls-to-the-wall finale that’ll knock your socks off.
It’s those kinds of films, where the director takes a massive swing, that I always appreciate the most. If you enjoyed movies like Men, Malignant, or Longlegs, you’ll be firmly on board with what Barbarian is doing. I watched it with my fiancée, and she enjoyed it, which says a lot as she is not normally into any kind of horror films. Plus, it’s only 103 minutes long and is available on Netflix, so it really couldn’t be easier to tick this one off the list.
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
From the absolutely bizarre to the completely brutal: Bone Tomahawk is not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure. Don’t be fooled by the Western setting and Kurt Russell’s exquisite facial hair; this S. Craig Zahler film is far from generic and very, very nasty. I’m not particularly squeamish at all, but there’s at least one moment in this film that had me wincing.
Clearly, I can’t in good conscience recommend this to anyone averse to gore and violence, but if you’re just looking for a horror movie that isn’t going to scare you witless, this could be the one. Bonus points for having a wonderful cast, including Russell, Richard Jenkins, Patrick Wilson, and Matthew Fox. You can easily find Bone Tomahawk on Prime Video.
The Shining (1980)
The Shining is one of my all-time favourites. Arguably the most iconic and famous film on this list, it brings me great pleasure any time I get to rave about any Stanley Kubrick movie. Saying that, I made my teenage daughter watch this recently, and she was not a fan, so bear that in mind if you’re looking for a formative experience with your child this Halloween… For anyone who’s not averse to watching an ‘older’ film, though, The Shining has to be a staple at this time of year.
Jack Nicholson’s performance is right up there as one of the very best anyone has ever given, and every time I watch The Shining (which is abnormally often), I spot something new and exciting in the intricacies of his portrayal of the murderous Jack Torrance. If you’ve seen the film before, just watch it again and revel in the madness of the Overlook Hotel. If you’ve never seen it, and if you enjoy films like The Lighthouse, Get Out, or simply have a penchant for Stephen King stories, this is one you will fall in love with.
The Thing (1982)
The Thing just keeps climbing our charts. Every time I see it creeping higher and higher, I smile with glee at the thought of more people watching this phenomenal John Carpenter body horror for the first time. I saw this one as well with my daughter this year, but I’m delighted to say that, unlike The Shining, it was a winner for her. It was a real treat to see her reactions, discuss her theories, and explain the wonders of practical effects to her.
The Thing is timeless. It may be over 40 years old now, but you just can’t get tired of a genre-bending mystery thriller filled with blood, guts, and aliens. If you’re into films like Annihilation, The Fly, or Alien, I guarantee you’ll be enamoured with The Thing. It’s on Prime Video until later in November, or you can catch it on ITVX.
28 Days Later (2002)
With the release of the long-awaited sequel, 28 Years Later, earlier in 2025, it’s not surprising that JustWatch users have been revisiting 28 Days Later in the run-up to Halloween. The 2002 flick is one of the most disturbing zombie movies of all time, but it’s also so incredibly innovative, gritty, and offers plenty of social commentary, too.
Much like George A. Romero’s highly influential Night of the Living Dead and its sequels, Danny Boyle really changed the game with this one. It was the first zombie film to introduce fast-moving zombies, and its shaky, handheld footage just adds to the immersive and unsettling viewing experience. Cillian Murphy is fantastic in the lead role, while cameos from Christopher Eccleston and Brendan Gleeson really pop. I went to see 28 Days Later at the cinema not so long ago, which was an eerie but thrilling experience. You can watch it on Sky Movies or rent it for as little as £3.49.
