December 6, 2024

Top Ten Scary Movies and Franchises to Watch on Halloween

Looking for a spook this Halloween? Here is a list of 10 Scary movies you should watch for that adrenaline rush:

1. Annabelle Franchise

This trilogy centers around a cursed doll named Annabelle.

  1. Annabelle Creation (Watch on MAX and HULU)
  2. Annabelle (Watch on Netflix)
  3. Annabelle Comes Home (Watch on HULU and MAX)

Rated R for disturbing violence and terror.

2. Terrifier Franchise

This trilogy is centered around the sadistic, “Art the Clown.” The movie is full of grotesque murder, graphic violence, and disturbing imagery. (Disclaimer: if gore is not your thing, DO NOT WATCH)

  1. Terrifier 1 (Watch on Amazon Prime.)
  2. Terrifier 2 (Watch on Amazon Prime.)
  3. Terrifier 3 (Watch in theaters, not yet released on streaming services.)

Unrated but contains severe violence, gore, moderate nudity, profanity, and mild alcohol, drug, and smoking references.

3. Autopsy of Jane Doe

This movie focuses on the autopsy of an unidentified woman found in the basement of a strange crime scene and the bizarre occurrences happening in the morgue, uncovering the sinister secrets the body harbors. (Watch on Netflix)

Rated R for blood, violence, graphic nudity, and language.

4. Smile Franchise

A bizarre terror takes over peoples lives, causing them to experience traumatic events that make them confront their past.

  1. Smile (Watch on HULU, Paramount+, and Amazon Prime)
  2. Smile 2 (Watch in theaters, not yet released on streaming services.)

Rated R for violent content, images, and language.

5. The Strangers Franchise

This franchise follows the grisly murders of a masked trio on unsuspecting people.

  1. The Strangers (Watch on MAX, HULU, and Amazon Prime)
  2. The Strangers: Prey at Night (Watch on MAX, HULU, and Amazon Prime)
  3. The Strangers: Chapter One (Watch on HULU and Amazon Prime)

Rated R for violence, terror, and language.

6. The Exorcist: Believer

This film centers around worried parents of two girls who went missing together one day after school, appearing 3 days later, unlike themselves and unsure of where they were. Loosely a sixth edition to the Exorcist film franchise, starring Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn from the original movie. (Watch on Amazon Prime)

Rated R for violent content, disturbing images, and references.

7. The Babadook

An Australian Psychological horror following a newly widowed mother as she takes care of her son and his new fear of a monster from his story book. But she soon learns of the sinister presence around her family. (Watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and the Roku Channel)

Unrated but contains severe frightening scenes, moderate violence and gore, and mild nudity and profanity.

8. Blair Witch Project

A found footage style movie following three film students and their research on the Blair Witch Trials for a documentary on a local Murderer and the strange events they experience after getting lost in the wood. (Watch on Amazon Prime)

Rated R for language and frightening scenes.

9. Paranormal Activity Franchise

Found footage film style to tell the story of a cursed family.

  1. Paranormal Activity 1 (Watch on MAX, HULU, and Amazon Prime)
  2. Paranormal Activity 2 (Watch on MAX, HULU, and Amazon Prime)
  3. Paranormal Activity 3 (Watch on MAX, HULU, and Amazon Prime)
  4. Paranormal Activity 4 (Watch on MAX, HULU, and Amazon Prime)
  5. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (Watch on MAX, HULU, and Amazon Prime)
  6. Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (Watch on Amazon Prime)
  7. Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (Watch on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime)

Rated R for Language.

10. Insidious Franchise

This franchise follows the haunting of a father son duo.

  1. Insidious (Watch on Pluto Tv)
  2. Insidious Chapter 2 (Watch on Pluto Tv)
  3. Insidious Chapter 3 (Purchase on Amazon Prime)
  4. Insidious the Last Key (Purchase on Amazon Prime)
  5. Insidious The Red Door (Watch on Netflix)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, frightening images, violence, and brief strong language.

Enjoy at your own discretion!

Happy Halloween!

Sources: IMDb Parents Guide