5 horror movies to stream on HBO Max this Halloween that will give you extreme chills

HBO Max will be releasing a set of horror movies for this year's Halloween. These titles span multiple years and are directed by various filmmakers.

This includes recent releases such as A24's Bring Her Back and Companion. Halloween, observed at the end of October each year, is widely associated with the horror genre. Hence, it’s seen as an ideal time to release horror films and shows, as audiences are drawn to macabre and morbid content during the festival. So let's look at the list.

5 Horror movies to stream on HBO Max on Halloween

1) The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist remains one of the granddaddies of all the horror flicks. This William Friedkin-directed film was adapted from William Peter Blatty's namesake novel. The film is known for several of its sequences, including the spider-walk, the rituals and the iconic head-turning scene. A commercial and critical success, upon release, it continues to remain a favorite horror of several cinephiles and should be binged on HBO Max.

2) Bring Her Back (2025)

Bring Her Back is the second horror directorial venture of Danny and Michael Philippou. The Australian YouTuber-turned-director duo had earlier helmed Talk To Me. This time, the story gets more personal and tackles some important issues without being preachy. It revolves around two half-siblings who realize that their stepmother is involved in occult activities.

3) Hereditary (2018)

Hereditary is a film that put Ari Aster on the Hollywood map as a new age voice of horror. Unlike several films that were released around that time, which relied on jump scares, this one focused on slow building tension and disturbing imagery. It also manages to explore the concept of grief while telling a story about the occult and ghosts. Give it a watch this Halloween on HBO Max if you haven't already.

4) The Substance (2024)

The Substance is one of the recent additions in the body horror genre, a realm filmmakers have not touched since David Cronenberg. It focuses on a fading actress (played by Demi Moore) who uses a secret drug that creates a younger version of her. What follows is a delight for horror fans, but it’s not recommended to watch while eating.

5) The Shining (1980)

The Shining is one of the few Stephen King adaptations that he did not like. But despite his opinion, this Stanley Kubrick-directed feature has gained a strong cult following among cinephiles. It focuses on a writer's slow descent into madness as he, along with his wife and son, starts staying at the Overlook Hotel. The film is also known for its use of steadicam, which was recently introduced. It is available for streaming on HBO Max.

Besides all these films, there are some honorable mentions like Companion, MaxXxine, and Nightmare on Elm Street that are also available on the platform.

Which one of these are you going to watch on HBO Max?