Call yourself a horror fan? These 9 movies are a must watch for Halloween 2025

The Halloween 2025 season is going on, so why not spend the evening with these 9 horror movies? There is no better occasion to watch some scary movies that can make your heart beat or your skin crawl. Whether it is ghosts, evil, murderers, or haunted houses, every person can find something here. They are all full of suspense and horror, be they the new ones or the old classics. These are all the horror movies that are eerie and remarkable in terms of their scenes that one cannot forget. Then, prepare a great horror movie night with popcorn, and put the paper down.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.

The list of 9 must-watch horror movies for Halloween 2025 is given below:

9. The Shining (1980)

The Shining is a classic horror film produced in 1980 by Stanley Kubrick and the writer Diane Johnson. It is the story of a hotel managed by a man called Jack during the winter. He runs away with his wife and son. Jack slowly loses his mind and becomes dangerous. Film critic Jonathan Romney points out that people see the movie in many different ways. Some say it explores problems with masculinity, unfair treatment of women, racial tension, and issues in big business.

It is a great choice to watch during Halloween because it develops the horror in a snowy motel's calm atmosphere. In one particularly memorable scene, Wendy reads Jack's manuscript, which repeatedly repeats a single unsettling statement. This confirms to the viewer that Jack is insane and makes the viewer feel as if they are locked up with him. The warning given to Danny by Redrum, the bloody elevator, and the ghosts; all these together help to make the perfect background for a scary evening.

8. The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist is a horror film that was released in 1973. It is based on his novel of the same title, written in 1971 by the same author, William Peter Blatty, and under the direction of William Friedkin. When it was premiered in the United States around the Christmas season, there were many children in the theaters, which raised some concerns. They claimed that the positive box office results of the film were a result of the rating, which they considered too lenient.

A very memorable moment involves the furious shaking of the bed when Regan lies in it, a terrified and confused person. A bedchamber is unexpectedly transformed into an imaginary vision of horror, the indicator of the malevolence that develops within. The movie suits Halloween well due to its combination of mystery, superhuman power, and helplessness. It grabs you and never lets go.

7. Halloween (1978)

This film follows the life of Michael Myers as a child who murdered his elder sister on the Halloween night of 1963. It was after committing this heinous crime that he was taken back to a mental institution, where he kept silent for fifteen years. It is the night before Halloween, 1978, when Michael manages to escape and goes back to the place where it all started, Haddonfield, Illinois. Donning a white and expressionless mask, he goes on a hunt to find teenage babysitter Laurie Strode and her friends and kills them one by one. His psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis, is in a state of desperate search after him because Michael is believed to be pure evil.

The movie would fittingly celebrate the Halloween holiday since it embodied the anxiety and fright of the whole period. The horror, music, and chilling looks and appearance of Michael are the reasons why it is one of the best horror films ever produced. The film will transform your night into one that will be frightening and memorable.

6. Hereditary (2018)

As a disturbing narrative, Hereditary follows the case of the Graham family that begins to fall apart due to the death of their enigmatic grandmother. The mother, Annie, is having a hard time dealing with the loss, and the events that begin to occur in their home are disturbing. Dark things and unpleasant events accompany them in their quest to find out the terrible secrets of their origin. Until the supernatural takes control and exposes the actual evil that runs in their family, it turns into a horror.

Hereditary is a modern horror masterpiece, and it contains not only frightening scenes but also a sense of dread that is built up gradually. It is suitable during Halloween, as it creates a mood of fear and anxiety that lingers long after watching the movie. It is an intense experience for any person wishing to have a chilling Halloween night due to the frightening performances and scary graphics.

5. Sinners (2025)

Sinners is a new release that has quickly become one of the top recommendations for Halloween 2025. The film follows a group of friends who come together to celebrate Halloween in a secluded hunting lodge. They don't stay alone for long because someone will hunt them down and punish them one by one for their misdeeds. Obviously, the hunters know the deepest secrets of the group, and each character must face the terrors of his or her guilt. As trust breaks down, paranoia spreads through the group, and suspense rises.

Sinners' innovative twists, new scares, and blend of contemporary psychological horror and classic slasher thrills are what set it apart in 2025. Its tense storyline and eerie setting provide an apt backdrop on Halloween, making it a must-watch for fans in search of something new and genuinely terrifying this year.

4. Weapons (2025)

Weapons is a 2025 horror film written and directed by Zach Cregger, who has also written the story and co-composed the music. Other celebrity actors in the film are Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, and Benedict Wong. The plot is centered on seventeen children of the same class who ran away at the same time when, one night, due to unknown reasons, they did it.

One eerie scene has the missing kids chase Gladys through the dark neighborhood after Alex breaks her spell. Silent faces and their sudden rage make the quiet street a nightmare. The scene provides magic and revenge to create a perfect mood for Halloween. It shows how horror can grow from something innocent & end in chaos.

3. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

The Conjuring: Last Rites | Image via The Conjuring Movie

The Conjuring: Last Rites is a 2025 horror movie directed by Michael Chaves, and its screenplay is developed by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. Released on September 5th in the United States, the film is the ninth in a series of movies about the Conjuring, based on the real-life haunting Smurl case.

In a dramatic sequence, Judy tries to hang herself in the attic, but Ed intervenes and saves her. You can see Lorraine uses prayer to bring Judy back to life, and the demon attacks them during a moment filled with love, fear, and dark forces. This film is an excellent choice for spending Halloween evening with your family because it depicts a clash of familial bonds.

2. The Possession of Hannah Grace (2018)

The Possession of Hannah Grace | Image via Apple TV

The Possession of Hannah Grace is the story of a depressed and grief-stricken former policeman, Megan Reed, whose present is to work graveyard in a hospital morgue. One night, she was given back the body of Hannah Grace, a young woman who had died of a failed exorcism that had resulted in her possession by a demon. Weird and frightening occurrences begin when Megan sees that the body of Hannah is being healed bit by bit, after which there are weird murders in and around the hospital.

Megan will have to face her fears and try to kill Hannah to break the curse. She learns that the evil spirit inside Hannah wants more lives to grow stronger. It would be the best addition to the Halloween 2025 program because it has a spooky backdrop, jump scares, and a frightening ambience, which will leave the audience terrified by the thought of staying alone at night.

1. Black Phone 2 (2025)

The Black Phone 2 is a sequel to the well-written horror film, The Black Phone. The new film returns to the scary world of the first movie. In this story, a strange phone placed in a dark basement connects a kidnapped boy with the ghosts of past victims. The story of Black Phone 2 revolves around the meeting of new individuals who happen to discover the mystery about this haunted phone and end up battling an evil kidnapper. The tension, ghostly voice, and otherworldly threat throughout the film raise the audience's uneasiness to unprecedented heights.

Black Phone 2 will be scary and intense for people who might watch it during Halloween. The movie is also among the films that can be recommended to watch during Halloween 2025 because it is not only a typical ghost story but also a horror. It is an extremely memorable and frightening Halloween movie.