We've all seen the 31 days of Halloween graphics put out by Netflix, Hulu, and other platforms. So we decided to compile our own list of must-watch films and shows for the season! No matter what kind of vibe you're going for, we've got you covered.
COZY
Looking for something that you can curl up to and enjoy the vibes without worrying about getting spooked? Check out these options:
Whether you prefer the 60s show, iconic films featuring Angelica Huston, or the newly-adapted animated films, you certainly can't go wrong. They are the epitome of cozy-yet-spooky with a ton of comedy thrown in.
Of course the King of Halloween is on our list! Everything Burton makes is pure gold and perfect for autumn/Halloween season.
Coraline is one of Kori's favorite stories for this time of year, whether it's the book or the animated film adaptation—which is one of the best adaptations ever, in her opinion.
By the same studio that brought Coraline to life, Paranorman is an adorable, funny movie about a boy who can see the dead and, with the help of a ragtag team, breaks a curse that's causing them to overrun his hometown.
Based on the comic books by Joe Hill, this show follows the Locke children as they move into Key House and discover their family's legacy of using magical keys to go on epic adventures, fight demons, and protect the world. It's cute and whimsical, but definitely carries heavier themes like death, addiction, and more. The third and final season just dropped on Netflix, and it was SO GOOD!
This is one of our favorite shows. With dark fairytale retellings set between an enchanted forest and the northeast coast, tons of magic, and an emphasis on hope, this is a perfect show to binge watch under blankets with a warm mug in hand.
Quirky, fun, short episodes featuring supernatural shenanigans, a team of wise-cracking monster hunters, and a dash of broody romance? What's not to love!
Probably Jordan's favorite discovery in recent years is this cozy miniseries. A little eerie, a lot comedic, and surprisingly laden with metaphor, this episodic batch of short tales has an "old folklore" feel mashed with modern humor. Wirt (Elijah Wood) and his younger brother Gregg get lost deep in strange woods full of talking animals, monsters, and curses.
These animated films are adorable, hilarious, and perfect for nomming all the holiday candy or caramel corn to.
Scooby-Doo films
Scooby-Doo was one of Jordan & Kori's childhood favorites, and this monster-investigating crew has tons of adventures fit for this time of year. Here are some we like to watch for Halloween:
GOTHIC ROMANCE
Want a dark, possibly deadly romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat? You might enjoy some of the following:
This one-season show features a haunted house, a mysterious family, multiple love stories, and killer writing that will play with your emotions. This one is slightly spooky, but if Kori can watch it alone in the dark, you'll probably be alright. *wink*
An aspiring female author falls in love with a mysterious man who lives in a decaying mansion with his seriously sus sister. After moving in she falls into a scary story that's full of ghosts and murder. It's a little scary and bloody, but the gothic vibes are on point.
Amanda Seyfried plays Valerie, a village girl with a mysterious connection to the monstrous wolf that's terrorized her village for years. When her sister, one of the most beloved members of the village, dies, suspicions turn to Valerie—the wayward child no one trusts. Between rising hysteria, the woodcutter asking her to run away with him, and a band of werewolf hunters in town, all Valerie knows is she has to find whoever killed her sister.
Horror fans might appreciate this retelling of iconic classics like Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Picture of Dorian Grey. While the story has its weaknesses, there are moments that are beautiful and emotional. The cast is pretty good, it has a lot of gothic vibes and lore, and it gets spicy at times.
Most likely you've heard at least some of the hype around Netflix's adaptation of Caroline Kepnes' novel You. And it's definitely good. If you're into cute bookish boys who would do anything for the woman they love––including stalking and serial unaliving––then this one is for you.
Based on the classic novel by Gaston Leroux and made into a Broadway sensation, this film featuring Gerard Butler as the Phantom, Emily Rossum as Christine, and Patrick Wilson as Raoul is one of Jordan's favorite October movies.
Based on the book by the same name (trust Jordan on this: just watch the movie), Vivian is part of a werewolf pack and destined to be the alpha's mate. But she doesn't love the cruel and selfish Gabriel—instead, she finds it with a gentle artist, Aden (Hugh Dancy, so can't blame her), who knows nothing about their world. Sweet yet dark, this is the perfect romantic monster film for spooky season.
Vampires are back to running rampant in Mystic Falls, Virginia, but they're not the only things. Werewolves, witches, and ancient beings known as The Originals all pose a threat to this cast of super-powered characters. Toss in a romance with bite (i.e. a snarky antihero) and this is a perfect darkly romantic show to cozy up with.
DARK
Need something on the grittier side for a little kick? These dark shows pack enough tragedy, horror, and general aura of doom for those who enjoy a touch of fright.
As if being a woman in the late 1940s isn't a scary enough premise, throw in a questionable asylum, dark secrets, forbidden love, murder, and torture, and you're sure to get the chills!
The untold story of Vlad Drăculea, Prince of Wallachia and Transylvania. When Vlad's kingdom is threatened by an impossible Ottoman force, Vlad agrees to a dark curse and becomes a bloodthirsty creature of old to stop them.
When an occult ritual doesn't go as planned, Morpheus, the King of Dreams is trapped and his realm thrown into chaos. Once freed, he must travel across realms and rely on the help of humans and creatures alike to track down artifacts and restore his kingdom, The Dreaming, and by extension the waking world.
A fan favorite with 15 seasons (we recommend spacing this bad boy out) and multiple plotlines spanning folkoric monster hunts, heaven and hell, several apocalypses, and alternate dimensions, there's enough dark, hilarious, and heart-wrenching content for a well-rounded sob fest—sorry, treat.
Burton reimagines the horrifically comedic play of the same name, with Johnny Depp as a barber out for revenge and a business woman (Helena Bonham Carter) who finds that people can't get enough of her meat pies when Sweeney starts providing a different sort of meat.
Oh hi, it's Tim Burton and Johnny Depp again—this time with a less murderous protagonist and Christina Ricci as the love interest. The traditional Halloween favorite Sleepy Hollow is retold through Burton's lens and, honestly, need we say more?
Another Stephen Sondheim play like Sweeney Todd, these twisted takes on classic fairytales stay truer to their grim origins than the Disney-fied versions. But don't worry: there's enough dark humor for a bit of levity.
SPOOKY
Want something decidedly more spooky than cozy, but still fun enough that you won't need to take breaks from the gloominess? We've got you covered.
If you haven't already delved into this brilliant show, this is your sign! Stranger Things is a perfect balance between spooky, thrilling, funny, and uplifting as to be absolutely addictive. And who doesn't want to see a group of nerds use their knowledge to save the world? Trust us, there's a reason it's so popular.
A man with no memory of his past travels the world as a monster hunter for the church. Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) teams up with a monster-slaying Romanian princess (Kate Beckinsale) to take down her kingdom's greatest thread: Dracula and his brides.
Matt Damon and Heath Ledger play the Brothers Grimm in this just-spooky-enough fairytale adventure. Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm are con artists who make use of their folkloric knowledge to convince people they're monster hunters—so imagine their shock when they're called in for an actual monster: the spirit of an evil queen who's stealing life from young village girls.
Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass (Burton)
Burton lends his usual gothic flair to the familiar tale of Alice in Wonderland to give it dark imagery and sinister undertones that make for a fantastic spookytime watch.
Not too dark, but definitely spooky enough for autumn weather, this show follows detective Nick Burkhardt as he inherits his family's ability to see the folkloric creatures who blend into everyday society—as well as his powers to destroy them, for he is now a supernatural hunter known as a Grimm.
That's all for this go around—there are so many to choose from that we couldn't possibly fit them into one post. Thanks for checking out our cozy and spooky Halloween picks! Are any of these on your list? Which ones are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below, or find us on bookstagram or Twitter.
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