12 Great Horror Films For Halloween – And Where You Can Stream Them NOW
By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.
Halloween is Friday (October 31, 2025). And there’s nothing more fun (besides eating gobs of candy) on Halloween than to watch a scary movie. So, we present 12 great horror films now available on streaming. The list includes some classic and some recent favorites. Enjoy!
Halloween (1978)
Now streaming for free on Plex.
Jamie Lee Curtis stars as the teen scream queen in this classic scare fest from director John Carpenter. The film, which introduced the world to the stoic slasher, Michael Myers, still generates goose bumps for its portrayal of homicidal evil run amok on nubile high school kids. Carpenter, who also wrote the anxiety-inducing piano piece to open the picture, has the audience in the palm of his hand from beginning to end and he knows it.
Psycho (1960)
Now streaming on Peacock.
Janet Leigh (Jamie Lee Curtis’ Mom!) stars in this Alfred Hitchcock master work as a bank employee whose mundane life turns upside down when she decides to steal $40,000 from the bank. Filmmakers have tried to recreate the magic of Hitchcock over the years but there’s only one Psycho and it still chills your inner workings with the best jump scares ever put on screen. Anthony Perkins is awesome as the candy corn munching hotel clerk who befriends (in his own way) Leigh’s Marion.
X (2022)
Now streaming on HBO Max.
Mia Goth stars as a young woman named Maxine who travels with her director/boyfriend in the 1970s to a remote Texas farm to make a “skin” film. Once there, Maxine and her fellow “performers” begin noticing some strange behavior from the elderly couple who lives on the farm. And before you can yell cut, there is some real cutting going on. This modern take on the slasher genre from director Ti West is a brilliant piece of cinema with remarkable performances from Goth in dual roles (Maxine and the bloody-thirsty farm matron) and Jenna Ortega as a production hand. You’ll squeal, laugh and occasionally jump under the couch as West works his magic.
Pearl An X-traordinary Origin Story (2022)
Now streaming on HBO Max.
In this prequel to X, Goth stars as an unhinged young woman whose unrelenting ambition to become a movie star leads to a bloodbath on a Texas farm in 1918. West takes a decidedly different turn with Pearl, bathing the film with modern splashy (pun intended) colors despite the trip back in time. The result is an unsettling but riveting portrait of a psyche spiraling out of control as it seeks purpose. Pearl may be the superior film here with Goth delivering one of the best (and hypnotic) performances of the decade. (Martin Scorsese calls Pearl “mesmerizing” and, as usual, he is right.)
The Exorcist (1973)
Now streaming on HBO Max.
The horror film stars Linda Blair as a movie star’s daughter whose body is taken over by the Devil himself. (Or herself. Veteran actress Mercedes McCambridge did the voice of Satan). Directed by the great William Friedkin, The Exorcist scared the bejesus out of moviegoers in the 70s and it still holds up today as a great film.
The Shining (1980)
Now streaming on HBO Max.
The chilling psychological horror film from director Stanley Kubrick stars Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall as a dysfunctional couple who decide to caretake a remote resort while it’s closed during the winter. While we say The Shining is a horror film (and it has plenty of jump scares), it’s also a brilliant dark comedy thanks to Nicholson’s tour de force performance as Jack Torrance, a frustrated writer who truly understands that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Duvall is also convincing as the tortured (perhaps on and off the set) wife and little Danny Lloyd is a delight as their son.
Sinners (2025)
Now streaming on HBO Max.
Michael B. Jordan stars in dual roles as twins who return to their hometown in 1930s Mississippi to combat an evil force (vampires.) Directed by Ryan Coogler, Sinners has been one of the smash hits of 2025, generating nearly $300 million at the domestic box office. And the critics are still raving about Sinners, calling it an exciting and insightful thriller with a horror overlay.
Smile (2022)
Now streaming on Paramount Plus
Sosie Bacon stars as Rose, a therapist whose patient commits suicide during a session after flashing a sinister smile. Rose soon sees other people exhibiting similar characteristics – and that weird smile – leading her to believe that the behavior is contagious and she may be infected. Smile is a splendid satire of our fears of contagion (particularly in a post-Covid world) disguised as a simple horror film. Very well done. (Smile 2 is also very good.)
Carrie (1976)
Now available for $3.99 on Amazon’s Prime Video.
The 1976 classic horror film stars Sissy Spacek as the high school girl who can move objects (among other things), particularly when taunted and teased by her fellow students. Directed by Brian DePalma, Carrie is a rich and pulpy satire of high school life and the difficulties some have in fitting in. Look for the young John Travolta in an amusing supporting role as one of the evil students who unwisely make Carrie their target.
Get Out (2017)
Now streaming on HBO Max.
Daniel Kaluuya stars as a young black man who learns some scary secrets about his white girlfriend (Allison Williams) and her family when he visits their home. The Jordan Peele-directed horror/satire became an instant classic for its insightful and suspenseful take on racial paranoia (from both sides here) and miscommunication. Be prepared to laugh, think and occasionally jump out of your seat.
Weapons (2025)
Now streaming on HBO Max.
The blockbuster supernatural horror film follows the spooky tale of 17 third-graders who suddenly walked en masse out of their suburban Pennsylvania homes at 2:17 a.m. ET. The community soon searches for a cause, and responsible party, only to discover the mystery is far more complex, threatening and scary than anyone ever imagined. The film, which stars an ensemble cast including Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Amy Madigan and Justin Long, generated nearly $300 million at the box office and it’s not hard to understand why. The last 20 minutes are wild and crazy, unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Now streaming on Paramount Plus.
The spooky 1968 psychological horror drama from director Roman Polanski stars Mia Farrow as a pregnant young woman who suspects a mysterious group wants to kidnap her baby. Farrow is brilliant and haunting as the paranoid (or is she?) mother and film auteur John Cassavetes plays her loving (but possibly suspicious) hubbie to perfection. Made before the horrific Manson family murders, the film now takes on overtones of the massacre that took Polanski’s wife (Sharon Tate) in 1969, a parallel that has haunted the director throughout his life. The connection only makes the film more powerful and poignant in retrospect.
Please consider making a donation to The TV Answer Man site here at the Buy Me a Coffee site. Any donation size is appreciated and will help me continue to provide these articles to you.
Have a Question? Ask The TV Answer Man!
Have a question about a favorite show, streaming service or new TV product? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
Discover more from The TV Answer Man!
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
