Spooky season is here and with it comes movies, both old and new, that help capture the unique essence that comes with autumn and Halloween. There are a diverse collection of Halloween movies that foster the spirit of this exciting holiday, but there are a few that are irresistible to watch during this season. What’s better than a cozy night watching creatures of all forms take life and interact with humans? Here are a few cinematic classics that have been acclaimed by audiences and have been proven to be deserving of the praise:

“Halloweentown 1 and 2” (1998 & 2001)

This movie series follows a group of siblings who discover a mysterious town called Halloweentown, where their family is from. In the first movie, the family discovers the magical history of their mother’s side, as the oldest girl goes on a journey to become a witch with this Halloween being her last chance to attempt magic. Throughout the movie, they discover that something wrong is occuring with the town as many citizens disappear and become evil. In the second movie, the family continues their journey and embark to save the mortal world from a wicked warlock in Halloweentown. Overall, these movies are a fun throwback and contain just enough comedy and originality to excite audiences.

“Hocus Pocus 1 and 2” (1993 and 2022)

Hocus Pocus follows the story of teenager, Max Dennison, who accidentally brings back three evil witches from the past into the world. The movie occurs in Salem, Massachusetts, a famous, historical location where many girls were imprisoned and executed for supposedly practicing witchcraft. The three witches in the movie seek immortality, and this classic movie contains just enough spooky and fun elements to invoke the Halloween mood. Hocus Pocus 2 was recently released in 2022 and follows up on the three witches story and incorporates the theme of family, creating a fun experience to watch. The Hocus Pocus series is definitely one to consider watching this season!

“Corpse Bride” (2005)

This mysterious, gloomy, and very creative film is an acclaimed work of art that contains just a little bit of everything: emotions, spookiness, and musical fun to perfectly set the scene for Halloween. The movie follows the story of Victor Van Dort and his forced marriage with Victoria, who he ends up loving later on. However, he accidentally invokes the spirit of another woman, the Corpse Bride, who has been wronged by men in the past and now truly believes that Victor loves her. The story makes us all love and sympathize for the corpse bride, and the musical elements create a heart wrenching yet comedic drama.

These movies are just a few recommendations for this Halloween season, but there are many more out there that feature diverse themes and plotlines. Movies not only remind us of different cinematic eras where distinct themes were prioritized, but also guide us as cinema evolves. Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, and Corpse Bride serve as examples of what audiences truly enjoy and look for: a fun experience.