Halloween isn’t just about candy—it’s also about traditions. Every year in October, I do a month-long spooky marathon of movies and shows with my friends and family. I figured I should bring that tradition to the Lab with all of you.
This year, we have a variety of shows and movies to recommend. Some are cozy throwbacks, some are childhood classics, and others still manage to scare me (and that’s not easy to do). The best part? You can use them to learn English while you watch.
Here’s my full list—sorted by level—with spooky ratings 🕷️ and my own thoughts on why each one deserves a spot.
🧡 Family Picks (Spooky Rating: 🕷️)
Fun, silly, and safe for younger learners (or anyone who doesn’t want nightmares). Great for picking up everyday vocabulary and cultural Halloween traditions
🧙♀️ Halloweentown (1998)
Synopsis: Marnie finds out she’s actually a witch—and her grandma (played by the iconic Debbie Reynolds) whisks her away to Halloweentown, a magical place full of friendly monsters, spells, and yes, Halloween all year round.
💭 My Take: A childhood classic. I rewatch it every year, no shame. It’s cheesy, but in the best way. Honestly, the kind of movie that makes you wish Halloweentown was real.
📚 Why for Learners: The dialogue is simple, light, and fun—lots of family conversations and magical vocabulary that’s easy to follow.
🧛♂️Hotel Transylvania (2012 – Movie + Sequels)
Synopsis: Dracula runs a hotel for monsters, but things get complicated when a human shows up. Lots of monster humour and heart.
💭 My Take: Adorable monster chaos. It’s not scary at all, but it’s perfect for light Halloween vibes.
📚 Why for Learners: Super helpful for monster vocabulary—vampire, mummy, werewolf—with easy, fast-paced comedy.
👻 Casper (1995)
Synopsis: Kat and her dad move into a haunted mansion, only to meet Casper, a lonely ghost who just wants a friend. But his three mischievous uncles? Not as friendly.
💭 My Take: I’ll never forget “I’m Casper, the friendly ghost.” He’s basically part of pop culture at this point. Cozy, sweet, a little spooky—perfect for family movie night.
📚 Why for Learners: Clear, slower dialogue and a mix of funny + heartfelt language. Great for picking up expressions about friendship and feelings.
🦇 Hocus Pocus (1993)
Synopsis: Three witch sisters are accidentally resurrected in modern-day Salem, and they’re ready to suck the life out of some kids to stay young forever.
💭 My Take: Campy, over-the-top, and hilarious. The Sanderson sisters are pure chaos—I mean, Bette Midler doing “I Put a Spell on You” is ICONIC.
📚 Why for Learners: Great for picking up humor, jokes, and dramatic expressions. Plus, tons of cultural references—this movie gets quoted every Halloween.
🧹 The Worst Witch (2017, Netflix series)
Synopsis: Mildred Hubble, a totally normal girl, ends up at a witch academy where things never go as planned. Think “Harry Potter vibes” but more lighthearted and whimsical.
💭 My Take: Not as iconic as Halloweentown or Hocus Pocus, but still cute if you want something magical without too much dark stuff.
📚 Why for Learners: Very beginner-friendly English—perfect if you’re still building confidence with listening.
🕸️ Intermediate Picks (Spooky Rating: 🕷️🕷️🕷️):
A little creepier, a little darker—but not quite at the “hide under the covers” level. Great for those who want a little more of a challenge.
🕷 Stranger Things (Netflix series)
Synopsis: A group of kids in the 80s uncover a secret government lab experiment gone wrong—leading to a missing friend, a mysterious girl with powers, and monsters from the “Upside Down.”
💭 My Take: Still waiting on the last season… and I’m not patient 😭. This one nails the balance of spooky, nostalgic, and emotional. Also, as a 90s baby I can confidently say the 80s vibes are everything. It’s definitly giving nostalgia or vintage depending on your generation.
📚 Why for Learners: Natural teenage dialogue + slang. You’ll learn tons of casual phrases but just a disclaimer, these phrases may or may not date you (make you sound old)… so use them wisesly. Who knows you may drag these phrases back into the spotlight🤷🏽♀️.
📖 Goosebumps (90s series + 2023 reboot)
Synopsis: Every episode tells a different spooky story based on R.L. Stine’s classic kids’ books—haunted masks, evil puppets, werewolves, you name it.
💭 My Take: Childhood classic! Goosebumps was basically the gateway into spooky stuff for a lot of us. The practical effects are hilariously dated now, but that’s part of the fun. I personally haven’t watched the reboot, but maybe a comparison can be made. Let me know in the comments if you prefered the original or reboot.
📚 Why for Learners: Each episode is short and simple, so it’s easy to follow. Great for learners who want bite-sized spooky stories.
🪦 Beetlejuice (1988)
Synopsis: A recently deceased couple hire the “bio-exorcist” Beetlejuice to help scare away the new family living in their home. Chaos (and striped suits) ensue.
💭 My Take: The second one was fun, but the original? Superior, hands down. Weird, a little creepy and honestly unforgettable. I may be a bit biased since Michael Keaton is a fave… but I’m alowed to be it is my list after all.
📚 Why for Learners: Lots of visual humor and physical comedy—you’ll still understand even if you miss some words.
💀 Coraline (2009)
Synopsis: Coraline discovers a secret door that leads to an alternate version of her life where everything seems perfect… until it gets way too creepy.
💭 My Take: I’m adding this one to my watchlist this year. Everyone swears it’s unsettling in the best way, and I want to see what it’s really giving. Hopefully it lives up to the trailer😅.
📚 Why for Learners: Beautiful animation with lots of descriptive language—perfect for practicing adjectives and storytelling vocabulary.
🕸 The Addams Family (1991 + 1993) & Wednesday (Netflix spinoff)
Synopsis: The delightfully creepy Addams family lives their spooky life with dark humour and weird traditions. “Wednesday,” the spinoff series, focuses on the deadpan daughter solving mysteries at her gothic boarding school.
💭 My Take: The movies are fun and nostalgic, but “Wednesday” really brought the character back into the spotlight. Jenna Ortega nailed it—perfect mix of moody and sharp-witted. The animated versions 1 (2019) and 2 (2021) are also a good picks as well, they still keep the essence of the original.
📚 Why for Learners: Great for dark humour and sarcasm. Wednesday’s one-liners are perfect examples of witty English you won’t always find in textbooks.
🔪 Advanced Picks (Spooky Rating: 🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️)
Now for this section I’ve gotta seperate this in different subcategories. If I’m being real… I couldn’t pick just five (don’t judge me). Anyways, these ones are for when you’re ready to really lean into the spooky vibes. Beware, more advanced knowlege is required (keep those subtitles on people).
🔪 Friday the 13th (1980 + sequels)
Synopsis: A group of counselors at Camp Crystal Lake are hunted by a mysterious killer. Spoiler: it kicks off one of the most famous horror franchises ever, starring Jason and his hockey mask.
💭 My Take: One of my absolute faves—I recommend the whole series. It’s campy, gory, and classic slasher fun. (More on the slasher genre on the way, it’s a favourite horror genre of mine)
📚 Why for Learners: Lots of casual camp talk, teen slang, and survival dialogue. You’ll hear natural conversations mixed with suspenseful moments.
🔥 A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Synopsis: Teenagers are haunted in their dreams by Freddy Krueger, a burned killer with knives for fingers. If he gets you in your dream, you die in real life.
💭 My Take: Freddy is my fave out of the horror icons (yes, I’m choosing sides). His one-liners are darkly funny, and the dream sequences are unforgettable. I mean it’s crazy to think the only chance you have to defeat him is weaponizing your insomnia. I definitely think I have more of a chance against him then Jason. What do you think? Which one are you choosing to tussle with?
📚 Why for Learners: Creepy one-liners + lots of teen dialogue. Great for picking up casual expressions and pop culture references.
⚔️ Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
Synopsis: Horror legends Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees go head-to-head in a bloody showdown while teens are caught in the middle.
💭 My Take: My personal fave of the bunch. The crossover we didn’t know we needed—it’s ridiculous but SO entertaining. I highly recomend watching this after the previous two series. You may be shook by who wins the battle.
📚 Why for Learners: Easy to follow because the plot is simple: fight, chase, repeat. Great if you want to practice listening without too much complex language.
👹 The Exorcist (1973)
Synopsis: A young girl becomes possessed by a demon, and two priests attempt to save her through an exorcism.
💭 My Take: Honestly? This one grossed me out more than it scared me. But it’s still legendary—so shocking at the time that people fainted in theaters. Definitly for grown folks only, not kid friendly at all.
📚 Why for Learners: Religious and supernatural vocabulary—different from everyday English but useful for cultural references.
💀 The Conjuring (2013) & The Nun (2018)
Synopsis: Paranormal investigators Ed & Lorraine Warren face terrifying hauntings in “The Conjuring,” while “The Nun,” a kind of spin off movie in the same universe, dives into a sinister demon hiding in a Romanian abbey.
💭 My Take: The Nun legit scared me—and that’s saying something because I don’t scare easily. @roxane and I were so freaked out we had to get our crosses out.
📚 Why for Learners: Lots of spooky descriptive language and religious terms. Great for advanced learners who want to challenge their listening skills.
🔪 Slasher Classics:
Now I know technically I could have added some of the previous picks into this category but there were too many options, just think of this as an extended list. Now if you want jump scares, masked killers, and iconic scream queens—this is probably the category for you.
🪓 Halloween (1978)
Synopsis: Michael Myers escapes from an asylum and returns to his hometown to terrorize babysitters on Halloween night.
💭 My Take: The blueprint for slasher movies. Creepy mask, haunting music, and the start of endless sequels. We love to see it!
📚 Why for Learners: Everyday suburban dialogue, plus lots of suspenseful silences that make it easy to follow the action.
🔪 Scream (1996)
Synopsis: A masked killer called Ghostface torments teens while referencing horror movies themselves.
💭 My Take: Smart, self-aware, and funny. It pokes fun at horror tropes while still being scary. There are also many spin-offs and spoofs created from this classic. My personal fave is Scary Movie (2000), if you want a funny movie that pokes fun at the original, check it out.
📚 Why for Learners: Tons of casual slang + meta pop culture references—great for modern English learners.
👻 Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Synopsis: A group of friends stumble across a family of cannibals led by the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface.
💭 My Take: Disturbing, gritty, and not for the faint of heart. A horror classic that feels raw compared to modern polished films. If you have a weak stomach for gore, this pick probably isn’t for you.
📚 Why for Learners: Simple dialogue, but fast and frantic. Good for learners who want to test their listening under “stress.”
🎭 Child’s Play (1988)
Synopsis: A doll named Chucky becomes possessed by a serial killer and starts terrorizing a little boy and his family.
💭 My Take: Creepy and kind of hilarious. Chucky’s sarcastic, foul-mouthed personality makes him unforgettable. I love pretty much any iterartion of this series… this is also a series by the way (more to come about how you can binge watch). Especially when Chucky’s bride is introduced [Bride of Chucky (1998)], Jennifer Tilly is THAT girl.
📚 Why for Learners: Great mix of everyday family English + sharp one-liners from Chucky.
🤡 It (2017)
Synopsis: A group of kids face their fears (and Pennywise the clown) as they battle a shape-shifting evil haunting their town.
💭 My Take: Pennywise is nightmare fuel. That sewer scene? I’ll never look at storm drains the same. Also this is one of the few movies that the sequal [IT: Chapter Two (2019)] is as good as the original.
📚 Why for Learners: Examples of slang, jokes, and group conversations. Great for listening practice with multiple characters.
👻 Supernatural & Gothic Vibes
For fans of witches, vampires, and creepy atmospheres more than gore.
🧛 Interview with the Vampire (1994 & AMC remake)
Synopsis: A vampire recounts his centuries-long life to a reporter—full of beauty, blood, and betrayal.
💭 My Take: Anne Rice’s masterpiece. The original is a fave, but I was surprised at how good the remake turned out too.
📚 Why for Learners: Rich, descriptive storytelling. Advanced vocabulary but worth it if you love gothic style.
🧙 Mayfair Witches (AMC series)
Synopsis: A young doctor discovers she’s the heir to a family of witches with a dark legacy.
💭 My Take: Not my absolute fave of Anne Rice’s works, but still fun if you like mysterious family dramas with magic.
📚 Why for Learners: Lots of family dialogue + mystical vocabulary.
🦇 Queen of the Damned (2002)
Synopsis: Vampire Lestat becomes a rock star and awakens an ancient vampire queen.
💭 My Take: Haven’t watched yet, but it’s on my list. I’ve heard it’s campy, chaotic, and pure early-2000s energy.
📚 Why for Learners: Mix of gothic drama and rock ’n’ roll English.
👻 American Horror Story (2011–present)
Synopsis: Anthology horror—each season tells a new story (haunted houses, witches, freak shows, apocalypses, you name it).
💭 My Take: On my watchlist, but I love how each season reinvents itself. Creepy, stylish, and unforgettable characters.
📚 Why for Learners: Lots of slang + natural dialogue, but very fast. Good for advanced learners.
Paranormal Activity (2007)
Synopsis: A young couple moves into a suburban house and begins to experience strange nightly disturbances. To figure out what’s going on, they set up a home camera — and the footage slowly reveals something terrifying lurking in the dark.
💭 My Take: For a film that was shot so simply, it was somehow way scarier than a big-budget monster. The realistic aspect of cameras being set up around the house makes you think that this could happen in your own home. Which makes it even more chilling.
📚 Why for Learners: The dialogue is realistic and everyday (arguments, short phrases, casual talk), so it’s great for practicing natural spoken English. Because there’s not a ton of dialogue, subtitles help — try transcribing a 30–60 second clip to level up listening and vocabulary.
✏️ Tips for English Learners Watching Halloween Media
- Don’t worry if you don’t understand every word—focus on the vibe and visuals.
- Subtitles are your friend! English subtitles help link spoken words to spelling.
- Rewatch your faves—second time around, you’ll catch way more.
- Keep a “spooky vocab” list (👻 ghost, 🧛 vampire, 🔪 slasher, etc.).
- Watch with friends and repeat the funny/scary lines out loud—it helps memory.
🎃 Final Thoughts: Make Halloween Your English-Learning Tradition
👻 My Take: Halloween isn’t just about scares and candy — it’s about traditions, and this is one of mine! Every October, I dive into a mix of family-friendly classics, creepy thrillers, and bone-chilling horrors. Putting this guide together feels like inviting you to my own watchlist.
💡 Why for Learners: Watching Halloween movies and shows in English is more than just entertainment. It sharpens listening skills, teaches you new idioms and cultural references, and keeps learning fun. Plus, the suspense makes you pay extra close attention!
👉 Your Turn:
- Which of these picks are must-watches for you?
- Do you have your own spooky recommendations?
- Should we make this Halloween Recommendation Guide a yearly tradition here on the blog?
Drop your thoughts in the comments, share this with a friend who’s learning English, and let’s make October a little spookier — and smarter — together.
Loved these recommendations, but not sure where to start? Don’t worry—I’ve put together a full October Watch Plan to guide you week by week through spooky season. From cozy family nights to supernatural scares, I’ll show you how to build the perfect Halloween marathon. Stay tuned—it’s dropping soon!
