Top 10 Halloween Movies

After the costumes are ordered (or stitched by hand), candy is purchased, apples are dipped and house decorated with creepy characters, I say it’s time to tuck the kids into bed, curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and watch some great movies. Now is the perfect time of year to take a trip down memory lane and watch my top 10 scariest and sappiest Halloween films of all time:

 

 

10.  Friday the 13th

Bet you didn’t think I had it in me. While I’m a sucker for tearjerkers, nothing quite beats one of the most frightening films I’ve ever seen in my life. Sure, my brother snuck me into see this movie when I was 10 years old, and maybe that’s why I still have nightmares of the scene when Jason’s mother gets her head chopped off, but there's nothing like a scary movie to make you realize that you'll never let your kids see this flick until they're in college.

 

 

9.  Scream

The original Scream is still a priceless classic starring Drew Barrymore, Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox Arquette where high school kids turn out to be ruthless killers. No matter how many times I've seen this film, I never get tired of the over-acting or blood curdling screams.

 

 

8.  Child's Play or A Nightmare on Elm Street

Halloween wouldn’t be complete without that freakish looking clown toy Chuckie wreaking havoc upon the lives of his unsuspecting victims. Keep the kids far away because they will never want to sleep with dolls in their bedroom ever again.  If creepy dolls don't do it for you, there's always Freddy Krueger in "A Nightmare on Elm Street."  Watch this film about a crazed stalker who kills people while they're dreaming, and trust me, you'll never want to sleep again.

 

 

7.  The Birds

If you’re really into creeping yourself out, then nothing quite measures up to this Alfred Hitchcock classic when a flock of ravens go postal on a few unsuspecting victims. Lock the windows and doors and get ready to be freaked out by fowl behavior.

 

 

6.  Beetlejuice

One of my favorite Halloween movies of all time. The reason? It’s not that scary - it’s funny and it stars some of my favorite film stars including Geena Davis, Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder. Love the shrunken zombie heads and the funky dinner scene where the guests become possessed by ghosts and start lip synching "Day O". And best of all...you can watch this one with your kids!

 

 

5.  Mermaids

Another Winona Ryder classic that isn’t technically a Halloween film but does feature a few costume sequences.  Plus, any excuse for me to watch a few Winona Ryder movies is a good one in my book. You’ll laugh and cry your way through this offbeat film.

 

 

4.  Edward Scissorhands

Johnny Depp stars as an oddball teen with scissors for hands who falls for Winona Ryder after moving in with her family.  With his shearing prowess, Depp soon becomes the resident hairdresser and landscaper until two bad neighbors claim he's a danger to society and attempt to run him out of town.

 

 

3.  Ghostbusters

When an upper west side apartment building becomes possessed by spirits, who ya gonna call? Simple.  Ghostbusters!  I never get tired of watching a possessed Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis get snuffed out by three parapsychologists (Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Dan Akroyd) who run a successful ghostbusting business.

 

 

2.  E.T.  The Extra Terrestrial

My movie viewing marathon wouldn't be complete without a dose of Drew Barrymore and this time, she stars at Gertie in this classic 1980 film about an alien who accidentally gets left behind by his friends and moves in with a boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas), who helps him find his way back home.  The first time I saw this film was at a drive in movie theater (remember those) and no matter how many times I see it, I still cry when E.T. starts coding on the table.  Oh - and the Halloween connection?  Simple - the kids go out trick or treating and dress E.T. up to look like a ghost as they plan their escape to take him to his mother ship.  Totally plausible.  

 

1.  It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

Nothing like the Peanuts gang to get your kids in the mood for a little trick or treating. My favorite character other than Lucy and Snoopy? Simple. Woodstock. I’m a sucker for cute birds.  

 

 

Have a classic Halloween movie you'd like to share?  Tell us if we missed one of your faves!