Halloween Watch List

With my absolute favorite holiday of the year approaching, I figured I'd put together a list of movies and TV shows that are religious viewing for me during the month of October. To me, Halloween is not a day, it is a month long celebration. Many people love scary movies this time of year and I am no exception, but to me Halloween movies have a different vibe. Truly scary bleak movies (Texas Chainsaw Massacre for example) are not for Halloween. Halloween is for lighthearted, campy movies which is why you will notice a lot of the movies on this list are 80s horror movies. Here it is, in no particular order, my list of movies and tv show episodes that are essential halloween viewing

Halloween: Duh, the month would not be complete without viewing this slasher classic.

Halloween 2: The sequel is just as much fun and has an even more Halloween atmosphere to it than the original.

Halloween 3: This is a very underrated gem. Many people hate this movie because its the one Halloween movie without Michael Myers, but its still a fantastic movie for Halloween. There is no way you can watch this jingle and not be filled with Halloween spirit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIHUv2ooG38

Evil Dead: So over the top, so campy, so much fun

Sleepaway Camp: Everything I said about Evil dead also applies here, plus with a great twist at the end.

Monster Squad: Universals classic monsters in a Goonies style movie? Hell Yes

Killer Klownz From Outer Space: Once again, Over the top, campy, fun, sensing a theme here?

Friday the 13th: Such a weird movie in that the reveal of the killer was never meant to be a major twist, but it organically turned into one over time after 30 years and so many sequels. First time viewers still get shocked when they find out Jason is not actually the killer in the first one.

Fright Night: One of the greatest horror movies of the 80s and the greatest vampire movie ever made, sorry Dracula. So much fun to watch from start to finish, a Halloween doesnt go by where I dont watch this gem. 

Return of the Living Dead: Yup, over the top, campy, fun, and a great soundtrack. The movie poster just screams "Halloween" to me.

A Nightmare on Elm Street: The most iconic horror movie character of all time in the original that started it all. Definitely essential Halloween viewing.

Trick R Treat: We have this movie to thank for the revitilization of horror anthologies.

Tales of Halloween: Just discovered this one this year. Another anthology in the vein of Trick R Treat, though this one crams ten fun little stories all taking place on Halloween night.

Under Wraps: A disney movie! I have so many nostalgic memories of coming home trick or treating and counting my candy with this movie on in the background on the disney channel.

Halloweentown: Another disney movie! This movie always played on Halloween nights right after Under Wraps, so itd be playing as I was heading to bed. Again, nostalgic memories.

WNUF Halloween Special: Another one I just discovered this year, a ton of fun and unconventional.


The American Scream: As Much as I love Halloween in Orlando, there still is nothing quite like Halloween time in a small midwestern city, and this documentary about people who build haunted houses in their homes for Halloween in small midwestern cities provides me with that feeling of Halloween in the midwest without having to leave Orlando.

That 70s Show: Too young to die, Too Old to Trick R Treat: Without a doubt the greatest comedy show Halloween episode ever. This episode spoofs all the classic Alfred Hitchcock movies in hilarious fashion.

Never Sleep Again: This 4 hour documentary about all 8 Nightmare on Elm Street Movies is something i insist on finding time to watch every year around this time.

Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask. The most iconic Goosebumps episode ever. this story about a girl who buys a Halloween Mask inflicted with a curse is Halloween gold. There is not a 90s kid alive who didnt read this book and love watching this episode on ABC Family every year the Friday before Halloween.

Tracking IT's historical Box Office Run: 10/2-10/8

IT Total from 10/2-10/8: 13.8 Million Dollars
Total Through 10/8: 304.9 Million

Notable Movies IT passed for all time money made this week: Chronicles of Narnia: Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix, Inception, Up, The Sixth Sense, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

All Time Box Office Rank: 66

Accomplishments: IT crossed the 300 million mark, an unthinkable feat for a horror movie. IT is now the 4th highest grossing rated R movie of all time.

Tracking IT's historical box office run 9/25-/10/1

Now that IT's numbers have slowed a little bit as all movies do after three weeks, I'm only going to do one update a week.

It's Box Office total from 9/25-10/1: 24.8 Million Dollars
Total Through Sunday 10/1: 291.1 Million Dollars

Notable Movies IT passed for All Time Money Made this week: The Hangover, Meet The Fockers, Home Alone, Monsters Inc, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Stars Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Man of Steel

All Time Box Office Rank: 78

Other Notable Accomplishments: IT continues to make box office history as it inexplicably in its 4th weekend was the highest grossing movie of the weekend, reclaming the top spot at the box office beating out an opening weekend of a Tom Cruise movie, American Made, as well as the opening weekend of another horror movie, Flatliners, also beating the second weekend of Kingsman. A horror movie winning the box office weekend in its 4th week is just another example of uncharted territory that IT has crossed into. IT is now the 4th highest grossing rated R movie of all time. This week IT will cross the 300 million dollar mark, a number previously though unthinkable for a horror movie. Depending on if IT has a good run in October or not it could finish anywhere between 325 million on the low end, to about 350 million on the high end.