It is the last night before Halloween weekend, and the streaming lineup is stacked. If you want Halloween movies to stream without scrolling for an hour, here is a shortlist of horror picks organized by where they live, based on guides from Haunted Attraction Network, TV Guide and SlashFilm.
Halloween Movies on HBO Max: Backrooms and Evil Dead Burn
Two of the year’s biggest horror titles are on HBO Max. The Backrooms is A24’s film debut from 20-year-old director Kane Parsons, with Chiwetel Ejiofor in the cast. Haunted Attraction Network calls it A24’s highest-grossing film to date, and TV Guide describes it as very well reviewed.
Evil Dead Burn arrived on HBO Max on October 2. Directed by Sébastien Vaniček and produced by Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, it stars Souheila Yacoub and Hunter Doohan. SlashFilm‘s verdict is short and to the point: “I dug it.”
Halloween Movies on Hulu: Hokum, Send Help and More
Hulu has a deep bench. Hokum, from director Damian McCarthy and starring Adam Scott, is a Neon release now streaming. Send Help pairs director Sam Raimi with Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. TV Guide also lists Blumhouse’s Soulm8te, starring David Rysdahl and Lily Sullivan.
Shudder’s Season of Screams
Horror streamer Shudder is running a Halloween slate. Per Haunted Attraction Network, Big Baby, directed by Spider One with Cher as an executive producer, premieres October 30, and Hunting Matthew Nichols follows on October 31. V/H/S Mixtape, an anthology with segments from filmmakers including RZA, Flying Lotus and Ernest Dickerson according to TV Guide, premiered October 9. SlashFilm also points to Faces of Death, a meta serial-killer slasher, on the service. Release dates for a few Shudder titles differ between guides, so confirm in the app.
Free and Cheap Scares
If you want something without a subscription, R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2 streams free with ads on Tubi, with Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) as a witch. On Prime Video, Apocalypse Z: New World, directed by Carles Torrens, is listed for October 30. SlashFilm also recommends renting Buddy, from Casper Kelly of “Too Many Cooks” fame, via digital stores.
Bigger Franchise Picks
Netflix has 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple with Ralph Fiennes, which SlashFilm calls “absolutely worth checking out.” Paramount+ carries Dracula, directed by Luc Besson with Caleb Landry Jones, which TV Guide says earned middling reviews in North America, and the Wayans-written Scary Movie 6 for those who want laughs with their screams. For more ideas, see our Netflix Halloween watch plan.
How to Build a Halloween Movie Marathon
A good marathon mixes intensity levels. Open with something lighter, such as the comedy of Scary Movie 6 or the quirky dread of Buddy, then move into a mid-tier scare like Hokum, and save the most intense title for last, when everyone is settled in and the lights are low. If you are watching with a group that includes less enthusiastic horror fans, put the gory options like Evil Dead Burn earlier in the night so nobody falls asleep before the main event.
It also helps to pick one platform per night. Subscriptions like HBO Max, Hulu and Paramount+ let you move from title to title without hunting for the next film, while free options on Tubi are ideal for filling the gaps. Many horror fans also keep a short backup list in case the first choice does not land, because a movie that disappoints at 9 p.m. can derail a whole evening.
Finally, remember that streaming libraries rotate. A title that is on a service today can leave at the end of the month, so if something on this list is a must-watch for you, queue it this weekend.
A Quick Plan for Your Night
- Want a crowd-pleaser: Start with Backrooms on HBO Max.
- Want gory fun: Evil Dead Burn.
- Want slow-burn dread: Hokum on Hulu.
- Want free: Pumpkinhead 2 on Tubi.
- Want a new release tonight: Big Baby on Shudder or Apocalypse Z: New World on Prime Video.
Availability changes quickly, and platforms sometimes shift dates, so check each service before you settle in. Which scary movie are you watching first? Keep it locked to USA One News for more weekend watch lists.
