31 Movies for 31 Days of October

Every year leading up to October, lists of movies rise from the ashes to grace our television screens. Plenty are just horror movies, or have movies that you can watch with kids and your grandma around. However, I have always wanted to have a list of movies that mixes these categories, a list with a lot of variety to pick from throughout the month. 

This year, I picked out a movie for each day of the month, making sure to spread out similar films and including heavy hitters throughout the month. Feel free to pick and choose which ones you watch, but I think watching a movie each day is a fun, autumnal, spooky activity.

It should go without saying, but many of the movies on this list are scary, disturbing, violent, adult, or all of the above! Use your best judgement when it comes to what you watch.

October 1st – Scream (1996)

Starting off strong, Scream is one of the most famous slasher films of all time. It satires the genre, while still being an entertaining member of it. It’s one of the highest grossing films of all time, being a surprise hit that gained popularity through word of mouth. If you like slashers, you’ll like this movie, and you’ve probably already seen it!

October 2nd – Over the Garden Wall (2014)

Over the Garden Wall is an animated mini-series that follows two brothers lost in a mysterious, autumnal, New England inspired forest, referred to as The Unknown. The show can be finished in 2 hours, and it’s full of funny lines and interesting characters, but it’s more than a shallow kid’s show. There’s some real heart to it, with beautiful visuals and some dark moments that raise the stakes. The soundtrack alone makes it worth it to watch in my opinion!

October 3rd – Mean Girls (2004)

Seriously, who hasn’t seen Mean Girls at this point. If you somehow haven’t heard of it, it’s a teen comedy film that follows a girl as she goes into highschool after being homeschooled her life. It’s incredibly entertaining, and despite some outdated jokes, holds up well 20 years later. As for why it’s on this list, when it is neither horror nor a particularly autumnal movie, is the famous line “On October 3rd, he asked me what day it is.” Colloquially, October 3rd has come to be known as Mean Girls day, so make sure you watch it!

October 4th – Candyman (1992)

A gothic classic of the genre, Candyman tells the story of an urban legend come to life. It has some good scares in it, and has more depth than your run of the mill slasher. As a whole, it explores some themes of racism as well as how history is remembered by society. It’s an underrated movie, and I fully recommend it.

October 5th – Alien (1979)

The least autumnal movie on the list, Alien deserves a spot not only as one of the best horror of all time, but one of the best movies. Being Sigourney Weaver’s breakout role, the film is a masterclass in suspense and horror. After watching it, I recommend its sequel, Aliens, which is just as good, if not better. As the tagline says, In space, no one can hear you scream.

October 6th – The Love Witch (2016)

If the photo makes you think I mistyped the date, that’s sort of the appeal of this movie. The Love Witch almost entirely appears to be straight out of the 60s, film grain included. It’s a somewhat surreal horror-comedy that follows a witch as she uses magic to make men fall in love with her, usually ending badly. Likely known best for a few soundbites that have been popular online for years (Recognize “The day he left me was the day that I died”? That’s from this!), the film is worth watching for the visuals alone.

October 7th – The Skeleton Key (2005)

Although not receiving glowing reviews, The Skeleton Key is a fun horror movie, with the unique setting outside of New Orleans bringing in interesting set pieces and ideas. The supernatural permeates this film, hoodoo magic being one of the major plot points, and the film always keeps you on your toes on what will happen next.

October 8th – The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

One of the best deconstructions of the horror genre out there, The Cabin in the Woods stands out unique against countless other seemingly generic horror films. Don’t let your expectations for this film fool you, it has many twists that completely flip the film and genre on its head. Many people cite this as their favorite horror movie of all time, and it’s understandable why. The film is scary, funny, and subverts expectations from the first minute of the film.

October 9th – The Witch (2015)

Folk horror is one of my favorite genres, but unfortunately one that doesn’t get discussed much. The Witch (written as The VVitch) is one such film, taking place in 1630s New England. It follows a family outcast from their village attempting to survive in the wilderness, while supernatural forces make themselves known from the dark. This is one of the best modern horror movies, it’s worth a watch.

October 10th – The Craft (1996)

If I could recommend watching one movie from this entire list, it would be this one. The Craft holds true as the foundation for whimsigoth aesthetics, and the movie is an amazing snapshot of 90s fashion and counterculture. Following teenage witches, the film explores what happens when power goes to someone’s head. For the fashion inspiration alone, give this a watch.

October 11th – X, Pearl, MaXXXine (2022-2024)

Three movies in 1 for this entry, as this trilogy deserves to be on the list as a whole. It takes place across decades, with Mia Goth starring in all three, as two different characters, the titular Maxine and Pearl. Each film is different, X and Pearl taking place on the same farm decades apart, while MaXXXine moves the plot to Los Angeles in the 80s. Jenna Ortega, up and coming scream queen, is in the first movie as well. This trilogy will go down in film history, so it’s absolutely worth watching.

October 12th – Psycho (1960)

How can one even introduce Psycho? I could say it is one of the most influential films of all time, that it’s one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best movies, or that it has so thoroughly permeated pop culture, that I guarantee if you’ve ever imitated stabbing with a knife, you were singing the score of this movie at the same time. All of those are true, but they don’t truly sum up the movie. Over 60 years after it was released, it is still referenced today (a recent example? The music video for Taste by Sabrina Carpenter), and it truly stands the test of time as one of the best horror films ever created. Watch it.

October 13th – Ringu (1998)

Look. I know The Ring (2002) is more popular in America than the original Japanese Ringu. But, I think it is worth it watching the original, Japanese horror and Ringu in particular rely less on jumpscares, and more on suspense and psychological horror. If you somehow haven’t heard of either of these, Ringu tells the story of a cursed tape, that, when viewed, will kill the viewer in seven days. I won’t explain much more for spoiler reasons, but it’s absolutely worth a watch. If you can get it, I recommend subtitles instead of a dubbed version, a dub is much more likely to have stilted, awkward sounding dialogue, and usually just doesn’t have the intensity of the original. And if you really can’t stand it, go watch The Ring (2002), the two films are better or worse than each other in different ways, so you’ll still have a fun time.

October 14th – The Thing (1982)

If you can’t handle body horror, this is not the movie for you. The Thing tells of an Antarctic team discovering an abandoned base, and an entity among them trying to kill them one by one. It has groundbreaking practical effects that still hold up well over 40 years later, and plenty of shocking reveals and visuals that are sure to frighten. But, most of the horror is psychological, not knowing who can be trusted and who is lying.

October 15th – Young Frankenstein (1974)

A parody of classic Hollywood horror flics, Young Frankenstein has been ranked as one of the best comedies of all time, and stands as an amazing example of how comedic horror can be done well. The titular character is the grandson of the famous Dr. Frankenstein, who resumes his grandfather’s experiments after inheriting his estate. I don’t have much else to say about the film, but it’s hilarious, and a great thing to watch to cleanse the palette from all the horror.

October 16th – Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

Continuing with having variety on this list, Trick ‘r Treat is an anthology horror film, with a bunch of interconnected storylines all taking place on Halloween night, all connected by a burlap sack wearing character who enforces Halloween traditions. The film isn’t super well known, but it has gathered a cult following for it’s interesting plot and fun visuals. If you like a nonlinear kind of horror film, this one’s great.

October 17th – The Shining (1980)

If you haven’t seen The Shining, you have been missing out. Probably the most famous movie on this list, the plot follows a caretaker and his family as they stay in the Overlook Hotel over the winter, and slowly go insane. The film is well known for its ambiguity, it’s unclear if anything supernatural is actually going on, or if the characters are just all going insane. It’s one of the best horror films ever, everyone should watch it at least once.

October 18th – Coraline (2009)

Stop motion is tragically one of the least utilized mediums, largely because of the difficulty in creating it. And yet, it always looks phenomenal. Coraline is a clear example of it. Following a young girl after moving to a new house, she discovers a mirror world behind a door in the wall, that hides dark intentions. This movie is one of my favorites on this list, and is a classic of traumatizing childhood movies.

October 19th – Poltergeist (1982)

Poltergeist stands as one of the most famous ghost horror movies to date. It features a suburban family, taunted by ghosts haunting their brand new house. Not only is the film iconic as a movie, the production and things that happened afterwards have cemented it in culture. The production was supposedly cursed, with real skeletons potentially being used in one scene, and four cast members dying within a few years of the film being released. Enjoy the charm of the outdated effects and killer atmosphere, and watch this movie!

October 20th – Knives Out (2019)

The mystery genre doesn’t get many films anymore, but Knives Out is a modern classic, taking tropes of Agatha Christie and Clue and flipping them on their head to make a who-dunit that’ll keep you guessing the whole way through. The cast is star studded, with Daniel Craig playing Southern detective Benoit Blanc, and the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Toni Collete, and more making up the ensemble cast of the film. This movie is so much fun, you can watch it over and over and notice new details and foreshadowing each time.

October 21st – Nosferatu (1922)

One of the oldest, if not the oldest horror movie ever, Nosferatu was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, which I’m sure you’ve heard of. The film is a cornerstone of cinema, being a German expressionist film, a genre known for it’s visuals and cinematography. Now, yes, the movie is over 100 years old. But, in my opinion, as a semi-pretentious nerd, that makes the film even more interesting to watch: to see how movies were so long ago, how movies have changed or been inspired by older films, and more than anything, just to experience a piece of art created so long ago.

October 22nd – Jennifer’s Body (2009)

Jennifer’s Body is a misunderstood modern day classic. Unfortunately the marketing of this film led people to believe it was a raunchy slasher, sexualizing Megan Fox and not much else. But the movie has depth to it, speaking on themes of teenage friendship, sexism, sexual assault, and much more. Plus, aside from that, it is still a funny horror, with an interesting plot and interesting characters.

October 23rd – Fear Street (2021)

Another trilogy of movies! Fear Street takes place across time, the first film in 1994, the second in 1978, and the third in 1666. It tells the story of Shadyside, a town supposedly cursed by the witch Sarah Fier. The three movies follow the same few characters, with more being revealed in each subsequent installment. Overall, it’s a love letter to the horror genre, being inspired by films such as Scream, Friday the 13th, Sleepaway Camp, and more. It’s a great teenage horror movie, with amazing scares and surprising amount of gore considering the age of the characters, but nothing more than your typical slasher has. All around a fun series to watch!

October 24th – Hocus Pocus (1993)

Is it really October if you don’t watch Hocus Pocus? This movie is great, it’s ridiculous, it’s campy, it’s nostalgic, and as people say, it’s fun for the whole family. It’s a great “scary” movie for kids to watch, being more fun than scary, but definitely having some creepy moments! If you have somehow not seen this movie, and even if you have, it’s a must watch during October, to get you into the Halloween mood.

October 25th – Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

A classic Sci-fi horror movie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers tells of a health inspector in San Francisco, who realizes people are being replaced with emotionless, alien duplicates. The movie is existential and psychological, getting its horror from the paranoia of those around you being replaced by imposters. It’s one of the best horror films from the 70s, and an absolute must see for any horror enthusiast.

October 26th – The Blair Witch Project (1999)

One of the highest grossing horror movies of all time, The Blair Witch Project popularized the found footage genre, and holds true as one of the best and most suspenseful horror movies made to date. It features three film students, making a documentary in Maryland about the titular Blair Witch. But, they get lost in the woods, and tormented by supernatural forces they do not understand. A large part of the success of the film was it’s marketing: it presented itself not as a movie, but as real life found footage, listing the main three actors as missing or deceased, and creating mockumentary marketing material to drum up buzz. It was the first true example of “viral marketing” and it worked. The film holds a place in horror history, and is an incredibly chilling movie to watch, especially alone.

October 27th – The Exorcist (1973)

Often cited as one of the best and one of the scariest horror movies of all time, The Exorcist, is iconic. It features, unsurprisingly, a possession, and plenty of terrifying demonic imagery and scares. At time of release, it was nearly banned in many theaters across the country, purely for how scary it was. It was the highest grossing R rated film for decades, and stands today as one of the most definitive horror films.

October 28th – The Others (2001)

An incredibly gothic horror film, The Others follows a mother and her two children in their large manor, experiencing supernatural events after new servants arrive. The movie is a slow burn, building suspense all the way through until the finale. Try to go into this one as blind as you can, knowing as little as possible will make this one even more enjoyable and suspenseful.

October 29th – It Follows (2014)

A modern classic, and one of my personal favorite horror films, It Follows tells the story of a sexually transmitted curse (or entity, or demon, it’s just IT), that follows it’s victim till it kills them, then heading to the next person in the line. It’s incredibly tense, building suspense through its cinematography and sound design. One of my favorite aspects of the film is its anachronisms: there aren’t any clear clues of when the movie takes place, year or season, which helps the film feel off and timeless in the best way. Give this one a watch, it deserves it.

October 30th – It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

Yes, yes, this isn’t a movie, but it’s my list and I make the rules. I’ve watched this probably every year as long as I can remember, it’s such a fun entertaining animated feature, that still holds up nearly 60 years after it was made. It’s fun for kids and adults to watch, and is just the perfect thing to get into a full on Halloween mood, especially if you aren’t a big fan of horror (Why are you reading this list in that case?).

October 31th – Halloween (1978)

How could I NOT put Halloween on Halloween? It’s one of the most classic horror films there is, originating the slasher genre, being Jamie Lee Curtis’s breakout role, cementing Michael Myers as a famous horror villain, and so much more. For being the first film in a now notorious genre, the film doesn’t truly fall into many of the tropes of said genre. It doesn’t have as much blood or gore as you’d expect, and the film is mostly tasteful with it’s nudity, unlike many slashers that came after it. 

Honorable Mentions:

These films didn’t quite make the list, but all have merit in their own right, and deserve a watch if they speak to you!

Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

A classic horror with some comedic elements, Nightmare on Elm Street is one of the big names of slashers, with Freddy Krueger being a villain who terrorizes and murders people through their dreams.

Heathers (1988)

A teen classic, Heathers is a dark comedy of murder and teen angst, wrapped up in a film that gives weight to these dark moments, but isn’t afraid to make fun of itself nor its subject matter.

When a Stranger Calls (1979)

A film take on the classic urban legend of the babysitter and the phone call from inside the house, When a Stranger Calls has gathered a cult following in the years since its release, particularly due to the opening 23 minutes of the movie being considered one of the scariest movie openings in history.

Suspiria (1977)

A bizarre art film, Suspiria is not remembered remembered for its plot, which is confusing and vague, but remembered for it’s incredible visuals, with stunning cinematography, light design, and art direction, that all build up into an incredibly memorable and strange movie.