Halloween is a season, a vibe, and—for many movie fans—a genre shortcut. When October rolls around, streaming queues fill up with creepy classics, family-friendly spooks, and the reliable slasher franchise that started it all: Halloween. In this guide, you’ll find a clear answer to the question “how many Halloween movies are there?”, practical watching orders for the Halloween franchise, curated picks for the best Halloween movies, lists of kids Halloween movies and family Halloween movies, and up-to-date tips on where to watch so you can build the perfect spooky marathon.
Before answering, it’s worth clarifying one common ambiguity.
a) Some people mean the Halloween franchise (Michael Myers).
b) Others mean “how many Halloween-themed movies exist” in total, which is impossible to tally because the category is broad (from Hocus Pocus and The Nightmare Before Christmas to every witch-y, ghost-y, and monster-y film marketed around late October).
If you meant the broad category of Halloween-ish movies, there are thousands across decades and countries. But if you asked specifically about the Halloween franchise starring the boogeyman Michael Myers, there is a tidy answer.
As of 2025, the official Michael Myers Halloween franchise consists of 13 films spanning from John Carpenter’s original 1978 masterpiece up to Halloween Ends (2022). That figure includes the Rob Zombie reboots and the modern trilogy that began with the 2018 sequel, which ignored many previous entries. Multiple reputable sources list the franchise at 13 films.
If you want to watch the franchise chronologically by release date, here’s the standard release-order list of the 13 films:
1) Halloween (1978)
2) Halloween II (1981)
3) Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) — (standalone, no Michael Myers)
4) Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
5) Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
6) Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
7) Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
8) Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
9) Halloween (2007)—Rob Zombie remake
10) Halloween II (2009)—Rob Zombie sequel
11) Halloween (2018)—direct sequel to 1978 (new timeline)
12) Halloween Kills (2021)
13) Halloween Ends (2022)
Note about timelines: the franchise contains multiple timelines. If you want a clean narrative experience, many fans treat the series as three separate branches: the original (1978 → 1981 → 2018 trilogy), the Rob Zombie reimagining (2007–2009), and the classic 80s/’90s sequels (4–6 + H20 path). Guides that sort by “watching order” are plentiful; choose the timeline you enjoy the most.
“Best” depends on the mood: full-blown terror, campy fun, or family-friendly chills. Below are curated picks in three buckets—classic horror, modern standouts, and family/kids picks—with short reasons why they deserve a spot on your list.
a) Halloween (1978)—A masterclass in suspense; Carpenter’s synth score and empty-suburb dread still work.
b) The Exorcist (1973)—Not strictly an October film, but a horror milestone that many rewatch at Halloween.
c) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)—Slasher lore + dream logic.
1) Get Out (2017)—Sharp social horror.
2) The Witch (2015)—Slow-burning, folk-horror atmosphere.
3) Hereditary (2018)—For those who want emotional dread.
a) Hocus Pocus (1993)—A Disney-Y2K camp classic that keeps families laughing.
b) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)—Tim Burton’s stop-motion hybrid works for both Halloween and Christmas.
c) Coraline (2009)—Darkly whimsical with strong visuals (best for slightly older kids).
d) Halloweentown (1998)—A Hallmark-like family favorite for kids.
e) Casper (1995) and Hotel Transylvania (2012)—lighter, friendlier ghost comedies.
For curated family-friendly roundups, outlets like Rotten Tomatoes, People, and The Hollywood Reporter have recent lists of kid-appropriate Halloween picks you can use to tailor a watchlist.
Choosing what to watch depends on the ages and tolerance for scares:
1) Toddlers/preschoolers: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Room on the Broom (shorts), gentle animated specials.
2) Young kids (6–10): Casper, Hotel Transylvania, Hocus Pocus, Goosebumps.
3) Tweens/family viewers: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, Monster House, Halloweentown.
4) Teens/adults who like scares: classic slashers (Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street) and modern horror (Get Out, Hereditary).
When in doubt, check parental guidance ratings and read spoiler-free reviews for intensity before screening with children. Rotten Tomatoes and Common Sense Media are good resources for age-appropriateness.
Streaming availability is fluid—titles often move between platforms—but here’s a practical framework and current pointers (sources checked in October 2025).
The original Halloween (1978) and many sequels commonly appear on AMC+ and Shudder (via Prime Video or as channel add-ons), and they are frequently available to rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, and other digital stores. Some older entries also turn up for free on ad-supported services like Plex or Pluto TV, depending on licensing. Use aggregator services like JustWatch to check live availability in your country.
1) Disney+ often hosts Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown (Disney-owned content), and The Nightmare Before Christmas (depending on region).
2) Hulu runs seasonally curated Halloween collections and often includes Hocus Pocus, Beetlejuice, and family options on its Halloween guides.
3) Freeform runs a highly publicized annual block called 31 Nights of Halloween with rotating family and classic titles every October—excellent if you want linear TV scheduling and nostalgia hits.
4) JustWatch and similar aggregators (Reelgood, Can I Stream It) are the fastest way to find where a given title is streaming in your region. They show rent/buy vs. subscription availability and usually update daily.
If you’re hosting a Halloween party, release order is simplest. If you’re a completist, separate the branches and watch whichever tone appeals: classic Carpenter subtle horror vs. Rob Zombie’s raw reimagining vs. the modern 2018–2022 trilogy.
Here’s a simple family-friendly marathon plan (approx. 3–4 hours) with snacks:
1) Start: Hocus Pocus (fun, 1h 36m)—warm-up, laughs.
2) Middle: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1h 16m)—musical break and artful visuals.
3) End: Casper or Hotel Transylvania (both lighthearted)—wrap with cozy vibes.
4) Snacks: caramel popcorn, candy corn (if that’s your thing), pumpkin-shaped cookies, and hot chocolate. Add glow sticks and a low-level fog machine for extra ambiance. For younger kids, pick only one full-length movie and sprinkle in shorts or TV specials.
1) Decide your vibe: spooky, silly, or sentimental.
2) Pick a primary platform (Disney+ for family picks; Shudder/AMC+ for slasher fans).
3) Use JustWatch to locate any title you can’t find on your subscriptions.
4) If hosting kids, set clear boundaries: run a PG-appropriate film; keep scarier titles for adult-only slots.
5) Make snacks and lighting part of the plan—ambiance is half the fun.
Yes—Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) was an attempt to make the franchise an anthology; it doesn’t feature Michael Myers.
Rarely. Streaming rights are split across services and regions. Some sites (like TV Guide and TheWrap) publish up-to-date “where to watch” guides each October that list current streaming availability, but you’ll likely need multiple subscriptions or rentals to see everything.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Casper, Hotel Transylvania, and Hocus Pocus (younger kids may need supervision for a few scenes). Rotten Tomatoes and People have curated family lists.
