What to Watch This Halloween (And What to Wear)

There are two types of people when October rolls around: those who have had their Halloween costume planned since last year and those who are frantically scrolling through Pinterest for a last-minute idea, hoping to find something that doesn't involve a cheap pair of cat ears. Luckily, Halloween has no shortage of inspiration, especially when it comes to films that have become part of pop culture.

Some films just belong in October, whether it's because of their iconic characters, their outfits or the fact that you watch them every year without fail. From horror villains to gothic fashion, there's something for everyone, even if your idea of a scary evening is watching a horror film with the lights on.

If you're heading to a Halloween party and still have no idea what to wear, here are 10 films worth adding to your watchlist, along with costume ideas to go with them.

1. SCREAM (1996)

If there's one horror film that belongs on a Halloween watchlist, it's Scream. Wes Craven's slasher classic follows teenager Sidney Prescott as she becomes the target of a masked killer known as Ghostface. Between the horror, dark humour and plot twists, it's easy to see why the film has remained popular decades after its release.

Ghostface is also a pretty straightforward costume to put together. A black robe, the mask and a toy knife are enough to pull off the look. It's instantly recognisable and doesn't require spending loads of money on an outfit, which is ideal if you've left everything until the last minute. The iconic mask is easy enough to find in shops around Halloween, making Ghostface a great last-minute option.

If you'd rather not spend Halloween dressed as a killer, you could go as Sidney Prescott instead. A pair of jeans, a fitted top and a jacket will do the job, and you might already have most of it in your wardrobe. It's a good option if you want to dress up without buying an entirely new outfit that will more than likely end up on Vinted the day after Halloween. 

And if you're going as Ghostface, you might as well rewatch Scream before the party. Just don't start accusing your friends of being the killer, as it may cause a rift.

2. BEETLEJUICE (1988)

Tim Burton's Beetlejuice is proof that Halloween doesn't always have to be about traditional horror. The dark fantasy comedy tells the story of a recently deceased couple who enlist the help of a chaotic spirit to scare away the new inhabitants of their former home. Things get a little out of hand from there.

Beetlejuice himself is probably the first costume that comes to mind. The black-and-white striped suit and green hair make him pretty hard to miss, especially if you're someone who likes making an effort with your Halloween outfit.

Lydia Deetz is another option if you'd rather not go all out with the makeup. Her dark clothes and black veil are fairly easy to recreate, particularly if your wardrobe already consists of a lot of black. It's also an excuse to lean back into your goth phase, even if you've grown out of it a little. 

You could even get a friend involved and go as two characters from the film. There are enough unusual outfits to choose from that you don't have to stick to the obvious choices, either. 

3. HALLOWEEN (1978)

If you're looking for another classic horror film to watch, Halloween is an obvious choice. The film centres on Michael Myers as he returns to his hometown and begins terrorising the local community on Halloween night. It's one of those films that helped shape the slasher genre, and Michael Myers is still one of the most recognisable horror villains.

His costume is also one of the easiest to recreate, with blue overalls, a plain white mask and a toy knife. It's simple, iconic and perfect if you don't want to spend loads on a costume.

4. GHOSTBUSTERS (1984)

Not every Halloween film has to be about ghosts trying to kill you. Ghostbusters follows a group of scientists who start a business catching ghosts in New York City, with plenty of chaos along the way. It's a fun choice if you want something more comedic to add to your Halloween watchlist.

The classic Ghostbusters look is easy enough to put together with a beige jumpsuit, a name patch and a homemade proton pack. You could also dress as one of the ghosts if you'd rather go for something a bit more unusual.

5. CORALINE (2009)

Not every Halloween film needs a masked killer or a haunted house. Sometimes, all it takes is a mysterious door and a world that seems a little too good to be true. Henry Selick's Coraline is about a curious young girl who discovers an alternate version of her life behind a secret door in her new home. What seems exciting at first quickly turns into something much more sinister.

With its stop-motion animation and unsettling storyline, Coraline is a Halloween favourite for people who prefer something a little different from the usual horror films. It also has some brilliant, budget-friendly costume options you can mostly recreate with things you might already own. 

Coraline herself is probably the easiest to recreate. Her yellow raincoat, blue hair, jeans and yellow rain boots are the main things you'll need. To make the costume creepier, you could add button eyes. Actually trying to see where you're going in them all night might be a bit of a problem, though, so painting them on is probably the better option.

For a couples' costume, Coraline and Wybie work well together. One person can wear the yellow raincoat while the other goes for Wybie's dark clothes, gloves and skull-patterned mask.

You could also go as the Other Mother if you want something more unsettling. A dark outfit, black button eyes and some dramatic makeup will help bring the look together. After watching Coraline, you might be a little more suspicious of anyone promising you a perfect life.

6. THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991)

If horror isn't really your thing but you still want to dress up for Halloween, The Addams Family is worth considering. Based on Charles Addams' cartoons, the 1991 film follows the wonderfully strange family and their love for all things macabre.

Wednesday Addams is probably one of the first characters people think of when it comes to Halloween costumes. Her look is simple enough to recreate with a black dress, a white collar and braided hair. Add her usual unimpressed expression and you're pretty much there. You might already have everything you need at home, which saves you from buying a costume you'll never wear again.

If you'd rather go as someone else, Morticia works just as well. A long black dress, dark makeup and straight black hair will get you started. Gomez is another option, with a pinstriped suit and moustache completing the look.

The Addams family is also a great fit if you're dressing up with friends. You could each pick a different character, or just go as Wednesday and Morticia if it's only the two of you. The outfits are simple enough to put together, but everyone will know who you're meant to be.

Their style also works outside of Halloween. If you're already into gothic fashion, Wednesday's all-black wardrobe or Morticia's long dresses are easy sources of inspiration throughout the year.

7. THE WITCHES (1990)

Based on Roald Dahl's book, The Witches follows a young boy who discovers a secret gathering of witches and ends up caught in their plans. It's the kind of film that can be genuinely unsettling, especially if you watched it growing up, and it's definitely worth revisiting around Halloween.

The Grand High Witch is a good costume choice if you want something more dramatic. A dark outfit, a wig and some creepy makeup can help recreate her look without having to buy a whole costume.

8. SCOOBY-DOO (2002)

For something a little less scary, Scooby-Doo is a fun option, especially if you're feeling nostalgic. The live-action film sees Mystery Inc. reunite to investigate strange happenings on Spooky Island. It's perfect if you want something Halloween-themed without watching a full horror film.

The costumes are pretty straightforward, too. Whether you go as Velma, Daphne, Fred or Shaggy, you can probably put most of the outfit together with clothes you already own. And if you have a dog, dressing them up as Scooby is always an option most people would love to see.

9. CORPSE BRIDE (2005)

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride is another great choice if you're into gothic animation. The film follows Victor, who accidentally marries a deceased bride named Emily while practising his wedding vows in the woods. What follows is a strange but surprisingly sweet story about love, death and finding where you belong.

Emily's blue skin, wedding dress and dark eye makeup make her an unmistakable character to dress up as. It's also a good excuse to get creative with makeup if you want something a little different from the usual Halloween outfits.

10. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)

Why choose between Halloween and Christmas when you can have both? The Nightmare Before Christmas, directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton, follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, as he discovers Christmas Town and decides to bring the holiday back to his world. Unfortunately, his plans don't go quite as expected.

Jack Skellington is an obvious costume choice, with his pinstriped suit, skeleton face paint and bat-shaped bow tie. You can keep the outfit simple and focus on the face paint, which does most of the work in making the costume recognisable.

If you want to make the costume even more interesting, you could ask a friend to dress up as Sally. Her patchwork dress, blue skin and bright red hair add a splash of colour to the usual Halloween outfits. You could even try making the dress yourself instead of buying a ready-made costume, especially if you want to recreate the patchwork.

Jack and Sally make an easy couples' costume, but the film works just as well for a group. Everyone can choose a different character from Halloween Town, or someone could even dress up as Santa, so you're not all stuck wearing the same thing.

Whether you're pulling out the Ghostface mask, digging through your wardrobe for a yellow raincoat or convincing your friends to dress up as the Addams family, there's plenty to work with this Halloween. You don't need to spend loads of money or have your costume planned months in advance. Sometimes, a few things you already own and a film you love are all you need.

Now, the only question is what you're watching first.