As the days get shorter and the cool breeze signals the start of sweater weather, the Mature Magazine staff shares our favorite Halloween movie picks that shaped our childhoods (and some that we've picked up along the way). Whether you're a horror fanatic, a lover of lighter Halloween vibes, or just trying to decide what to watch as you wrap up this spooky season, we've got you covered. Grab your snacks and a cozy blanket, and join us as we dive into our Halloween movie must-sees.

Oliver – Editor-in-Chief

What a time! When I was a teenager, the chill in the air signaled that the networks were gearing up for their best horror marathons all October. I couldn't wait to leave school, go home, and binge my favorites. On my list? Halloween (the film universe that confuses me but keeps me hooked) and Friday the 13th—especially Friday the 13th: When Jason Takes Manhattan. Okay, maybe it's not the greatest in the franchise, but who doesn't want to see Jason terrorizing the streets of '80s New York?

Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Rachel True and Neve Campbell in The Craft (1996)

And I can't forget two iconic films that shaped my teenage years: Scream (1-3) and The Craft. That Ghostface mask is such an iconic part of Halloween that even new generations who haven't seen the originals can't escape it. If you're looking for a nostalgic scare or a classic to revisit, these films never disappoint.

Kaila – Chief Marketing Officer & Writer

Growing up, fall was the beginning of a time to slow down—color tour road trips up north, cider and donuts, and that crisp fall air. My mom would start making our costumes from scratch, measuring and buying fabric to craft the perfect princess gown, clown get-up, or puppy costume to fulfill our Halloween dreams. While my dad enjoyed giving a good , we didn't really watch horror films. Maybe my parents didn't want to deal with the nightmares, or maybe they just weren't into them, but we celebrated Halloween in a way that felt like a community event, running from house to house where our only concern was filling that bag with candy.

*The Others*. © StudioCanal / Courtesy of Everett Collection

Fast-forward to the age when I discovered the thrill of a truly good scare—I couldn't get enough of the older movies, some even before my time, like the original The Omen (1976) or The Others starring Nicole Kidman. Of course, some of my all-time favorites include familiar faces like Johnny Depp in the horror musicals Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Sleepy Hollow. The best part of the spooky season, no matter what age, was being able to turn on any of our favorite cable channels and rely on a solid marathon of Halloween goodness.

India – Content Strategist

Maybe it's a little on the nose, but I was born on a Thursday the 13th—just shy of a Friday the 13th. My dad and I would watch every Friday the 13th movie together, and he even took me through haunted houses as a kid (who does that at 10?!). So, yeah, horror is pretty much in my blood.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). © Vortex / Courtesy of Everett Collection

Now, I like to continue those traditions with a few twists. I still love horror classics like Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. And no fall is complete without a visit to the cider mill for donuts and a hot cider or getting lost in a corn maze. This season wraps up all those nostalgic thrills in autumn's warm, cozy vibes. With picks like these, there's something for everyone to enjoy this Halloween season. So, settle in and watch our favorites—whether you're going for a classic scare, a cozy throwback, or something in between.

Charles – Visual Image Producer

Tia and Tamera Mowry in *Twitches Too*. © Disney Channel / Courtesy of Everett Collection

Growing up in a strict Christian household, horror films weren't even on the radar. Instead, Halloween meant attending "Hallelujah Night" at church, dressed as our favorite Bible characters, and playing games. The only "scary" movies I was allowed to watch were Disney Channel originals, like Can of Worms, the Halloweentown series, and Twitches. I might've snuck in Hocus Pocus a couple of times, too.

Erika Christensen and Michael Shulman in Can of Worms (1999)

Even though these movies were the tamest Halloween picks, they hold a special, nostalgic place in my heart. Those Disney Channel Halloween marathons were the perfect balance of spooky and sweet—a vibe I always look for around this time of year.

Rachelle - Contributing Writer

My staff pick is totally Twitches and Hocus Pocus! I have 4 sisters and growing up seeing the sisterly relationships on tv like how they were for me in real life for a big favorite!

Horror movies are still something I tread little upon, knowing that I will have to sleep with one eye open, and even pull out a night light, a Spooky Disney classic is always my go to!

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in *Hocus Pocus*. © Disney / Courtesy of Everett Collection

DJ - Contributing Photographer

Horror and sci-fi have always given me a sure escape from reality—and a greater feeling of loneliness out in the universe. That's why my favorite movie for the scream season is, and always has been, Killer Klowns from Outer Space! The concept of something we see as a regular costume in festivals and parties being a human-killing alien always got to me.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space. © MGM Studios / Courtesy of Everett Collection

The scene that stuck with me the most is the group going onto the spaceship and seeing their townsfolk wrapped in cotton candy cocoons—waiting to be eaten by the clowns. The movie is ridiculous—the idea of something so scary being associated with fun makes you wonder what's really out there that hits the mark for me. If you haven't seen it, you definitely should. It's second only to the IT series, in my opinion

Candace – Executive Assistant

When you have a freelance artist and horror movie buff for a dad, Halloween is a lifestyle. Some of my earliest memories include watching old-school classics like From The Hell It Came (1957) and Crimson Ghost (1946) on Turner Classic Movies. Maybe it was watching from such a young age or breaking down every plot like we were on Mystery Science Theater 3000, but spooky movies don't really scare me anymore.

From Hell It Came (1957). © Allied Artists Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection

Instead, my go-to Halloween movies lean more towards the fun side—every year, I have to watch Hocus Pocus (1993) and Casper (1995). But, if there's a plot twist I didn't see coming, I'm sold—cue The Sixth Sense and The Cabin in the Woods. Those are always worth a rewatch.

Mature Staff Picks: Halloween Movies to Watch

Behind the Screen: An Interview With Fiona Rene

Emily in Paris Season 4: Netflix’s Most Stylish Drama Returns, but the Wait Isn’t Over