Top 10 Halloween movies to binge this fall

Halloween pumpkins and ghoulish mannequins decorate the amusement park Tivoli in central Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, for a ten day celebration of the Halloween season, during the school autumn holidays.  Last year the Halloween event attracted some 250,000 visitors. (AP Photo/POLFOTO, Carsten Snejbjerg) ** DENMARK OUT **

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Halloween pumpkins and ghoulish mannequins decorate the amusement park “Tivoli” in central Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, for a ten day celebration of the Halloween season, during the school autumn holidays. Last year the Halloween event attracted some 250,000 visitors. (AP Photo/POLFOTO, Carsten Snejbjerg) ** DENMARK OUT **

With Halloween just weeks away, we are all planning what our costumes will be, the best strategy for getting as much candy as possible, and how we will be able to make it in by 7 am the next morning. But for me, the part of the season that I most enjoy is sitting down with a mug of warm cider and watching my favorite Halloween movies. Ranging from family friendly classics to spine-chilling horror movies, here are my ten favorites. Enjoy!

10. Halloween

The quintessential horror movie, masterfully utilizing psychological scares rather than extreme blood and gore and the common jump scare method. This is the perfect flick for those who want to be scared out of their wits.

9. Friday the 13th

Another cult classic, this bloody thriller will have you on the edge of your seat from the first blood curdling scream to the last.

8. The Rocky Horror Picture Show

This Tim Curry lead flick is not the tradition Halloween film, but filled with unique characters, costumes, and songs that will inevitably be stuck in your head for weeks afterwards, Rocky Horror will have you doing the Time Warp again and again.

7. Beetlejuice

The seriously star studded cast makes this ultra-zany Tim Burton work shine through the plethora of Halloween films. It is almost too hard to describe, but is a must watch, and will get funnier every time you see it.

6. Young Frankenstein

This is some of the best work of both Gene Wilder’s and Mel Brooks’ careers. You will wholeheartedly enjoy the twisted world and wacky characters, and you may even split your sides with laughter.

5. The Addams Family Values

Their universally recognized theme song rings so true in this film. It is creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky, and delightfully morbid; a timeless classic the whole family can enjoy.

4. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Tim Burton creates one of his earliest ideas into this masterfully done stop-motion flick. Pleasing to Halloween and Christmas lovers alike, this Disney classic will have you humming the soundtrack till you trick or treat.

3. The Addams Family

Displaying the lives of one of the most famous families in pop culture history, this spectacular cast perfectly portrays what it is like ‘when you’re an Addams’. When you aren’t cracking a grin at the hilariously gruesome aspects of their lives, you may also notice that this film also has an underlying message about diversity.

2. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown, Lucy Van Pelt, and the rest of the Peanuts gang will melt your heart in this iconic Halloween special. Charlie Brown’s line “I got a rock,” and Linus’ extreme devotion to the Great Pumpkin will make you smile from ear to ear.

1. Hocus Pocus

For me, Hocus Pocus is the quintessential Halloween movie. Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker give outstanding performances as the Sanderson Sisters. Children will fall in love with the fairy tale-ish feel and magic, and adults will enjoy some of the more mature humor. These witches are bound to ‘put a spell on you’.