It’s that time of year again – when the air gets crisp, the leaves turn orange, and everyone’s in the mood for a good scare. But sometimes, you don’t want to watch a truly terrifying horror movie that will give you nightmares for weeks. You want something a little lighter, a little sillier, a movie that will make you laugh as much as it makes you scream. That’s where corny Halloween movies come in!
These films have all the trappings of horror – monsters, murderers, things that go bump in the night. But they don’t take themselves too seriously. They’re packed with cheesy one-liners, over-the-top performances, and ridiculous plot twists. Watching a corny Halloween movie is like going to a haunted house where the scares are more likely to make you giggle than gasp.
So this October, gather up your friends, pop some popcorn, and get ready to groan and guffaw your way through the 30 best corny Halloween movies of all time. From spoofs to B-movies to horror-comedies, these flicks put the “boo!” in “boo-yah!”
30. Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
This cult classic answers the age-old question: what if alien invaders came to earth, but instead of being little green men, they were murderous clowns? Killer Klowns leans into the inherent creepiness of clowns, with these extraterrestrial jesters wreaking havoc on a small town, cocooning people in cotton candy, and killing them with popcorn guns and acidic cream pies. It’s completely bonkers and a total blast.
Where to watch: Stream on Tubi
29. Zombieland (2009)
A ragtag group of survivors navigates the zombie apocalypse in this horror-comedy road trip movie. Jesse Eisenberg plays Columbus, a neurotic loner who has managed to stay alive thanks to his strict set of rules (like “beware of bathrooms” and “always check the back seat”). He teams up with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a tough-talking, Twinkie-loving cowboy, and sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). Together, they take on the undead with lots of laughs and creative zombie kills.
Where to watch: Stream on Hulu
28. Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
Cassandra Peterson’s iconic horror hostess with the mostest gets her own feature film in this silly, sexy comedy. After Elvira quits her job at a Los Angeles TV station, she moves to a prudish small town that she’s inherited. Naturally, her vampy looks and spooky shtick don’t go over well with the locals. Elvira has to fight against a puritanical preacher, a sleazy suitor, and some supernatural threats to save the town and claim her inheritance. Peterson is a hoot, gleefully sending up her character’s campy image.
Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV
27. Scary Movie (2000)
This spoof kicked off a whole franchise of slapstick parody films. Scary Movie takes aim at slasher flicks like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, exaggerating their tropes and plot holes to great comedic effect. Goofy gags and bawdy humor abound as a masked killer stalks a group of not-so-bright teens. Keep an eye out for some surprising celebrity cameos.
Where to watch: Stream on HBO Max
26. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Who knew the zombie apocalypse could be so hilarious? This British horror-comedy focuses on Shaun (Simon Pegg), a thirty-something slacker who has to get his act together when the undead start roaming the streets of London. He tries to lead his scatterbrained friends and dysfunctional family to safety at their favorite pub, battling zombies and relationship drama along the way. Witty, gory, and surprisingly heartfelt, Shaun of the Dead is a bloody good time.
Where to watch: Stream on HBO Max
25. The Monster Squad (1987)
A group of monster movie-obsessed kids discover that Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, the Mummy, and more are real—and trying to take over their town. This ’80s adventure pits the tweens against the classic Universal monsters with plenty of spooky shenanigans. The Monster Squad has a goofy sensibility and some memorably bizarre moments (like Wolfman getting “nards”). But it also takes its young heroes’ horror fandom seriously, showing how their knowledge gives them the power to defeat evil.
Where to watch: Stream on Paramount+
24. Beetlejuice (1988)
Tim Burton’s breakout hit blends gothic style with morbid humor. After Barbara and Adam Maitland (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) die in a car accident, they find themselves stuck haunting their country home. When an obnoxious yuppie family moves in, the ghosts try to scare them out with the help of the raunchy, unhinged Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton). Full of memorable visuals, quotable dialogue, and a manic energy, Beetlejuice is a spooky delight.
Where to watch: Stream on Peacock
23. Gremlins (1984)
Don’t get them wet, keep them out of bright light, and never feed them after midnight. Those three simple rules go out the window after a boy inadvertently unleashes a horde of mischievous monsters on his unsuspecting town on Christmas Eve. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Gremlins is like a twisted version of one of his Amblin Entertainment adventures, with its balance of horror and heart. The titular creatures are equally cute and creepy as they gleefully wreak slapstick havoc.
Where to watch: Stream on HBO Max
22. Young Frankenstein (1974)
Mel Brooks lovingly skewers the classic Frankenstein story in this comedy masterpiece. Gene Wilder plays Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced “Fronk-en-steen”), the grandson of the infamous mad scientist. When Frederick inherits his family’s estate, he tries to distance himself from his grandfather’s reputation. But he soon finds himself following in his footsteps, building his own monster (Peter Boyle) with the help of a hunchbacked assistant named Igor (Marty Feldman). Filmed in glorious black-and-white, Young Frankenstein is a perfect blend of silly gags and gothic atmosphere.
Where to watch: Stream on Hulu
21. Hocus Pocus (1993)
This Disney Halloween favorite has become a seasonal classic. In 1693 Salem, three witches known as the Sanderson sisters are executed for practicing dark magic. 300 years later, they’re accidentally brought back to life by a teenage boy on Halloween night. The witches try to secure their immortality while the kids race to stop them. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are fabulous as the campy, cackling sisters, and the film is packed with supernatural silliness.
Where to watch: Stream on Disney+
20. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
This mockumentary from Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement follows a group of vampire roommates living in modern-day Wellington, New Zealand. Viago, Vladislav, Deacon, and Petyr are centuries-old bloodsuckers struggling with the mundane realities of everyday life—paying rent, keeping up with chores, getting into nightclubs. Shot like a reality show, What We Do in the Shadows hilariously juxtaposes the supernatural with the utterly banal. These vampires are vain, petty, and just as clueless as any other roommates.
Where to watch: Stream on Kanopy or Hoopla; rent on Apple TV
19. Ghostbusters (1984)
Who ya gonna call? The deadpan Bill Murray, nerdy Harold Ramis, sardonic Dan Aykroyd, and blustering Ernie Hudson make an unlikely but lovable team of paranormal exterminators in this endlessly quotable comedy. When New York City is overrun by ghosts, the Ghostbusters are the only ones who can stop them—with proton packs, ghost traps, and plenty of wisecracks. Ghostbusters perfectly balances its spooky spectacle with sharp improv-style humor.
Where to watch: Stream on Hulu
18. Jennifer’s Body (2009)
This horror-comedy was underappreciated in its time but has since become a feminist cult favorite. Needy (Amanda Seyfried) and Jennifer (Megan Fox) are best friends whose relationship turns deadly when Jennifer is possessed by a demon that requires her to feed on boys to stay beautiful. The film smartly sends up the tropes of teen movies while delivering some genuine scares and laughs. Fox is fantastic as the vicious vixen, and the film has a surprising emotional core under its bloody surface.
Where to watch: Stream on Amazon Prime Video
17. Scream (1996)
Wes Craven’s meta-slasher revitalized the horror genre by playfully poking holes in its clichés. A killer in a ghost mask is murdering the teens of Woodsboro—and the victims are all strangely aware of the “rules” of scary movies. The characters constantly comment on horror tropes as they fall victim to them, making for a very funny and frightening viewing experience. Scream spawned a massive franchise and inspired many imitators, but the original is still a clever, suspenseful standout.
Where to watch: Stream on Paramount+
16. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Before she was the Chosen One on TV, Buffy was the ditzy Valley Girl turned stake-wielding heroine in this delightful horror-comedy. Kristy Swanson plays the titular teenager, who discovers she’s the latest in a long line of women destined to battle the forces of darkness. With the help of a mysterious Watcher (Donald Sutherland) and a rebellious love interest (Luke Perry), Buffy takes on a vicious vampire king (Rutger Hauer) and his army of the undead. The film is full of ’90s fashion and lingo, but it also established the winning combination of scares, action, romance, and quips that made the character an icon.
Where to watch: Stream on Hulu
15. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
This mind-bending horror-comedy from Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard starts out like your typical “college kids go to a creepy cabin” slasher movie. But it quickly reveals itself to be something much more bizarre and brilliant. To say more would spoil the fun, but suffice to say The Cabin in the Woods constantly subverts and comments on horror movie tropes in shocking, hilarious ways. It’s a must-see for any fan of the genre.
Where to watch: Stream on Amazon Prime Video or Epix
14. Idle Hands (1999)
This ’90s horror-comedy bombed at the box office but later developed a cult following for its offbeat humor and killer cast. Anton (Devon Sawa) is a lazy stoner whose right hand becomes possessed by a demonic force, going on a murderous rampage. It’s up to his undead pals (Seth Green and Elden Henson) to help stop the evil appendage. Jessica Alba co-stars as Anton’s love interest in one of her first film roles. Idle Hands is uneven but has an appealingly weird energy, mixing gross-out gags with goofy supernatural shenanigans.
Where to watch: Stream on Starz; rent on Apple TV
13. Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)
Mel Brooks spoofs the most famous vampire of all time in this gag-filled gothic farce. Leslie Nielsen plays the Count, who relocates from Transylvania to London to find new blood. He’s pursued by the bumbling Professor Van Helsing (Brooks) and his associates, who constantly fumble their attempts to stake Dracula. Like all of Brooks’ parody films, Dracula: Dead and Loving It is full of silly slapstick, anachronistic jokes, and fourth wall-breaking humor. It may not be as sharp as Young Frankenstein, but it’s still a fun, campy romp.
Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV
12. The Lost Boys (1987)
This ’80s favorite gives vampires a punk rock makeover. When two brothers move with their mother to the beach town of Santa Carla, they discover that it’s overrun with bloodsucking bikers. The older brother (Jason Patric) falls in with the undead crowd, led by a bleach-blond Kiefer Sutherland. The younger brother (Corey Haim) teams up with two comic-book-obsessed teens (Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander) to save him. With its killer soundtrack, quotable dialogue, and sexy-scary atmosphere, The Lost Boys is a stylish, funny vamp flick.
Where to watch: Stream on Netflix
11. Fright Night (1985)
Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) is convinced that his new next-door neighbor Jerry (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire. But no one will believe him—not his mom, his girlfriend, or the washed-up horror host (Roddy McDowall) he enlists for help. As Charley digs deeper into Jerry’s dark secrets, he finds himself in a deadly battle with the seductive bloodsucker. Fright Night deftly balances scares and laughs, with some impressive practical effects and a strong performance from Sarandon as the vicious vamp-next-door.
Where to watch: Stream on AMC+
10. Arachnophobia (1990)
This horror-comedy does for spiders what Jaws did for sharks. Jeff Daniels plays a doctor with a crippling fear of arachnids who moves his family from the city to a small California town. Unfortunately, a deadly new species of spider has just arrived in the U.S. and is breeding in the town’s barns and backyards. As the eight-legged creatures start killing off residents, the doc must face his phobia to stop them. Arachnophobia delivers some genuine scares and squirms, but it’s also laced with a wry, almost farcical sense of humor.
Where to watch: Stream on Paramount+
9. Tremors (1990)
Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward play handymen in a small Nevada desert town who find themselves battling giant, worm-like monsters that are devouring the locals. This creature feature is a perfect blend of horror and humor, with likable leads, quotable dialogue (“Can you fly, sucker?”), and impressive practical effects. The graboids, as they come to be known, are surprisingly scary and the ways the heroes fight them off are very clever. Tremors kicked off a long-running franchise, but the original is still a total blast.
Where to watch: Stream on Starz
8. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
John Landis’ classic established the horror-comedy as a viable subgenre. David Naughton and Griffin Dunne play American backpackers attacked by a werewolf on the English moors. Dunne’s character is killed, but Naughton survives and becomes a werewolf himself. Haunted by his undead friend and struggling with his new lupine urges, he falls for a nurse (Jenny Agutter) and tries not to kill anyone when the moon is full. The film is scary, funny, and strangely poignant, with groundbreaking werewolf transformation effects by Rick Baker.
Where to watch: Stream on Peacock
7. Creepshow (1982)
This anthology film pays tribute to classic horror comics, with five spooky stories written by Stephen King and directed by George Romero. The tales include a murdered man seeking revenge from beyond the grave, a hillbilly farmer finding a meteorite with sinister powers, a wealthy jerk getting his comeuppance via a voodoo doll, a professor unleashing a deadly creature, and a germaphobe battling cockroaches. The stories strike a perfect balance of scares and dark humor, with comic book-style transitions and vibrant cinematography. An all-star cast including Leslie Nielsen, Ted Danson, Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, and King himself chew the scenery. Creepshow is a spooky, stylish good time.
Where to watch: Stream on Shudder or AMC+
6. The Evil Dead (1981)
Sam Raimi’s low-budget debut kicked off one of the most beloved horror franchises of all time. Five college students vacation in an isolated cabin where they discover an ancient book and a tape recording that unleashes demonic forces. The kids become possessed one by one, leading to all kinds of gory mayhem. The Evil Dead is famous for Raimi’s inventive camerawork and over-the-top, splatstick set pieces. While it’s light on jokes, the film’s manic energy and Bruce Campbell’s iconic performance make it a funhouse of horror.
Where to watch: Stream on HBO Max
5. Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
This cult favorite weaves together four interconnected stories set on Halloween night. A high school principal moonlights as a serial killer, a college virgin goes to a party with a dangerous guest, a group of kids pull a mean prank, and a cantankerous old man battles a mischievous trick-or-treater. The stories are tied together by Sam, a mysterious figure in a burlap mask who enforces the rules of Halloween. Trick ‘r Treat is a perfect seasonal viewing, with plenty of scares, laughs, and Halloween atmosphere.
Where to watch: Stream on HBO Max
4. The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
This punk rock zombie comedy put the fast in fast zombies. When a pair of bumbling medical warehouse employees accidentally release a toxic gas, it causes the dead to rise from their graves with a hunger for brains. A group of teens partying in a nearby cemetery have to fight off the ravenous undead with the help of a mortician and his crematorium. Return is a gleefully gory good time, with snarky humor, killer punk tunes, and some of the gnarliest zombies ever put on screen. It’s a hilarious, rollicking splatterfest.
Where to watch: Stream on Pluto TV or Tubi
3. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
This sequel to the 1931 Frankenstein improves on the original in every way, including the comedy. Director James Whale lets his campy sensibilities shine through, particularly in the character of Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger), who convinces Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) to create a mate for his monster. Elsa Lanchester is iconic in dual roles as author Mary Shelley and the titular bride, with her electrified beehive hairdo. The film is a perfect blend of gothic atmosphere, black humor, and subversive themes. It’s a horror masterpiece that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Where to watch: Stream on Peacock
2. Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)
This long-awaited sequel proves that the Zombieland formula is still a bloody good time. Ten years after the events of the first film, Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) are still fighting off zombies across a post-apocalyptic America. They take up residence in the White House, but new survivors and evolved zombies throw a wrench in their makeshift family. Double Tap keeps the winning combination of gory action, sharp banter, and surprising sweetness. It’s a rare sequel that lives up to the original.
Where to watch: Stream on Starz
1. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
This brilliant horror-comedy does for “cabin in the woods” movies what Scream did for slashers. Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s script gleefully subverts every trope of the genre, with a mind-bending meta-narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end. It starts out like a typical tale of college kids partying in a remote cabin, but quickly reveals a bizarre world of secret organizations and ancient gods pulling the strings. The less you know going in, the better. The Cabin in the Woods is endlessly clever, packed with twists and turns that deconstruct and celebrate horror. It’s the ultimate “corny” Halloween movie.
Where to watch: Stream on Hulu
There you have it – 30 fang-tastic films to get you in the Halloween spirit. These movies prove that horror and humor go together like tricks and treats. So grab some candy corn and get ready to laugh and scream in equal measure. Happy Halloween!
