TAGGED AS: halloween, halloween tv, Horror, streaming, television, TV
Updated October 28, 2020
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly Halloween movie like Hocus Pocus or an ultra-scary made for the horror super-fans who subscribe to Shudder, there are plenty of viewing options this October on cable, streaming, and broadcast networks. Annual marathon events like Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween or Hulu’s Huluween are at your fingertips, as are series like The Haunting of Bly Manor and Helstrom.
Read on to learn more about this year’s spookiest Halloween programming from special episodes to new films and everything in between. We’ll update our list as more Halloween programming is announced.
(Photo by Paramount Pictures)
31 Nights of Halloween, Freeform
The entire month of October is filled with movies (The Addams Family, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, Hotel Transylvania and its sequels, the 2016 Ghostbusters, and more). Old standbys like Hocus Pocus, Casper, and The Mummy are there too, plus airings of The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror” episodes.
Spooktacular October, Syfy
Every Sunday in October is “Dark Arts Sundays” with films from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them series. A “Don’t Fear the Sequel” marathon on October 12 brings horror favorites and their sequels (28 Days Later/28 Weeks Later, The Purge/The Purge: Anarchy). There are also zombie, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and masked murderer-themed marathons. Halloween day will see a 14-hour Harry Potter marathon.
Treat-A-Thon, Cartoon Network
Every Monday through Thursday throughout the month of October will bring “ghouly themed” episodes of Victor and Valentino, plus premieres of Apple & Onion, Craig of the Creek, Teen Titans Go!, and more. And on Saturday, Oct. 31 starting at 6 a.m. ET/PT, there will be a full day of “spooktacular” programming.
HallowScream, Nickelodeon
Premieres of the network’s live-action, animation and preschool series (SpongeBob SquarePants, Blue’s Clues & You!, The Casagrandes, The Loud House) will debut on the network, as well as NickJr.com and the Nick app (which will include Halloween-themed episodes and short-form content).
Ghostober, Travel Channel
The network’s annual Halloween programming event will again feature paranormal programming including Portals to Hell, Paranormal Caught on Camera: Top 100, The Osbournes: Night of Terror, and a crossover featuring superstar paranormal investigators from two of the network’s hit shows, Ghost Nation and Kindred Spirits.
Supernatural, TNT
They’re back! As the Winchester brothers wrap up their 15 seasons of adventures on The CW, celebrate Halloween with TNT’s annual marathon featuring some of the series’ spookiest episodes all day long on Halloween Day.
Sitcom Halloween, TBS
The network will air scary movies throughout the month (including The Nun, It and The Blair Witch Project) before launching a marathon of Halloween episodes from series including American Dad, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, Family Matters, Seinfeld, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and more).
ShudderFest, Shudder
The horror-centric streaming service is hosting a virtual celebration of all things spooky on Halloween day that will feature panels, presentations, conversations and screenings led by legendary genre icons, fan-favorite musicians, and acclaimed directors, writers, and producers. It’s free to all and available anywhere in the world via its website.
Halloween Marathon, Adult Swim
Stay up late with Adult Swim for some spooked-out treats beginning Friday, October 30 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The evening starts with a marathon of themed episodes that lead to the Adult Swim Smalls premiere of Jack Stauber’s OPAL at midnight ET/PT, followed by Smalls-O-Ween at 12:15 a.m. ET/PT. The fright fest continues on Halloween as Toonami fans will be treated to a season one marathon of the suspenseful thriller The Promised Neverland starting at midnight ET/PT.
(Photo by Netflix)
The Haunting of Bly Manor — Dead doesn’t mean gone. An au pair plunges into an abyss of chilling secrets in this gothic romance from the creator of The Haunting of Hill House. Streaming on Netflix.
Monsterland — Eight-part anthology based on the collection of stories from Nathan Ballingrud’s “North American Lake Monsters.” Streaming on Hulu.
Helstrom — The series brings the Marvel comics to life and follows the son and daughter of a mysterious and powerful serial killer as they track down the worst of humanity. Premieres October 16 on Hulu.
Lovecraft Country — Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO (and streaming on HBO Max).
Fear the Walking Dead — Sundays at 9 p.m on AMC.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond — Sundays at 10 p.m on AMC.
Supernatural — Thursdays at 8 p.m on The CW.
Swamp Thing — Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.
Truth Seekers — streaming October 30 on Amazon Prime Video.
Ratched — streaming on Netflix.
What We Do in the Shadows — streaming on FX on Hulu.
Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 2 — Streaming October 19 on Netflix.
Murder Unboxed — What do a bottle of brandy, a toaster, a pile of cash, and a Bourne Supremacy DVD have to do with murder? Quibi’s new true crime series, Murder Unboxed, reveals the connections by dusting off the boxes of evidence from outlandish and real-life murder cases. Mimicking the style of popular online “unboxing” videos, each episode takes a new case and introduces seemingly unrelated evidence — one item at a time. Premieres October 19.
Castle Rock — now streaming on Hulu
Creepshow — now streaming on Shudder
A Discovery of Witches — now streaming on Sundance Now
Into The Dark — Blumhouse’s horror anthology — now streaming on Hulu
Utopia — now streaming on Amazon Prime Video
(Photo by Warner Bros.)
Roald Dahl’s The Witches — Robert Zemeckis, Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, and Kenya Barris and their all-star cast of Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, Kristin Chenoweth, and Chris Rock have teamed up for this reimagined fantasy adventure about a young boy (Jahzir Kadeen Bruno) who stumbles upon a secret coven of witches and, with the help of his loving grandmother, tries to stop their evil plan to turn the world’s children into mice. Premieres Oct. 22 on HBO Max.
Hubie Halloween — It’s October 31 in Salem, Massachusetts, and a town’s eccentric, devoted community volunteer and the good-natured object of his fellow citizen’s derision and meanest pranks, finds himself in the midst of a real investigation, for a real murderer. Streaming now on Netflix.
Rebecca — A young newlywed arrives at her husband’s imposing family estate on a windswept English coast and finds herself battling the shadow of his first wife, Rebecca, whose legacy lives on in the house long after her death. Stars Armie Hammer and Lily James. Launches October 21 on Netflix.
The Babysitter: Killer Queen — Two years after defeating a satanic cult led by his babysitter Bee, Cole once again has to outsmart the forces of evil when old enemies unexpectedly return. Streaming now on Netflix.
Bad Hair — Set in 1989, this horror satire out of Sundance follows an ambitious young woman (Elle Lorraine) who discovers that her hair may have a mind of its own. Premieres October 23 on Hulu.
Books of Blood — Inspired by Clive Barker’s stories, this film tells a journey into uncharted and forbidden territory through three tales tangled in space and time. Streaming now on Hulu.
The Strangers: Prey at Night – A family of four staying at a secluded mobile home park for the night are stalked and then hunted by three masked psychopaths. Available on demand and streaming now on Syfy.com.
Tales from the Hood 3 — director Spike Lee executive produces with writers/directors/producers Rusty Cundieff and Darin Scott in this next installment of the ground-breaking original Tales from the Hood. Following the franchise’s cult classic roots, this all-new anthology, which features Tony Todd and Lynn Whitfield, is four terrifying tales that will scare and thrill audiences with its horrifying twists and social commentary. Premieres Saturday, Oct. 17, at 9 p.m. on Syfy.
Scare Me — During a power outage, two strangers tell scary stories. The more Fred and Fanny commit to their tales, the more the stories come to life in the dark of a Catskills cabin. The horrors of reality manifest when Fred confronts his ultimate fear: Fanny may be the better storyteller. Starring Aya Cash, Josh Ruben and Chris Redd. Directed by Josh Ruben. Streaming now on Shudder.
The Mortuary Collection — A young drifter applies for a job at the local mortuary and meets an eccentric mortician who chronicles the strange history of the town through a series of twisted tales, each more terrifying than the last. Starring Clancy Brown, Caitlin Custer, Barak Hardley, Christine Kilmer and Jacob Elordi. Streaming October 15 on Shudder.
32 Malasana Street — It’s 1976. The Olmedo family has left the countryside for a new life in Madrid. But their new home becomes a house of horrors in this hit supernatural thriller based on actual paranormal events. Streaming October 22 on Shudder.
May the Devil Take You Too — Two years after escaping from demonic terror, a young woman is still haunted by unnatural visions. The dangers that await her and her friends grow as a figure of darkness rises, threatening to take their lives. Streaming October 29 on Shudder.
The Cleansing Hour — Max and Drew are millennial entrepreneurs who’ve made themselves famous with a webcast they created called “The Cleansing Hour,” which streams live exorcisms. The catch? Each ceremony is elaborately staged to look real in order to dupe their global audience—until today, when today’s subject, Drew’s fiancé, actually turns out to be possessed. Starring Ryan Guzman, Kyle Gallner, Alix Angelis. Streaming now on Shudder.
Ghost Nation — Jason Hawes, Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango are joined by Shari DeBenedetti for more adventures and bigger mysteries that have never been investigated on television. Premieres Saturday, October 17 at 9 p.m. on Travel Channel.
Ghost Adventures: Screaming Room — Airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on Travel Channel.
Paranormal Caught on Camera: Top 100 — Airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on Travel Channel.
The Holzer Files — Premieres Thursday, October 29 at 11 p.m. on Travel Channel.
Destination Fear — Premieres Saturday, October 24 at 10 p.m. on Travel Channel.
Halloween Wars — Airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on Food Network.
Halloween Freakshow Cakes — Airs Sundays at 10:30 and 11 p.m. on Food Network.
(Photo by Sony Pictures)
Amazon Prime Video: The streaming service’s scary movie selection is robust this year, with “Welcome to The Blumhouse” original films Black Box, The Lie, Evil Eye and Nocturne; horror/thrillers like Cabin in the Woods, Hereditary, Midsommar, and Pet Cemetery; supernatural films like Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Super 8; and more — like Scream 4, The Ring, Anaconda, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Legion. In honor of new paranormal series Truth Seekers, which debuts Oct. 30, fans can participate in a virtual escape room with the Truth Seekers Remote Adventure (visit TruthSeekersExperience.com for more details — and trust us, it’s very fun!).
AMC+: More than 1,000 hours of horror content from AMC, Shudder, and IFC Midnight live on the subscription service, including films playing via AMC’s FearFest and early access to Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and season 2 of Eli Roth’s History of Horror; Joe Bob’s Halloween Hideaway Special and The Creepshow Animated Special from Shudder, and genre cinema (Human Centipede, The Babadook) from IFC Midnight.
Crackle: Five new Halloween-themed channels — Creatures of the Night, Stream Your Head Off, Don’t Go in the Water, Screen Queens, Swords and Sandals — will air classic horror movies and other spooky-themed programming all month long on the streaming service.
Disney+: You don’t need to wait for a marathon to stream Hocus Pocus or The Nightmare Before Christmas if you’re a Disney+ subscriber, since those films and so many more Halloween-friendly movies are available on the service. There’s also Halloweentown, Zombies, Frankenweenie, the best Disney Channel and Disney Junior Halloween episodes (from That’s So Raven, Doc McStuffins, and more) and 30 episodes of The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror” franchise.
“Halloween Is Here” on HBO Max: This special dedicated landing page, available throughout the month of October, features a rotating roster of more than 140 curated movies, series and Halloween-themed TV episodes, organized in themes like Terrifying TV, Scares for All Ages, Foreign Frights, and Creepy Cult Classics. Films include recent releases like The Invisible Man, Us, It: Chapter 2, and Doctor Sleep; creepy cult classics Night of the Living Dead and Eraserhead; and other spooky fare like The Haunting and Glass. There are also TV series like Lovecraft Country, True Blood, and The Outsider, and episodes from shows including Friends, Euphoria, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Huluween on Hulu: Last year’s Huluween saw viewers stream more than six billion minutes of Halloween content. The third year of the Halloween event will feature a hub for hand-picked content including family-friendly Madagascar: A Little Wild special; zombie movie Little Monsters starring Lupita Nyong’o and Josh Gad; Wounds starring Armie Hammer, Zazie Beetz, and Dakota Johnson; and 22 horror films from Jason Blum’s Into the Dark series.
Peacock: On the TV side, viewers can stream series like Mr. Mercedes, The Fall, the 1990s version of Charmed, and more. On the movies side, you’ll get the Harry Potter series, E.T., The Birds, Psycho, Rear Window, Curse of Chucky, and many more.
Shudder: This month is really no different for the horror-centric streaming service, but it is packed with tons of new content including a “Ghoul Log” (a 24/7 streaming jack-o’-lantern, Halloween’s answer to the Christmas Yule Log), Joe Bob’s Halloween Hideaway special, The Creepshow Halloween Special, a Halloween Hotline, a Vincent Price collection, and original and exclusive movies (Scare Me, The Cleansing Hour, The Mortuary Collection, and more).
(Photo by © 2020 by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)
The Simpsons, “Treehouse of Horror XXXI” — In the annual animated rite of passage for the series, The Simpsons this year takes a frightening look at the 2020 election, parodies Pixar and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and examines a ninth birthday Lisa just can’t get over. Airs Sunday, October 18 at 8 p.m. on Fox.
Bless the Harts, “Dead Mall.” Jon Hamm and Kristen Schaal guest star in this Halloween-themed episode that sees the Harts visit Greenpoint’s abandoned mall, which brings back fond memories from the 2000s, but their reminiscing is interrupted when a mall rat named Stacey (voiced by Schaal) takes them hostage. Airs Sunday, Oct. 18 at 8:30 p.m. on Fox.
Bob’s Burgers, “Heartbreak Hotel-oween.” Louise’s plan to get revenge on Halloween for a candy transgression hits a snag when the Belcher kids meet a mysterious elderly woman at a hotel. Linda and a very squeamish Bob donate blood at a vampire-themed blood mobile. Airs Sunday, Oct. 18 at 9 p.m. on Fox.
Madagascar: A Little Wild, “A Fang-Tastic Halloween” special streams October 21 on Hulu.
America’s Funniest Home Videos, Catch a special Halloween episode of America’s Funniest Home Videos with highlights including a dog who is scared of a giant inflatable cat on the neighbor’s lawn, a grandma pranked when her grandbaby is replaced with a zombie doll and animals in funny costumes. Airs Sunday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. on ABC.
Supermarket Sweep, “Trick-or-Treat!” Leslie Jones hosts this Halloween-themed episode of the rebooted game show on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Dancing with the Stars, “Villains Night.” Just in time for Halloween, 10 celebrity and pro-dancer couples find their inner villain as they compete for this season’s seventh week live. The show’s cold open will find Tyra Banks and the judges dressed up for the night and experiencing their own horror when they find out the celebrities have become villains! Later, Tyra Banks will walk out to “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell. Airs Monday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. on ABC.
The Conners, “Halloween and The Election vs. The Pandemic” — The Conners pull together when Halloween is canceled by the city. Airs Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 9 p.m. on ABC.
General Hospital. As an impending storm approaches Port Charles, Trina and Joss decide to meet up with Cameron and Dev at Charlies before heading off to a Halloween party for the night. Unbeknownst to them, Julian notices the kids are being watched a little too closely by a masked individual. Uneasy and unable to shake the feeling that something is off, Julian confronts the man. Meanwhile, Carly is stunned when Cyrus brings a familiar acquaintance to dinner at the Metro Court. And elsewhere, Finn and Anna’s plans to take Violet trick-or-treating are hampered when Finn is called back to GH, leaving Anna alone, unaware that a particularly evil threat awaits her. Airs Thursday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. on ABC (check local listings).
Impractical Jokers: Dinner Party. The midseason premiere sees the Jokers host a Halloween-themed dinner party where they surprise each other with elaborate costumes and enjoy scary-themed meals with special guest Kane Hodder (a.k.a. Jason Voorhees from the Halloween series). Airs Thursday, Oct. 29 at 10 p.m. on truTV.
Portals to Hell, “Frightmare in Connecticut.” Paranormal investigators Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman head to Poquetanuck, Connecticut, to investigate Captain Grant’s Inn, rumored to be Connecticut’s most haunted home. Premieres Friday, October 30 at 8 p.m. on Travel Channel.
Ghost Nation: Reunion in Hell. Ghost Nation stars Jason Hawes, Steve Gonsalves, and Dave Tango call on Amy Bruni and Adam Berry of Kindred Spirits to reopen a case that has taken a sinister turn involving Seaview Terrace, the 40,000-square-foot Rhode Island mansion famous for being featured on the TV show Dark Shadows. Premieres Saturday, October 31 at 8 p.m. on Travel Channel.
