Football, long sleeves, sweatpants, leaf piles, cool weather… the list goes on and on with the great aspects about October. There is not a better time of the year than when the leaves change color and the weather finally drops a few degrees.

However, the most intriguing part of October has to be Halloween, and one of the best ways to transition from the cheery hot summer holidays to October’s chilly Halloween atmosphere is to watch some scary and spooky movies.

Now, not every movie has to be a horror film that results in nightmares. While those movies have their place in great Halloween classics, the list provided will have a wider spread. Thus, here are the best October movies to put you into an Autumn mood.

Scream

Everything you need to know about the movie is practically in the name. Any film with the title Scream is bound to be a pretty scary movie. You most likely recognize this movie with the signature Scream mask greatly accessorized at Halloween parties or kids trick-or-treating.

Scream follows a real life case of the Gainesville ripper and was inspired by writer Kevin Williamson’s passion for horror films, especially Halloween (1978). With the classic serial killer slasher plot and inspiration for the very movie named Halloween.

With the classic slasher serial killer plot,  Scream provides a perfect scary movie to watch on a rainy October day.

Scary Movie

Ironically named Scary Movie, this fantastical spot on our list is a must see during October. It is nice to have a movie that has a healthy balance of fright as well as comedy.

This classic October movie is primarily a parody which pokes fun at the stereotypical “scary movies.” Scary Movie takes the audience through a hilarious high school adventure and the grim disappearances of students throughout the year.

Eventually the killer is reveled at the end of the movie, thus giving the film an element of dark mystery through the events preceding the revelation.

Overall, what makes this one a great movie to watch around Halloween is the playful atmosphere of high school with a mystical, even dark, undertone that makes for an entertaining and spooky film.

The Shining 

When discussing great scary movies, it would be a disgrace to the movie industry to exclude The Shining. With a movie based on a story derived from Stephen King, it is hard to go wrong.

The Shining takes the audience through the transformation of Jack Tourrance (played by Jack Nicholson) during his time as a writer at the notorious Overlook Hotel. Jack’s son possesses “The Shining” which allows him to look into the hotel’s horrific past, revealing winter’s previous caretaker killed his family.

Jack Tourrance unfortunately makes attempts to follow suit as the family faces the life threatening obstacles that comes along with surviving during their stay at Hotel Overlook.

It (2017)

While we are on the topic of Stephen King, the most recently released movie It is one for the books. It was not released until September 8th, and the highly anticipated remaster of Stephen King’s terrifying clown story was well worth the wait.

A large number of fall movies (such as Scary Movie) are great to watch because of the scariness and playfulness. However, It is NOT the movie to watch if one is in search for a movie such as this.

To quote Variety Magazine’s movie reviewer, Andrew Barker, “…it’s a collection of alternately terrifying, hallucinatory, and ludicrous nightmare imagery.” 

Stephen King’s It  adaptation revolves around a group of socially outcast boys in a small town and their quest to put an end to Pennywise’s (the clown) terrors as young children begin to mysteriously disappear in their town.

As you could guess, It delivers the fright one would expect a killer clown targeting children would, thus making a perfect scary movie in October.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Last but certainly not least, you just simply cannot forget about the Peanuts gang. Watching the Halloween Charlie Brown special is not only nostalgic, but funny and pretty entertaining as well.

People often sit down to watch a childhood favorite such as Charlie Brown during Christmas, Thanksgiving, or during these times Halloween season, and forget those 30-45 minute shorts are actually funnier than expected.

Charlie’s stone cold reactions after the whole neighborhood gives him rocks instead of candy always brings out a smirk or laugh, despite what age you are. Charlie Brown knows no age, and this is never more evident than in the memorable Halloween special.

In conclusion, the Autumn season resurrects more valid movie options than most give credit.

Therefore, when its too rainy and cold to toss frisbee or play football, hunker down and throw on a scary or nostalgic October flick.