Many of us celebrate Halloween by watching a lot of horror movies. With the holiday encompassing all of October these days, that can often lead to some sizable, not to mention time-consuming, marathons.
Yet for those who have a busy schedule, or maybe they’re just looking for some variety in their viewings, there’s always the option of television.
The twenty following recommendations, all of which come from horror series, are another great way to observe Halloween.
Night Gallery – “Fright Night”
After The Twilight Zone, Rod Serling gave us another anthology show called Night Gallery (1970–1973). In the Halloween-adjacent episode “Fright Night”, a couple (Stuart Whitman, Barbara Anderson) inherits a house with one stipulation: they can’t open the locked trunk in the attic. Following that one rule proves difficult when the trunk then starts to move.
Tales from the Darkside – “Halloween Candy”
There are three solid episodes about Halloween in the anthology series Tales from the Darkside (1984–1988), and I advise you to watch them all. The pilot (“Trick or Treat”) is about trick-or-treaters entering the haunted house of a miser, and “The Cutty Black Sow” sees a boy trying to save his great-grandmother’s soul from a demon that comes after anyone who dies on Halloween. As for “Halloween Candy”, which was directed by Tom Savini, a curmudgeon (Roy Poole) is visited by a wicked goblin.
The Ray Bradbury Theater – “The Emissary”
Halloween is in the background of this notable episode of The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985–1992), that anthology based on the namesake’s body of work. In “The Emissary”, a sick, housebound boy has a dog that will fetch him anything. This includes a friendly teacher played by Helen Shaver. In due time, the episode takes a creepy turn that’s hard to forget.
The Real Ghostbusters – “The Halloween Door”
With so much bustin’ of ghosts, ghouls, and demons in The Real Ghostbusters (1986–1991), Halloween episodes seemed unnecessary. That said, some of the more memorable episodes of this live-action-movie-turned-cartoon are about Halloween. The primetime-aired “The Halloween Door” boasts snazzier animation, as the Ghostbusters deal with the supernatural consequences caused by anti-Halloweeners trying to cancel the holiday.
Werewolf – “All Hallow’s Eve”
One of Fox’s first scripted dramas was Werewolf (1987–1988), wherein a college student named Eric (John J. York) hopes to cure himself of his affliction by killing the originator of his whole bloodline. During the full moon on Halloween Night, Eric holes up in what he thought was an empty house. Turns out he was wrong.
Friday the 13th: The Series – “Hellowe’en”
By now, every Friday the 13th fan knows Friday the 13th: The Series (1987–1990) wasn’t connected to the movies, in spite of both being co-produced by Frank Mancuso Jr. Here, the characters go around reclaiming cursed objects that were sold at their inherited antiques store. In the Halloween episode “Hellowe’en”, a festive party is crashed by the store’s previous owner; the dead Uncle Frank now wants to rejoin the living.
Tales from the Crypt – “Only Skin Deep”
Like most horror shows, Tales from the Crypt (1989–1996) didn’t require Halloween settings, on account of every episode feeling like Halloween. Nonetheless, “Only Skin Deep” is one story that takes place on the holiday. Here, a woman’s abusive ex (Peter Onorati) leaves a Halloween costume party with another guest (Sherrie Rose). This other woman, though, never removes her mask. What does she have planned for their evening?
Are You Afraid of the Dark? – “The Tale of the Midnight Ride”
Before it became a full-on series, the classic children’s anthology Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1992–1996, 1999–2000) began with the Halloween-set special called “The Tale of the Twisted Claw”. Subsequent episodes “The Tale of the Dream Machine” and “The Tale of the Midnight Ride” also feature the holiday, although it’s the latter that contains some of the series’ most iconic imagery. Here, the new kid in town learns that the Headless Horseman is neither mythical nor friendly.
Eerie, Indiana – “America’s Scariest Home Video”
Shortly before he appeared in Hocus Pocus, Omri Katz was the lead in a children’s horror series called Eerie, Indiana (1991–1993). The main character, Marshall, ends up in bizarre situations after moving to the titular town. While he and Simon are stuck babysitting on Halloween, their charge, Simon’s little brother, somehow switches places with the mummy from a movie.
Goosebumps – “The Haunted Mask”
If you only ever watch one episode from Goosebumps‘ first television adaptation, make it “The Haunted Mask”. The premiere episode, wherein a girl named Carly Beth (Kathryn Long) becomes what she wears for Halloween, is on a completely different level when compared to other entries in this beloved anthology for kids. Additional Halloween episodes include “Haunted Mask II” and “Attack of the Jack-O’-Lanterns”.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “Fear, Itself”
Cult television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) established the in-universe lore that supernatural activity was minimal on Halloween. As fans learned, that rule didn’t always hold up. Episodes like “Halloween”, “Fear, Itself” and “All the Way” showed how October 31 was no different than any other creepy day in Sunnydale. The strange goings-on in the fun “Fear, Itself” had the Scoobies getting trapped inside of a haunted frat house.
Millennium – “…Thirteen Years Later”
While Millennium (1996–1999) fans would say “The Curse of Frank Black” is the show’s best Halloween-set episode, and you should definitely watch it, “…Thirteen Years Later” is amusing. Millennium didn’t get a lot of chances to be silly, like Chris Carter‘s other show, The X-Files. So for some lighter shades of darkness in Frank Black’s (Lance Henriksen) bleak universe, this episode delivers. Not only is Frank visiting the set of a movie based on one of his cases, but the band KISS performs.
Supernatural – “Mint Condition”
There are more than enough creepy, stand-alone episodes of Supernatural (2005–2020) that you could watch for Halloween, but for episodes that actually have to do with the holiday, your choices are “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester” and “Mint Condition”. The latter is from Season 14, and it has much less to do with the overarching story. There, Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam (Jared Padalecki) investigate what look to be toys being turned into life-sized killers. This includes Dean’s favorite horror movie character, a Michael Myers-type named David Yaeger, a.k.a. Hatchet Man.
Fear Itself – “The Spirit Box”
Anthology series Fear Itself (2008), a spiritual successor to Masters of Horror, had two Halloween episodes: “The Spirit Box” and “The Circle”. The former has Anna Kendrick and Jessica Parker Kennedy using a homemade spirit board to speak to their dead classmate on Halloween. As you would expect, the cheap thrill has dire consequences.
Grimm – “La Llorona”
In Grimm (2011–2017), that show about a homicide detective (David Giuntoli) whose second job is to keep the balance between humans and supernatural creatures, Halloween tackles the legendary La Llorona, a.k.a. the Weeping Woman. Could she be to blame for a series of missing children in the area?
Inside No. 9 – “Dead Line”
Multi-genre British anthology Inside No. 9 (2014–2024) was a big fan of horror, and episodes like “Dead Line” show that affection. This Halloween special confused some audiences back then, as they thought the technical difficulties during what was said to be a live airing were genuine. On the contrary, creators and stars Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith channeled the TV ruse that was Ghostwatch. “Dead Line” wanted us to believe an old television studio was haunted.
Scream: The TV Series – “Halloween Special”
The Scream show (2015–2016, 2019), which is unrelated to the movies, eventually found the surviving characters of Seasons One and Two going to an island for Halloween and getting tangled up in a new mystery. For those new to the series, this whodunit is mostly self-contained.
Wynonna Earp – “Hell Raisin’ Good Time”
The town of Purgatory is no stranger to weirdness. On Halloween, Wynonna Earp (2016–2021) whipped up a villain perfect for the holiday. In this episode from the supernatural western, a pumpkin-headed demon called Rotten Jack comes and causes havoc.
Evil – “October 31”
It’s a busy Halloween Night in this episode of Evil (2019–2024). While Kristen (Katja Herbers) and David (Mike Colter) spend their Halloween debating the legitimacy of an exorcism case, Ben (Aasif Mandvi) debunks the supernatural on his favorite show. The kids also have some Halloween fun during a scary sleepover.
Chucky – “Give Me Something Good to Eat”
Halloween gets plenty of love in Chucky (2021–2024); every season features the holiday at one point. In the first season, Halloween feels different for Jake (Zackary Arthur) after he loses someone close to him. Nonetheless, he goes to a Halloween party where mean girl Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind) wears the most insensitive costume possible. It’s then up to Jake to stop Chucky (voiced by Brad Dourif) from murdering Lexy.
