Need scary Halloween movies for teens, tweens, or adults? Whether you’re looking for Netflix Halloween movies, Prime movies, Hulu streaming movies and more, you’ll find something to spook your teenagers and adults alike! (Great list of horror movies for 13 year olds and up – ultimate list of teenage scary movies!)
Best Scary Halloween Movies for Halloween Parties (Creepy Movies For Teenagers)
What are the scariest movies of all time? We’ve created a list of some of the best Halloween movies, perfect for a Halloween sleepover for teens or even an adult Halloween party or movie night.
16 Top Teen Halloween Movies That Will Scare Adults, Too!
- Halloween series
- A Nightmare on Elm Street
- Silence of the Lambs
- The Exorcist
- Paranormal Activity
- The Shining
- Gremlins
- The Conjuring
- Final Destination
- Candyman
- Creepshow
- Tremors
- The Evil Dead
- Zombieland
- The Saw Series
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
See full move descriptions below for scary movies for teenage sleepovers or Halloween party movies. Or, check this it out if you need family Halloween movies or a non-scary halloween movie for tweens or teens.
IMPORTANT MOVIE NOTE: If you’re planning a list of horror movies to watch on sleepovers, you may want to let the parents and kids know ahead of time. Remember, some parents and kids don’t want to watch scary movies (especially if you’re looking for horror movies for tweens!).
MORE HALLOWEEN FUN TO CHECK OUT:
How to Have a Netflix Sleepover Party
Family Halloween Movies to Watch with Kids
Horror Halloween Coloring Sheets / Scary Coloring Pages for Adults and Teens
Here are the best horror movies for sleepovers or parties or even for a best horror movie marathon list…
NOTE: These are horror movies for 13 year olds and up! In some cases, they may not even be appropriate for 13 year olds, so you may want to pre- watch them! Some of these are definitely too scary movie for tweens!
Definitely add these to your best horror movies to watch with friends!
Good Halloween Movies To Watch for the Holiday
Halloween (1978) John Carpenter’s Halloween is a classic slasher movie that has spawned several sequels and even an upcoming film. It is the best among those sequels thanks to Jamie Lee Curtis’ iconic portrayal of Laurie Strode, who sets out to kill Michael Myers after he brutally murdered her friends on Halloween.
The film boasts of a terrifying theme, due in large part to the score provided by John Carpenter himself.
It is perhaps one of the most memorable musical scores ever created for a horror movie and it still represents one of the best Halloween movies today.
Add the entire series to your best scary movies for teens list!
Halloween II (1981) John Carpenter created another timeless classic with Halloween II. It’s the second film in a classic horror franchise and it once again features iconic imagery from Michael Myers, who escapes from an insane asylum to go on another killing spree.
The hospital he is in releases him rather than risk a lawsuit because of his status as a minor when he committed his murders, so they must track him down.
(I mean, if you’re using this list for horror movies to watch at a sleepover at Halloween, you have to add the Halloween series, right?!)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of the best Halloween movies ever made, due in large part to its antagonist, Freddy Krueger.
Robert Englund’s portrayal of the child murderer who comes back from the dead to haunt his victims in their dreams has earned him an iconic status among horror movie fans.
The movie, which has spawned several sequels and a remake, also has gory special effects – particularly the ones used to create Freddy Krueger’s bladed glove and his burnt face.
It’s one of the classic best scary movies for sleepovers and still a popular horror movie for tweens and teens
Silence of the Lambs (1991) Hannibal Lecter has become so popular that he is now a character in the popular NBC television show, Hannibal.
However, Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of Lecter in Silence was a performance for the ages.
He plays a cannibalistic serial killer who helps an FBI agent (played by Jodie Foster) track down another serial killer known as Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine).
The performances were phenomenal and the plot was gripping, making this one of the best Halloween movies ever. You want a good does of suspense with a creepy and gore factor for horror movies to watch at sleepovers, this is a great one.
I don’t recommend this one for scary movies for tweens. If you’ve never seen it, this horror movie is scary and a psychological thriller.
The Exorcist (1973) It’s no surprise that the Exorcist tops a list that looks at scariest movies ever created. After all, it is universally recognized as one of the most frightening films to have been produced.
Linda Blair stars in this one as a young girl who is possessed by the devil himself. When her mother seeks out an exorcism, things only get worse from there as she eventually becomes violent and extremely evil.
It’s one of the best scary Halloween movies ever made and will continue to terrify viewers for generations to come. (I still remember seeing it as a child and I haven’t watched it since!)
One of the best horror movies for parties! If you’re wondering what are good scary movies for 13 year olds and up and want horror movies for teenagers that will really creep them out and have them sleeping with the lights on, this is it!
Paranormal Activity (2007) Paranormal Activity was a sleeper hit in the horror genre. It tells the story of a young couple that starts experiencing paranormal activity after they move into a new house.
The movie made its debut at several film festivals before it was finally released to more mainstream audiences.
What’s more, this film has spawned three sequels since then.
If you’re looking for series of horror movies for teens, add these films to the list!
The Shining (1980) Jack Nicholson starred in this chilling adaption of Stephen King’s classic novel about a man who slowly goes insane after taking on the job of being a caretaker at an isolated hotel in the mountains.
The Shining is considered by many to be one of the best scary movies ever created, and it’s not hard to see why.
The cinematography throughout its runtime is downright chilling, making you cringe at just about any moment that Jack Nicholson puts on his “crazy face.”
It made our list of best horror movies to watch at a sleepover or teen party because the creepy factor lingers. It’s also one of those scary movies for teenagers that they probably know because of Ready Player One. Might be fun to pair those together for a movie marathon!
Gremlins (1984) Gremlins is one of the best Halloween movies of all time because it represents a fun twist on the horror genre.
It follows a young man who receives a strange pet for Christmas, which then spawns some very peculiar creatures known as “Gremlins.” However, it’s up to him and his family to keep them in line before they start wrecking havoc on the town.
The film’s cast is perfect from top to bottom and it boasts of a hilarious script that will keep you in stitches even as chills run down your spine, which adds to its appeal and makes for an incredibly memorable viewing experience.
I vote this as a creepy Halloween movie favorite for best scary movies for 13 year olds or good scary movies to watch at a sleepover for tweens! Might be another good one for a starter horror movie / best first horror movie for tweens.
Looking for more best slumber party movies for the holidays (after teenage Halloween movies)?
39 Best Christmas Family Movies
The Conjuring (2013) Wait until you get a load of the Conjuring. James Wan was a relatively new name in horror circles when he made this film, but now he’s one of the biggest names in the genre thanks to this 2013 classic.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga star as Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators that help a family whose home has become possessed by an evil force known as “Annabelle.”
What’s more, Annabelle has become the center of a very popular horror franchise.
Final Destination (2000) Final Destination was a sleeper hit in the 2000s that adds a new spin on the supernatural horror sub-genre. It follows several high school kids who die in a bus crash, only to realize that Death has other plans for them and they’re all going to die soon.
The teens all try to cheat death’s plan while it tries everything in its power to kill them.
Final Destination spawned a successful and critically acclaimed franchise with multiple sequels. Like Halloween, it’s a film that will continue to be celebrated for years to come.
Candyman (1992) Candyman is a classic horror movie that was adapted from Clive Barker’s short story with the same title.
It tells the tale of a graduate student who researches urban legends and has to make contact with urban legend character “Candyman” in order to finish his thesis.
He finds out though, that he must bring “Candyman” back to life by saying his name five times in a mirror while standing in front of it at midnight, or he will be killed.
Creepshow (1982) Creepshow is one of the most popular horror anthologies in all of classic scary movies, combining elements of comedy with horrific tales from Stephen King and George Romero.
It features a number of memorable segments, including one where a man devours his own son (gross) after being bitten by an insect and another where bugs begin to invade the home of a family.
It was followed by three sequels, but none of them can hold a candle to this classic from 1982.
Tremors (1990) Tremors is about an isolated town that is terrorized by giant man-eating worms who have no qualms about eating humans for dinner.
It stars Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward and Michael Gross in memorable performances that elevate the film beyond the typical B-movie status.
It’s cheesy, but it also contains some genuinely funny moments, which makes this creature feature a delight to watch on Halloween or any time of year!
(It went on to have 7 total movies in the series.)
It’s one of those fun horror movies to watch with friends if you want something on the sillier side and falls under the good Halloween movies for 13 year olds category or scary movies to watch on a sleepover for tweens. It’s a creepy movie, but not a gory movie. It gets my vote for starter horror movies for tweens!
The Evil Dead (1981) The Evil Dead is the first major film from director Sam Raimi and it inspired a legion of fans that continue to celebrate this horror classic. It’s about five college kids who go on vacation in the woods, only to come across an old book that has supernatural powers.
They unknowingly unleash demons upon themselves and have to fight for their lives while trapped in their cabin.
The practical effects are impressive for the time and have aged quite well while still being creepy today.
It’s a perfect film to watch with friends around Halloween as part of your annual scary movie marathon or top votes for good scary movies for sleepovers.
Don’t miss these teen Halloween party tips to go with your Halloween movie for teens!
Zombieland (2009) Zombieland is about a group of survivors who are trying to get from Los Angeles to New Orleans in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. It stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone in iconic roles that made the film fun to watch for horror fans of every gender.
While it was a financial success, it didn’t do quite as well as expected at the box office, but over time has gained a cult following due to its hilarious dialogue and memorable characters.
It’s also one of the few modern zombie flicks that doesn’t take itself too seriously and is a fun time for the teens and adults! So it might be a lighter alternative to a sleepover horror movie.
I surprisingly loved this movie! I thought it had some super funny scary movie moments and a few jump scare moments. Highly recommend!
The Saw Series (2004-2010) For the best horror movie marathon, don’t forget a good collection of torture movies.
When it comes to horror movies, one of the most famous and brutal franchises, known for its grisly torture ways is the Saw series. As far as Halloween treats go, this is a pretty terrifying series of movies.
The first in this franchise came out in 2004 and was directed by James Wan who later went on to direct Insidious and The Conjuring.
If you are looking for a movie to test the gore factor of your Halloween party or horror movies to watch with friends for teens or good horror movies for sleepovers that will up the scare factor, then Saw is it.
MOVIE PARTY NOTE: I personally think this is too gory and traumatizing for a horror movie for 13 year old and under. As a parent, I would not put this on my movies to watch at a sleepover for 13 year olds and younger list. This series is even top for scary adult movies! Even though kids love this movie series, I would think twice to adding this to my list of best horror movies for teens.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of the most iconic films in horror history and one that helped bring the genre back to life when it was struggling.
It follows a group of friends who go out to visit an old house in the country only to run into Leatherface, a chainsaw-wielding maniac who will do anything to protect his home.
This is another one to carefully consider (or preview) for your best horror movie for teenager ideas.
Scream
Don’t forget to add the Scream series to your list of good horror movies to watch at a sleepover!
Iconic for good horror movies to watch with friends because it follows a group of friends through the scary night. These might be good scary movies for 13 year old parties!
Definitely add it to your list of scary movies to watch at sleepovers!
What would you add to our list of best good horror movies for 13 year olds and up?
Need family-friendly Halloween movies? Check out this list of Halloween movies for younger kids!
Let us know what we should add to our list of scary movies for a sleepover, scary movies for teens, or Halloween party movies!
