Staying in for Halloween? Here are the best shows to stream, from cute-scary to actually scary

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Halloween means lots of possibilities! You could catch a movie like “Sinners” or “KPop Demon Hunters” which are back in theaters this weekend, check out the many haunted events around Los Angeles, or enjoy the city’s lively bars—there’s something for everyone.

If relaxing on the couch with a great show and some treats sounds better than anything else, we have what you need.

It’s common for streaming services to offer seasonal content, and they know people love spooky movies and shows in October. Many, like Hulu, Netflix, and Paramount+, create special Halloween sections with a variety of horror titles. While these collections often include familiar classics, there are also several new releases available now that are perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit.

As a movie fan, I always get excited for spooky season! And the best part is, there’s truly something for everyone. Whether you love a good jump scare or prefer your monsters to be, like, stop-motion creations or even made of candy, you’ll find a movie to enjoy.

For the true horror fans

‘It: Welcome to Derry’ (HBO)

A new series explores the origins of Pennywise, the terrifying clown from Stephen King’s “It” (and its sequel, “It: Chapter Two”). Created by the directors of the films, Andy and Barbara Muschietti, along with Jason Fuchs, the show is set in 1962 Maine. During the height of the Cold War, a group of kids faces not only the fear of nuclear conflict, but also a chilling mystery: a missing child and a sinister presence lurking in their town of Derry.

The show’s first episode aired on Sunday, and a new episode will be released each week for the next seven weeks. It’s based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel – also the source material for previous movies – and centers around “It,” a terrifying being that preys on people’s fears, often targeting children.

Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times complimented the show’s young cast, calling them a group of youthful detectives that brought to mind ‘Stranger Things.’ He also highlighted the show’s effective horror elements, particularly two unsettling birth scenes, and praised the well-executed scare effects.

In his review, Lloyd noted that the ‘Welcome to Derry’ series feels more like a low-budget, familiar horror story than a high-quality production. He pointed out that while it relies on common horror tropes—which is understandable since Stephen King created many of them—this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Lloyd concluded that television is a good place for this kind of enjoyable, simple entertainment, and hopes it stays that way.

Review

‘It: Welcome to Derry’ will satisfy fans of horror and of Stephen King’s deadly clown

I was completely captivated by HBO’s new series! It delves into the origins of Pennywise, the terrifying clown we all know, and reveals how he came to be the monster that preys on children’s fears. What really struck me, though, was how the show also bravely tackled the issue of racism in 1960s Maine – it added such a powerful and unexpected layer to the story.

For those who can tolerate creepy crawly scares

‘Nightmares of Nature’ (Netflix)

Blumhouse, the company famous for scary movies like “Paranormal Activity,” “Insidious,” and “The Purge,” has created a nature documentary with a horror movie twist. Narrated by Maya Hawke, the series combines typical nature documentary footage with suspenseful music, startling moments, and a storytelling style you’d find in a horror film.

From the very start, this series throws you right into the harsh realities of the natural world. As Hawke puts it, yeah, it’s beautiful and amazing, but it’s also dangerous. He points out that understanding that – realizing there are predators out there – is absolutely key to survival. It’s a stark opening, but it immediately sets the tone for what promises to be a gripping look at life in the wild.

This show offers a unique look at the wild, showing how animals try to survive when they’re being hunted. Season one, “Cabin in the Woods,” focused on a mouse, raccoon, and bullfrog. The new season, “Lost in the Jungle,” which starts Tuesday, follows an opossum, an iguana, and a jumping spider as they navigate the rainforests of Central America. Just a warning: if you’re afraid of spiders, this show probably isn’t for you!

For mystery lovers

‘Down Cemetery Road’ (Apple TV)

This British crime drama stars Emma Thompson, an Academy Award winner, as a determined private investigator—and that’s a great reason to start watching.

In this series, Thompson stars as Zoë Boehm, an investigator looking into an explosion at Oxford University. When a local art conservator, Sarah Tucker (played by Ruth Wilson), suspects a survivor of the blast has been kidnapped, she asks Zoë and her husband, Joe Silverman (Adam Godley), for help. Their investigation quickly uncovers a tangled network of secrets and corruption, leading to a suspenseful and captivating story.

The new Apple TV series is based on the book of the same name by Mick Herron, the author behind “Slow Horses.” Morwenna Banks, a writer for “Slow Horses,” adapted the book for television, and also served as a writer and executive producer on the series. The first two episodes will be available on Wednesday, with new episodes released each week after that.

For those who are more into treats than tricks

‘The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Halloween’ (Roku Channel) and ‘Is It Cake? Halloween’ (Netflix)

Okay, if you’re like me and prefer a little less fright and a lot more fun around Halloween, let me tell you about this special! It’s “The Great American Baking Show,” and it’s a seriously delightful escape. Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood, those baking legends, are judging, and Casey Wilson and Andrew Rannells are hosting. But the real treat? The bakers are comedians – Patton Oswalt, Rachel Dratch, Leslie Jones, and Adam Pally! Don’t expect perfect pastries; these guys are funny first, bakers second. They tackle a series of challenges, including one where they have to bake something based on their biggest fear. It’s a lighthearted, laugh-filled hour, and best of all, it’s free to stream on Roku with ads. Definitely a sweet alternative to all the scary stuff!

“Is It Cake? Halloween” is back with incredibly realistic baked goods made by talented professionals. Hosted by Mikey Day from “Saturday Night Live,” the new season features nine skilled bakers competing for a prize. Celebrity judges try to guess if what they’re looking at is a detailed cake or a spooky Halloween decoration – like a jack-o’-lantern, black cat, or gargoyle!

Chelsea Peretti, Jack McBrayer, Gillian Jacobs, and Whitney Cummings will be the judges for the four Halloween episodes.

For animation aficionados

‘Hazbin Hotel’ (Prime Video)

In 2019, animator and YouTuber Vivienne Medrano released a pilot episode for her animated series, “Hazbin Hotel.” It quickly became popular and built a dedicated international fanbase, remaining so even before the full season—produced by A24—debuted on Prime Video. The pilot currently has over 118 million views on YouTube.

This animated series boasts a talented voice cast from the world of Broadway. It centers on Charlie Morningstar (voiced by Erika Henningsen), the Princess of Hell, who runs a hotel as a way to help demons and sinners earn their way to Heaven. She’s trying a compassionate approach to Hell’s overcrowding problem, which is usually handled by simply eliminating souls. The show also features performances by Stephanie Beatriz, Alex Brightman, Keith David, Alex Newell, Christian Borle, and Jeremy Jordan.

Season 2 of the beloved series premieres on Prime Wednesday with music and laughs aplenty.

Television

Vivienne Medrano, the creator of “Hazbin Hotel,” and Broadway star Alex Brightman discussed the upcoming animated series, which blends horror and musical theater, and will premiere on Prime Video this Friday.

For those who think real life is scarier than fiction

‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ (Hulu), ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’ (Peacock) and ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’ (Netflix)

With Halloween approaching, several true-crime series have been released, all based on disturbing real events. Two recent releases, “Murdaugh: Death in the Family” and “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy,” cover well-known cases. “Murdaugh” focuses on the complicated story of a powerful South Carolina family and their legal legacy. The case gained intense public attention during the trial of Alex Murdaugh, accused of murdering his wife and son, as numerous financial crimes he committed also came to light.

I was completely gripped by “Devil in Disguise,” which really delves into the horrific crimes of John Wayne Gacy, one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. While it does briefly show his life before the murders, what I really appreciated was its focus on the young men and boys he killed, the families left devastated, and the dedicated investigators who finally solved this incredibly disturbing case. It felt respectful and truly centered their stories.

According to Lorraine Ali, a critic for the Times, even though the true stories behind these shows have been told many times before, the dramatizations are still worthwhile. She notes that each series, with eight episodes, delves into the factors that led to terrible crimes – things like excessive pride within families, corruption, greed, societal biases, and failures in law enforcement.

Review

What’s there left to say about the Murdaugh murders and ‘killer clown’ John Wayne Gacy? A lot

Both Hulu’s ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ and Peacock’s ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’ focus on well-known and heavily publicized murders, but each presents a compelling narrative.

I first heard about Ed Gein before diving deeper into the “Monsters” series, and honestly, his story is truly disturbing. He’s often called the Butcher of Plainfield, and it’s chilling to realize how much his crimes influenced some of the most iconic horror films – things like “Psycho,” “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” and even “The Silence of the Lambs” all owe a debt to his terrifying deeds. Back in the 1950s, he dug up bodies in Wisconsin and confessed to murdering at least two women, then… well, he mutilated them. When the police finally caught him in 1957, they found unimaginable things on his property – not just body parts and bones, but objects made from them. I mean, a lampshade crafted from human skin? Bowls made from skulls? Masks from faces? It’s a story that genuinely sends shivers down my spine, especially around Halloween.

Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s crime series stars Charlie Hunnam. The first season told the story of Jeffrey Dahmer, with Evan Peters in the lead role, and the second season explored the case of the Menendez brothers, played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch.

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2025-10-27 13:32