Halloween is a prime time for people to binge-watch scary stories. Thankfully, horror fans can sit back and stream countless TV shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, and beyond for fun, frightening evening. Audiences can check out terrifying mysteries like Evil and Stranger Things, along with more lighthearted comedies like Wednesday and What We Do in the Shadows.
Ironically, picking the right Halloween show can make viewers feel like kids in a candy story. So for those unsure of what to watch this spooky season, here’s a guide to the best TV shows to stream for All Hallows’ Eve.
When you’re done here, check out the best new shows to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best new shows on Max, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, and the best shows on Disney+.
Wednesday (2022-present)
In this modern take on The Addams Family, a whimsical but ghoulish murder mystery unfolds at Nevermore Academy and is investigated by new kid, Wednesday Addams. Jenna Ortega carries the series with her witty, deadpan performance as the titular protagonist.
And thanks to director Tim Burton and showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Beetlejuice), viewers are guaranteed a Gothic adventure filled with fiendish laughs and unforgettable music.
Watch Wednesday on Netflix.
Servant (2019-2023)
As a grieving mother represses the memory of her child’s death, her family hires a nanny who inexplicably brings their deceased child back to life. This series explores the pitfalls of grief and trauma as it wraps a dysfunctional family in a confusing web of twists and terrors.
With the show run by horror icon and Trap director M. Night Shyamalan, Servant presents several enthralling episodes filled with surprises and scares, all of which feature a distinct brand of bizarre characters and dark humor.
Watch Servant on Apple TV+.
The Haunting series (2018-2020)
This anthology series created by Mike Flanagan consists of The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor. Though Flanagan takes strong liberties adapting such revered horror stories, he modernizes them in ways that go above and beyond the source material.
Not only does it take a classical approach to haunted house tales but the show presents haunting and relatable stories about growing up and trying to live in a scary world. It also features some mind-bending twists and some of the most shocking jump scares that audiences will never see coming.
Watching The Haunting shows on Netflix.
The Exorcist (2016-2018)
This Exorcist reboot features two new priests approached to conduct an exorcism on a possessed young woman, all while a cabal of demon-worshippers gains power from behind the scenes.
Since the show was made for network TV, it doesn’t reach the X-rated extremes as the original film. Nevertheless, this show succeeds at bringing William Friedkin’s horror masterpiece to the modern world, expanding upon the original story with some incredible new scares and characters.
Watch The Exorcist on Tubi.
Midnight Mass (2021)
This vampire miniseries follows a recovering alcoholic who returns to his hometown at the same time a mysterious priest appears performing miracles on the locals.
Though the show borrows heavily from Salem’s Lot, Midnight Mass reinvents the vampire genre by merging familiar tropes with Biblical allegory in a poignant tale about addiction, morality, and religious fanaticism.
Watch Midnight Mass on Netflix.
The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)
Basically A Clockwork Orange meets Succession, this recent Netflix hit took the works of Edgar Allan Poe and presents a satirical and Gothic murder mystery.
It’s a far cry from the stories that Poe made famous, but creator Mike Flanagan presents a profound analysis of upper-class corruption. It’s also fun to watch a family of black-hearted billionaires get picked off in a series of wild and elaborate murders.
Watch The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix.
What We Do in the Shadows (2019-present)
This mockumentary show features the many hilarious adventures of vampires Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja, and Colin Robinson, as well as their familiar Guillermo. To see these oddball creatures of the night fumbling through their modern lives is nothing short of comedy gold.
Each cast member makes the most of their material, getting unforgettable laughs with every line they utter. Since this October will present the show’s sixth and final season, it’s as good a time as any to see the vampires in their nightly routine.
Watch What We Do in the Shadows on Hulu and Disney+.
From (2022-present)
This acclaimed but overlooked series follows a group of people trapped in a town where smiling monsters hunt them at night. Reminiscent of Lost, Under the Dome, and Smile, the sci-fi horror series From will keep audiences on the edge of their seats, guessing what will become of the show’s ensemble cast as the secrets behind their mysterious and macabre prison reveal themselves.
Watch From on MGM+.
Evil (2019-2024)
What happens when a psychologist, a priest, and a tech wizard team up to investigate paranormal activity? Evil, that’s what. This underrated series features many different cases that show how evil appears in the modern world, exploring technology, social media, sexism, racism, and human psychology, all while a satanic conspiracy brews in the background.
The series is also held up by the cast’s electric performances, many hilarious moments, and some outstanding creature designs.
Watch Evil on Netflix or Paramount+.
The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
Rod Serling’s iconic anthology features many classic sci-fi, horror, and fantasy stories, which continue to inspire writers and appear throughout pop culture.
The show looks and sounds outdated today, but The Twilight Zone was revolutionary for its time, presenting tales that explore racism, xenophobia, body image, addiction, conformity, totalitarianism, war, and nuclear armageddon. Even if viewers can guess the show’s shocking twist endings, they will still linger in their minds long after the credits roll.
Watch The Twilight Zone on Pluto TV.
Stranger Things (2016-present)
The town of Hawkins has seen more than its fair share of scares, but it’s nothing if not perfect television. Merging several genres with many interconnected storylines, Stranger Things presents a sprawling and engaging tale of small-town friends battling against monsters from another dimension.
It’s heavy on ’80s nostalgia and supernatural horror, but for the most part, the show balances them well with grounded, human stories of people confronting monsters like death, grief, guilt, abuse, trauma, and addiction.
Watch Stranger Things on Netflix.
