October is the time to dive into the vault of classic horror movies, watch those creepy psychological thrillers you haven’t conjured up the courage to check out, or rewatch favorites that are in rotation year after year.
It comes as no surprise, then, that the best movies on Tubi this month include plenty of titles in the horror genre, both old and new. Don’t worry, though, there are also some options to watch with the kids, as they gear up for the decorating and costumed festivities to come. If you’re not into Halloween, there are non-horror options to choose from as well, many of which have just been added to Tubi’s lineup. As a free ad-supported streaming service (FAST), they’re all completely free to watch. But watch now, as they could be gone soon!
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
The Mask (1994)
Somebody stop me! Jim Carrey ruled the ’90s comedy movie scene with his eclectic characters, physical comedy, and elastic-faced expressions. Movies like The Mask are downright silly, but they’re also so fun to watch. This one actually has a positive message behind it as well. His character, Stanley Ipkiss, is a bank teller who lacks self-confidence and goes through the motions of life while others walk all over him. When he discovers a mysterious mask that transforms his face into a green goblin-like visage and, most importantly, a man brimming with overconfidence and swagger, Stanley becomes the man he always wished he could be.
The Mask is adorable and showcases all of Carrey’s ridiculous, manic comedic talents. Go ahead and press play on this movie to watch with older kids who find traditional horror movies too scary. They’ll appreciate just how sssssssmokin’ it is.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
I Know What You Did Last Summer is not one of the best horror movies you’ll ever watch, but there’s something nostalgic about it. Watch these stars when they were younger as they get terrorized in this cult-classic slasher film. It begins when four teenagers presumably kill a man in a car accident and flee the scene, vowing never to speak of the incident again. One year later, they are being hunted by a killer with a hook who they believe to be the angry victim.
The cast reads like a list of 1990s teen movie stars, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr. Inspired by slasher films like Prom Night and the urban legend of “The Hook,” and loosely based on the 1973 Lois Duncan novel, I Know What You Did Last Summer has all the right scares and intense moments to give you chills, even if you know what’s coming.
The Evil Dead (1981)
One of the most prolific franchises in the supernatural horror movie space, The Evil Dead introduced fans to Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams, a young man who encounters supernatural demons while vacationing at a cabin in the woods with friends. As these demons possess each person, the vacation turns terrifyingly bloody and deadly. Ash will be lucky if he makes it out alive.
Sam Raimi made his directorial debut with The Evil Dead, which spawned several sequel films and a reboot TV series. Ash has become a cultural icon, with Campbell often reprising the role that defined his career. The film itself, meanwhile, has become a bona fide cult classic. It’s the type of horror movie you watch again and again, especially during October.
The Addams Family (2019)
Snap your fingers with joy because the animated supernatural black comedy movie The Addams Family is available to stream for free. It’s the perfect spooky movie to watch with young kids to celebrate Halloween month. The titular family has moved to New Jersey, where they live in isolation while being shunned by the regular folks. A reality TV show host discovers their hidden location and sets out to get rid of them for good if they don’t assimilate with others and stop their dark and macabre madness.
The Addams Family has a wonderful message behind it about accepting others’ differences and getting to know people before judging them. The excellent voice cast includes Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Martin Short, and even Snoop Dogg in a scene-stealing role as cousin Itt.
Death Wish (2018)
Death Wish is one of those movies critics hated, but audiences loved. Bruce Willis stars in this Eli Roth remake of the 1974 vigilante action thriller. Dr. Paul Kersey (Willis) becomes enraged when his family is harmed in a robbery. He starts to take down bad people, becoming increasingly unhinged as he takes his vigilante status to new heights.
Should Paul be condemned or praised for taking down carjackers, thieves, and drug dealers? That’s a deep, moral question examined in Death Wish. It’s one part action, one part social commentary. Whether you love this version of the story or not, there’s no doubt it will spark conversation.
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Back in 1994, Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise got together for this gothic horror movie based on the Anne Rice novel of the same name. Cruise is Lestat, who turns Louis (Pitt) into a vampire in 1791. When Louis feeds on a young girl named Claudia (Kirsten Dunst), Lestat turns her into a vampire to save her, in hopes this will stop Louis from leaving him. Now, they have a daughter to raise for all of eternity. As Claudia matures, she becomes angered at her situation and, most notably, at Lestat. The story in Interview with the Vampire is framed by Louis in the present day, recalling the events to reporter Daniel Molloy (Christian Slater).
From the acting — Dunst’s breakout role and Cruise’s steadfast dedication to the complicated character — to the compelling story, Interview with the Vampire is captivating all the way through. It’s an emotionally wrenching tale, but dark and gory enough to satisfy your creepy cravings as well.
The Green Mile (1999)
Despite its three-hour runtime, The Green Mile tells a gripping story and makes you feel as though you’re living out seemingly endless days like the inmates in the movie. This fantasy crime drama from Frank Darabont isbased on the Stephen King novel about Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks), a death row prison guard during the Great Depression. He thinks he has seen it all until he encounters supernatural events surrounding a new convict, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan). Can this man with purported divine gifts to heal and save lives really be guilty of committing the heinous crimes that have sent him to death row? Does he want to be saved from his horrible fate?
The Green Mile is a troubling, emotional, and powerful movie that resonates in so many ways. The movie earned four Academy Award nominations.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
One of the defining movies of the ‘90s, Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise tells the story of two friends, played by Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, who set out on a road trip that turns darker than anticipated. When Louise shoots a man who attempted to rape Thelma, they go on the run. Do they call the police and risk facing a murder charge or flee?
Featuring a young Brad Pitt in his breakout role as a handsome drifter named J.D., the story in Thelma & Louise takes more twists and turns from there. Considered a landmark feminist movie, Thelma & Louise earned six Academy Award nominations and put Pitt on the map, paving his path to superstardom.
The Usual Suspects (1995)
The Usual Suspects is one of those movies people still talk about to this day, even 30 years after it premiered. Known for delivering one of the most shocking twists ever in a film, the crime thriller boasts a talented ensemble cast lead by Stephen Baldwin, Benicio del Toro, Kevin Pollack, Chazz Palminteri, and Kevin Spacey. The story follow the interrogation of Roger “Verbal” Kint (Spacey), a small-time con man who is among the only survivors of a massive ship fire. He recalls the actions of a mysterious crime lord known as Keyser Söze, who he purports is responsible for what happened.
Even if you know how it ends, The Usual Suspects is the type of movie worth watching again and again to pick up on subtle hints and clues throughout. A master class in acting and superb writing, it’s arguably one of the craftiest movies ever made.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
As classic a slasher horror film as you’ll ever find, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is must-see viewing for any fan of the genre. There are no flashy special effects, nor gratuitously gruesome scenes. But it is a terrifying movie about a group of friends who become victims of a family of cannibals and a sick killer known as Leatherface.
The first blockbuster slasher film to use power tools as a central weapon, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is considered one of the most influential horror films ever made. What makes it even more impressive is that the movie was made on a relatively small budget with a core cast of mostly unknown actors.
