Spooky season is upon us, and there’s nothing like curling up on the couch and watching something creepy to get you feeling festive. Hulu has a dedicated hub of movies and TV shows for the occasion: Huluween. Whether your Halloween style is pumpkins-and-leaves or blood-and-guts, Huluween has something for everybody!
With plans starting at just $5.99/month and an extensive content library, Hulu offers a great bang for your buck no matter what the occasion or season may be. Here are a few of the best Halloween movies and shows available on Hulu to get you in the spooky spirit!
The Grudge: Best Modern Classic
- Release Year: 2004
- Rating: R
- Stars: 4
Who doesn’t love a good old haunted house? Based on the Japanese Ju-On films by the same director, The Grudge is a terrifying film series that first debuted in 2004. The Grudge is a curse that’s created when someone dies in anguish, inhabiting the place they died and killing all who encounter it. The film follows a horrific chain of Grudge encounters that take place in a single home.
The plot unfolds in a nonlinear fashion, adding a bit of complexity and intrigue to the nightmarish story. The Grudge is the second-highest-grossing horror remake in the past 40 years, grossing $187 million worldwide. And if you love it, there’s good news: The Grudge is a three-movie series with a 2020 reboot. However, only the first movie is available on Hulu at this time.
Over the Garden Wall: Best for All Ages
- Release Year: 2014
- Rating: Not rated
- Stars: 4
- # of Seasons: 1 (10 episodes)
This Cartoon Network animated miniseries is funny, dark, adventurous, kid-friendly, and delightful. If you’re a fan of Adventure Time or Chowder, you’re sure to love this spooky series about two half-brothers traveling through a forest to find their way back home. Wirt, the anxious older brother, is voiced by Elijah Wood, best known for playing Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings. Greg is the carefree, goofy younger brother who carries a frog around and irritates Wirt at every opportunity.
The show is based on the short film Tome of the Unknown. Both the series and the film were created by Patrick McHale, the mastermind behind other Cartoon Network shows like The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack and Adventure Time. In 2015, Over the Garden Wall won an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program.
I Remember You: Best Haunting/Supernatural Movie
- Release Year: 2017
- Rating: Not rated
- Stars: 3
If you don’t mind subtitles, this 2017 Icelandic horror-thriller is supernatural, atmospheric, and wonderful. It’s not a jump-scare movie, but rather a darker, spookier take on the classic detective-with-a-tortured-past trope. It has ghosts, gore, and psychological trauma—what more could you ask for from a Halloween flick?
The film received a positive reception from viewers with a score of 75% on Google reviews and 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Andy Webster from The New York Times said, “He [Axelsson, the director] minimizes the gore, piercing the soul with mood and compelling human conflict. Which makes ‘I Remember You’ memorable indeed.” If you like scary movies that embrace their moody side, this film is a must-watch for your next movie night!
Wrinkles the Clown: Best Documentary
- Release Year: 2017
- Rating: Not rated
- Stars: 4
If “based on a true story” isn’t your thing, you’d do well to stay away from Wrinkles the Clown. One look at the thumbnail is enough to terrify a coulrophobe (clown-fearer). The photo features a man in a clown mask with large, drooping eye holes, a wrinkly face painted white, and receding, wiry hair—oh my!
This documentary tells the true story of Wrinkles, a clown from Naples, Florida, who scares naughty children for a living. Wrinkles rose to fame in 2015 when he appeared in a YouTube video emerging from beneath a young girl’s bed in the middle of the night. His identity is still unknown.
The House That Jack Built: Best Psychological Thriller
- Release Year: 2018
- Rating: R
- Stars: 3
The House That Jack Built gives viewers flashes of terror from the life of a true monster. The story follows Jack, a serial killer from 1980s Washington, as he recounts his life and crimes while traveling through the nine circles of Hell. Similar to films like A Clockwork Orange, the fans of this film enjoy its celebration of senseless violence—cheery, right?
The film received mixed critical reviews; however, it debuted at the Cannes Film Festival and won Best European Film at the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival. If you’re a literary buff, you’ll probably enjoy the parallels to Dante’s Inferno. Plus, there’s an Uma Thurman cameo.
American Horror Story: Best TV Show
- Release Year: 2011
- Rating: Not rated
- Stars: 4
- Seasons: 10
Ten seasons and 106 episodes may sound daunting, but the good thing about American Horror Story is that each season is an independent miniseries. You can start on (or skip) any season you want—the most you’ll have to commit to is 9–13 episodes per season. That being said, you can’t go wrong with starting at the beginning. The first season, Murder House, debuted on FX in 2011 and is an excellent introduction to the unique horror anthology series and its all-star lineup.
Each season is entirely independent of the others with its own distinctly creepy setting. For example, season 3 features a coven of witches in modern New Orleans, while season 2 is set in a 1960s mental asylum. Since its debut, the show has won 11 Emmys and has captivated millions of die-hard fans.
Children of the Corn: Best Classic
- Release Year: 1984
- Rating: R
- Stars: 4
Children, rural communities, religious gatherings, and cornfields—all lovely in the right context, but potentially terrifying through an evil lens. This classic is based on Stephen King’s 1977 book of the same name about a group of murderous children who become indoctrinated by an 18-year-old cult leader, killing all adults in their small Nebraska town.
The plot revolves around a couple of unlucky travelers who cross through the town and discover (a little too late) that something is seriously wrong. There are 10 additional films in the series, but you’ll have to look outside of Hulu to watch all of them. The latest film in the series was a prequel to Children of the Corn released in 2020.
The bottom line
Hulu’s selection of horror movies is exceptional, and many of the titles will give you just the scare you’re looking for around Halloween. If you’re ready for all the autumn vibes, you can’t go wrong with watching one of these fantastic movies or shows on Hulu. The list may even carry you through fall and into Christmas, for which we have some cozier, feel-good recommendations. Until then, happy Huluween!
