If you’re in the mood to spice up your Halloween with some free scary movies, you’re in luck. While movies on the big screen, like “Hocus Pocus 2” and the upcoming “Halloween Ends,” will be scaring cinema-goers, you’ll be happy to know you don’t have to stray from the couch to get in the Halloween spirit.
Join us, if you dare, as we take a look at the best available scary movies to stream for free from content providers such as IMDB, Crackle, PopcornFlix, and YouTube.
1. Amazon Freevee
Not that many people are aware of the fact that the great Internet Movie Database (IMDB) had its own free streaming service. Amazon has since purchased the rights to the service, rebranding it as “Amazon Freevee.” You need to create an Amazon account if you do not have one already, and the service is technically only available in the United States (just use a VPN), but beyond that, you’re free to browse their catalog of scary movies.
With over 200 horror movies to choose from, there is some really good content: view the whole horror collection through Prime Video. The US version of The Ring is quite possibly the only time an American studio did a good job turning J-Horror into a good US horror movie. There are also classics like American Werewolf in Paris and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre that would make for a great double-bill of old-school thrills.
The Invisible Man, starring Emmy winner Elizabeth Moss, is a less well-known but more recent psychological horror flick. It tells the story of a woman who believes she is being terrorized by her abusive ex, who returns in the form of an apparition to hunt her down.
2. Popcorn Flix
Popcorn Flix is a free, ad-supported movie and TV streaming service available to US viewers (or anyone with a VPN). It is home to a wide variety of independent cinema, as well as original content and plenty of wholesome trashy horror movies.
If you want to embrace the silly side of horror, there are plenty of self-aware B-movies, like Dead Before Dawn, American Conjuring, and CarousHell – a movie about a carousel unicorn that goes on a bloody rampage.
There are more recent spookies like Terrifier and The Amityville Terror, based on the infamous real-life haunted house, and the classic 80s trilogy Phantasm can be found here too.
3. TubiTV
Thanks to partnerships from multiple studios like MGM and Paramount, TubiTV has over 40,000 titles currently available. Fortunately for scary movie buffs, this includes a large horror section to choose from.
From the creators of Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe follows the bone-chilling story of a group of delinquent teenagers who quickly realize that robbing a blind man may have been the worst mistake of their lives. This suspenseful thriller will have you holding your breath the entire time.
A little bit less refined, but perhaps more accessible to horror casuals, is Twilight Zone: The Movie. This feature-length adaptation of the classic television series includes five distinctly different tales to keep your mind racing and your spine stiff.
There are a lot of silly sequels to bona fide classics, like The Descent 2 and I Spit On Your Grave 2.
4. Crackle
Crackle is a streaming site owned and operated by Sony Pictures. The only films that are available on Crackle are produced by Sony. However, there is a decent amount of content available so long as you don’t mind the occasional ad. Furthermore, Crackle is home to a small collection of horror flicks that may have slipped under your radar.
If you’re looking for a decent horror film, then 2007’s Wind Chill is worth a look, which stars Emily Blunt in a ghost-packed adventure. There are plenty of old-school classics, as well as genuinely good content like Count Dracula, based on Bram Stoker’s hit novel.
For B-movie delights, you’re well covered with films like Boa vs. Python, The Hive, and Wes Craven’s Don’t Look Down.
5. Archive.org
Archive.org is the home of the Internet Archive. Its goal is to provide free access to digitized materials, like websites, books, music, applications and movies. The movies that the Internet Archive hosts are older films that have fallen into the public domain. However, this doesn’t mean they’re not terrifying.
George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead is single-handedly responsible for the modern zombie. This classic sees strangers holed up in a farmhouse while the undead close in.
A millionaire invites five people to a party. If they manage to stay the entire night, each will receive $10,000. However, there’s just one catch: the party is being held at the House on Haunted Hill.
In Dementia 13, a widow schemes to get her hands on her late husband’s insurance money. However, her plans are interrupted by a vengeful axe-wielding maniac.
6. Kings of Horror YouTube Channel
With over 1.3 million subscribers and a steady stream of weekly horror content, the Kings of Horror YouTube channel remains one of the top free sources of scary movies on the Internet. The channel is packed with full-length content for fright fanatics looking to lose sleep over these scary movies and shorts.
The KOH YouTube channel will even help you decide what to watch first, with its neatly organized set of spooktacular playlists ranging from the infamous Murderous Monsters to Occult Killers.
Looking to test your scary movie knowledge? There is even a weekly Horror Movie Trivia series available every Thursday during October.
7. CONtv
Catered specifically for comic book fans, you will find a number of horror movies based on comics available on CONtv. The ad-supported service is free with an account, but you can also splurge for an ad-free tier at $6.99/month.
While some scary movies are only available for paid members, you can still find dozens of free-to-stream quirky classics, including Nosferatu and gory thrills such as The Dead Don’t Scream.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my scary movie streaming experience more frictionless?
There are plenty of free options when it comes to optimizing your streaming experience and organizing your content library. If you are looking to streamline your horror movie binge, you can try consolidating your streaming services by exploring a number of Plex alternatives to combine all of your streaming services.
Where can I watch Hocus Pocus 2 for free?
Unfortunately, there is no way to stream Hocus Pocus 2 for free, at least for now. It’s available exclusively on Disney+, which starts at $7.99/month in the United States. While Disney+ used to include a free trial option, it opted to remove the option back in June 2020.
How can I access free scary movies that are not available in my area?
For a number of reasons, whether it be regional restrictions or licensing agreements, you may find that the content that you would like to consume may not be available in your area. If you are looking for ways to circumvent these challenges, research how to access blocked websites on your computer.
Image credit: Anastasia Nelen via Unsplash. All screenshots by Brahm Shank.
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