31 Nights of Halloween: Ranked

I love Halloween.

Like a little too much.

So much so that I became a horror writer. Each year the run up to Halloween is my favorite time of the year. I think because it was the first thing to look forward to after school started. Like school sucked, but at least you could come home and distract yourself with horror movies.

Back in the day, ABC Family used to have 13 Nights of Halloween where they played different movies leading up to All Hallows Eve.

Now it’s Freeform, and it’s 31 days, but each time they start coming on I feel like a little kid again.

Let’s get into it.

Friday Oct. 1

The first night kicking things off. Looks like we have a strong start. Let’s look at the lineup.

2:30p/1:30c - Casper (1995)

5p/4c - The Addams Family (1991)

7p/6c - Addams Family Values

9p/8c - Hocus Pocus

Now the original Addams family movies are great. But I would have to kick it off with Hocus Pocus, I know it will be on ten more times this month, but I’m never going to pass it up. It’s got a spell on me.

It's really the perfect Halloween movie. It takes place on Halloween. It's got witches. It takes place in Salem. You can't go wrong.

Next.

Saturday Oct. 2

7a/6c - The Goonies

9:35a/8:35c - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

12:15p/11:15c - Casper (1995)

2:45p/1:45c - The Addams Family (1991)

4:50p/3:50c - Addams Family Values

6:55p/5:55c - Disney and Pixar's Monsters, Inc.

9p/8c - Disney and Pixar's Monsters University

11:30p/10:30c - Ghostbusters (1984)

I think Monsters, Inc. is always a crowd pleaser. It’s fun and good for the whole family. The prequel isn’t as good but it’s still a fun time. But if you really want to hone in on the Halloween vibes, Ghostbusters is a great way to get the season started. At least this version is. I wouldn’t recommend the remake.

Sunday Oct. 3

7a/6c - Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

8:40a/7:40c - Ghostbusters (1984)

11:10a/10:10c - Matilda

1:15p/12:15c - Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

2:55p/1:55c - Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

4:35p/3:35c - Hocus Pocus

6:45p/5:45c - Maleficent

8:50p/7:50c - Freeform Premiere Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

11:30p/10:30c - The Craft (1996)

Hmmmm, decent line up. There’s a couple Burton choices, those are always fun. Fun fact, Tim Burton was fired by Disney for making Frankenweenie. They thought the movie was too scary for kids.

Anyways.

Maleficent is an interesting movie and it kind of kicked off the Disney remakes of their old cartoon movies.

But who am I kidding I’m probably watching Hocus Pocus again.

Monday, Oct. 4

12:30p/11:30c - Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic

1:30p/12:30c - The Goonies

4p/3c - Matilda

6p/5c - The Craft (1996)

8:30p/7:30c - Freeform Premiere Fright Night (2011)

12-2a / 11-1c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

The Decorating Disney thing seems like a great program to have on in the background while you work.

I remember seeing The Craft when I was a kid. It’s a good movie. It’s got Skeet Ulrich in it. Remember him? He was in Scream. Don’t find many guys named Skeet. He was also in Jericho, that was a great show.

Anyways.

I’m going to be watching The Treehouse of Horror-thon. For some reason I never watched the Simpson, but I would watch the Treehouse of Horror every year. Nice bit of nostalgia for me.

Tuesday, Oct. 5

10:30a/9:30c - Matilda

12:30p/11:30c - Casper (1995)

3p/2c - Shrek

5p/4c - Shrek 2

7p/6c - Shrek Forever After

9p/8c - Hocus Pocus

12-2a / 11-1c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

I would go with Shrek. It’s not really a Halloween movie, but it’s still fun.

Wednesday, Oct. 6

10:30a/9:30c - Casper (1995)

12:30p/11:30c - Shrek

2:30p/1:30c - Shrek 2

4:30p/3:30c - Shrek Forever After

6:30p/5:30c - Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

8-11p / 7-10c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

12-2a / 11-1c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

The obvious move is to go Shrek 2. But I’d also catch the Treehouse of Horror if you missed them the first time.

Thursday, Oct. 7

11:30a/10:30c - Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

1:30p/12:30c - Halloweentown

3:30p/2:30c - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

6p/5c - Ghostbusters (1984)

8:30p/7:30c - Ghostbusters II

12a/11c - Freeform Premiere Jaws 3

Halloweentown is a fun movie. I think it was originally a Disney Channel movie. They made a few of these. Not a bad choice.

Friday, Oct. 8

10:30a/9:30c - Ghostbusters (1984)

9-11p/8-10c - Family Guy - Halloween Episodes

12a/11c - Frankenweenie (2012)

The Family Guy episodes could be fun, but Frankenweenie is the move here. It’s the full length version of the short film that got Tim Burton fired.

Saturday, Oct. 9

9:10a/8:10c - Shrek

11:15a/10:15c - Shrek 2

1:20p/12:20c - Shrek Forever After

3:25p/2:25c - Hotel Transylvania 2

5:30p/4:30c - Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

7:40p/6:40c - Hocus Pocus

9:50p/8:50c - The Addams Family (1991)

11:55p/10:55c - Addams Family Values

The Hotel Transylvania movies are funny, and one of the better things Adam Sandler has put out in recent years.

Sunday, Oct. 10

7a/6c - Shrek

9:05a/8:05c - Shrek 2

11:10a/10:10c - Shrek Forever After

1:15p/12:15c - Hotel Transylvania 2

3:20p/2:20c - Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

5:30p/4:30c - Hocus Pocus

7:40p/6:40c - The Addams Family (1991)

9:45p/8:45c - Addams Family Values

11:50p/10:50c - Casper (1995)

Toss Up. Bunch of repeats so nothing you haven’t already seen.

Monday, Oct. 11

11:30a/10:30c - Freeform Premiere Jaws

2:30p/1:30c - Freeform Premiere Jaws 2

5:05p/4:05c - Alien

7:45p/6:45c - Aliens

12-2a / 11-1c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

Now this isn’t fair. There are 4 good movies in a row. Jaws is a scary movie. I don’t care what anyone says. I don’t even want to go near my sink after I’ve seen it. And Jaws 2 is a good follow up. It’s more about how the first movie haunts chief Brody, but it’s still good.

Alien is a legit horror movie and Aliens is its action movie follow up.

You can’t go wrong here.

Tuesday, Oct. 12

3p/2c - Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic

4p/3c - Casper (1995)

6:30p/5:30c - Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

8p/7c - Mrs. Doubtfire

12-2a / 11-1c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

Mmmm. Seems like a good time to see Nightmare Before Christmas.

Wednesday, Oct. 13

12:30p/11:30c - Casper (1995)

3p/2c - Halloweentown

5p/4c - Mrs. Doubtfire

8-11p / 7-10c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

12-2a / 11-1c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

Toss up. Also doubtful anyone is reading at this point.

Thursday, Oct. 14

1p/12c - Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

3:30p/2:30c - Hook

6:45p/5:45c - Matilda

8:50p/7:50c - Hocus Pocus

Now most people don’t consider Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory a horror movie but the Oompa Loompas terrify me. They creeped me out as a kid when my parents made me watch it.

Hook is a fun movie too.

Friday, Oct. 15

11a/10c - Matilda

9-11p / 8-10c - Family Guy - Halloween Episodes

Hmm limited day. Something must be going on.

Saturday, Oct. 16

7a/6c - Ghostbusters (1984)

9:30a/8:30c - Ghostbusters II

12p/11c - Mrs. Doubtfire

3:05p/2:05c - Men in Black (1997)

5:15p/4:15c - Freeform Premiere Men in Black II

7:15p/6:15c - Hocus Pocus

9:25p/8:25c - Maleficent

11:30p/10:30c - Freeform Premiere The House with a Clock in Its Walls

I would definitely go with Men in Black, and it’s sequel. They are fun old school Will Smith movies. While not scary, or horror they still fit and you’ve probably seen a hundred horror movies at this point so it’s a nice change of pace.

Sunday, Oct. 17

7:30a/6:30c - Mrs. Doubtfire

10:30a/9:30c - Men in Black (1997)

12:40p/11:40c - Men in Black II

2:40p/1:40c - The House with a Clock in Its Walls

5:10p/4:10c - Hocus Pocus

7:20p/6:20c - Hotel Transylvania 2

9:25p/8:25c - Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

11:35p/10:35c - Disney and Pixar's Toy Story of TERROR!

12:05a/11:05c - Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

I would go with the Toy Story of Terror. I love the Toy Story Shorts.

Monday, Oct. 18

2p/1c - Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

4p/3c - Disney and Pixar's Toy Story of TERROR!

4:30p/3:30c - Hotel Transylvania 2

6:30p/5:30c - Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

8:30p/7:30c - Casper (1995)

12-2a / 11-1c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

More repeats.

I guess you could watch Casper. I remember not liking it. And it was back when you had to go and rent the movie from Blockbuster, so if you didn’t like the movie it was tough luck.

Wednesday, Oct. 20

10:30a/9:30c - X-Men: First Class

1:30p/12:30c - Freeform Premiere Cowboys & Aliens

4p/3c - Men in Black (1997)

6p/5c - Men in Black II

8-11p / 7-10c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

12-2a / 11-1c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

X-Men First Class might be my favorite X-men movie. I didn’t even want to see it. My little sister made me go. And I loved it.

It was a tight story and it was before they started getting too convoluted. I also believe this was supposed to be a soft reboot, but then they decided to connect the old movies with Days of Future Past.

Thursday, Oct. 21

1p/12c - The Perfect Storm

4p/3c - The Craft (1996)

6:30p/5:30c - Freeform Premiere The Huntsman: Winter's War

9p/8c - Maleficent

The Perfect Story is a good thriller.

But I actually like The Huntsman: Winter’s War. I thought the Snow White movie was pretty good and Chris Hemsworth is fun to watch in anything he does.

Friday, Oct. 22

10:30a/9:30c - The Craft (1996)

9-11p / 8-10c - Family Guy - Halloween Episodes

12a/11c - Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Maybe give The Craft a shot. Also you’re probably going to a party this Friday anyway so it doesn't really matter.

Saturday, Oct. 23

7a/6c - Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

9:30a/8:30c - Casper (1995)

11:50a/10:50c - Shrek

1:55p/12:55c - Shrek 2

4p/3c - Halloweentown

6:05p/5:05c - Hocus Pocus

8:15p/7:15c - Ghostbusters (2016)

11:30p/10:30c - Fright Night (2011)

While not the greatest thing in the world, Fright Night is a fun movie and it’s not something that’s been shown ten other times so it wins by default.

Sunday, Oct. 24

7a/6c - Casper (1995)

9:30a/8:30c - Shrek

11:40a/10:40c - Shrek 2

1:45p/12:45c - Halloweentown

3:50p/2:50c - Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

5:30p/4:30c - Ghostbusters (2016)

8:45p/7:45c - Hocus Pocus

10:55p/9:55c - Mrs. Doubtfire

You could watch the Ghostbusters remake, or you could do just about anything else. I would go with Hocus Pocus.

Yes I realize that’s the fifth time I’ve recommended that.

Monday, Oct. 25

1p/12c - Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic

2p/1c - The Goonies

4:30p/3:30c - Scared Shrekless

5p/4c - Shrek

7p/6c - Shrek 2

9p/8c - Shrek Forever After

12-2a / 11-1c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

Getting pretty close to the big show. This is the last week and things are starting to fall into place.

Just about now you’re realizing that spooky season is just about over and you haven’t done any of the Fall themed stuff you wanted to do.

So distract yourself with Scared Shrekless.

Tuesday, Oct. 26

12p/11c - The Goonies

2:30p/1:30c - Scared Shrekless

3p/2c - Shrek

5p/4c - Shrek 2

7p/6c - Shrek Forever After

9p/8c - Maleficent

12-2a / 11-1c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

Again more repeats.

I guess it’s Maleficent’s turn.

Wednesday, Oct. 27

1p/12c - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

3:30p/2:30c - Casper (1995)

6p/5c - Matilda

8-11p / 7-10c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

12-2a / 11-1c - The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

I don’t think I’ve recommended Matilda yet.

Fun fact, did you know that Mara Wilson is Ben Shapiro’s cousin. That’s got to be a weird Thanksgiving.

Thursday, Oct. 28

11:30a/10:30c - Casper (1995)

2p/1c - Matilda

4p/3c - Ghostbusters (1984)

6:30p/5:30c - The Craft (1996)

9p/8c - Hocus Pocus

12a/11c - Frankenweenie (2012)

Solid line up.

Can’t go wrong.

Friday, Oct. 29

12:30p/11:30c - Men in Black (1997)

9-11p / 8-10c - Family Guy - Halloween Episodes

12a/11c - Men in Black II

Might as well go with the Family Guy episodes. I love when shows have Halloween episodes. Modern Family and Parks and Rec always had good Halloween episodes.

Saturday, Oct. 30

7a/6c - Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic

8a/7c - Ghostbusters (1984)

10:30a/9:30c - Men in Black (1997)

12:35p/11:35c - Men in Black II

2:35p/1:35c - Goosebumps (2015)

5:05p/4:05c - Freeform Premiere Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

7:10p/6:10c - Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

8:50p/7:50c - Hocus Pocus

11p/10c - Freeform Premiere Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Definitely have to go with the Goosebumps movie. I loved the books. The movie is fun and Jack Black is a cool version of R.L. Stine. I could have gone to meet R.L. Stine when I was a kid, he was visiting the local library. But I didn’t go.

This the Saturday before the big day so most of you are probably celebrating Halloween tonight. It’s probably one of those holidays that should move around like Thanksgiving.

Sunday, Oct. 31

7a/6c - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

10a/9c - Goosebumps (2015)

12:30p/11:30c - Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

2:35p/1:35c - Hocus Pocus

4:45p/3:45c - Casper (1995)

7:15p/6:15c - Maleficent

9:20p/8:20c - Hocus Pocus

11:30p/10:30c - Ghostbusters (1984)

Well this is it. So you could distract the kids for a bit with Goosebumps 2 then take theme trick or treating.

Before unwinding with the movie of your choice.

And rest up since Christmas season starts the next day.