If you don’t have cable or paid streaming apps, you may be wondering where to watch your favorite Halloween TV shows and movies this year.
Have no fear! You don’t have to miss out on all the fun Halloween TV shows and movies that make up the spookiest season of the year. A variety of free streaming apps offer programming and will be presenting many Halloween TV shows and movies throughout the month of October.
From classic Halloween TV shows to old movies and even some relatively recent releases, you’ll find a ton of scary and spooky fun entertainment for free this Halloween season. Take a look at just some of the free Halloween TV shows and movies you can watch through free streaming services this October.
“Evil Dead” (2013), Pluto TV
Along with offering a full 31 Nights of Horror movies on the free Pluto TV Horror channel, Pluto TV also has a number of on-demand films available, including “Evil Dead.” The 2013 film is about five friends who find a “Book of the Dead,” which releases a demon that wants to possess them.
Pluto TV is a free streaming service where you can watch live television, such as the Pluto TV Horror channel, but it also has a library of on-demand shows and movies. You can watch by downloading the app on your smart TV, through a streaming device such as a Roku or Fire stick, or even on your laptop or phone.
“The Invisible Man” (2020), Freevee
A fairly new movie you can watch for free is 2020’s “The Invisible Man” starring “Mad Men” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” actress Elizabeth Moss. Inspired by the 1933 H.G. Wells film of the same name, the film features Moss as a woman who fears she is being hunted by her abusive ex, who cannot be seen.
The film is free on Amazon’s Freevee, which features thousands of hours of movies, TV shows and original programming. You can download it on pretty much any streaming-enabled device including Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, newer smart TVs and certain gaming consoles.
“The Addams Family” (1964-66), Pluto TV
If you want multiple hours of Halloween programming, you can stream “The Addams Family” for free on Pluto TV. The full series, which spans 63 episodes across two seasons, is available 24/7 on a dedicated “The Addams Family” channel. Access it either through a streaming device or by simply clicking the link and watching on your computer or phone.
Originally airing on ABC in the 1960s, the classic sitcom follows Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Thing and the rest of the family as they live in their creepy house (that’s also “a museum”) while interacting with regular people.
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974), Freevee
Another R-rated film on the list, 1974’s “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is streaming free on Amazon’s Freevee. While there have been multiple sequels and remakes, including one in 2003 and another in 2022, the 1974 film is the original.
The film follows five young people on a weekend getaway in Texas. They fall prey to a family of cannibals led by Leatherface, who — and there is no way to put this lightly — wears a mask made of human skin. Obviously, this one is not for the kids and should only be watched by adults who don’t mind a few nightmares.
“Train to Busan” (2016), Peacock
Did you know NBC’s Peacock app is actually free? While there is a $4.99 a month fee to stream everything on the app, you can watch tons of programming without being a subscriber by simply downloading the app and creating a free account.
One movie you’ll find this Halloween is 2016’s “Train to Busan,” which has a very high rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film follows a man, his daughter and other passengers who become trapped on a speeding train during a zombie outbreak. While the film is in Korean, you can watch it dubbed in English or with subtitles.
“It” (1990), TubiTV
It doesn’t get better than a Stephen King film for Halloween. You can watch the 1990 version of “It” starring Tim Curry on TubiTV. Tubi is another free streaming service that lets you watch movies and TV shows via your streaming device, such as a Roku, Apple TV or Fire stick. Just click the link — the movie starts right away. This production, which originally aired as a miniseries on ABC, clocks in at 3 hours, 7 minutes. So, before you turn it on make sure you have enough time to complete it.
If killer clowns aren’t your thing, you’ll also find King’s “Children of the Corn” for free on TubiTV. From 1984, the film is set in a remote Nebraska town and follows a young couple who become trapped when a cult of children believes that everyone over age 18 must be killed. You’ll never see a cornfield the same way again!
“Dark Shadows” (1966-71), Pluto TV
Another classic show on the list, “Dark Shadows” is streaming 24/7 on Pluto TV. This supernatural thriller, which aired every weekday afternoon during its run, has a total of 640 episodes. So you’ll have plenty to binge on during the month of October!
The influential show, which started out focusing on the Collins family, became much more popular during the second season with the introduction of Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), a vampire released from his coffin after nearly 200 years. Described as a “gothic soap opera,” the show spawned multiple spinoffs and remakes including a 2012 film reboot directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp.
“House on Haunted Hill” (1959), Pluto TV
A classic horror film perfect for the Halloween season, 1959’s “House on Haunted Hill” is in black and white, which gives it even more spooky vibes. However, you can also watch it in color if you prefer.
Although partly inspired by Shirley Jackson’s novel “The Haunting of Hill House,” with a similar subject matter, this film is not adapted from that book. It stars beloved horror movie actor Vincent Price and centers around five people who are invited to stay the night in a haunted house by an eccentric millionaire who will give $10,000 to anyone who can last there all night.
While there is a remake from 1999 that’s in color, take it from this Halloween and horror movie fan that the original is best (and not just because it’s free — although that helps too!) You can watch it on Pluto TV.
“Night of the Living Dead” (1968), TubiTV
Another classic Halloween film, “Night of the Living Dead” is one of the first zombie films in what now seems like an endless supply. You can watch it for free on TubiTV by simply clicking the link.
From 1968, the film follows a group of strangers in Pennsylvania who barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to stay safe from flesh-eating zombies. The film has been deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and has been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
“Ghostbusters: Answer the Call” (2016), Freevee
You can watch the 2016 “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call” film on Freevee, featuring female Ghostbusters. It’s not a part of the original “Ghostbusters” franchise, which includes the original 1984 film, “Ghostbusters II” from 1989 and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” in 2021. This one’s definitely more funny than scary.
Starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon, “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call” was billed as a remake following a similar storyline as the original film. Original “Ghostbusters” stars Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts and Sigourney Weaver also appear in small cameo roles.
Will you be streaming some free Halloween content this October?