Ever since my cousin and I were kids and pooled our allowance money to buy a giant Halloween gift box filled with plastic spider rings, orange Slinky toys and vampire teeth, I’ve been obsessed with the holiday. To me, there’s nothing better than putting up Halloween decorations on Oct. 1 and donning the best Halloween costumes at the end of the month. But my number-one favorite October activity? Hosting a Halloween horror movie marathon filled with friends, food and frights.
Below, I’ve rounded up 25 essentials you’ll need to throw the spookiest movie marathon this October.
Halloween movie marathon ambience
Set a spooky mood before your guests even arrive with eerie lighting, impressive sound and the smells of the season.
I’ve had an older version of this Govee light strip for four years, and I love using it to match the mood of whatever I’m watching on TV. For a Halloween movie marathon, you can’t beat blood-red backlighting to set an eerie ambience.
If you’re a vinyl collector like me, you know that putting on a record while your guests arrive is the best way to avoid awkward silences before your party really gets goin’. I love John Carpenter’s Lost Themes for setting an ominous mood without being too distracting.
Looking to start a new vinyl collection? Check out my list of the best record players.
Aside from terrifying visuals, sound is the most important aspect of what can make a horror movie so scary (prime example: the “hide and clap” scene from “The Conjuring”). Be sure to grab one of the best soundbars to give your guests a chilling movie theater-like experience at home.
Yankee Candle is the biggest name in candles for a reason, and this Witches’ Brew scent is a customer-favorite alternative to the typical pumpkin and apple aromas that oversaturate the Halloween season. Stir up some toil and trouble by lighting this fragrance a half hour before guests are due to arrive or pair it with one of our favorite candle warmers to avoid the hassle of having to monitor an open flame.
Decorate your media console, banister or mantel with these festive string lights in Halloween-appropriate orange. The vibes? They’ll be immaculate.
Halloween movie marathon snacks and food
Make sure your guests don’t leave the horror movie marathon early by providing plenty of snacks and food. Here are some of my favorite Halloween-themed treats to make and buy.
Pizza Skulls
It wouldn’t be a 2024 Halloween movie marathon without the TikTok-viral Pizza Skulls to offer as a snack. Aside from the easy-to-use Nordic Ware pan below, all you need is pizza crust dough, pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese, plus your choice of additional fillings. (I included pepperoni and jalapeños in my own creepy confections.) Allrecipes.com has a simple and straightforward recipe that even this novice chef could follow.
This well-constructed, nonstick skull mold is my pan of choice for making Pizza Skulls. Its sturdiness and easy cleanup made the price well worth it, and I plan to use it for many more Halloween parties in the future.
This pizza crust was easy to work with and there was enough to make six Pizza Skulls, so grab a few rolls if you want to make 12 to 18 petrifying pasties.
Don’t skimp on the pizza sauce in your Pizza Skulls. My first batch needed a little more of it, so I’d recommend an additional layer of sauce than the above recipe calls for.
Lots of cheese? Yes, please! Stuff your Pizza Skulls with delicious mozzarella until they start to ooze.
You can’t go wrong with classic pepperoni in your Pizza Skulls, but consider skipping this topping in a few of them to be inclusive of guests who don’t eat meat.
Jalapeños are optional, but I found that they added a nice kick of flavor to my Pizza Skulls. Your guests with more adventurous palates will thank you.
Serve up some top-notch char-boo-terie on this bamboo board engraved with dancing skellies. It’s a great mix of supernatural and silly that pairs perfectly with a campy horror B-movie marathon theme.
No brand loves a limited-edition cookie release more than Oreo, and these orange cream-filled cookies with pumpkin designs are the perfect pick-me-up between frightening flicks.
We love Harry & David here at Underscored, and these creepy-cute brownie cakes are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Plus, they're perfect for those lacking the time or baking expertise to make their own.
Halloween movie marathon drinks and drinkware
I love to incorporate a drinking game into my horror movie marathons for guests of legal drinking age who enjoy alcohol. This year, I’m serving up a delicious Harvest Punch that tastes just like fall. (Be sure to save some apple cider for mocktails as well!)
Harvest Punch
I was inspired by this recipe for a boozy Harvest Punch to make my own version. All you need to do is mix a bottle of Prosecco with sparkling apple cider, some vodka and ginger beer over ice in a large punch bowl, add slices of apples and oranges, then throw in some cinnamon sticks for a refreshing fall beverage perfect for sipping during your marathon.
Use your leftover sparkling apple cider, ginger beer, cinnamon sticks and apple slices to make mocktails for your guests who don’t wish to drink alcohol.
If you don’t already have a punch bowl lying around, this 12-inch cauldron is a great on-theme way to serve your punch.
You’ll need a full 750-milliliter bottle of Prosecco for this recipe, and this one tasted great in mine.
Sure, you could use a half gallon of regular apple cider for your Harvest Punch, but I prefer the extra bubbles in this delicious sparkling variety.
You can’t go wrong with Tito’s when it comes to vodka. You need only 1 cup for this recipe, so no need to go overboard.
I’ll be honest: I do not love ginger beer. I find it too overpowering in most drinks. But then I discovered Fever-Tree and my mind quickly changed. You’ll need 24 ounces for this recipe.
Don’t forget the cinnamon sticks! You’ll need about eight pieces for your punch, but save some to make mocktails too.
If you want to get fancy with it, rim your glasses with cinnamon sugar for some added sweetness.
Snag a few of these beautiful glass cups adorned with classic horror movie killers for a more upscale way of serving your Harvest Punch and other drinks. I’d suggest the 16-ounce clear glass option so you can see the seasonal orange beverage of choice inside.
You can’t go wrong with plastic cups for extra-large parties, and these orange ones are perfect for Halloween festivities. Be sure to have a black Sharpie on hand so guests can write their names on their cups too.
Halloween movie marathon decorations
Dress up your entertainment stand and TV area with spooky decor to complement the films in your Halloween movie marathon.
Display your movie itinerary on this macabre marquee or use it to highlight your favorite horror movie quote. Best of all, it’s multipurpose, so it can be used all season long for years to come. I especially love the ghost and skeleton emoji included alongside the letter pieces.
Set a creepy scene with these affordable PVC bats, which come in various sizes and can be arranged to look as if they’re flying out from behind your TV. Since there are 100 pieces, you can also adhere some to guests’ goodie bags or plastic drinking cups.
Don’t be afraid to get a little meta with your Halloween decorations by placing this nearly 12-inch-tall animatronic TV nearby your actual TV or food and drink station. Activated with a motion sensor, this perverse prop is sure to scare guests when it says, “Your soul is mine!” and lights up with multicolored LEDs, not to mention its pop-out face offers ample Instagram story opportunities.
Halloween movie marathon comfort
All your horror movie marathon decorations, food and drinks mean little if your guests aren’t comfortable during the feature presentation, so here are some Underscored-loved products to help you create a cozy environment for your guests.
If you require guests to remove their shoes when they enter your home, have a bin of these Halloween slipper socks at the door so they can grab a pair and get comfy when it comes time to settle in on the couch for some horror movies.
We’re obsessed with the Plufl — the height of luxurious comfort — here at Underscored. Don’t judge this “human dog bed” until you try it; customers rave about its quality materials, support and softness. Allow your most frightened guests to take turns using it, but just make sure they don’t get so comfy that they fall asleep mid-movie.
Let your friends cuddle up under this soft, snug weighted blanket that’s a favorite of Underscored editors. Made with sustainable cotton, this Bearaby blanket is sure to put your guests at ease even when the jump scares won’t stop comin’.
Give your guests something cute and soft to squeeze when the scares get, well, too scary. If you’re feeling generous, you can even let them take one home once the party ends.
Halloween movie marathon media
In case you haven’t heard, physical media is back in a big way. According to Underscored’s tech writer Henry T. Casey, “Licensed movies and shows on streaming service libraries are as volatile as it gets, and it turns out digital purchases aren’t actually safe either.” So save time, energy and, ultimately, money by investing in these Blu-ray collections that will haunt you for Halloweens to come, no costly subscriptions or rental fees required.
The original “Nightmare on Elm Street” films are notoriously hard to find on streaming services, especially to stream for free, so I love having Freddy Krueger’s oeuvre on hand to watch every October. The devilishly campy “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge” and meta horror “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare,” both included in this collection, have made it on my horror movie marathon program annually, but all the classics in this set are worthy of a watch.
Ch-ch-ch-ah-ah-ah. No scary movie marathon is complete without a visit to Camp Crystal Lake. Enjoy newly remastered versions of Jason Voorhees’ greatest hits — literally — including my personal favorite, “Friday the 13th, Part 6: Jason Lives,” in addition to seven more camp classics.
What’s your favorite scary movie? If it’s “Scream,” be sure to snag the original trilogy on Blu-ray and bring all Woodsboro’s woes to your living room.
From “Annabelle” to “The Nun” to all the other exploits of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the universe of “The Conjuring” has some of the most iconic scares and characters in modern horror, so adding this seven-film set to your permanent collection is a no-brainer.
Director David Gordon Green’s 2018 to 2022 “Halloween” trilogy reinvents masked killer Michael Myers for a new generation. It may be a far-from-perfect reboot, but its bold storytelling risks alone make it worth the watch.
Venture into the Further with the Lambert family and fan-favorite paranormal investigators Elise Rainier, Tucker and Specs in this four-film collection. You’ll never listen to “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” the same way again after watching.