October is the month for horror movies, and there are plenty of incredible classic horror flicks on streaming services right now for fans to watch. These movies stretch back to the classic horror masterpieces of the Universal Monsters era and extend into the ’90s, where names like Francis Ford Coppola left their mark on the genre.

It doesn’t matter if a horror aficionado has a Netflix subscription or one to streaming services like HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, or Prime Video, because there are some brilliant horror classics to choose from. From classic monsters to sci-fi horror to some of the most terrifying horror movies made, there is something for everyone.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) – Netflix

Francis Ford Coppola is best known for his ’70s movies, which include two Godfather films and Apocalypse Now. However, the last true masterpiece that Coppola directed arrived in the ’90s when he adapted Bram Stoker’s Dracula to the big screen. The movie has some of the best production design of any classic vampire film.

There were some complaints when the movie was released, specifically regarding Keanu Reeves’ casting as Jonathan Harker, which was universally panned. However, Gary Oldman was fantastic as Dracula, both in his ancient form and when he was de-aged to create this Gothic horror romance.

In the end, Coppola understood the ᴀssignment and delivered a nuanced romance that dripped with terror, with Oldman delivering a performance that matched those of Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee before him.

The Fly (1986) – Hulu

In 1986, David Cronenberg remade the classic Vincent Price horror film, The Fly,for a new generation. This movie was part of an incredible 1980s, where three classic horror flicks ended up with superior remakes, with The Fly joining The Thing and The Blob to achieve that impressive feat.

With The Fly, Cronenberg cast Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle, the scientist who ended up becoming a mutated fly as he tried to make scientific advancements. This was less a sci-fi horror movie than a body horror movie, delivering disturbing and terrifying scenes with a touching story at its heart.

Vincent Price’s original remains a beloved classic, but for fans who want to see the best version of this story, make sure to check out The Fly streaming on Hulu.

Evil ᴅᴇᴀᴅ II (1987) – HBO Max

The first Evil ᴅᴇᴀᴅ movie was a brilliant horror film, with Sam Raimi creating a terrifying tale on a тιԍнт budget and utilizing practical special effects. It was so popular that it received a remake with a bigger budget, and what resulted was a film that remains known as one of the best horror releases in history.

Evil ᴅᴇᴀᴅ II retold the same story as the first movie, but it featured better actors, with Bruce Campbell really coming into his own, and more budget to create more elaborate effects. While the first movie showcased what Raimi could do, this sequel demonstrated how great he could be with a larger budget.

Evil ᴅᴇᴀᴅ II finished on several best-of lists for horror movies and has since ranked high on many lists of the best horror movies ever made. All the Evil ᴅᴇᴀᴅ movies, from the classics to the newer movies, are available on streaming, with this one currently on HBO Max.

Frankenstein (1931) – Prime Video

With Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein movie arriving in 2025, there is no better time to watch the original film than now. James Whale’s Frankenstein is currently streaming on Prime Video, as are most classic Universal Horror monster movies. Boris Karloff became a star thanks to his portrayal of The Monster.

SH๏τ in black and white, the original Frankenstein mostly followed Mary Shelley’s story respectfully, with The Monster as the tragic figure and Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) as the real villain. However, the film remains scary, especially the tragic moment when he kills the young girl, albeit off-screen.

Many fans consider the sequel, Bride of Frankenstein, to be the better film, and in many ways, it is. However, the original Frankenstein remains a masterpiece and is a movie every horror fan needs to see.

Psycho (1960) – Peacock

Alfred Hitchcock is widely regarded as the master of suspense, but it wasn’t until Psycho that he truly demonstrated his mastery of horror as well. This film was also one of the most shocking horror movies of its era, as it was one of the first to unexpectedly kill the headlining star at the start of the film.

The movie started a franchise that introduced the world to the iconic Norman Bates, a character loosely based on serial killer Ed Gein. It was also the classic horror movie that serves as the grandfather of the slasher genre and the movie responsible for inspiring future films like Halloween and others.

This is the best movie in the Psycho franchise, and it was also the best Hitchcock horror movie, surpᴀssing even The Birds. Fans have a great chance to watch it this Halloween season on Peacock.

Alien (1979) – Hulu

The Alien franchise is back in the public eye again, thanks to the television series Alien: Earth. However, Alien: Earth altered much of the franchise’s lore with a new perspective on the Xenomorphs. That said, there still isn’t anything better in the franchise than the first two movies, Alien and Aliens.

The first Alien movie is streaming on Hulu this month for horror fans. It is the most horror-centric release in the franchise until Alien: Romulus years later. The film is a haunted house story in outer space, where there is no escape, while also presenting one of the genre’s best Final Girls in Ellen Ripley.

Of course, for horror fans who prefer the more action-packed sci-fi direction, Aliens is also on Hulu, as is the new Alien: Earth television series.

Candyman (1992) – Prime Video

What makes Candyman so impressive is that it arrived when the slasher genre was starting to die, and it still remains a beloved horror masterpiece. What really makes this slasher franchise stand out is that the demonic slasher killer is also someone with a sympathetic backstory.

The first Candyman movie presents the story of a man who was murdered for the crime of being a Black man who fell in love with a white woman. He, however, became a vengeful demonic spirit who began to kill anyone and everyone to keep his name alive.

Candyman still has a strong reputation, with a decent sequel and a remake that was different enough to stand on its own. However, the first Candyman movie is still the best of the franchise, and it is available this October to anyone with a Prime Video subscription.

The Wolf Man (1941) – Peacock

Everyone talks about Dracula and Frankenstein when discussing classic horror movies, but the best Universal Horror Monster might be The Wolf Man. Unlike Frankenstein, who was an innocent creation hunted for what it was, and Dracula, who is a pure predator, The Wolf Man is a purely tragic horror tale.

Lon Chaney Jr. stars as Larry Talbott in The Wolf Man, and he is a man bitten by a werewolf who learns that he has become cursed as well. Unlike The Monster, who just ran for his life, and Dracula, who kills with pleasure, Larry just wishes he could die to end his torment, making him a very nuanced horror monster.

The Wolf Man was sH๏τ in beautiful black and white, even after color began to come into popularity, and the smoke added to the atmosphere of what might be the best sH๏τ horror movie of the Universal Monster era.

The Shining (1980) – HBO Max

The Stanley Kubrick masterpiece The Shining is available to stream this month on HBO Max. The film is polarizing, with extreme differences of opinion. Many Stephen King fans, as well as King himself, hate The Shining because it made significant changes to the original story from King’s novel.

However, at the same time, other horror fans call it one of the best horror movies ever made. These fans are not concerned about the differences between the novel and the movie; instead, they focus on the film itself, which remains one of the scariest and most atmospheric horror movies in history.

The Shining was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its significant contributions to cinema, and it was well-deserved.

Jaws (1975) – Netflix

Jaws turned 50 years old in 2025, so there’s no better time to watch the classic horror movie on streaming, where it is currently available on Netflix for fans this Halloween. The movie was Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece that helped create the summer blockbuster, and it remains a beloved horror classic.

The movie follows a shark that arrives at a beach town during the holiday season, and the people who try to save lives despite the town’s mayor turning a blind eye. The cast is top-notch, and even with struggles dealing with the animatronic shark, it remains a solid look at man versus nature.

Jaws stands the test of time as a brilliant classic horror movie, and it helped kill business in beach towns thanks to its look at the shark kills throughout the film. There are plenty of classic movies available to stream in October 2025, and Jaws is easily one of the best.