The 15 Best Horror Movies of All Time to Watch —  or Rewatch — This Halloween

Year: 1978 Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Nick Castle Why It's the Perfect Halloween Watch: Just the theme song alone (written and performed by director John Carpenter) will send shivers down your spine. Set in the fictional suburban Illinois town of Haddonfield, the iconic slasher follows Jamie Lee Curtis (in her film debut!) as Laurie Strode, a teenager babysitter who is being stalked by mental patient and murderer Michael Myers — on Halloween, of course. The film is known for its unique villain (the slow-walking, never-dying killer with his distinct mask is a phenomenon in and of himself) and an outstanding performance from Curtis, arguably playing one of the best Final Girls of all time. Drawing from its predecessor Psycho (starring her mom, Janet Leigh), and inspiring slasher films for decades to come, Halloween is a masterclass in suspense with a killer soundtrack and a relatable, it-could-happen-here element that will make you feel like Mr. Myers might be right outside your door alongside the trick-or-treaters during your watch this Halloween. But don't just take Us' word for it — Halloween is one of the most profitable independent films of all time, spawned a multimedia franchise including a dozen additional films and was even selected for preservation in the Library of Congress.