From “The ‘Burbs,” to “The Blackening,” “A Haunted House,” and more we round up 14 movies and shows to stream this spooky season.
Some of the best that horror has to offer takes place right at home. Whether it be a story about a haunted house, a clumsy killer setting prey upon on the occupants, that strange sound down the hall, or even a sinister neighbor with strange comings and goings, these home-based thrillers are so petrifying because of how real they can feel.
Take “The ‘Burbs,” starring Keke Palmer, currently streaming on Peacock, for instance. The comedy-horror series is a spooky riot that doesn’t even leave the cul-de-sac once.
The 8-episode dramedy chronicles what happens when Palmer’s character, Samira, a new mother who moves with her husband into his childhood home, quickly finds herself caught up in a real serious Nancy Drew-level mystery when a suspicious stranger moves into the long-abandoned house across the street, leading her and a motley crew of neighbors down a suspense-filled path investigating. Between the hilarious antics of its unlikely mystery-solving gang and a plot that keeps you guessing, “The ’Burbs” could make for one highly satisfying Halloween weekend binge. If that’s not what you’re after, maybe something more family-friendly or something even less so; if not truly terrifying, there are plenty of other spooky options starring Black talent. Below, we’ve rounded up 13 more movies and shows to stream this Halloween.
More than 25 years after Shawn and Marlon Wayans first took on some of pop culture’s biggest horror hits, the brothers are back at it again, this time taking aim at films like “Smile,” “Sinners,” “M3GAN,” and more in the latest installment of “Scary Movie,” with Regina Hall and Anna Faris returning to the franchise, which promises plenty of wild, crude, and downright hilarious antics.
Paramount+
“The Blackening,” which follows a group of college friends whose Juneteenth weekend reunion at a cabin in the woods takes a deadly turn when a mysterious killer forces them to play a sinister game testing who among them is the Blackest, gave us something the world of horror comedy was sorely missing. Starring Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Yvonne Orji, and more, the film is a hilarious send-up of horror movie tropes that Black audiences know all too well.
Hulu, Tubi
The Wayans family doesn’t reserve all of its horror comedy spoofs for the “Scary Movie” franchise. In “A Haunted House,” Marlon Wayans takes on the found-footage phenomenon made popular by “Paranormal Activity,” playing a man whose girlfriend moves in only for their home to become the site of some increasingly bizarre, inappropriate, and downright hilarious paranormal activity.
Netflix, Peacock, Paramount+
For anyone who has ever wondered what might happen if a Black family discovered their new home was haunted, Netflix’s original horror comedy “We Have a Ghost” offers a hilarious answer. Starring Anthony Mackie, David Harbour, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, and Jennifer Coolidge, the family-friendly film follows a teenager whose discovery of a ghost in his family’s new home turns them into an overnight internet sensation and sends them on an unexpected adventure.
Netflix
Another film you can throw on before the little ones head off to bed, where they will absolutely not stay up eating all their Halloween candy, is Netflix’s original film “The Curse of Bridge Hollow.” Marlon Wayans, Kelly Rowland, and Priah Ferguson star in the family-friendly comedy about a father and daughter who must team up to save their town after an ancient spirit brings its Halloween decorations to life.
Netflix
For another family-friendly option that scratches that “Addams Family” and Tim Burton itch, but adds a little more Black girl magic, look no further than Netflix’s original animated film “Wendell & Wild.” Featuring voice performances from Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, and Angela Bassett, the delightfully creepy stop-motion film follows a rebellious teenage girl who finds herself caught up in the schemes of two demon brothers hoping to make their way into the land of the living.
Netflix
In Prime Video’s original horror comedy “Livestream from Hell,” Kevin Hart invites Druski and Kai Cenat over for what initially seems like a fairly standard night of livestreaming antics, complete with celebrity guests and plenty of laughs. That is, until the evening takes a decidedly murderous turn, and the three find themselves in the middle of a horror comedy that gets increasingly ridiculous as the night wears on.
Prime Video
Some of our favorite classic Black sitcoms have given us legendary holiday episodes over the years, and “Martin” is certainly no exception. From the haunted-house hilarity of “The Night He Came Home” to the spooky antics of “The Night He Came Home Again,” the beloved sitcom offers a reliably hilarious way to get into the Halloween spirit without committing to a full horror movie.
Netflix, Peacock, Paramount+
Lupita Nyong’o has become quite the scream queen, from “Us” and “A Quiet Place: Day One” to the Hulu original film “Little Monsters,” a surprisingly charming horror comedy that even manages to sneak in a little romance. Nyong’o plays a kindergarten teacher whose field trip to a farm takes a horrifying turn when zombies descend on the property, leaving her to keep a classroom full of children entertained, blissfully unaware, and, most importantly, alive.
Hulu
For anyone looking for something a little more terrifying to binge, “From” might be just the thing. The supernatural horror series, which originally debuted on Epix, follows the residents of a mysterious town that traps anyone unfortunate enough to enter, forcing them to contend with terrifying creatures that emerge after dark while desperately searching for a way out. Harold Perrineau leads the cast as the town’s sheriff in a series that has kept audiences guessing through its increasingly bizarre mysteries and genuinely unsettling scares.
Netflix, MGM+
Hulu’s original series “The Other Black Girl” may have slipped past some viewers when it first premiered, but the workplace thriller is well worth revisiting, especially for anyone who has ever been the only Black woman in the office. Based on Zakiya Dalila Harris’ bestselling novel, the series follows an editorial assistant at a predominantly white publishing house whose excitement over finally having another Black colleague quickly gives way to suspicion as increasingly strange things begin happening around her.
Hulu
It simply isn’t a proper spooky season marathon without at least one Jordan Peele film, and “Get Out,” the Oscar-winning psychological thriller that launched his career as a horror filmmaker and changed the genre’s cultural cachet, remains just as chilling, clever, and disturbingly relevant nearly a decade after its debut. Daniel Kaluuya stars as a young Black man whose weekend visit to his white girlfriend’s family estate becomes an absolute nightmare.
Peacock
And what would a Halloween marathon be without some genuine monsters? Ryan Coogler’s hit “Sinners,” starring Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers whose newly opened juke joint in 1930s Clarksdale, Mississippi, is set upon by vampires one fateful night, delivers plenty of thrills and chills. Between the bloodthirsty creatures, the blues, and an unforgettable ensemble cast that includes Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, and more, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into.
HBO Max
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