The 10 Best Creature Features and Monsters to Stream This Halloween
Halloween is the perfect excuse to let something with too many teeth take over the living room. Whether you want a shark stalking a seaside town, a shape-shifter in the Antarctic snow, or a few mischievous critters loose in suburbia, this lineup covers beasts, mutants and sea monsters from across the decades. All 10 are streaming right now, split between free ad-supported services and paid subscriptions, so you can start with whatever you already have.
Quick picks
- Jaws (1975)
- The Thing (1982)
- Alien (1979)
- Gremlins (1984)
- Godzilla (1954)
- The Fly (1986)
- Tremors (1990)
- Critters (1986)
- The Mist (2007)
- Dog Soldiers (2002)
1. Jaws (1975)
When a great white shark begins attacking swimmers at a seaside resort, a police chief, a young marine biologist and a grizzled shark hunter set out to stop it. It is a tense, classic summer-season thriller that keeps the beast mostly hidden, which makes every moment on the water feel dangerous. A strong pick if you want a monster that rewards patience.
Directed by Steven Spielberg. Starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary. Horror, Thriller, Adventure. Rated PG.
Subscription: Netflix · Where to watch
2. The Thing (1982)
A research team at an Antarctic outpost is picked off one by one by a shape-shifting alien that can take on the look of any of its victims. Paranoia spreads as quickly as the creature does, and no one can be sure who is still human. Expect grotesque practical effects and a slow-burning dread that pays off late in the night.
Directed by John Carpenter. Starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, David Clennon. Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction. Rated R.
Subscription: Prime Video · Where to watch
On Ride The Wave: The Parallel Frequencies episode on The Last Showgirl focuses on losing what you built your life around, not on the creature film itself, so it is only loosely connected to this list. Parallel Frequencies: The Last Showgirl: Pamela Anderson's Career-Best Performance
3. Alien (1979)
The crew of a commercial spaceship answers a distress call and discovers a horror growing inside one of their own. The creature's design and the claustrophobic corridors of the ship make this a lean, unnerving watch. It is a good choice for anyone who likes their monsters hidden in the shadows.
Directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton. Horror, Science Fiction. Rated R.
Subscription: Netflix · Where to watch
4. Gremlins (1984)
A young man receives a strange small animal as a gift and quickly breaks a few strict rules about caring for it, unleashing a town full of malevolently mischievous creatures. The film mixes laughs with genuinely gross and chaotic monster mayhem. It is a fun crowd pleaser for a Halloween evening with friends.
Directed by Joe Dante. Starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Frances Lee McCain. Fantasy, Horror, Comedy. Rated PG.
Subscription: Max · Where to watch
5. Godzilla (1954)
Ships vanish near a remote island, and an expedition uncovers a towering prehistoric creature that begins to rampage toward a nation already on edge. It is the film that started the giant monster tradition, and its somber tone gives it a weight that many later entries lack. A thoughtful choice for viewers curious about where the genre began.
Directed by Ishirō Honda. Starring Akira Takarada, Momoko Kôchi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura. Thriller, Horror, Science Fiction. Rated NR.
Subscription: Criterion Channel, Max · Where to watch
6. The Fly (1986)
A brilliant but eccentric scientist tests his teleportation device on himself, not realizing a housefly has slipped in with him. What follows is a slow, grisly transformation that turns a love story into a body horror nightmare. It is a haunting, emotionally heavy film that lingers well after the credits.
Directed by David Cronenberg. Starring Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz, Joy Boushel. Horror, Science Fiction. Rated R.
Subscription: Hulu, Peacock · Where to watch
7. Tremors (1990)
Two handymen in a remote desert town discover that gigantic, man-eating creatures are burrowing beneath the ground and hunting anyone who steps onto the sand. The monsters are menacing, but the banter and small-town charm keep things light. It is one of the most entertaining monster movies to pick if you want scares with a smile.
Directed by Ron Underwood. Starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross. Comedy, Horror, Science Fiction. Rated PG-13.
Subscription: Peacock · Where to watch
8. Critters (1986)
Carnivorous alien creatures crash onto a Kansas family farm, and two bounty hunters arrive soon after determined to wipe them off the planet. The result is a playful, gory romp with plenty of furry, toothy chaos. It is a good pick for a lighter, more mischievous Halloween night.
Directed by Stephen Herek. Starring Dee Wallace, M. Emmet Walsh, Billy Green Bush, Scott Grimes. Comedy, Horror, Science Fiction. Rated PG-13.
Free with ads on Tubi · Where to watch
9. The Mist (2007)
After a violent storm, a thick mist rolls over a small Maine town and traps shoppers inside a grocery store with unseen horrors waiting outside. The tension builds from the claustrophobic setting and the question of what is actually lurking in the fog. Its bleak ending is memorable, so save it for a night you are ready to be shaken.
Directed by Frank Darabont. Starring Thomas Jane, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, Marcia Gay Harden. Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller. Rated R.
Free with ads on The Roku Channel, Xumo Play. Subscription: Prime Video, AMC+ · Where to watch
10. Dog Soldiers (2002)
A squad of soldiers on a training exercise in the Scottish woods finds a rival team slaughtered, and realizes something far more savage is hunting them. The film blends military grit with creature violence and dark humor. It is a fast, bloody watch that fits well into a late-night monster marathon.
Directed by Neil Marshall. Starring Sean Pertwee, Kevin McKidd, Emma Cleasby, Liam Cunningham. Horror, Action, Thriller. Rated R.
Free with ads on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, YouTube, Plex. Subscription: Prime Video, AMC+, Shudder · Where to watch
Pick a night that suits your mood, whether that is a gory laugh or a slow-building dread. Streaming availability changes often, so check the service before you press play.
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Streaming catalogs change often. Availability was checked the morning this was published. Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDB; this product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
