The 9 Best Horror Comedies to Stream Right Now for Halloween Night
Halloween calls for a movie night that can scare you and make you laugh in the same breath, and horror comedies are the perfect fit. They lean on a good jolt without letting the dread take over, so you can jump at a monster and then groan at the joke that follows. The nine films here are all streaming in the US right now, spread across a mix of free options with ads and subscription services you may already have. Settle in, dim the lights and pick the one that sounds like your kind of fright.
Quick picks
- Shaun of the Dead (2004)
- Zombieland (2009)
- Scream (1996)
- An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- Ghostbusters (1984)
- The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
- Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)
- Evil Dead II (1987)
- Re-Animator (1985)
1. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Shaun is a man so attached to his routine that his pub nights matter more than almost anything. When the dead start wandering the streets of London and hunting ordinary people for dinner, his quiet life is turned upside down. It is a gentle, affectionate send-up of the genre that still delivers real tension as the body count climbs.
Directed by Edgar Wright. Starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis. Horror, Comedy. Rated R.
Subscription: Peacock, AMC+ · Where to watch
2. Zombieland (2009)
Columbus has spent his life running from whatever frightens him, while Tallahassee has no fears at all and plenty of fists. Together they are the most suited survivors of a world overrun by zombies. The film finds its sharpest laughs in the awkward, prickly bond that forms between two people who would rather keep their distance.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin. Comedy, Horror. Rated R.
Subscription: Max · Where to watch
3. Scream (1996)
A year after her mother's murder, a teenager is stalked by a masked killer who turns the scary movies her friends love into a deadly game. The film is clever about the rules of horror and sly about its own winks, while still delivering suspense that keeps you guessing who is behind the mask.
Directed by Wes Craven. Starring Neve Campbell, Skeet Ulrich, Rose McGowan, Matthew Lillard. Crime, Horror, Mystery. Rated R.
Free with ads on YouTube. Subscription: Hulu, Peacock · Where to watch
4. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Two American tourists are attacked by an unseen creature while hiking across the Yorkshire Moors. One of them recovers at the home of a kind nurse, only to notice strange and disturbing changes creeping through his body and mind. Its mix of grim scares and dark humor makes it a memorable pick for a Halloween crowd.
Directed by John Landis. Starring David Naughton, Griffin Dunne, Jenny Agutter, John Woodvine. Comedy, Horror. Rated R.
Free with ads on Tubi, Xumo Play. Subscription: Prime Video, AMC+ · Where to watch
5. Ghostbusters (1984)
Three disgraced parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York City and soon uncover a supernatural threat that could destroy the world. It is a playful, fast-moving adventure with spooky set pieces and a lot of easygoing charm, a fun choice when you want the lighter side of the supernatural.
Directed by Ivan Reitman. Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver. Comedy, Fantasy. Rated PG.
Free with ads on Fandango at Home. Subscription: Hulu · Where to watch
6. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Five friends head to a remote cabin for a relaxing weekend and begin to notice that nothing about their getaway is what it seems. The film plays with horror conventions in surprising ways, mixing unsettling moments with a knowing sense of humor that keeps you off balance from start to finish.
Directed by Drew Goddard. Starring Kristen Connolly, Fran Kranz, Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams. Horror, Mystery, Comedy. Rated R.
Subscription: AMC+, Max · Where to watch
7. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)
Two good-natured hillbillies are mistaken for killers by a group of paranoid college kids camping near their cabin. As the misunderstandings pile up and the bodies start to drop, the film turns the usual slasher setup on its head. It is a sweet, bloody and very funny look at how fear can get out of hand.
Directed by Eli Craig. Starring Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden, Jesse Moss. Comedy, Horror. Rated R.
Free with ads on Tubi, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home, Xumo Play. Subscription: Peacock · Where to watch
8. Evil Dead II (1987)
Ash Williams and his girlfriend find a cabin in the woods and a recording that unleashes an evil power, which soon takes over Linda's body. The film is wildly energetic, blending gory practical effects with slapstick energy and an inventive camera that makes the chaos feel thrillingly loud and silly.
Directed by Sam Raimi. Starring Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie DePaiva. Horror, Comedy, Fantasy. Rated R.
Subscription: Max · Where to watch
9. Re-Animator (1985)
Inside the morgue at Miskatonic University, a scientist named Herbert West reveals his startling work on reanimating fresh corpses to a fellow graduate student. The film is gleefully gruesome and darkly comic, a cheeky take on mad science that delivers plenty of splatter with a wicked grin.
Directed by Stuart Gordon. Starring Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott, Barbara Crampton, David Gale. Science Fiction, Comedy, Horror. Rated NR.
Free with ads on Tubi · Where to watch
Pick the film that matches your group's tolerance for gore and your appetite for laughs, and you will not go wrong. 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.
