Spooky Season is in full swing, which means it’s time to settle the ultimate debate: Netflix or Hulu for your Halloween binge? Both streaming giants are loaded with scary movies, but which platform’s got the goods to keep you up all night? We’re breaking down the best frightening flicks on each service. Vote for your fave and you might snag a $100 gift card!
Family Friendly Frights
Netflix: Casper (PG)
Who doesn’t love a friendly ghost? This ’90s gem starring Bill Pullman and Christina Ricci brings all the nostalgia. It’s got those three troublemaking ghostly uncles causing chaos while Casper just wants to make friends. Fair warning though: this one sneaks up on you with some real feelings about loss and what it means to let go. Have tissues handy because it hits harder than you’d expect from a kids’ movie!
Hulu: Hotel Transylvania (PG)
Adam Sandler voices an overprotective vampire dad running a monster resort where creatures can vacation without pesky humans ruining everything. But when a backpacker stumbles into his daughter’s birthday bash, Dracula’s carefully controlled world gets flipped upside down! It’s colorful, silly, and packed with enough slapstick to keep the kiddos giggling. Plus, Selena Gomez brings sweetness to Dracula’s 118-year-old daughter.
Slashes and Screams
Netflix: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (R)
Here’s the thing about this 1974 classic: it’s way less gory than its reputation suggests. What Tobe Hooper created was something more unsettling than blood and guts could ever be. When a group of friends encounters Leatherface and his seriously disturbed family in rural Texas, the terror comes from the relentless, nightmarish atmosphere. It practically invented the slasher genre, and decades later, it still gets under your skin.
Hulu: Scream (R)
Wes Craven basically said “what if horror movies knew they were horror movies?” and created this brilliant meta-thriller. Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott is being stalked by Ghostface, but the real genius here is how the film winks at every horror cliché while still delivering genuine scares. It’s smart, it’s suspenseful, and it completely revived slasher films for a new generation. The mystery of who’s behind the mask? Still fun – even if you’ve seen it before!
Ghouls and Giggles
Netflix: Hubie Halloween (PG-13)
Adam Sandler plays Salem’s most ridiculed resident who takes Halloween very seriously (think bicycle patrols and thermos enthusiasm). When townspeople start vanishing, it’s up to Hubie to save the day. Yeah, it’s got that Happy Madison goofiness with plenty of toilet humor, but there’s genuine heart underneath all the silliness. Julie Bowen and Steve Buscemi show up for the fun, and the message about treating people with kindness lands sweetly.
Hulu: Tucker and Dale vs Evil (R)
This movie completely flips the script on the whole “creepy hillbillies terrorize college kids” trope. Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are just two sweet guys trying to fix up their vacation cabin when a group of students mistakes them for serial killers. The resulting misunderstandings lead to hilariously gruesome accidents. It’s bloody, sure, but it’s also surprisingly heartfelt and ridiculously clever!
Cult Classic Chills
Netflix: Death Becomes Her (PG-13)
Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn as bitter rivals fighting over eternal youth and Bruce Willis? Yes please! This darkly funny satire skewers Hollywood’s obsession with staying young forever. The visual effects won an Oscar back in 1992 and honestly? They still look incredible. Watching these two frenemies literally fall apart while trying to maintain their immortal beauty is deliciously twisted entertainment.
Hulu: Rocky Horror Picture Show (R)
Can you believe this glam rock musical has been packing midnight showings for almost 50 years? Tim Curry’s Dr. Frank-N-Furter is absolutely legendary. When a squeaky-clean couple stumbles into a mysterious castle, things get wonderfully weird with songs like “Time Warp” that you’ll be humming for days. It’s campy, it’s outrageous, and it’s become a cultural phenomenon for good reason!
Teen Screams
Netflix: Death Note (TV-MA)
A high schooler finds a notebook that kills anyone whose name gets written inside. Talk about power going to your head! This American take on the beloved manga stars Nat Wolff as Light Turner, who goes from outcast to judge-jury-executioner. Willem Dafoe voices Ryuk, the death god who owns the notebook, and his performance is genuinely chilling. It’s dark, it’s twisted, and it raises fascinating questions about justice and corruption.
Hulu: Uncanny Annie (TV-MA)
College students plus mysterious board game equals bad news, right? This Hulu original takes that Jumanji concept and cranks up the horror dial. When friends gather on Halloween night and discover a game with seriously deadly rules, things go sideways fast. It’s got that supernatural thriller vibe that’ll keep you guessing.
Creature Feature
Netflix: Night of the Living Dead (Unrated)
George A. Romero basically invented modern zombies with this 1968 masterpiece. Shot in stark black and white, it follows strangers trapped in a farmhouse while the undead close in. Beyond being scary, it was groundbreaking for casting Duane Jones as the heroic lead, and that ending? Absolutely devastating. This one came out before movie ratings even existed, and it remains shockingly relevant today.
Hulu: Barbarian (R)
Go into this one knowing as little as possible! A woman shows up at her Airbnb rental only to find it’s been double-booked, and then things get seriously disturbing. Director Zach Cregger builds dread like a master chef layering flavors. It’s brutal, it’s unsettling, and critics absolutely loved it. Just trust the journey and let this thriller take you places you won’t expect!
The Verdict?
Both Netflix and Hulu are serving up serious Halloween content this year! Netflix brings those nostalgic classics and indie horror gems, while Hulu’s got the slasher favorites and newer releases. Honestly? You can’t go wrong either way. The real question is: which vibe matches your Halloween mood? Cast your vote and happy haunting! 🎃👻