There is no month more spooky than October, and one of the best ways to get in the spirit of the season is to settle in on the couch and watch Halloween movies. The second best way to get into October mood? Themed snacks. Put them together and you’ve got the perfect movie night. Because why eat generic snacks while movie-watching when you can eat snacks tailored to your favorite seasonal flick? Whether you enjoy nostalgic, not-so-scary Halloween classics like Hocus Pocus or you prefer a fright from Halloween horror flicks like Halloween, we’ve got you covered with the best snacks, treats, and drinks to enjoy while watching your favorite Halloween movies.
1. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
A short and sweet “movie,” the Charlie Brown Halloween special is a certified classic. You can nosh on the same sweets that the characters get trick-or-treating, including chocolate bars, cookies, and popcorn balls (or just popcorn if you’re trying to keep it low-key). Now, Charlie Brown gets rocks, and while those aren’t a tasty snack, rock candy is! Or if you’re looking to keep it healthy, go for an apple. Just maybe don’t share it with your dog.
Of course, you could also go with something even more on the nose: peanuts.
2. Hocus Pocus
This bewitching classic may very well have put a spell on your childhood. While it’s not best practice to suck the life forces out of children, you can have your own version of the life potion by enjoying green cocktails or mocktails. For snacks, you could conjure up some witch finger cookies or some crumbly brownies or brookies to mimic the Sanderson Sisters’ spellbook. And if you’re a black liquorice enthusiast, break some of that out in honor of the cursed black candle.
3. Ghost Busters
Ghost Busters is bound to haunt your night with ghosts…and with the gigantic Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. So it’s only right to break out a big bag of fluffy marshmallows or a tub of marshmallow fluff for the occasion. Toast up your marshmallows like the Ghost Busters light up Mr. Stay-Puft to create a s’more. Or if marshmallows aren’t your thing, perhaps you can gobble up some green Jello in honor of Slimer.
4. Beetlejuice
This twisted Tim Burton classic calls for snacks that can match its wacky aesthetic. Try munching on gummy worms or gummy snakes in the name of the sandworm and Betelgeuse’s stint as a snake. Or go for fluffy cotton candy to channel Betelgeuse’s hairstyle. If you want to pull a meal straight out of the movie, go the savory route with shrimp cocktail (and maybe start a flashmob on the couch?). And if you’re really inspired by the movie’s freak and aren’t afraid to bug out, try out some bug lollipops in the spirit of the title.
5. Halloweentown
There may not be a magical secret Halloween-themed town in real life, but you can get as close as possible by munching on snacks straight out of the movie. Chocolate chip cookies are a must (and its a must to eat them before dinner too). Fried chicken is a good, more hearty option, as long as it doesn’t turn into a real chicken. You could also make clear cocktails inspired by the ghost’s sweat potion ingredient. And how about some wax lips for the vampire’s fang?
6. The Halloween Franchise
Whether you’re just set on watching the original Halloween or are going to have a Halloween marathon with all 13(!) movies, snacks are going to be needed. Since Halloween actually takes place on the holiday, it feels like the right movie on this list to recommend enjoying a mixed bag of Halloween candy. Micheal Myers might like tricks, but we’re more partial to treats. You could also whip up some pumpkin-flavored treats inspired by the pumpkin on the original movie poster, or find some good desserts to cut with a shiny butcher’s knife. A cherry pie, perhaps.
7. Friday the 13th
Outdoorsy and camping-style snacks will fill you up with Friday the 13th’s summer camp vibes, sans being hunted by a killer. Go for trail mix, s’mores, banana boats, or even a good old hotdog. Or, if you want to be even more casual, try decorating a pizza with black olives and peppers in honor of the iconic mask.
8. Nightmare on Elm Street
The name of this horror movie’s game is to stay awake, so for this watch it’s best to prepare coffee-flavored treats to make sure Freddy stays far away from your dreams. For drinks, think cozy lattes or espresso martinis, or, if you’re not a coffee person, pop open an energy drink. A Monster feels pretty fitting. And for treats, think coffee ice cream or tiramisu. If you want to match Freddy Krueger’s red and green fit, try out red and green candies like gummy cherries or red and green m&m’s.
9. The Scream Franchise
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Scream-inspired snacks. This one is easy, with pretty classic movie-going snack options. Chips get a lot of screen time in Scream, so collect your favorite kind of chips and you’re good to go. Popcorn is also straight out of the movie—if you really want to go all out, try actually making Jiffy Pop on the stove.
10. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Is it a Halloween movie? Is it a Christmas movie? You may feel strongly one way or the other, but I think it’s such a good movie it should just count for both. Maybe some snacks will help unite the two sides. To start, try enjoying pea soup as your own take on Sally’s worm’s wart soup (maybe leave out the nightshade though). You could go for cinnamon rolls inspired by the iconic in-movie location, Spiral Hill. Or you could go full send on Nightmare being a half-Christmas movie and enjoy cookies and milk or Christmas candies. That feels like a very Jack Skellington thing to do.