Horror Movie Franchises Offer Extensive Streaming Options for Halloween Season
With Halloween approaching, a wealth of horror movie franchises are readily available for streaming, providing options for viewers seeking a month-long celebration of the genre.
For fans of James Wan’s The Conjuring franchise, the Insidious series presents a compelling alternative, encompassing five films currently spread across HBO Max, Tubi, and Hulu. Like The Conjuring, Insidious centers on exorcisms and hauntings by demonic spirits, following psychic Elise Rainer through various stages of her life. The series is known for its jump scares and menacing demonic imagery.
The classic Exorcist franchise also offers substantial streaming content, with four of its six films available on HBO Max and Tubi, including the original trilogy released between 1973 and 1990. The first film, lauded for its unsettling scenes, was notably nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture – a rare honor for a horror film. The enduring popularity of the franchise has led to renewed interest in the genre, and a new installment is slated for release in the coming years. For those interested in learning more about the history of horror, the British Film Institute offers a comprehensive overview of the genre’s evolution here.
The Scream series, featuring the iconic villain Ghostface, provides six films currently streaming on Disney+, with a seventh scheduled for release on February 26th. Beginning in the late 1990s, Scream revitalized the slasher genre by blending grisly killings with meta-commentary on horror tropes. Fans can also explore the “found footage” subgenre with all seven Paranormal Activity films available on Paramount+, centered around a demonic entity named Tobi and families plagued by supernatural occurrences. You can find more information about the history of found footage films on Wikipedia.
Officials anticipate continued high demand for horror content throughout October, with streaming services preparing for increased viewership as Halloween nears.
