I love October as much as anyone does. I like to decorate my house with all sorts of lights and strange inflatable monsters that keep getting bigger and bigger, year after year. I like watching football on Sunday, even if the Ravens haven’t been playing so well lately (although Tyler Huntley was pretty good the other day). I like the cold, wearing sweatshirts, and buzzing my head. But what I love most of all is watching movies, especially as Halloween approaches. I’ve seen all kinds of scary movies in my life. I’ve watched all of the movies in the Conjuring universe, seen all of the thrills out of the Halloween franchise and the world of Scream, and even reluctantly seen all of the Terrifiers (never again). But of all the ones out there, which movies are the best to watch on Halloween? How could you even rank them? While highly subjective, I’ve ranked each of these movies (and done a rewatch to boot), using the following metrics, all on a scale from 1 to 10:

Scare Factor: Was the movie actually scary? A 1 here just means the movie isn’t scary at all, closer to a kid’s cartoon than anything else. A 10 is the scariest movie I’ve ever seen in my life, I’m talking palms sweaty, genuinely nervous to watch for even 5 minutes.

Friends and Family Score: Is this a movie you could watch with your friends and with your family? Something they’d enjoy too? A 1 here means you could invite your grandparents over and they would still love watching it. A 10 here means you should probably watch it huddled up by yourself in a private corner somewhere where nobody can see you.

Story Quality: Does the movie have a great plot? Is it hard to follow along with, is it just a jumpscare montage? A 1 here is exactly that, a poor, loosely strung, terrible movie. A 10, however, is fantastic, multilayered, and has lots of depth to the quality of the movie that makes it a whole lot better to watch.

Atmosphere Design: Does the movie have that eerie Halloween vibe that matches the season? A 1 here is a movie that has simply nothing to do with Halloween. A 10 is perfectly crafted, fog, jack o lanterns, tall, shadowy trees, and that overall range feel.

Without further ado, and just a quick reminder that these are my opinions and you are perfectly free to have your own, these are the Top 10 Greatest Halloween Movies of All Time:

10 .Paranorman
Scare Factor: 3/10        Friends and Family Score: 4/10        Story Quality: 7/10        Atmosphere Design: 8/10

Paranorman was one of my favorite movies when growing up, and it still holds up well today. While not really all that scary, unless you’re absolutely terrified of the undead and witches, the story of that one girl accused of being a witch bumps the Friends and Family Score up a little bit. The story is still great, maybe just as great as I remember it being, but what shines here is the atmosphere. It's a classic October setting, cloudy, leaves on the sidewalk, that orange glow as the sun is setting, crows, all the works. It’s held down somewhat by the fact that it’s a kids' movie, but if you don’t care about that, Paranorman is a solid pick to watch on Halloween.

9. Monster House
Scare Factor: 3/10       Friends and Family Score: 5/10        Story Quality: 5/10        Atmosphere Design: 4/10

Not terribly frightening, but the plot about the wife definitely kicks it up a little bit. The house eating people alive also kicks up both the Scare Factor and the Friends and Family Score. The animation is absolutely terrible, but it gives the movie a very rare charm that no other movie, except for maybe Hoodwinked, has been able to truly replicate. The atmosphere isn’t terribly spooky, the story is alright, but in any case, it’s still a fun watch with friends, though maybe not with the parents.

8. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Scare Factor: 1/10        Friends and Family Score: 1/10       Story Quality: 5/10        Atmosphere Design: 10/10

Absolute classic right here. Who doesn’t know about this? It’s a cartoon, sure, and it’s nonsensical here and there, often comedic and rarely purposeful in its long, winding, and sometimes even meaningless walks from point A to point B. However, this movie has a perfect Halloween atmosphere, and the sound design to match gives it a lonely, desolate feeling I have yet to see replicated in any other movie on this list. The montage of Snoopy walking behind enemy lines gives a haunting, ruined vibe that is just fantastic for Halloween. Good pick for Halloween, especially if you have family coming over.

7. Signs
Scare Factor: 7/10        Friends and Family Score: 6/10        Story Quality: 8/10        Atmosphere Design: 5/10

This might sound like a non Halloween movie, and don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely sci fi, but it still has the vibes, scares, and overall feel to classify it as a Halloween movie. This movie is awesome, and it kicks off super fast. The plot follows Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, plus two so so child actors, on a farm as an alien invasion begins. There are some really fantastic moments in here, like when Mel Gibson sees the silhouette of an alien on the roof of his neighbor's house at night, and the birthday party scene is definitely up there in the top 100 scariest moments in any film I’ve ever seen. If you put this on during Halloween, you won’t be disappointed.

6. Beetlejuice
Scare Factor: 4/10        Friends and Family Score: 2/10        Story Quality: 6/10        Atmosphere Design: 9/10

This might be a little controversial, but Beetlejuice isn’t scary; it’s just weird. It’s more of a comedy, if anything, and won’t give you the same scares as some movies further down the list might. Definitely creative, wacky, and zany, and the general vibe is great, with some hilarious moments like the dinner table scene. However, while it still has its charm, I cannot in good faith place it above some of the movies further down the list.

5. Nightmare on Elm Street
Scare Factor: 6/10        Friends and Family Score: 6/10        Story Quality: 7/10        Atmosphere Design: 9/10

Everyone has seen this movie. This is an absolute classic. I love this movie not just for what it is, but also for what it’s done. It had an insane cultural impact and gave us one of the most iconic movie villains ever, Freddy Krueger. Holds up slightly well, not too bad, but is definitely not one for family. Overall, nobody would be upset if you threw this on on Halloween.

4. The Thing
Scare Factor: 9/10        Friends and Family Score: 10/10       Story Quality: 7/10        Atmosphere Design: 8/10

Grotesque, nightmare fuel, one of the scariest ever. This movie is one that could keep you up for weeks after watching it for the first time. Not at all a cozy, friends and family type of movie. It’s tense, riveting, and incredibly scary. Take caution when watching this movie. You might think I’m overreacting, but I promise I’m not. If you want scares on Halloween, use this movie at your own risk.

3. The Shining
Scare Factor: 7/10        Friends and Family Score: 5/10        Story Quality: 9/10        Atmosphere Design: 8/10

Arguably the most famous “scary movie” ever made. Although on a rewatch, the movie isn’t too scary until the last 20 or so minutes when all hell breaks loose. Then it’s pretty much nightmare fuel from there on out. However, up until that point, you’re treated to long, winding hallways, apparitions of dead girls, elevators full of blood, axe wielding maniacs, and more. Feels like a haunted house, with great acting and iconic lines. If you put this on during Halloween, nobody will be upset.

2. Coraline
Scare Factor: 7/10        Friends and Family Score: 2/10        Story Quality: 9/10        Atmosphere Design: 9.5/10

This might be somewhat shocking, so let me explain myself. Coraline is a classic, and in the years since its release, it has built a steady cult following. It’s got everything that makes a Halloween movie so good: cheap, cheesy, campy, but also downright terrifying at times, and features incredible animation and voice acting. Good time for the whole family and with friends as well. I place it higher than others simply due to its atmospheric vibe. This movie is definitive Halloween, an incredible choice for a Halloween night delight.

Honorable Mention: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Scare Factor: 3/10        Friends and Family Score: 2/10        Story Quality: 8/10        Atmosphere Design: 9.5/10

It wouldn’t be a proper Halloween movie ranking list without including The Nightmare Before Christmas. While a spectacular movie and a great time all around, I can’t count it as a Halloween movie. I know, I know, the movie takes place in Halloween Town, I understand. However, the central plot revolves around Christmas, and therefore, I have to consider it a Christmas movie rather than a Halloween movie. Still a great watch, just not a Halloween movie.

1. Ghostbusters
Scare Factor: 4/10        Friends and Family Score: 4/10        Story Quality: 10/10      Atmosphere Design: 9/10

Now, before you come at me with pitchforks for not putting Scream or Insidious or whatnot at number one, try to understand for a second. Ghostbusters is the perfect blend of comedy and scares, giving the campy vibe every good Halloween movie needs. With stellar acting performances and one of the best stories out of all of the Halloween movies out there, it keeps you engaged and thrilled for the duration of the film. And before you say, “Ghostbusters isn’t scary!”, I’d like to point out the opening library scene, one that terrified viewers in theaters and even still viewers today. Everyone and their mom has seen this movie, it’s iconic, famous, and even in the United States Library of Congress’s National Film Registry. For those reasons, it’s only natural to put an all around legendary film in the number one spot. Can’t go wrong with this one on Halloween!