Every great Halloween night needs the right soundtrack. The best playlists mix chilling horror scores, rock needle drops, and playful spooky-season favorites pulled straight from the movies.
This playlist collects 25 tracks and albums across six decades of film, from John Carpenter’s icy synth piano to the newest horror scores of 2026. For more themes of this kind, see our guide to the top iconic Halloween movie theme songs.
Halloween Movie Playlist at a Glance
| # | Song / Track | Movie | Composer / Artist | Film Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halloween Theme | Halloween | John Carpenter | 1978 |
| 2 | Tubular Bells | The Exorcist | Mike Oldfield | 1973 |
| 3 | The Murder | Psycho | Bernard Herrmann | 1960 |
| 4 | Main Theme | Jaws | John Williams | 1975 |
| 5 | Ave Satani | The Omen | Jerry Goldsmith | 1976 |
| 6 | Suspiria | Suspiria | Goblin | 1977 |
| 7 | Main Title | A Nightmare on Elm Street | Charles Bernstein | 1984 |
| 8 | Overlay of Evil | Friday the 13th | Harry Manfredini | 1980 |
| 9 | Don’t Fear the Reaper | Halloween | Blue Öyster Cult | 1978 |
| 10 | Red Right Hand | Scream | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds | 1996 |
| 11 | Bring Your Daughter… to the Slaughter | A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child | Iron Maiden | 1989 |
| 12 | Twisting the Knife | Scream 7 | Ice Nine Kills feat. Mckenna Grace | 2026 |
| 13 | Beware of Darkness | Weapons | George Harrison | 2025 |
| 14 | This Is Halloween | The Nightmare Before Christmas | Danny Elfman | 1993 |
| 15 | Main Titles | Beetlejuice | Danny Elfman | 1988 |
| 16 | Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) | Beetlejuice | Harry Belafonte | 1988 |
| 17 | Main Titles | Sleepy Hollow | Danny Elfman | 1999 |
| 18 | I Put a Spell on You | Hocus Pocus | Bette Midler | 1993 |
| 19 | Five Nights at Freddy’s | Five Nights at Freddy’s | The Newton Brothers | 2023 |
| 20 | Title | It Follows | Disasterpeace | 2014 |
| 21 | I Lied to You | Sinners | Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson | 2025 |
| 22 | Score Album | Hokum | Joseph Bishara | 2026 |
| 23 | Forever | Obsession | The Little Dippers | 2026 |
| 24 | Waiting to Die | Send Help | Danny Elfman | 2026 |
| 25 | Score Album | Backrooms | Edo Van Breemen and Kane Parsons | 2026 |
Classic Horror Scores
1. “Halloween Theme” — John Carpenter (Halloween, 1978) Carpenter’s piano riff in an unusual 5/4 rhythm is still the sound most people link to the holiday. It is the natural opener for any Halloween playlist.
2. “Tubular Bells” — Mike Oldfield (The Exorcist, 1973) This progressive-rock instrumental was written for Oldfield’s own album before the film borrowed it. Its sparse piano opening now sounds like demonic possession to a generation of viewers.
3. “The Murder” — Bernard Herrmann (Psycho, 1960) Those shrieking violin stabs from the shower scene remain the most copied sound in horror. Herrmann scored the whole film for strings alone.
4. Main Theme — John Williams (Jaws, 1975) Two alternating low notes were enough to make open water feel dangerous. It works best as a tension builder between louder tracks.
5. “Ave Satani” — Jerry Goldsmith (The Omen, 1976) Goldsmith turned a Latin-style choir into something menacing. It is the most unsettling choral piece on this list.
6. “Suspiria” — Goblin (Suspiria, 1977) The Italian prog-rock band Goblin layered whispers and unusual instruments into a theme that still sounds unlike anything else in horror.
7. Main Title — Charles Bernstein (A Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984) Bernstein’s synth theme has a dreamlike, off-balance feel that fits Freddy Krueger’s world perfectly.
8. “Overlay of Evil” — Harry Manfredini (Friday the 13th, 1980) The whispered “ki-ki-ki, ma-ma-ma” sound is one of the most imitated cues in slasher history. It adds instant camp-horror energy to the mix.
Slasher and Rock Needle Drops
9. “Don’t Fear the Reaper” — Blue Öyster Cult (Halloween, 1978) This rock classic also appears on the soundtrack album for Rob Zombie’s 2007 remake. It is the best bridge from score tracks to full songs.
10. “Red Right Hand” — Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Scream, 1996) The tolling bell and slow organ give this song a graveyard mood. It has been used throughout the Scream series.
11. “Bring Your Daughter… to the Slaughter” — Iron Maiden (A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, 1989) A heavy-metal blast from the late-80s slasher boom, when horror sequels were routinely backed by rock bands.
12. “Twisting the Knife” — Ice Nine Kills feat. Mckenna Grace (Scream 7, 2026) A metalcore track that plays over the end credits of the latest sequel. The film’s score is by Marco Beltrami, and the soundtrack album arrived on Lakeshore Records in May 2026.
13. “Beware of Darkness” — George Harrison (Weapons, 2025) Harrison’s song opens the film as a young girl narrates the mysterious disappearances. The score is by Ryan Holladay, Hays Holladay, and director Zach Cregger. The Holladays also scored Resident Evil soundtrack (2026), which is worth a spot on your playlist if you want more of their sound.
Gothic and Family-Friendly Favorites
14. “This Is Halloween” — Danny Elfman (The Nightmare Before Christmas, 1993) Elfman wrote this opening number, and the residents of Halloween Town perform it. It is the quintessential anthem of the holiday.
15. “Main Titles” — Danny Elfman (Beetlejuice, 1988) Elfman’s bouncy, macabre main theme set the template for his gothic style. It pairs well with the next track.
16. “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” — Harry Belafonte (Beetlejuice, 1988) The dinner-party scene made this calypso song a Halloween staple. It is the playlist’s best singalong moment.
17. “Main Titles” — Danny Elfman (Sleepy Hollow, 1999) A swirling, choral gothic score from another Tim Burton collaboration. It suits a candlelit October evening.
18. “I Put a Spell on You” — Bette Midler (Hocus Pocus, 1993) Midler’s performance as Winifred Sanderson turned Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ 1956 song into a Halloween party favorite for a new generation.
Modern Horror Scores (2014–2026)
19. “Five Nights at Freddy’s” — The Newton Brothers (Five Nights at Freddy’s, 2023) The opening track of the score album sets the film’s creepy-arcade tone. The album was released by Back Lot Music on October 27, 2023.
20. “Title” — Disasterpeace (It Follows, 2014) Synth-heavy and built around a relentless hook, this theme made synth horror scoring cool again. It nods to Carpenter without copying him.
21. “I Lied to You” — Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson (Sinners, 2025) The song was nominated for Best Original Song, and Göransson won Best Original Score at the 2026 Academy Awards for the film. Read more in our Sinners soundtrack (2025) guide and our rundown of the Best Soundtrack Oscars 2026.
22. Score Album — Joseph Bishara (Hokum, 2026) Bishara is known for his work on the Insidious and The Conjuring franchises, and his Hokum score arrived digitally on May 1, 2026. The film’s music also leans on Irish folk and traditional sounds. Full details are in our Hokum soundtrack (2026) guide.
23. “Forever” — The Little Dippers (Obsession, 2026) A vintage doo-wop song that plays against the film’s modern supernatural horror, and a perfect lighter moment between heavier tracks. Rock Burwell composed the synth-driven score. See the Obsession soundtrack (2026) for the full breakdown.
24. “Waiting to Die” — Danny Elfman (Send Help, 2026) Elfman’s score for Sam Raimi’s survival horror mixes light tropical sounds with sharp, unsettling notes. Browse the complete Send Help soundtrack (2026) guide.
25. Score Album — Edo Van Breemen and Kane Parsons (Backrooms, 2026) An atmospheric, synth-based score built for liminal-space horror, and a good closer for a late-night playlist. See our Backrooms movie soundtrack (2026) guide.
How to Order This Playlist
Start with the family-friendly tracks for early trick-or-treaters, then move into the slasher needle drops once the party gets going. Save the classic scores and modern synth pieces for late in the night, when the lights are low.
Where to Listen to These Halloween Movie Songs
Most scores and songs here are available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music, either through official soundtrack albums or the artists’ own releases. Needle drops such as “Don’t Fear the Reaper” and “Red Right Hand” live on the artists’ albums rather than film soundtracks. Labels like Waxwork Records have also pressed horror scores on vinyl, and you can find more in our movie soundtrack hub.
FAQs
What are the best movie songs for a Halloween playlist?
A strong mix includes classic scores like Halloween, Psycho, and The Exorcist, needle drops like “Don’t Fear the Reaper” and “Red Right Hand,” and playful favorites like “This Is Halloween.”
Which horror movie theme is the most iconic?
John Carpenter’s theme for Halloween is the one most often named as the definitive horror movie theme.
What are good family-friendly Halloween movie songs?
Try “This Is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas, “Day-O” from Beetlejuice, and “I Put a Spell on You” from Hocus Pocus.
Which recent horror score won an Oscar?
Ludwig Göransson won Best Original Score for Sinners at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026.
Which 2026 horror soundtracks should I add to my playlist?
Good picks include Hokum, Obsession, Send Help, Backrooms, and the Scream 7 needle drop “Twisting the Knife.”
Which song opens Weapons?
“Beware of Darkness” by George Harrison plays over the film’s opening narration.
Where can I stream these songs?
Most are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music.
Related reading: 30 Best Halloween Party Songs to Play This Year and our streaming guide for where to find every platform.