The Best Horror TV Series to stream This Halloween – And Where to watch Them

From the return of Pennywise and the terrifying secrets of Crystal Lake to masked killers, supernatural mysteries and nostalgic teen horror, these are the horror TV series to add to your Halloween watchlist.

Halloween is the perfect excuse to turn off the lights, grab a mountain of snacks and settle down for a night of seriously scary television. Whether you love supernatural nightmares, blood-soaked slasher stories, mysterious small towns or the sort of psychological horror that stays with you long after the credits roll, there’s no shortage of frightening entertainment to enjoy.

And horror television has never been more exciting. Some of the biggest names in the genre have made the jump to the small screen, bringing familiar monsters, iconic franchises and completely new nightmares to a whole new generation of viewers.

From Stephen King’s terrifying universe of IT to the chilling mysteries of Stranger Things, there is something for every horror fan this Halloween.

If you’re looking for your next spooky-season binge, here are some of the best horror TV series to watch this Halloween, including where you can stream them in the UK.

1. IT: Welcome to Derry

Where to watch: Sky Atlantic, NOW and HBO Max (UK)

Set in the terrifying universe created by Stephen King, IT: Welcome to Derry takes viewers back decades before the events of the IT movies, exploring the dark history of the seemingly ordinary American town and the evil lurking beneath its streets.

Set in 1962, the series begins with the disappearance of a young boy. As more children go missing and increasingly disturbing events unfold, a group of young friends begins investigating the sinister occurrences. What they discover is a nightmare far beyond anything they could have imagined.

Bill Skarsgård returns to the world of Pennywise, bringing the terrifying clown back to television screens. The series also expands the mythology of Derry, exploring the town’s history and the cycle of fear and violence that surrounds it.

For fans of Stephen King, supernatural horror and genuinely unsettling television, this is essential Halloween viewing. Expect disturbing imagery, gruesome moments, childhood nightmares and plenty of reasons to keep the lights on.

Why watch it this Halloween? Because few horror villains are as recognisable or frightening as Pennywise, and Welcome to Derry gives fans a deeper look into the origins of the evil that has haunted generations.

2. Crystal Lake

Where to watch: Sky Atlantic, NOW and Sky Go (UK) / Peacock in the US

Welcome back to Crystal Lake, where a peaceful lakeside community is about to become the setting for one of horror’s most infamous nightmares.

A prequel to the legendary Friday the 13th franchise, Crystal Lake takes a different approach to the familiar story by focusing on Pamela Voorhees, played by Linda Cardellini.

The series explores the events surrounding the apparent drowning of her young son, Jason, and the devastating grief that follows. When two strangers arrive with questions about her past, disturbing secrets begin to emerge and the quiet town finds itself caught up in a terrifying chain of events.

Rather than simply relying on the familiar hockey mask and traditional slasher formula, the series builds its horror around psychological tension, family secrets and the transformation of a grieving mother.

It’s an intriguing new chapter for a franchise that has terrified horror fans for decades.

With eight episodes available to binge, Crystal Lake is a particularly good choice for anyone who enjoys classic slasher films and wants to explore the origins of one of the genre’s most recognisable horror worlds.

Why watch it this Halloween? If you love Friday the 13th, this is an opportunity to revisit its mythology from a fresh perspective, with a darker focus on the woman at the centre of the story.

3. Stranger Things

Where to watch: Netflix

Although it blends science fiction, supernatural horror, adventure and coming-of-age drama, Stranger Things has become one of the defining television experiences for horror fans.

Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, the series begins when a young boy mysteriously disappears. His friends soon encounter a strange girl with extraordinary abilities, while a series of increasingly disturbing events reveals the existence of a terrifying alternate dimension known as the Upside Down.

Created by the Duffer Brothers, the show combines the atmosphere of classic 1980s horror with memorable monsters, government conspiracies and a cast of characters that audiences have grown incredibly attached to.

From the terrifying Demogorgon to the nightmarish Mind Flayer and Vecna, the series delivers some genuinely frightening moments alongside its humour, friendship and nostalgia.

What makes Stranger Things particularly good Halloween viewing is its ability to balance scares with an entertaining story. It is creepy enough to satisfy horror fans without being relentlessly gruesome.

With its small-town mysteries, supernatural creatures, sinister laboratories and unforgettable Halloween atmosphere, Hawkins is somewhere you’ll want to visit again.

Why watch it this Halloween? For anyone who loves nostalgic horror, supernatural monsters and thrilling storytelling, Stranger Things is an obvious addition to the watchlist.

4. Scream: The TV Series

Where to watch: Check current UK availability through digital rental and purchase services.

What happens when the terrifying world of Scream moves beyond the big screen? You get a television series packed with suspicious characters, shocking twists and the constant possibility that anyone could be the next victim.

Inspired by the hugely successful slasher movie franchise, Scream takes the familiar ingredients of masked killers, teenage secrets and gruesome murders and develops them into a longer-running mystery.

The first two seasons centre on a group of teenagers in Lakewood, where a series of brutal killings brings the community’s darkest secrets to the surface. As the body count rises, friendships are tested, relationships unravel and nobody seems entirely trustworthy.

The third season, subtitled Resurrection, introduces a different cast and story, with a new collection of characters facing the threat of Ghostface.

One of the show’s biggest attractions is its willingness to play with familiar slasher conventions. Like the films, it understands that horror fans enjoy trying to work out who the killer is before the final reveal.

It’s a fun, bloody and suspenseful series that delivers plenty of the twists and turns associated with the Scream franchise.

Why watch it this Halloween? If you enjoy classic teen slashers, mysterious killers and trying to solve a murder mystery before everyone else, this deserves a place on your list.

5. I Know What You Did Last Summer

Where to watch: Check Prime Video and other UK digital streaming listings for current availability.

A year after a group of teenagers becomes involved in a terrible accident, their lives are turned upside down when somebody begins targeting them with a chilling message: they know what happened last summer.

Based on the popular horror franchise, the television adaptation of I Know What You Did Last Summer brings the familiar premise into a modern setting, introducing a new group of young characters with secrets they desperately want to keep buried.

As the mysterious killer closes in, relationships begin to fracture and the characters are forced to confront the consequences of their actions.

The series combines the traditional ingredients of a teen slasher with elements of mystery, psychological suspense and relationship drama.

Like the original films, its central appeal lies in the question of who knows the truth and how far they are prepared to go to expose it.

Although the television series takes a different direction from the films, it retains the franchise’s central themes of guilt, secrets, revenge and survival.

Why watch it this Halloween? It’s ideal for fans of late-1990s teen horror who enjoy a combination of murder mysteries, dramatic twists and masked-killer scares.

6. The Haunting of Hill House

Where to watch: Netflix

For viewers who prefer their horror atmospheric, emotional and genuinely unsettling, The Haunting of Hill House is one of the finest television horror experiences of recent years.

Created by Mike Flanagan, the series follows the Crain family, whose traumatic childhood experiences in a mysterious mansion continue to haunt them well into adulthood.

Moving between the family’s past and present, the story gradually reveals the terrifying events that took place inside Hill House and the psychological damage they left behind.

What makes the series so effective is that it is about much more than ghosts. It explores grief, trauma, family relationships and the ways in which our past can shape our future.

Of course, there are plenty of frightening moments along the way, including some wonderfully executed jump scares and unsettling supernatural appearances.

The series also rewards repeat viewing, with hidden ghosts appearing in the background of numerous scenes.

Why watch it this Halloween? If you want something genuinely creepy with a compelling story and memorable scares, this should be near the top of your list.

7. American Horror Story

Where to watch: Disney+ (UK)

Why settle for one horror story when you can have an entirely new nightmare every season?

American Horror Story is an anthology series that reinvents itself with different characters, settings and supernatural threats. Each instalment explores a different corner of the horror genre, from haunted houses and sinister institutions to witches, cults and disturbing historical mysteries.

The series features a recurring collection of actors, including Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Jessica Lange, who take on different roles across its various seasons.

Some seasons lean heavily into supernatural horror, while others explore psychological terror, slasher storytelling and disturbing real-world themes.

Its anthology format makes it particularly appealing for Halloween because you can choose a season that suits your preferred type of horror without necessarily watching the entire series.

For maximum spooky-season atmosphere, Murder House, Asylum and Coven are particularly memorable starting points.

Why watch it this Halloween? It’s an excellent choice for horror fans who enjoy variety, outrageous twists, memorable villains and stories that aren’t afraid to get dark.

8. The Walking Dead

Where to watch: Check Disney+ and UK digital streaming listings.

Zombies might be one of horror’s most familiar concepts, but The Walking Dead demonstrates just how terrifying the undead can be when civilisation collapses.

Based on Robert Kirkman’s comic books, the series follows a group of survivors attempting to navigate a world overrun by flesh-eating walkers.

However, the biggest threat isn’t always the zombies. As the survivors encounter new communities and hostile groups, the series explores the frightening lengths people will go to in order to survive.

With gruesome practical effects, relentless tension and some genuinely shocking moments, The Walking Dead offers plenty of horror entertainment.

It is also a great option for anyone looking for a longer Halloween binge, with multiple seasons and an expansive television universe to explore.

Why watch it this Halloween? For zombie horror, survival drama and a constant supply of gruesome moments, it’s difficult to beat.

9. From

Where to watch: Check MGM+ and current UK digital streaming listings.

Imagine moving into a town you cannot leave, where every road leads you back to the same place and terrifying creatures emerge after dark.

That’s the disturbing premise of From, a supernatural horror series that has developed a devoted following thanks to its mysterious setting and increasingly unsettling storyline.

The show follows people trapped in a strange town, where residents must work together to survive. During daylight hours, they try to understand the bizarre world around them. At night, however, they must barricade themselves inside their homes to protect themselves from mysterious creatures that look human but are anything but friendly.

The series gradually introduces more questions than answers, creating an atmosphere of paranoia and dread that keeps viewers guessing.

It’s the sort of horror show that makes you want to watch just one more episode, even when you know you probably shouldn’t.

Why watch it this Halloween? If you enjoy supernatural mysteries, creepy creatures and stories that keep you guessing, From is a brilliant choice.

10. Bates Motel

Where to watch: Check current UK streaming and digital purchase listings.

Before Norman Bates became one of cinema’s most infamous killers, he was a troubled teenager living with his mother.

Bates Motel explores the relationship between Norman and Norma Bates, providing a contemporary prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic psychological thriller Psycho.

Set in the fictional town of White Pine Bay, the series follows the pair as they attempt to run a motel while Norman’s increasingly disturbing behaviour raises questions about his mental state and the secrets surrounding his family.

The show gradually develops into a dark psychological thriller, with excellent performances from Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga.

Unlike traditional supernatural horror, its scares come from the unsettling behaviour of its characters and the disturbing realisation of what Norman might eventually become.

Why watch it this Halloween? For fans of psychological horror, dark family dramas and classic cinema, Bates Motel offers a fascinating and disturbing viewing experience.

The final Halloween horror watchlist

Whether you’re planning a full weekend of horror or simply want something frightening to watch on Halloween night, these series offer plenty of options.

For the biggest supernatural scares, choose IT: Welcome to Derry. If classic slasher horror is more your thing, Crystal Lake and Scream are excellent choices. For nostalgic supernatural adventure, revisit Stranger Things, while The Haunting of Hill House is perfect for anyone looking for something genuinely chilling.

And if you prefer mysteries that leave you questioning everything, From and I Know What You Did Last Summer are worth adding to your list.

One thing is certain: this Halloween, there is no shortage of monsters, murderers, ghosts and terrifying secrets waiting to make their way onto your television screen.

So turn down the lights, lock the doors and settle in. Just remember to check what’s lurking behind you before the opening credits finish.

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