Best Series to Stream This Halloween

If you are in the mood for creepy stories, occult mysteries, or slow burn dread, these series deliver plenty of chills with tight storytelling and memorable characters. You will find haunted houses, small town secrets, unreliable narrators, and monsters hiding in plain sight. Each pick notes the series home in a simple way so you know where it comes from. Queue them up, dim the lights, and let the eerie vibes take over.

‘The Haunting of Hill House’ (2018)

This Netflix limited series reimagines Shirley Jackson’s novel across two timelines as the Crain family confronts the lingering effects of a tragic childhood. Creator Mike Flanagan structures the story with character focused episodes that reveal how grief and trauma echo over time. Key installments use long takes and hidden specters for a layered viewing experience. The ensemble includes Carla Gugino, Michiel Huisman, and Victoria Pedretti in pivotal roles.

‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’ (2020)

This Netflix follow up uses Henry James stories to build a gothic romance centered on a nanny caring for two children in a remote manor. The narrative weaves love, memory, and possession into a slow building mystery. Mike Flanagan oversees the production with returning cast members in new roles. The setting, costuming, and recurring motifs reward attentive viewers.

‘Midnight Mass’ (2021)

This Netflix series focuses on an isolated island parish that changes after a charismatic priest arrives. The story blends religious themes with supernatural elements and explores faith, addiction, and community. Hamish Linklater and Kate Siegel lead a cast that anchors the intimate setting. Creator Mike Flanagan crafts lengthy conversations that build tension before the horror erupts.

‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ (2023)

This Netflix production adapts Edgar Allan Poe’s works through a modern saga about a powerful pharmaceutical family. The show structures each episode around a different Poe inspiration while tracking a mysterious reckoning. Carla Gugino appears as a figure tying the chapters together across decades. Creator Mike Flanagan assembles frequent collaborators to deliver a connected anthology feel.

‘Stranger Things’ (2016– )

This Netflix phenomenon follows kids and teens in Hawkins as they face creatures from the Upside Down. The series balances government experiments, alternate dimensions, and coming of age stories. Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and David Harbour headline a large ensemble. The soundtrack, period details, and serialized arcs build across seasons.

‘American Horror Story’ (2011– )

This FX anthology presents a new setting and cast configuration each season, from haunted houses to witch covens and sinister hotels. Creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk use recurring performers like Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters in fresh roles. The series mixes real world references with original mythology. Each season tells a complete story while nodding to others.

‘Channel Zero’ (2016–2018)

This Syfy series adapts internet creepypasta tales into self contained seasons with distinct visual styles. Creator Nick Antosca shepherds arcs like Candle Cove and No-End House with tightly paced storytelling. Practical effects and carefully designed sets ground the surreal imagery. The show uses different casts each season to suit the new narratives.

‘Penny Dreadful’ (2014–2016)

This Showtime drama intertwines classic literary figures such as Frankenstein’s creature and Dorian Gray within a Victorian London tale. Creator John Logan crafts character driven arcs for Eva Green, Timothy Dalton, and Josh Hartnett. The production emphasizes period detail, language, and mythology. Its three seasons present a complete narrative throughline.

‘Yellowjackets’ (2021– )

This Showtime series alternates between a high school soccer team’s wilderness ordeal and the survivors’ adult lives. Creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson construct parallel mysteries that slowly connect. Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, and Christina Ricci anchor the present day storyline. The show uses flashbacks and clues to reveal what happened and why it still matters.

‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)

This NBC psychological thriller explores the relationship between profiler Will Graham and Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Developed by Bryan Fuller, the series adapts Thomas Harris material with stylized imagery and culinary symbolism. Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy lead the cast with Gillian Anderson in a key recurring role. The three seasons trace shifting alliances and investigations.

‘The Terror’ (2018–2019)

This AMC anthology opens with a fictionalized account of a Royal Navy expedition trapped in Arctic ice. The first season adapts Dan Simmons’s novel with Jared Harris and Ciarán Hinds facing harsh conditions and an unknown threat. The second season shifts to a different historical setting with new characters. Each installment pairs period drama with unsettling folklore.

‘True Detective’ (2014– )

This HBO crime anthology presents closed cases with new casts and locales each season. Creator Nic Pizzolatto uses nonlinear timelines and layered clues to build mood and mystery. Notable runs feature Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in Louisiana and later ensembles in different regions. Themes of memory, corruption, and belief recur across the series.

‘The Outsider’ (2020)

This HBO limited series adapts Stephen King’s novel about an investigation that defies conventional explanations. Ben Mendelsohn and Cynthia Erivo lead the cast as evidence points in conflicting directions. The production favors meticulous procedure before introducing the uncanny. The story concludes within one season with a clear resolution.

‘From’ (2022– )

This MGM+ series follows travelers trapped in a town that will not let people leave. Nightfall brings creatures that test the community’s rules for survival. Harold Perrineau stars as a sheriff maintaining order while residents search for answers. The setting expands over time through new arrivals and discovered landmarks.

‘Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities’ (2022– )

This Netflix anthology curates eight standalone horror stories from different directors. Each episode adapts an original script or a short story with its own cast and look. Filmmakers like Jennifer Kent and Panos Cosmatos contribute entries that range from creature features to occult mysteries. Guillermo del Toro introduces the episodes with short framing segments.

‘Marianne’ (2019)

This French horror series on Netflix follows a novelist whose monstrous creation seems to stalk her hometown. It blends folklore with psychological dread as old friends reunite to confront a curse. Coastal locations and practical effects give the haunting a grounded feel. Each episode escalates the mystery while revealing pages from the author’s past.

‘Kingdom’ (2019– )

Set in Joseon era Korea, this Netflix thriller mixes political intrigue with a fast moving plague that revives the dead. Royal court schemes collide with survival tactics in remote provinces. Cinematography emphasizes sweeping landscapes and cramped fortress battles. The show expands its lore through shifting alliances and secret research.

‘Servant’ (2019–2023)

This Apple TV+ series centers on a Philadelphia couple and the enigmatic nanny who arrives after a family tragedy. The story unfolds inside a brownstone where rituals, meals, and small objects take on chilling significance. Tension builds through quiet scenes and unnerving sound design. The narrative explores faith, guilt, and control behind closed doors.

‘Black Mirror’ (2011– )

Netflix’s anthology presents standalone stories where technology exposes hidden fears. Episodes range from social experiments to supernatural tinges, always anchored in human choices. Distinct casts and aesthetics keep each chapter self contained. Twists often hinge on surveillance, identity, and unintended consequences.

‘Bates Motel’ (2013–2017)

This A&E drama serves as a contemporary prequel to the world of ‘Psycho’. It traces a mother and son’s complicated bond as a small town hides trafficking and corruption. Production design updates the iconic house and motel for a new setting. The series layers police investigations with family secrets.

‘Lovecraft Country’ (2020)

HBO’s adaptation follows a road trip that confronts both cosmic threats and human cruelty. It mixes pulp adventure with folklore, alchemy, and haunted houses. Historical settings frame monsters as reflections of social terror. The season tells a complete arc with artifacts, spells, and tangled bloodlines.

‘The Walking Dead’ (2010–2022)

AMC’s long running survival saga tracks communities rebuilding after an outbreak. It explores shifting leadership, trade networks, and rival factions. Practical makeup effects define its walkers and large scale set pieces. Spin offs and companion stories branch from the core narrative.

‘Castlevania’ (2017–2021)

This Netflix animated series adapts the classic video game mythos with court intrigue and vampire politics. It follows a monster hunter, a mage, and a conflicted heir as they cross war torn lands. Fight choreography highlights whips, spells, and demonic creatures. Gothic towns and catacombs create a layered world.

‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ (2023– )

Netflix continues the saga with a new hero facing an ascendant vampire messiah during a revolution. The story widens the map with fresh factions and relics. Animation emphasizes fluid combat and detailed locations. References to earlier lore connect characters across generations.

‘Goosebumps’ (2023– )

Disney+ and Hulu present a modern take on the beloved book series with serialized mysteries. Teen protagonists uncover a legacy of cursed objects in their town. Each episode advances a larger plot while spotlighting a specific artifact. Flashbacks fill in the origin of the hauntings.

‘What We Do in the Shadows’ (2019– )

FX’s mockumentary follows vampire roommates navigating modern Staten Island. The series digs into familiars, councils, and ancient customs clashing with everyday life. Creature effects and deadpan interviews keep the mythology playful yet detailed. Recurring guests expand the supernatural bureaucracy.

‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ (2018–2020)

This Netflix drama reimagines Greendale with covens, infernal politics, and occult courts. It balances mortal life with academy rituals and contracts. Production leans on practical sets like crypts, libraries, and spell circles. Folklore creatures and witch law drive the conflicts.

‘Supernatural’ (2005–2020)

The CW’s road trip saga covers hunts for ghosts, demons, and pagan entities across backroads. Lore builds through journals, sigils, and recovered artifacts. Motels, diners, and small towns form the show’s traveling canvas. Long term arcs weave in celestial wars and family legacies.

‘The X-Files’ (1993–2018)

Fox’s landmark series pairs an FBI duo investigating unexplained cases with a larger government conspiracy. Monster of the week episodes introduce cryptids, parasites, and urban legends. The mythology threads involve abductions and secret projects. Case files and autopsies ground the eerie discoveries.

‘Archive 81’ (2022)

This Netflix mystery tracks an archivist restoring damaged tapes tied to a vanished filmmaker and a cult. The story jumps between videotape footage and present day investigations. Apartment rituals, sigils, and corporate research link the timelines. Found footage techniques amplify the unease.

‘Evil’ (2019–2024)

This Paramount+ series follows a forensic psychologist, a priest in training, and a tech expert who investigate alleged miracles and demonic possessions. It examines cases through scientific tests, theological interviews, and digital forensics. Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, and Aasif Mandvi lead the team as their files connect to a broader adversary. Episodes balance stand alone investigations with an expanding mythology.

‘True Blood’ (2008–2014)

This HBO drama is set in a Louisiana town where synthetic blood allows vampires to live openly among humans. The story centers on telepath Sookie Stackhouse and the shifting politics between supernatural groups. Bar culture, church organizing, and regional law enforcement frame the conflicts. The series draws on folklore, vampire hierarchies, and small town alliances.

‘The Strain’ (2014–2017)

This FX series adapts novels by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan about a parasitic outbreak with ancient roots. The plot follows CDC investigators, a former professor, and city residents as they fight a spreading threat. Practical creature effects and biological details shape its version of vampirism. Power struggles unfold across government offices, gangs, and secret orders.

‘The Devil’s Hour’ (2022– )

This Prime Video thriller follows a social worker who wakes every night at the same time and becomes tied to a police investigation. The story blends serial crime with visions and recurring patterns. Peter Capaldi and Jessica Raine anchor the central mystery as clues echo across lives. The series uses interviews and evidence boards to track connections.

‘Paranormal’ (2020)

This Netflix adaptation of Ahmed Khaled Tawfik’s novels follows a skeptical hematologist drawn into cases that defy explanation. Episodes move through haunted homes, curses, and ancient artifacts in Egypt and abroad. A recurring ensemble builds continuity around the lead’s colleagues and family. The show mixes medical reasoning with folklore and archaeology.

‘Dracula’ (2020)

This BBC and Netflix co production reimagines the count through three feature length chapters. The creators use shifting narrators, journals, and legal records to retell the legend. Settings move from castles to ships to modern institutions. Claes Bang portrays the title role with a focus on strategy and curiosity.

‘Slasher’ (2016– )

This anthology from Shudder tells self contained murder mysteries with new casts and killers each season. Stories revolve around small communities, inheritance disputes, and long buried secrets. Police reports, town history, and local politics shape the investigations. The format delivers a closed case while linking themes across installments.

‘Hemlock Grove’ (2013–2015)

This Netflix series tracks murders in a Pennsylvania town tied to a biotech firm and old families. A friendship between a suspected werewolf and a wealthy outsider drives the core plot. Science labs, steel town ruins, and private estates create a distinct setting. The mystery builds through medical experiments, folklore, and corporate agendas.

‘Over the Garden Wall’ (2014)

This Cartoon Network miniseries follows two brothers who wander through a strange wood guided by a talking bluebird. Each chapter introduces towns with their own rules and seasonal rituals. Music, riddles, and folk imagery shape the journey. The show is available on Max for easy streaming.

‘Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace’ (2004)

This Channel 4 cult favorite presents a fake recovered hospital horror show with commentary from its creators. The narrative uses intentionally rough effects, exaggerated performances, and in universe interviews. It satirizes low budget genre TV while delivering monsters and occult mishaps. Episodes are short and easy to sample.

‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (2015–2023)

This AMC companion series begins at the start of the outbreak on the West Coast and follows survivors across regions. The story evolves through shifting communities, trading outposts, and rival leaders. Character arcs tie into resources like dams, stadiums, and settlements. Crossovers link it to ‘The Walking Dead’ while keeping its own trajectory.

‘The Exorcist’ (2016–2017)

This Fox series continues the legacy of the original story with two priests confronting possession cases. The show combines parish life, police involvement, and family history in urban and rural settings. Investigations include exorcism rites, medical testing, and surveillance. Each season presents a complete case with ties to the larger lore.

‘Scream’ (2015–2019)

This MTV and VH1 series reworks the slasher premise for a new town plagued by a masked killer. High school dynamics, podcasts, and digital footprints become key evidence. Investigations move through parties, detention rooms, and abandoned sites. The seasons function as separate arcs with fresh suspects and motives.

‘The Purge’ (2018–2019)

This USA Network series expands the film universe by following characters before, during, and after the annual event. Storylines track corporate schemes, neighborhood security groups, and black market operations. Timelines reveal how decisions on the night ripple through the rest of the year. The show uses surveillance feeds, masks, and emergency broadcasts as storytelling tools.

‘The Originals’ (2013–2018)

This CW drama centers on the Mikaelson family as they navigate vampire and witch politics in New Orleans. Alliances form around covens, night markets, and ancestral ties. The plot uses compulsion, binding rituals, and family pacts to drive power shifts. Connections to ‘The Vampire Diaries’ provide additional context without overshadowing the setting.

Tell us which spooky series you are streaming first in the comments.