See the Scariest Movies in Los Angeles

Enjoy cinematic thrills and chills this Halloween season!

Janet Leigh in "Psycho" (1960)
Janet Leigh in "Psycho" (1960) | Photo: Universal Pictures

Get ready for spooky screenings at landmark movie palaces and outdoor venues across Los Angeles! Enjoy horror classics and modern masterpieces that will surely get you in the Halloween spirit.

For more Halloween events and activities, check out our Ultimate Halloween Guide... if you dare!

Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle in "Halloween" (1978)
Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle in "Halloween" (1978) | Photo: Compass International Pictures

Rooftop Cinema Club (October 2024)



Rooftop Cinema Club offers a premier outdoor movie experience at LEVEL in Downtown LA. This Halloween, RCC is putting the "SIN" in "cinema" with its stacked Spooky SZN lineup:

Hocus Pocus (Oct. 2, 15, 31), Scream (Oct. 4, 10, 18, 29), Beetlejuice (Oct. 6, 28), Twilight (Oct. 8), Abigail (Oct. 8), The Shining (Oct. 9), The Blackening (Oct. 9), Scream 2 (Oct. 10), A Quiet Place: Day One (Oct. 11, 15, 29), American Psycho (Oct. 11), The Addams Family (Oct. 12), The Sixth Sense (Oct. 12), The Silence of the Lambs (Oct. 13), Ready or Not (Oct. 16), Practical Magic (Oct. 17, 30), The Exorcist (Oct. 18), The Crow (Oct. 19), Halloween (Oct. 19), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct. 20), The Conjuring (Oct. 22), Trick 'r Treat (Oct. 23), Death Becomes Her (Oct. 24), Get Out (Oct. 24), Edward Scissorhands (Oct. 25), Friday the 13th (Oct. 25), Jennifer's Body (Oct. 26) Shutter Island (Oct. 26), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Oct. 27), Blade (Oct. 30) and Halloween (Oct. 31).

For tickets and the complete movie schedule, visit the Rooftop Cinema Club website.

"Hocus Pocus" (1993)
"Hocus Pocus" (1993) | Photo: Buena Vista Pictures

BLOCtober Movie Nights - The Bloc (October 2024)



This October, The Bloc in Downtown LA presents BLOCtober Movie Nights, taking place every Thursday: Ghostbusters (Oct. 3), Hocus Pocus (Oct. 10), Monsters Inc. (Oct. 17) and The Nightmare Before Christmas (Oct. 24). Screenings are free and open to the public. Picnicking is allowed - you can grab take out from Bloc restaurants HATCH, JOEY, District and Marugame Udon. All ages and furry friends are welcome. Feel free to bring low chairs, blankets and pillows. (Tall chairs are not allowed.) Check-in starts at 6pm and the movie will start at 6:30pm.

Janet Leigh in "Psycho" (1960)
Janet Leigh in "Psycho" (1960) | Photo: Universal Pictures

Street Food Cinema (October 2024)



Featuring a wide range of films, gourmet food trucks and live music, Street Food Cinema presents outdoor screenings at locations across LA, from the Autry Museum of the American West to Los Angeles State Historic Park and The Ford.

Along with Boo-ze, Bites & Frights at Heritage Square (see below), this Halloween season SFC is presenting Hitchcock Night: Psycho & The Birds at The Autry (Oct. 26), Beetlejuice at LA State Historic Park (Oct. 26) and The Shining and Young Frankenstein at The Ford on October 30 and Halloween Night, respectively.

Jack Nicholson in "The Shining"
"Here's Johnny!" | Photo: "The Shining," Facebook

Tropicana Horror Nights - Hollywood Roosevelt (October 2024)



This Halloween season, the Hollywood Roosevelt's popular poolside movie series transforms into Tropicana Horror Nights, screening at the famed David Hockney pool every Thursday night. The 2024 lineup includes A Nightmare on Elm Street (Oct. 3), The Birds (Oct. 10), Get Out (Oct. 17), Carrie (Oct. 24) and The Shining on Halloween Night.

Advance tickets at Eventbrite are required. Doors at 7pm, movie starts at 8:30pm. Full bar and food menu available until 9:45pm.

Swimming is encouraged, so feel free to splash around and make the most of this unique, fun-filled night. Whether you’re a hotel guest or a local looking for a memorable evening, Tropicana Movie Nights is the perfect way to enjoy classic films in a spectacular setting. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit and dive into the magic of Hollywood!

Bela Lugosi in "White Zombie"
Bela Lugosi in "White Zombie" | Photo: United Artists

Philosophical Research Society (October 2024)



The October calendar for the Philosophical Research Society is packed with screenings, lectures and events that lean into horror, magic and tradition.

Movie highlights include The Outcasts on October 2; a Bela Lugosi Tribute Night with his granddaughter Lynne Lugosi Sparks, film historian Justin Humphreys and a 16mm screening of White Zombie (Oct. 18); The Vourdalak (Oct. 20) and Ganja & Hess on October 22.

Tickets for all screenings are on sale at the PRS Eventbrite page.

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" | Photo: 20th Century Fox

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" - Nuart Theatre (October 2024)



The longest-running midnight movie of all time, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) stars Tim Curry as the kinky yet endearing “transsexual from Transylvania” Dr. Frank N. Furter; Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick as his hapless guests Janet and Brad; Meat Loaf as motorcycle-riding rough trade; and author Richard O’Brien as the hunchbacked butler Riff Raff.

Nearly 50 years after its original release, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is still the best interactive movie experience for longtime fans and newbies alike. In October, the Landmark Nuart Theatre is screening Rocky Horror with Live Shadow Cast at 11pm every Saturday night; plus 10pm on Friday, October 24, Halloween Night and November 1. Let's do the Time Warp again!

Sam in "Trick 'r Treat"
Sam in "Trick 'r Treat" (2007) | Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

Cinespia - Hollywood Forever (October 2024)



Cinespia hosts classic films and modern favorites at historic locations across LA. Its most popular events take place on Saturdays at the famed Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The outdoor screenings take place on the Fairbanks Lawn, named for the adjacent crypt housing both Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and Jr. Guests picnic under the stars and watch films digitally projected against the wall of the Cathedral Mausoleum, which houses the crypt of Rudolph Valentino among many others. Upcoming screenings include Coraline on October 12; and Trick 'r Treat on October 19, featuring classic concessions, a DJ dance party and free photo booth. Tickets are on sale at the Cinespia website.

Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff in "The Black Cat" (1934)
Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff in "The Black Cat" (1934) | Photo: Universal Pictures

"The Black Cat" - Los Feliz Theatre (Oct. 11, 2024)



American Cinematheque presents The Black Cat, screening at the Los Feliz Theatre on Friday, October 11. Based on the short story by Edgar Allan Poe, The Black Cat stars Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. American honeymooners in Hungary become trapped in the home of a Satan-worshiping priest (Karloff) when the bride is taken there for medical help following a road accident. The program will begin with a live recording of the Greg Proops Film Club podcast. Feature starts at 7:30pm.

Boo-ze, Bites & Frights Map
Boo-ze, Bites & Frights Map | Photo: Street Food Cinema

Boo-ze, Bites & Frights - Heritage Square (Oct. 11-12 & 18-19, 2024)



The living museum of LA's 19th and early 20th century architecture and history, Heritage Square is hosting Boo-ze, Bites & Frights - outdoor double features presented in collaboration with Street Food Cinema.

Co-presented by Paramount Scares, the double features kick off with Paranormal Activity & The Ring on Friday, October 11; then From Dusk Till Dawn & The Faculty (Oct. 12), A Nightmare on Elm Street & Freddy vs Jason (Oct. 18), and X & Pearl on October 19.

The double features include Victorian Home Tours, Adult Trick-or-Treating, creepy photo ops, boo-zy bars and food trucks. "Dress to distress" for a chance to win prizes!

Tickets for the double features are on sale at the SFC website. 21 and over. Chairs will be provided to guests on a first-come, first served basis.

Spanish "Drácula"
Spanish "Drácula" | Photo: LA Opera

Spanish "Drácula" - The United Theater on Broadway (Oct. 25-27, 2024)



LA Opera's annual Halloween mash-up of horror and live music returns to the spectacular United Theater on Broadway (formerly The Theatre at Ace Hotel) with Drácula: The Spanish Version.

While Bela Lugosi was vamping it up in front of the cameras by day, a night crew shot an alternate version of Dracula in Spanish — same sets, same story, new cast. Starring Carlos Villarías, his second incarnation of the classic was largely forgotten until a recent renaissance, and many now hail it as the superior version.

See it on the big screen (with English subtitles) as Resident Conductor Lina González-Granados leads the LA Opera Orchestra in a live performance of a new LAO-commissioned score by Academy Award-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla (The Last of Us, Brokeback Mountain), who will also star as a featured performer.

"Young Frankenstein" poster
"Young Frankenstein" poster | Photo: 20th Century Fox

The Ford (Oct. 30-31, 2024)



Produced in partnership with Street Food Cinema, The Ford presents two Halloween screenings: The Shining on Wednesday, October 30; and a 50th anniversary screening of Mel Brooks' classic Young Frankenstein on Halloween Night. Arrive early to celebrate the film’s anniversary with pre-show entertainment and other goodies—and it’s Halloween, so don’t forget to dress to kill!

"Creature from the Black Lagoon"
"Creature from the Black Lagoon" | Photo: Universal Pictures

Monster Mash - Academy Museum (Oct. 26, 2024)



Calling all ghosts and ghouls for a monstrously good time! On Saturday, October 26, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will host the Monster Mash, a fun-filled day of screenings, special effects makeup demonstrations, ghostly tours, special monster appearances and activities. Films include an Accessible Screening of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein; the Spanish language version of Drácula in 4K; and the 70th anniversary of Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3D.

"Nosferatu" at Walt Disney Concert Hall
"Nosferatu" at Walt Disney Concert Hall | Photo: LA Phil

"Nosferatu" - Walt Disney Concert Hall (Oct. 31, 2024)



It's "Horror in the Hall" with Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), screening on Halloween Night at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown LA.

Directed by F. W. Murnau, Nosferatu stars Max Schreck as Count Orlok, a vampire who preys on the wife of his estate agent and brings the plague to their town. Organ virtuoso Clark Wilson will perform a chilling, original organ score on the Hall’s "monstrous" pipe organ to accompany this masterpiece of the silent era and one of the most influential horror films of all time.

"Suspiria" presented by Cinespia at The Orpheum
"Suspiria" | Photo: Cinespia

Cinespia: "Suspiria" - The Orpheum Theatre (Oct. 31, 2024)



On Halloween Night, Cinespia presents Suspiria, the original danse macabre from visionary director Dario Argento. Something wicked this way comes in Argento’s Giallo magnum opus that is as beautiful as it is bewitching. Suzy (Jessica Harper) finds her admission to a famed ballet school comes with a prickly price. A cabinet of otherworldly wonders awaits her with bucketfuls of creepy crawlies and supernatural hysterics.

Party with Cinespia at The Orpheum Theatre and celebrate Halloween in spectral style! Beware the scares around every corner of the landmark movie house. DJ sets put the horror in motion and the free photo booth will take your breath away. Film presented in DCP.