Looking for a fun way to practise your English this Halloween? Watching Halloween movies in English is a great way to improve your listening skills, learn new vocabulary and hear how native speakers use everyday expressions.
Here are 5 spooky movies to watch this Halloween, with useful English words and phrases to listen out for.
1. Hocus Pocus (1993)
English level: B1–B2
A Halloween classic about three witches brought back to life in Salem. Hocus Pocus is fun, easy to follow and full of Halloween vocabulary.
Useful words: witch, spell, potion, haunted, revenge
Expression to learn: “I’m scared to death!”
Used when you are extremely frightened.
2. The Addams Family (1991)
English level: B2-C1
If you prefer comedy to horror, The Addams Family is a great Halloween choice. You’ll hear lots of vocabulary related to spooky and mysterious things.
Useful words: eccentric, gloomy, sarcastic, deadpan, unconventional
Expression to learn: “Give me the creeps.”
Used when something makes you feel uncomfortable or slightly scared.
3. Casper (1995)
English level: A2–B1
Looking for a less scary option? Casper is about a friendly ghost who wants to make friends. The simple story and dialogue make it a good choice for English learners.
Useful words: ghost, friendly, frightened, haunted house, ghost story
Expression to learn: “I’m frightened.”
Remember: frightened describes how you feel, while frightening describes something that causes fear.
4. Practical Magic (1998)
English level: B2
For fans of witches, magic and romance, Practical Magic is a perfect Halloween movie. Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, the film follows two sisters from a family of witches.
And if you love the original, there’s even more reason to watch it this Halloween: Practical Magic 2 is now in cinemas! 🎬
Useful words: witchcraft, curse, bewitched, sisterhood, resentment
Expression to learn: “I have a feeling…”
A useful way to say that you think something is going to happen.
5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
English level: B1-B2
Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, discovers Christmas Town and decides to bring Christmas to Halloween Town. With songs, dialogue and plenty of descriptive language, it’s a fun challenge for more advanced learners.
Useful words: skeleton, curiosity, wonder, tradition, mysterious
Expression to learn: “It gave me goosebumps.”
Used when something makes you feel frightened, excited or amazed.
6. Scream (1996)
English level: B2–C1
If you’re a fan of real horror, Scream is a classic choice. When a masked killer begins targeting teenagers in a quiet town, Sidney Prescott and her friends must figure out who is behind the terrifying attacks.
The film combines suspense, mystery and dark humour, making it useful for advanced learners who want to understand natural conversations, sarcasm and informal American English.
Useful words: suspense, suspect, threatening, alibi, investigate
Expression to learn: “What’s going on?”
A common expression used when you’re confused, surprised or trying to understand a situation.
How to Learn English with Movies
Want to get more out of your Halloween movie night?
Watch fully in English: Try using English subtitles rather than subtitles in your first language.
Learn new vocabulary: Write down 5–10 useful words or expressions.
Repeat phrases: Pause the movie and repeat interesting expressions to practise your pronunciation.
Talk about the movie: Tell a friend or classmate what happened and share your opinion in English.
You don’t need to understand every word to improve your English. The more English you hear, the more natural it will become.
So grab some popcorn, choose your favourite Halloween movie, and enjoy learning English!
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