Adobe Stock
Audio By Carbonatix
October is descending. Pumpkins will soon adorn porches everywhere. Gigantic bags of candy are on sale at your local supermarket. And then there’s the movies playing at your local multiplexes. Horror films are about to dominate every theater in the area. You’re likely well aware of new horror releases like Good Boy, Bone Lake, The Black Phone 2 and Shelby Oaks that are scheduled to hit the big screen throughout October.
But what about the classic horror movies returning to theaters in the spirit of the season? Below is a guide to the most enticing and highly anticipated vintage horror movie screenings scheduled for October 2025. Some of these will be playing at multiplexes everywhere, while others will be confined to special locations, such as The Texas Theatre or various Alamo Drafthouse locations.
Wherever these screenings are happening, there’s plenty of pre-2020s frightening filmmaking heading to the big screen in the Dallas area this October to satisfy all stripes of horror fans. Get into the spirit of the season, grab your popcorn and Silver Shamrock mask, and let’s dive into what October 2025’s local cinema looks like.
The Birds
Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane)
Oct. 1 at 4:15 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:45 p.m.
Ready to never look at birds the same way again? Then fly right over to Angelika Dallas on the first day of October 2025 to watch The Birds. Three showtimes for this Alfred Hitchcock classic on Oct.1 ensure that The Birds on the big screen can work into your day, no matter your schedule.
Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II
The Texas Theatre (231 W. Jefferson Blvd.)
Oct. 1 at 9:15 p.m.
The Texas Theatre always reliably houses kooky genre fare that may not be on the general public’s radar. To kick off October, this historic theater is screening a lesser-known ’80s horror classic, Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II. The film garnered a dedicated cult following in recent years, and The Texas Theatre’s offering folks a chance to see what all the fuss is about.
F.W. Murnau’s Faust
The Texas Theatre (231 W. Jefferson Blvd)
Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.
F.W. Murnau is one of the greatest directors of all time. An especially memorable accomplishment in his filmography is 1926’s Faust, a silent film still chilling people to the bone today. This particular Faust screening will be accompanied by a live, distinctly modern film score from The Silent Light.
Scream (1996)
Alamo Drafthouse Richardson, Cedars and Denton: Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Las Colinas and Lake Highlands: Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.
Watching the original Scream on the big screen again in October sounds like a divine experience under any circumstances. To boost the fun, DFW Alamo Drafthouse locations are presenting Scream this year as a “movie party,” an experience that Alamo Drafthouse describes as “an immersive, interactive experience for cinema fans featuring fun props, themed drinks and more.” Even if you don’t like scary movies, how could one pass up this kind of fun movie theater outing?
The Devil’s Rejects 20th Anniversary
Oct. 6 and 8, various showtimes at movie theaters everywhere
Rob Zombie’s infamous cult classic is coming back to the big screen for its 20th anniversary. If you have a strong stomach and are ready for some grimy entertainment, suit up for this movie that truly earns its love-it-or-hate-it reputation.
The Thing (1982)
Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane)
Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.
Tired of waiting for the weather to get chilly? Head over to Angelika Dallas on Oct. 7 for the ultimate chilly horror movie, The Thing. Body horror and groundbreaking makeup effects abound in one of John Carpenter’s greatest directorial accomplishments. Plus, it’s set in Antarctica, the total opposite of sizzling Texas.
Bride of Re-Animator
Alamo Drafthouse Cedars (1005 Botham Jean Blvd. )
Oct. 7 at 9 p.m.
Who doesn’t love weddings? Especially when it involves reanimating a dead woman and the warped world of Re-Animator.
Rope
Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane)
Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
Jimmy Stewart plus Alfred Hitchcock equals great cinema. This chilling thriller, loosely based on the Leopold and Loeb murder case, is an especially great use of their talents thanks to its daring camerawork and tight, claustrophobic scope.
The Craft (1996)
Alamo Drafthouse Cedars: Oct. 10 at 9:30 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Richardson and Lake Highlands: Oct. 11 at 12 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Las Colinas and Denton: Oct. 12 at 12 p.m.
What Halloween would be complete without some witches? 1996’s The Craft is chock-full of them and other surprises that have built its immense cult following.
Night of the Living Dead (1990) Director’s Cut
Alamo Drafthouse Cedars: Oct. 13 at 7:45 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Lake Highlands and Denton: Oct 15 at 7 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Richardson on Oct. 16, 7:15 p.m.
For this remake of George A. Romero’s seminal zombie film, makeup artist Tom Savini stepped into the director’s chair and ushered in the 1990s with a new vision of Night of the Living Dead. Audiences can see the director’s cut of this distinctive vision at Alamo Drafthouse locations in October. Prepare for extra gnarly zombie carnage that couldn’t fit into a standard R-rating.
Ju-on: The Grudge
The Texas Theatre (231 W. Jefferson Blvd.)
Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
The entire Grudge horror cinema phenomenon is rooted in this original Japanese haunted-house phenomenon, Ju-on: The Grudge. Enter the hallowed halls of the Texas Theatre for this screening and remember how frightening the Grudge universe used to be before endless American sequels and remakes.
Trick ‘r Treat
Oct. 14 and 16, various showtimes at movie theaters everywhere
Back in the late 2000s, Trick ‘r Treat basically went straight to video instead of getting a proper theatrical release. Now, it’s finally heading to the big screen in a wide North American theatrical run courtesy of Fathom Entertainment. This horror anthology movie is a wicked treat, don’t miss a chance to finally see it with a crowd.
Baby Blood
Alamo Drafthouse Cedars (1005 Botham Jean Blvd. )
Oct. 14 at 9 p.m.
The French are known for their ritzy, artsy ’60s films, but they can also produce warped and wild films like Baby Blood, which involves a bloodthirsty woman and her corrupted fetus.
Pan’s Labyrinth
Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane)
Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.
Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning Pan’s Labyrinth remains a tremendous feat 19 years after its release. The practical effects and makeup work, not to mention the imaginative creature designs, are spectacular. What really works here is how fascism and war are depicted as being just as frightening as any fantastical adversary.
Corpse Bride (20th Anniversary)
Alamo Drafthouse Las Colinas: Oct. 17 and 18 at 12:30 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Lake Highlands: Oct. 18 at 12:30 p.m.
Is the whole family craving a big-screen Halloween movie event? Why not take everyone to see the 20th anniversary screening of Tim Burton’s Oscar-nominated stop motion film Corpse Bride? It’s the only spooky animated family film in town featuring a worm who talks like Peter Lorre.
Creepshow (1982)
Alamo Drafthouse Richardson: Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Cedars: Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
For two hours, the anthology movie Creepshow submerges viewers in a bevy of bite-sized Stephen King adaptations (all derived from his various short stories). There’s plenty of creepy spectacles in this wildly imaginative motion picture.
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
The Texas Theatre (231 W Jefferson Blvd.)
Oct. 18 at 8:30 p.m.
Cassandra Peterson’s delightful Elvira character proved more than capable of anchoring a spooky ’80s comedy with the movie Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. Come and witness her antics on the big screen at this special event, which will feature a glorious prescreening drag show.
Fright Night (1985)
Alamo Drafthouse Las Colinas and Denton: Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Richardson and Lake Highlands: Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
What if a vampire moved next door? Such is the enticing starting point of the 1985 vampire classic Fright Night. There are tons of reasons Fright Night has become a beloved classic, including Roddy McDowall’s gung-ho supporting performance. It’s time for more people to experience why it’s so beloved on the big screen.
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Alamo Drafthouse Cedars
Oct. 21 at 9 p.m.
Zack Snyder’s remake of this zombie movie classic (realized through a James Gunn script) can’t measure up to the original, sure, but it’s still got some gnarly charms, especially for those nostalgic for 2000s horror fare.
Tremors
Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane)
Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.
Kevin Bacon fighting off gigantic worms (largely realized through excellent practical effects work), now that’s cinema. Tremors is a goofball charmer that won’t necessarily inspire nightmares, but Halloween isn’t complete without some amiable creature features like this one.
Dial M For Murder
Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane)
Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
Want some spine-tingling Hitchcock cinema? If you’ve called up Dial M For Murder to fulfill that desire, you’ve certainly got the right number.
28 Days Later
Alamo Drafthouse Cedars: Oct. 25 at 9:45 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Lake Highlands: Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Richardson and Denton: Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.
Before 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple drops in January, return once more to the franchise’s earliest days with Danny Boyle’s original zombie masterpiece.
Day of the Dead (1985)
Alamo Drafthouse Richardson: Oct. 25 at 12 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Denton: Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Cedars: Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.
It’s remarkable how much variety George A. Romero wrung out of his various zombie movies. 1985’s Day of the Dead, for instance, has a unique ambiance and plenty of distinctive kills compared with its predecessors. One of his very best works is back on the big screen for its 40th anniversary, just in time for Halloween.
ParaNorman
Various showtimes October 25-28 at movie theaters everywhere
Laika Studio’s second stop-motion animated film, ParaNorman, returns to theaters this October with remastered digital 3D and a brand-new short film. This daring title from the Coraline studio, about a boy with the ability to communicate with the dead, is a terrifically written and animated work suitable for all ages. Perhaps this theatrical reissue will finally give it the cult following it so richly deserves.
Little Shop of Horrors
Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane)
Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.
Little Shop of Horrors is a delightful treat on many levels. It’s home to some of lyricist Howard Ashman’s greatest tunes. Director Frank Oz oversaw puppet work that remains dazzling to this very day. It’s perfectly cast, and the dark humor is hysterically macabre. One of the all-time great movie musicals, Little Shop of Horrors is a scrumptious meal of a movie.
Cloverfield
Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane)
The entire Cloverfield franchise ground to an unsatisfying halt with 2018’s The Cloverfield Paradox. Before these films became overloaded with fan service, though, there was the original Cloverfield, a 2008 found-footage horror film that endures as an especially immersive and chilling experience.
The Beyond
Alamo Drafthouse Cedars
Oct. 28 at 9 p.m.
October isn’t just the month of Halloween; it’s also the month that marks the birthday of legendary director Lucio Fulci. Come celebrate the occasion with other horror geeks by watching Fulci’s trippy horror film The Beyond, about the downside of purchasing real estate atop a gate to hell, on the big screen.
The Lost Boys
Alamo Drafthouse Richardson, Cedars and Denton: Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Lake Highlands: Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.
We must never forget that horror belongs to the gays. Alamo Drafthouse is keeping the creative energy of James Whale and Clive Barker alive and well with a Queer Film Theory 101 screening of the vampire movie The Lost Boys. Bisexual tension abounds in this production from director Joel Schumacher, which is also one of the most unmistakably ’80s movies created. Vampires and queer energy … what better way to usher in Halloween?
Psycho
Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane)
Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.
Even in Alfred Hitchcock’s famous body of work, Psycho stands out as a movie everybody knows. There are endless good reasons for that, including an unforgettable Anthony Perkins turn. Check it out on the big screen and remember why Psycho remains the champion among culturally relevant Hitchcock fare.
Twilight
Oct. 29, various showtimes at theaters everywhere
The teenage-romance-meets-vampire-fanfiction movie that became a pop culture phenomenon is returning to theaters for a one-night-only screening.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Oct. 30, various showtimes at theaters everywhere
We don’t think you understand how big of a nostalgia-driven moment this one is having right now.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Oct. 31, various showtimes at theaters everywhere
Like, really big. The final, two-part Breaking Dawn movies will return to multiplexes in November, too.