Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31. See the latest horror movie picks, the most searched costume trends, and home decor ideas for celebrating.
Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, October 31, which is tomorrow. Many people have already lined up their movies, costumes, and home decorations. This roundup uses data and recommendation lists published through the end of October 2026.
If you’d rather skip the party, a horror movie marathon at home is just as fun. There’s still time to put together a costume and decorations today.
Horror Movie Recommendations for October 31
Popbela rounded up seven Netflix horror movies for Halloween 2026, and three of them are Indonesian productions. Cerita Lila is based on the paranormal investigations of Sara Wijayanto and follows the ghost of a girl named Lila, who is searching for her twin sister. Kuntilanak (2006) stars Julie Estelle, and Netflix also carries the 2018 reboot and its sequel. Ain is a body horror story about a beauty influencer who is hit by a physical curse.
The international picks on the list include The Purge, Lights Out (2016), and The Silence of the Lambs. Lights Out suits viewers who like jump scares, since the creature Diana appears only in the dark. The Conference, a Swedish film by Patrik Eklund, is about a costumed killer who attacks employees during a team-building event.
For new releases, TV Guide notes that Backrooms is now streaming on HBO Max. The A24 film became a box office hit and marks the directorial debut of Kane Parsons, who is just 20 years old. Hokum, a ghost thriller by Damian McCarthy starring Adam Scott, has been streaming on Hulu since October 10. Scary Movie 6 is available on Paramount+, while Big Baby arrives on Shudder on October 30.
MomsMoney also included Buddy, a supernatural horror black comedy by Casper Kelly, in its list of pre-Halloween watches. TV Guide’s schedule follows U.S. streaming catalogs, so check availability in your streaming app first.
The Most Searched Halloween 2026 Costume Trends
The Halloween 2026 costume data below comes from surveys and trend reports in the United States. The U.S. National Retail Federation (NRF) reports that 71 percent of consumers plan to buy a costume this year. Costume spending is expected to reach $4.4 billion. Retailer Spirit Halloween says characters from Off Campus, Toy Story 5, and KPop Demon Hunters are in highest demand, along with Spider-Man and Power Rangers.
Google Frightgeist lists Buddy the Unicorn as the most searched costume, followed by NeeDoh, a squishy stress ball. Nikki from the film Obsession and Agamemnon from The Odyssey take third and fourth place. Lily Love Braids from Poppy Playtime and Verity from Minecraft also made the top 10. Disco Scooby-Doo rounds out the list at ninth place.
For kids, Spider-Man remains the most popular costume according to the NRF, followed by generic superhero costumes. In the adult category, Batman has climbed to third place, and Spider-Man is back in the top 10. Gen Z puts more weight on niche costumes that few others will wear: 21 percent, compared with 16 percent of consumers overall. Spirit Halloween also reports interest in Greek-style armor and in video game costumes such as Fortnite and Halo.
For couples, Google lists options such as Wall-E and Eve, Woody and Bullseye, or Disco Scooby and Shaggy. The NRF reports that 23 percent of consumers plan to dress up their pets, up from 17 percent in 2019. Ghost, bat, and spider costumes moved up the rankings, while vampire, Chucky, and devil costumes entered the top 10 for the first time. Dolly Parton and Tow Mater are also popular picks for pet costumes.
Halloween Decoration Ideas for Your Home
The NRF estimates that U.S. Halloween decoration spending will reach $4.3 billion, and 78 percent of consumers plan to buy decorations. In addition, 34 percent of consumers plan to look for reusable items if prices run higher than expected. This approach works well for decorations you can store until next year.
Horror supply retailer House of Hauntz sees 2026 decor shifting toward larger, more complete displays. Animatronics are taller, with smoother movement and sounds that react to visitors. Decorators use light projections, fog machines, LED lights, and shadow effects to build atmosphere before the props start moving.
For tight budgets, Govee suggests a creepy carnival theme, a haunted graveyard, and a cardboard haunted house. Witch hats hung on the porch are still recommended too. Good Morning America calls IKEA’s ghost lamps, priced under $15, a must-have Halloween 2026 decoration. Christmas Central lists lit window silhouettes and spiderwebs with 80 mini purple lights among the popular 2026 decorations.
Michaels offers retro and celestial-style decor this season. If time is short, one corner with lights, fog, and a few props is enough for tonight. With that kind of preparation, you can celebrate Halloween 2026 at home without big spending.
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