7 Halloween Movies Rotten Tomatoes Rated Too Low

Here’s a list of movies for you to enjoy this Halloween season, no matter what the critics say.

With the end of October, there’s no better time to start binging Halloween movies, animated or not, or listen to themed songs. Many viewers looking for a good film, however, tend to look at its ratings first, whether from iMDb or Rotten Tomatoes.

However, even the lower-rated films still have some enjoyable diamonds in the rough. Some are so bad they round back to being good. Others are plainly, genuinely good and just overlooked.

Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer measures how many critics reviewed a film positively. The following films are listed by this score, from highest to lowest.

Friday the 13th (49%)

Like many iconic horror franchises, Friday the 13th was not well-received by critics. In hindsight, newer fans have also criticized the fact that the series’ iconic killer doesn’t even appear in the first film. Still, watching it with an understanding of how the slasher genre has evolved feels almost nostalgic.

The influence of earlier slasher films, particularly the Halloween movies, is apparent in the similar cinematography and musical choices. Friday the 13th also introduces several horror tropes that would become staples of the genre, for better or worse. These include teenagers engaging in risky behavior, fatally oblivious characters, and the familiar trope of killers seemingly walking faster than their victims can run.

Critics have long regarded Halloween as one of the defining slasher films of its time. Yet it scores significantly higher than Friday the 13th despite their stylistic similarities. If you’re looking for a similar film with even more gruesome deaths, this first installment is worth watching as part of your Halloween movies marathon.

Hotel Transylvania (45%)

There’s no denying that the Hotel Transylvania movies are primarily aimed at children. Everything from the characters and gothic humor to the music can make it harder for older audiences to connect with the films, especially as the franchise progresses. Ironically, the series saw its critics’ scores rise with each installment while its audience scores declined.

The first Hotel Transylvania touches on more mature themes. In between the comedy it’s known for, the film also delivers a surprisingly poignant story about growing up, loss, parenthood, and moving on. Dracula’s character is strongest here, and remains one of Adam Sandler’s most distinct and excellent voice performances. It’s a lighter option for viewers looking for family-friendly Halloween movies.

Scream 3 (45%)

Scream 3 was difficult to write for many reasons. It was aware of its own place as the third film in a trilogy, and was released during a time when violence in media was heavily scrutinized after the Columbine shooting less than a year ago. As such, the film focused more on comedy and mystery, unlike the previous installments.

The main criticism of Scream 3 is its lack of focus on the franchise heroine, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and its final reveal. While this remains the case, the film has recently found appreciation after the passage of time, especially for its themes of exploiting women in the entertainment industry. While it’s not the strongest movie in the franchise, fans of Scream will still enjoy it as one of the more mystery-driven Halloween movies on this list.

Hocus Pocus (42%)

New viewers likely wouldn’t guess Hocus Pocus is a Disney movie. It was released during a time when family movies catered to all ages, not just children. However, according to International Business Times, the film performed poorly during its theatrical release, and critics bashed it in the reviews. Despite the poor first impression, it’s since become a childhood memory of many young adults today, popular enough that fans flocked to its sequel decades later.

Viewers both young and old will find something to enjoy in this film. It balances dark humor with cartoonish fun, while delivering surprisingly mature moments. Its iconic villains are both dangerous and charming, thanks to the endearing performances of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. With its blend of magic, mischief, and whimsy, this Halloween classic has something for audiences of all ages.

Five Nights at Freddy’s (33%)

Critics have not looked kindly upon the film adaptations of this horror franchise. Still, this didn’t stop audiences, especially those who grew up during the heyday of the video games, from flocking to the theaters.

Fans enjoyed every reference the film packed. When a certain scene referenced the infamous Bite of ‘87, they gasped. When famous FNaF YouTubers MatPat and CoryxKenshin made cameo appearances, they cheered. And when the film delivered the line, “I always come back,” they roared with applause. And of course, they sang along to the Living Tombstone during the credits.

As a horror film, it falls flat save for a few frights here and there. But fans ate it up, cheesiness and all, hungry for more. For fans of the games, it’s a fun addition to a Halloween movies watchlist.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (17%)

At one point, this film held one of the lowest critics scores at 12%. Admittedly, the film’s story is quite flimsy. Much like its predecessor, however, it enjoyed packed theaters.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 seems to have leaned into the unintentional comedy of the first. It shows more of the animatronics outside the restaurant, doing unexpected things in unexpected places. Its already impressive star power even exploded, featuring more famed faces and voices than the first, namely Megan Fox as Toy Chica.

Both Five Nights at Freddy’s films are considered commercial successes. If a third ever arrives, it will surely be no different.

Scary Movie 2 (13%)

The Scary Movie franchise was proof of the potential of spoof movies. However, Marlon Wayans said in an interview with Shannon Sharpe they ended up focusing on White Chicks over the third film onwards, leaving the franchise in the hands of the Weinsteins. Because of this, many fans consider only the first two canon.

While the first film parodies slasher movies like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scary Movie 2 references more ghost movies. The biggest references include The Exorcist, The Shining, and The Haunting of Hill House. It focuses on comedy and references more than anything else, showing a little more potty humor. If your Halloween movies marathon needs more laughs than scares, viewers looking for comedy will enjoy Scary Movie and its sequels.

Chompy & The Girls (N/A)

Unlike the other films on this Halloween movies list, Chompy & The Girls doesn’t have an average critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. It has only one critic review, compared to 14 audience reviews. Low-budget films often struggle to attract critical attention, and in this case, that lack of recognition feels undeserved. The sole critic review awarded it a 7/10, praising its shameless approach to entertainment and unique appeal.

Writer, director, and producer Skye Brabrand manages this bizarre blend of horror-comedy with a touch of family drama to give it some heart. Without revealing too much else, don’t brush it off until you’ve watched it, ideally with friends. If you enjoy Dan Da Dan, you might feel something from this movie. If nothing else, you certainly won’t be bored watching it. It’s an offbeat pick for anyone seeking Halloween movies beyond the usual mainstream favorites.