7 Classic Horror Movies You Can Stream On Peacock for Halloween

Damian Ali
Oct 4
5 min read

Updated: Oct 6

Ready for a seasonal binge? Stream the B-movie chaos and groundbreaking classics that defined cult horror for generations.

Ilona Massey as Baroness Elsa Frankenstein and Patric Knowles as Dr. Frank Mannering in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943): Image: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Ilona Massey as Baroness Elsa Frankenstein and Patric Knowles as Dr. Frank Mannering in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943): Image: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Peacock has something for every kind of horror fan, from the 1983 3-D Amityville and Sharknado to the Phantasm franchise and Sam Raimi's chaotic Drag Me to Hell. Dig a little deeper and you'll find oddities like The Curse of Humpty Dumpty or Easter Bunny Massacre.

And if you're in the mood for something truly strange, The Mouse Trap features a killer in a Mickey Mouse suit turning an arcade into a battleground for survival. But for a seasonal binge that leans into pure cult favorites, here are seven essential films worth streaming this Halloween.

From grainy 2007 footage to modern folklore, the Fresno Nightcrawler remains one of the strangest cryptids of our time. Read about The Ghostly Walking Pants That Became a Legend https://www.talkteav.com/fresno-nightcrawler-legend-talkteav-spotlight

Currently Streaming on Peacock Halloween 2025

Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943), showing Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. as the Monster and The Wolfman: Universal Studios

Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943)

Larry Talbot, desperate to end his werewolf curse, seeks out Dr. Frankenstein but instead finds himself face-to-face with the Monster. Starring Ilona Massey, Patric Knowles, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, and Maria Ouspenskaya.

This Universal entry was the original cinematic crossover, decades before superheroes dominated screens. Lon Chaney Jr. reprises his role as the tormented Talbot, while Bela Lugosi takes a turn as Frankenstein's Monster. Gothic horror meets tragic melodrama, capped with a monster showdown that became a blueprint for modern creature features wanting to pit one iconic monster against another. Think Freddy vs. Jason or Alien vs. Predator.

Promotional still of Anthony Perkins, produced by Alfred Hitchcock's Shamley Productions. Right: Restored theatrical poster for the U.S. release of Psycho (1960), designed by Macario Gómez Quibus, depicting Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, and John Gavin: Image: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Psycho (1960)

After stealing cash from her job, Marion Crane stops at the Bates Motel and meets its unsettling proprietor. Starring Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, and Janet Leigh.

Hitchcock blindsided audiences by killing off his apparent lead halfway through, in the infamous shower scene. Anthony Perkins gives Norman Bates a chilling mix of charm and menace, making him one of the most memorable characters in horror. The twist ending reshaped psychological thrillers for decades to come.

(L to R) Tippi Hedren as Melanie Daniels trapped in a phone booth. Original theatrical poster for Hitchcock’s The Birds (1963), featuring his quote above that reads “It could be the most terrifying motion picture I have ever made!” A vivid bird attack illustration, and portraits of Tippi Hedren promoted as “A Fascinating New Personality.” Image: Universal Pictures

The Birds (1963)

A weekend trip unravels when a coastal town comes under attack from seemingly ordinary birds. Starring Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy, and Veronica Cartwright.

Another Hitchcock classic, this time, he stripped away the music and let the screeching of gulls and wings provide the terror. It's fair to say this film helped pave the way for titles like Jaws, Piranha, Cujo, and even Arachnophobia, a whole subgenre of nature strikes back thrillers. Only Hitchcock could get away with never explaining why the birds go berserk, making it even more unsettling, a perfect mix of suspense and vintage glamour.

Scene from George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968), showing actor Dave James as a zombie in the foreground while other ghouls advance across a field in the background: Image Courtesy of George A. Romero/For Editorial purposes only

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Strangers barricade themselves in a farmhouse as flesh-eating ghouls close in. Starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Karl Hardman, and Marilyn Eastman.

Okay, if Psycho changed psychological horror, this is the movie that birthed the modern zombie. George A. Romero's low-budget, super-gritty nightmare basically invented the rules for the walking dead. It's got that raw, almost documentary feel that makes the flesh-eating scenes incredibly disturbing, even today. The bleak ending remains one of the genre's most devastating punches.

L to R: Teri McMinn as Pam in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and the film’s 2024 50th anniversary poster. Both were released as part of MPI Media and Dark Sky Films’ anniversary publicity materials: Image Courtesy of MPI Media and Dark Sky Films

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Five friends fall prey to a masked butcher and his cannibalistic family deep in rural Texas. Shot on a shoestring budget, Tobe Hooper's film isn't drenched in gore so much as sheer dread and noise. Starring Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Edwin Neal, and Jim Siedow.

Leatherface became an instant icon, but the twisted family dynamic is just as disturbing. This movie actually celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. As Guillermo del Toro puts it, "It's the ultimate horror movie. It has a brutal beauty, an energy that is absolutely raw." The frantic final act with Marilyn Burns set the stage for generations of "Final Girl" showdowns.

People swimming in a lake scene from the movie and the theatrical poster for Piranha (1978): New World Pictures / New Horizons Pictures / editorial purposes only

Piranha (1978)

Mutant fish escape into a river near a resort, turning a summer camp into their feeding ground. Starring Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies-Urich, Kevin McCarthy, and Barbara Steele.

This one's a total blast! It's legendary producer Roger Corman's answer to Jaws, basically an intentional, witty rip-off, but done by a young Joe Dante (before he made Gremlins!) and screenwriter John Sayles. The smaller budget and sharper satire make it more outrageous than scary, but that's the fun. It's gleefully B-movie chaos, with Steven Spielberg saying it was "the best of the Jaws rip-offs"

From left to right: T.K. Carter as Nauls, Kurt Russell as MacReady, and Keith David as Childs in John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982)Image: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter's masterclass in paranoia combines icy isolation with groundbreaking practical effects by Rob Bottin. The grotesque transformations remain unmatched, while the suffocating atmosphere makes trust itself a casualty. Initially dismissed as too grim, it is now recognized as one of the greatest horror films ever made.

What makes this film such a relentlessly tense watch is the incredible ensemble cast, a hallmark of Carpenter's work. Instead of relying solely on Kurt Russell's charismatic MacReady, the movie features a powerhouse group of veteran character actors who convincingly portray stressed-out professionals. This makes the question of "Who is the Thing?" truly gut-wrenching, because every face is a familiar, believable guy.

If you're looking for horror that mixes Gothic chills, psychological suspense, and B-movie chaos, Peacock has you covered this Halloween. These films are more than seasonal frights; they're cult classics that shaped the genre and still thrill audiences today.

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