Halloween TV shows streaming this October span animated specials, true crime, paranormal reality and a crowded field of horror series, and this year’s lineup is spread across nearly every major platform. Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock, Prime Video, Paramount+ and Freeform all have something tied to the season, with most of it already available or arriving before Halloween night. Here’s a practical rundown of what’s on, where to find it, and who each pick is really for.
New Horror Series This Month
The biggest returning title is “American Horror Story” season 13, premiering on Disney+ and Hulu with Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett and Emma Roberts back in the cast. Creator Ryan Murphy’s anthology is set to bring crossovers of characters and plotlines pulled from earlier seasons, a format that rewards longtime viewers more than newcomers.
Peacock has “Crystal Lake,” a series built around the “Friday the 13th” franchise, while Prime Video is carrying a new “Carrie” series from Mike Flanagan, whose horror work has become a reliable seasonal draw. Both lean toward mature audiences given their slasher and supernatural source material.
Netflix has added two new series for the season, “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” and “Unchosen,” according to What’s on Netflix. The streamer is also running “Tales from ’85,” a “Stranger Things” spin-off offered as two full seasons, which gives fans of that franchise a binge-sized option rather than a single special.
Family And Animated Specials
For households looking for something lighter, Fox’s “Family Guy” delivered its Halloween special “Happy Hell-o-ween” on Oct. 5, and Disney’s “Phineas and Ferb” followed with its own Halloween episode on Oct. 7, according to IGN. “The Simpsons” is expected to add a new Treehouse of Horror special to Disney+ later in October, continuing the show’s long-running anthology tradition, though IGN did not specify an exact date.
Disney+ also carries a Halloween special episode from “Big City Greens” season 5, and Netflix’s “Happy Halloween Playlist” season 1, which premiered Oct. 1, bundles multiple spooky kids’ series into one collection. Classic animated fans still have “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” the Peanuts special that has anchored family Halloween viewing for generations, according to Polygon.
Reality, Competition And Classic Picks
Netflix leaned into reality programming this year with “Sam and Colby,” a paranormal YouTuber series that premiered Oct. 1, and “Is It Cake? Halloween” season 2, hosted by Mikey Day, which arrived Oct. 9. Neither requires a horror stomach, making them easier recommendations for casual viewers who still want seasonal content.
Netflix also added “The Sixth Sense” (1999) on Oct. 1, giving subscribers access to the supernatural thriller alongside its newer originals. Polygon’s Halloween countdown points viewers toward two single-episode picks worth revisiting: “Rick and Morty’s” season one entry “Rick Potion #9” and “Doctor Who’s” “The Empty Child,” both cited as standout episodes for the season rather than full series commitments.
What’s Coming Later In October
Marvel fans have “VisionQuest” premiering on Disney+ this month, a follow-up to 2017’s “WandaVision,” though IGN’s report did not confirm which characters return. On the horror-adjacent film side, “Barbarian” lands on Hulu in October; IGN’s review called it “one of the wildest horror films in years,” a notable pickup for Hulu subscribers even though it falls outside the series-focused scope of this guide.
Paramount+ rounds out the month with “Tulsa King” returning and “Dexter: Resurrection” arriving in October, per TV Insider, while Freeform is running its annual “31 Nights of Halloween” programming block. Dates for some of these titles were not fully detailed in the available reporting, so check each platform directly for exact air times.
What’s Next
Most of this month’s premieres, including the “Family Guy” and “Phineas and Ferb” specials, have already aired, while “American Horror Story” season 13, “VisionQuest” and “The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror” special are still rolling out on Disney+ and Hulu through the rest of October. Readers tracking other genre series can also follow coverage of “Mayfair Witches” season 3 and Mike Flanagan’s upcoming “Warhammer 40K” series for what’s next in horror television beyond this season’s specials.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
