The spookiest time of the year is finally here — which means it’s time to monster mash at your greatest-ever Halloween party! You might have already started brewing a few festive cocktails, lined up some creative Halloween games, and of course set out the best Halloween party snacks, but to really set the vibe, you’ll obviously need a goblin-approved playlist, too. Luckily for you, we’ve selected 55 of the best Halloween songs, ranging from your favorite movie soundtracks to the spookiest radio hits, so you can get the party started with the creepiest, most bone-chilling tunes.
Whether they’re about ghosts, witches, or wolves, these crowd pleasers all stay on the (eerie) theme. A mix of dance-able favorites from the likes of Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga plus oldies-but-goodies from Van Halen, Stevie Wonder, and David Bowie will keep everyone at your spooky bash busting out moves all night long. Cue up these songs on YouTube or stream them from Amazon Music using your Prime account — we’ve got both options below for the easiest DJ job ever. Just take note: Some of these tracks include explicit lyrics, so maybe save ’em for your adults party and choose a more kid-friendly playlist for celebrating with little ones.
1. “Monster Mash” — Bobby (Boris) Pickett
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Yes, you’ve heard it all before. No, it has not gotten any less catchy — or less of an absolute essential Halloween classic!
2. “Anthem” — Michael Ables
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From the psychological thriller Us, composer Michael Ables said he wanted the opening song to sound like an “evil march.”
3. “Bury a Friend” — Billie Eilish
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Looking for something more modern for your playlist? This recent hit from Billie Eilish is the perfect dark pop track that’s simultaneously catchy and bone-chilling.
4. “The Phantom of the Opera” Overture — Andrew Lloyd Webber
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This one’s obviously a must-play for all musical theater fans, but there’s no doubt that anyone and everyone will appreciate that epic, instantly-recognizable organ intro.
5. “Stranger Things” Theme — Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein
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I mean, is there anything more perfect for Halloween than the spooky Stranger Things theme song?
6. “Haunted” — Beyonce
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Leave it to Queen Bey to slay with a scary-good track that’s also accompanied by an equally eerie music video.
7. “Haunted” — Taylor Swift
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Speaking of great songs named “Haunted,” this one from Taylor Swift is everything you want in a dark, dramatic break-up anthem (and more!).
8. “Creep” — Radiohead
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This one’s an essential for celebrating the creepiest night of the year — especially for all the weirdos and misfits out there.
9. “A Nightmare on My Street” — DJ Jazzy & The Fresh Prince
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Who knew ’80s hip hop and Halloween could go so well together?
10. “Hells Bells” — AC/DC
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The eerie bells-filled intro alone is perfect to set the ~spooky~ mood for any Halloween party.
11. “Monster” — Kanye West ft. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver
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Not only does this hip-hop track feature the ultimate collab of musicians, it also features a horror-filled theme perfect for Halloween.
12. “I Put a Spell On You” — Bette Midler
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Disney’s wicked ’90s hit Hocus Pocus features the quirky Sanderson sisters, who wreak havoc on a small town. Bette Midler’s rendition of “I Put a Spell On You” always puts us in the holiday spirit.
13. “Thriller” — Michael Jackson
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There’s nothing quite like a posse of zombie back-up dancers. You just can’t resist mimicking all their iconic moves.
14. “Ghostbusters” Theme — Ray Parker Jr.
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You won’t be afraid of no ghosts when you’re jamming to this classic.
15. “This Is Halloween” — The Citizens of Halloween
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Jack Skellington’s passion for this fright-filled holiday is pretty contagious.
16. “Superstition” — Stevie Wonder
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We agree with Stevie Wonder — it doesn’t always pay to be superstitious — but we can still be a little apprehensive about breaking mirrors and crossing black cats on Halloween.
17. “Somebody’s Watching Me” — Rockwell
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A couple of eerie lyrics about being followed, punched up with a little ’80s pizzaz, make for one spooky song.
18. “Time Warp” — Little Nell, Patricia Quinn, & Richard O’Brien
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A jump to the left and step to the right are the heart and soul behind the cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
19. “The Addams Family” Theme — Vic Mizzy
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A dismembered hand, a cousin who’s literally hidden by hair — of course we had to include the spookiest family of all time on this list.
20. “Wolves” — Selena Gomez & Marshmello
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Selena Gomez starred in the Hotel Transylvania franchises so it’s safe to consider her a Halloween expert.
21. “Dark Horse” — Katy Perry ft. Juicy J
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Katy Perry told MTV she wanted this song to have a “witchy, spell-y kind of black magic-y” vibe, and she totally nailed it.
22. “I’m in Love with a Monster” — Fifth Harmony
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Grab your other half for this funk-influenced hit. That’s why you dressed up in a couples costume, after all.
23. “Zombie” — The Cranberries
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The year: 1995. Your obsession: This Dolores O’Riordan song.
24. “Highway to Hell” — AC/DC
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It’s impossible not to dance to this song … especially if you’re planning an ’80s-themed party.
25. “Monster” — Lady Gaga
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Lady Gaga’s breakthrough album includes a very appropriately titled track for Halloween.
26. “Runnin’ with the Devil” — Van Halen
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“I, myself, am the son of Satan, although my duties here are largely ceremonial,” David Lee Roth once reportedly said. Rock on, man.
27. “Get Ur Freak On” — Missy Elliot
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Crazy story: Missy Elliot was actually in the hospital the night before she performed this song at the Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show. She still killed it of course.
28. “Freaks Come Out at Night” — Whodini
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This little ’80s earworm will stay in your head long into November.
29. “She Wolf” — Shakira
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It’s impossible not to dance to Shakira — just try.
30. “The Monster” — Eminem ft. Rihanna
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Pop singer Bebe Rexha actually wrote the hook for this song that later won a Grammy Award.
31. “Werewolves of London” — Warren Zevon
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Place your bets now that someone will start howling along to Warren Zevon’s 1978 rock track.
32. “I Want Candy” — Bow Wow Wow
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Bow Wow Wow’s cover of the Strangeloves’ single describes your trick-or-treating sugar rush to a T.
33. “Psycho Killer” — The Talking Heads
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New wave band The Talking Heads wrote this scary song from a murderer’s viewpoint, so there’s no denying that the chorus is absolutely killer.
34. “The Purple People Eater” — Sheb Wooley
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Fun fact: The 1958 novelty song inspired a movie starring a young Neil Patrick Harris.
35. “Black Widow” — Iggy Azalea ft. Rita Ora
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Jump into the 21st century with this more recent hit all about venomous revenge.
36. “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)” — David Bowie
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The 1980 album’s title track gets eerie real fast with lyrics about a woman’s descent into madness.
37. “Disturbia” — Rihanna
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Right from the opening scream, Rihanna’s number one hit will get people dancing — and singing along to that crazy catchy hook. Bum-bum-be-dum-bum-bum-be-dum-bum …
38. “Season of the Witch” — Donovan
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The hippie vibes of this psychedelic rock may not seem scary, but the song’s appeared in everything from Halloween III to American Horror Story.
39. “Heads Will Roll” — Yeah Yeah Yeahs
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The Yeah Yeah Yeahs somehow turned the creepy topic of decapitation into insanely-danceable anthem.
40. “Halloween” Theme — John Carpenter
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The slasher movie franchise may include a whopping 11 flicks, but the original soundtrack is undeniably the best. Just cross your fingers that Michael Myers doesn’t show up to the party.
41. “Hungry Like the Wolf” — Duran Duran
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This Duran Duran classic is a straight shot to the ’80s, back when MTV played the jungle-themed music video non-stop.
42. “Ghost” — Ella Henderson
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You might have caught this recent hit by X Factor contestant Ella Henderson on the radio.
43. “Witchy Woman” — The Eagles
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Sure, it’s a classic Eagles track, but the witch-themed lyrics fit the holiday theme.
44. “Midnight City” — M83
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This lead single hit it big back in 2011 yet the synth pop track is still the perfect afterdark groove.
45. “Sympathy for the Devil” — The Rolling Stones
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Mick Jagger’s satanic-themed anthem made Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, so no worries if you want to put this one on repeat after October 31.
46. “Black Magic Woman” — Fleetwood Mac
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This blues-rock hit from 1969 will definitely be replayed all night, but if your friends start acting strange, you should probably switch the song.
47. “True Blood” — Justin Timberlake
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Not the HBO series of the same name, but this Justin Timberlake song sounds like someone’s a blood-thirsty vampire.
48. “Spooky” — Dusty Springfield
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The name of this song is literally spooky — and it’s all about love. You might remember it from the 2008 romcom How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.
49. “Demons” — Imagine Dragons
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Okay, so you might hear this one year-round, but that doesn’t mean a song about demons hiding isn’t perfect for Halloween.
50. “Boogie Monster” — Gnarls Barkley
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Is the boogie monster real? Just listen to this creepy song and maybe you’ll find out.
51. “Skeleton in the Closet” — Louis Armstrong
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Louis Armstrong is telling the terrifying story of a haunted mansion that’s filled with ghosts and goblies — eek!
52. “Super Freak” — Rick James
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Change the mood a bit with this classic, which will have everyone in the room bopping along.
53. “Blinding Lights” — The Weeknd
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Get some strobe lights out and start blaring this song. If you really want to set the mood, play the video for everyone to watch.
54. “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead” — Ella Fitzgerald
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The famous tune from The Wizard of Oz is an obvious classic, but Ella Fitzgerald’s cover version puts on a jazzy twist that’s perfect for any party.
55. “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer — The Beatles
Don’t get confused by the upbeat tempo in this song. It’s about a student named Maxwell Edison who commits murders with a hammer.
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