Move & Groove with 10 Spooky Halloween Music Scenes

Halloween isn’t just a time for thrills and chills – it’s also the perfect season to indulge in musical delights both campy and spooky. You can don a costume and take to the dancefloor to classics like “Monster Mash” and “Thriller.”

You can also find spine-tingling music beyond the club in Halloween movies aplenty, from iconic films of the ’90s to contemporary hits. Below, I’ve compiled a list of 10 music scenes from Halloween flicks that’ll surely get you movin’ and groovin’.

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“This Is Halloween” – The Nightmare Before Christmas

Boys and girls of every age, wouldn’t you like to see something strange? “This Is Halloween” kicks off the spooky-themed festivities in The Nightmare Before Christmas, a tune that’s equal parts catchy and lyrically fun. It also captures Tim Burton’s aesthetics to a tee – the stop-motion animation feels more darkly whimsical than actually terrifying, making it an enjoyable experience for folks of all ages.

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“I Put a Spell on You” – Hocus Pocus

In Hocus Pocus, the Sanderson Sisters deliver an ovation-worthy rendition of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You,” originally released in 1956 and covered by countless artists since. However, this version is my favorite. The scene is a prime example of using a musical performance to propel the narrative instead of grinding it to a halt for a randomly inserted interlude. It’s a toe-tapping good time, and Bette Midler, in particular, delivers an iconic turn as Winnie Sanderson.

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“Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” – Beetlejuice

Admittedly, I’m biased, but the ’90s spun Halloween movie gold, producing banger after banger. Sure, Beetlejuice premiered in 1988, but if you round up, it’s almost a ’90s film. “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” is easily one of the highlights of Beetlejuice, which sees Adam and Barbara possessing Delia Deetz and her buddies at dinner to the 1956 Harry Belafonte song. If this musical moment doesn’t make you get up and dance like you’re possessed by ghosts, nothing will.

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“Time Warp” – The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Can you believe that The Rocky Horror Picture Show is now half a century old? The musical horror comedy reached cult classic status decades ago, but to this day, its tunes are practically timeless. And, let’s face it, catchy as all get-out. I dare you not to get the bona fide earworm that is “Time Warp” stuck in your head for hours on end. It’s a well-choreographed, well-performed, cleverly written number.

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“Thank You” – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

Zoinks! Scooby-Doo finds himself walking into the belly of the beast in this scene from Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, in which he dances with the enemy. Thankfully, his ’70s garb keeps him flying under the radar until his wig and glasses take a tumble. “Thank You,” originally released by Sly and the Family Stone in 1970, delivers a delightful disco-meets-R&B-meets-soul vibe, complete with a fun dance sequence and Shaggy in a particularly garish green suit.

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“Top That” – Teen Witch

What does one do with their rival in a 1980s teen movie? Why, engage in a half-rap, half-dance battle, of course. “Top That” from Teen Witch is as corny as corny can be, but it’s very true to its era. A product of its time, if you will. It’s also inexplicably catchy. It doesn’t take main character Louise’s magic to top that musical sequence between Polly and her enemy – the campy magic is inherent.

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“Remains of the Day” – Corpse Bride

Sometimes, a good track can contribute to a story by adding much-needed exposition. That’s the case with “Remains of the Day” in Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. It tells the tragic tale of Emily the Corpse Bride and how she came to be. The song is a delightful infusion of jazz and musical theater, setting your toes tapping as you marvel at the gorgeous stop-motion animation. In true Burton form, watching these skeletons dance won’t make your skin crawl; it’ll make you wish you could join the party.

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“Magic” – Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters is a legendary piece of spooky yet hilarious media history, earning its place in the annals of Halloween-themed pop culture. While you might associate the franchise with Ray Parker Jr.’s classic eponymous tune, the “Magic” musical sequence, as performed by Mick Smiley, certainly deserves some love. It’s a great montage that aptly conveys the chaos of the moment in the film, from instilling that feeling of dread as danger looms to the intermittent moments of the series’ trademark comedy. Who are you gonna call to save the day?

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“Other Father Song” – Coraline

When the titular Coraline discovers an alternate world concealed behind a secret door, she encounters Other Father, a very similar version of her dad who seems much, much happier in this dimension. Coraline’s “Other Father Song” is a brief but impactful tune in which Other Father insists that he doesn’t play the piano; the piano plays him. It’s a fun yet spooky music scene, to be sure. How does one see with button eyes?

Fun fact: Rock band They Might Be Giants performs this song for the movie’s soundtrack.

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“Can’t Fight This Feeling” – Lisa Frankenstein

When you can’t find the perfect boy, you make him. Well, at least if you’re Lisa in Lisa Frankenstein. This tender (but still with spooky elements) music scene sees The Creature, Lisa’s creation, playing REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling” on the piano while Lisa belts her face off and dances. It’s a simple yet lighthearted scene with bits of nostalgia interwoven for good measure. This is set in the ’80s, after all.

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What are your favorite spooky music scenes? Join the conversation with other horror fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!

Stir up the spirits and face the monsters within … Spooktacular has been unleashed once again!

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