6 Spooky Star Trek Episodes to Watch for Halloween

It’s Spooky Season, so it’s time to watch all the horror-themed TV and movies you can get your (figurative and literal) mitts on. Did you know that Star Trek and Halloween go hand-in-hand?

Surprisingly, there are quite a few spooky episodes in Trek canon. With Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 in full swing, let’s hit the warp drive. Here are six installments worth watching as you get ready for all the trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, and haunted hayrides that await you.

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“Catspaw” – Star Trek: The Original Series

Ah, “Catspaw.” It’s a subject of contention among Trekkies. Regardless of how you feel about it in the grand scheme of Trek things, it’s great to watch for Halloween. Firstly, this Star Trek: The Original Series episode gives you a spooky dose of black cats, haunted castles, and witches. There’s nothing more Halloween than that. Sprinkle in a smattering of vintage Star Trek and cheesy ’60s vibes, and you’re in for a good time.

In “Catspaw,” the Enterprise orbits Pyris VII. When Kirk loses contact with the landing party, he, Spock, and McCoy beam down to search for them. They stumble upon a black cat with a diamond pendant in a castle (that’s after three witches warn them about what’s to come). If there’s one thing you shouldn’t do, it’s cross a black cat. A robed man named Korob holds them hostage while the cat transforms into Sylvia. But all’s well that ends well, and our heroes return to the Enterprise after Kirk destroys what Korob and Sylvia need to survive.

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“Night Terrors” – Star Trek: The Next Generation

Allow Star Trek: The Next Generation to frighten up your Halloween with the power of terrifying hallucinations. In “Night Terrors,” the Enterprise takes in the sole survivor of a derelict ship. After he falls into a catatonic state, Deanna Troi attempts to use her telepathy to contact him. Then, the same fate that befell the aforementioned rundown vessel begins to take root upon the Enterprise. The crew isn’t sleeping, resulting in horrifying hallucinations and bouts of violence.

Data takes over as acting captain since he doesn’t need to sleep. He and Troi concur there’s an alien species trapped in a spatial phenomenon called “Tyken’s Rift.” This species is also psychic, so Troi communicates with them. Eventually, Data and Troi save the day by causing an explosion that frees the Enterprise and this alien race.

Brace yourself for high-stakes, mind-bending tension. What’s more frightening than messing with the mind? That’s Halloween-esque in and of itself.

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“The Haunting of Deck Twelve” – Star Trek: Voyager

Nothing beats a good ghost story during Spooky Season. Neelix knows this. In Star Trek: Voyager‘s “The Haunting of Deck Twelve,” Neelix regales the Borg kiddos with a ghost story during a power outage on Voyager. Said story consists of the events leading up to the power outage. Is it true, or is it merely a tall tale? Neelix insists the power outage results from Voyager inadvertently taking in an unknown entity from a nebula.

As the night goes on, strange happenings take place on the ship — crewmembers struck by electrical discharges, abandoned decks, etc. The entity tries to keep Janeway aboard Voyager. Thankfully, after Janeway comes dangerously close to suffocation, she promises the entity she’ll find it a new home in another nebula.

This outing boasts a fun ghost story, which is innately Halloween, and a solid Star Trek story that finds our crew trapped in a horror movie. What’s not to love?

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“Monsters” – Star Trek: Picard

A trip inside anyone’s mind can be frightening, but imagine venturing into Jean-Luc Picard’s ol’ noodle. Star Trek: Picard‘s season 2 episode, “Monsters,” gives us just that. Tallinn travels inside Picard’s mind, hoping to wake him from a coma to help him overcome his greatest fears. There’s a legitimate monster in Picard’s brain, one that growls in the shadows. Unfortunately, the outing culminates in Picard and Guinan’s arrest by an FBI agent.

Not only is this a solid Picard episode (even though season 3 exceeds season 2 significantly), but it’s also a fun Halloween story to add to your spooky TV rotation. It’s not explicitly Halloween-themed; that’s okay. Nothing is perfect.

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“Much Ado About Boimler” – Star Trek: Lower Decks

What happens when Boimler is out of phase? He looks like a dang ghost! If that’s not spooky, I don’t know what is. In Star Trek: Lower Decks‘ first season, good ol’ Boims is transferred to a Starfleet medical ship after the phasing accident. The Osler, said medical ship, transported those needing care to Endocronimas V, where there’s a special spa (most folks called the planet The Farm though, which sounds more ominous). Boimler and Tendi meet a host of patients who seem to be plucked from a haunted house.

Boimler learns the Osler is The Farm, and those aboard it have been trapped for months. Are you feeling a chill down your spine yet? Later, the medical patients stage a mutiny to seize control of the vessel and locate a new home on a hospitable planet. Upon arriving at the real Farm, Boimler’s finally cured of looking like a Force ghost.

Lower Decks is just plain hilarious, so even if you’re not a fan of this episode’s horror elements, you’ll still laugh your tail off.

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“All Those Who Wander” – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

If you’re looking for an Alien homage in your Star Trek, look no further than Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ season 1 penultimate episode, “All Those Who Wander.” Pike and his officers visit Valeo Beta V after another ship sends a distress signal. After discovering the crew of the USS Peregrine is dead, our heroes realize the formidable, elusive Gorn are the culprits. What transpires next is a fight for survival as the group tries to fend off an invisible enemy.

The episode artfully reveals bits and pieces of the Gorn but mostly keeps them off-screen, using sounds to maintain a high level of tension and suspense. It’s a brilliant blend of sci-fi and horror with fast-paced action and pitch-perfect performances. The immersive atmosphere of “All Those Who Wander” suits Halloween to a tee. Plus, that character’s death hits you where it hurts.

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What are your favorite spooky Star Trek episodes to watch for Halloween? Join the conversation alongside other Star Trek fans at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Trekkie Sideshow!

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

Put the EEK! in geek during Sideshow’s Spooktacular 2025, a celebration with ghastly giveaways, deathly deals, eerie exclusive perks, and more. Join us from October 23 – October 31 by visiting side.show/spooktacular and don’t forget — sleep is for the weak!