How to Fill Your Halloween 2025 With Horror (Movies)

There are many people (mostly in the rest of the country) laboring under the assumption that San Francisco is permanently awash with freaks and creeps. This month, movie theaters across the city are out to prove those critics absolutely correct with a plethora of Halloween horror offerings that’ll make the blood of regular ol’ folks run cold. Here’s what’s on and where to find it.

Vogue Theater

3290 Sacramento St., San Francisco
Oct. 22–31, 2025

Is it even Halloween if you haven’t gathered in a darkened room to enjoy Frankenhooker, the preposterous 1990 horror-comedy in which a reanimated combination of various sex workers’ bodies makes men’s heads explode all over New York City? Of course it isn’t. Which is why the Vogue is providing two screenings this October.

Other offerings at the Vogue this month include the Stephen King classic Carrie (1976), Lucio Fulci’s Zombie (1979) and Santa Cruz teen vampire flick The Lost Boys (1987). On Halloween itself, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Halloween (1978) and Friday the 13th: Part 3 form a triple-feature starting at 3 p.m. The gore is strong with this line-up, so go easy on that popcorn.

4 Star Theater

2200 Clement St., San Francisco
Oct. 24–30, 2025

An ’80s gothic fever dream is unfurling at the 4 Star on Oct. 16 with Ghost Almanac, an 80-minute montage of the finest scenes from silent horror history soundtracked live by vintage synthesizer enthusiasts Montopolis. The Montopolis ensemble describes the presentation as “Tales from the Crypt meets VH1,” so be sure to don your finest Sisters of Mercy garb. (Or The Cult. Whatever. You do you.)

Later, Hocus Pocus (1993) makes an appearance on Oct. 22 and on Halloween itself, you can catch the Kubrick masterpiece The Shining (1980) on the big screen. Also up this month: Halloween-themed cartoon specials (for free!) on Oct. 24 and 25, and horror-tinged shorts Oct. 24–30 as part of the San Francisco Short Film Festival. Something for every weirdo.

The Roxie

3117 16th St., San Francisco
Oct. 9–27, 2025

It’s hard to succinctly convey exactly what the Roxie’s Noche Oscura: Mexican Gothic Terror Tales series involves, without first describing some of the movies showing as part of it.

There’s Hasta el viento tiene miedo (Even the Wind Is Afraid), a 1968 film about wayward girls at a haunted school being tortured by the ghost of a former student. Also on that theme, there’s a demonic teen girl wreaking havoc at a convent in Alucarda (1977). But wait! Then we’ve got El Barón del Terror (The Brainiac) from 1962, about a 17th-century baron/witch who is reincarnated — by a comet (don’t ask questions) — as a brain-eating monster with a tongue so grotesque, it’ll even give Gene Simmons fans pause.

Alamo Drafthouse

2550 Mission St., San Francisco
Oct. 11–29, 2025

As the most consistent source of year-round horror stuff that’s old and weird, the Alamo does not disappoint around Halloween. This October, you can see the 1982 Stephen King and George A. Romero anthology Creep Show (1982), The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein (1973), The Beyond (1981), Fright Night (1985), Day of the Dead (1985), Night of the Living Dead (the 1990 director’s cut) Baby Blood (1990), and 28 Days Later (2002).

Note for South Bay folks: the Alamos in Santa Clara (2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 2160) and Mountain View (2575 California St., Suite 99) are joining in on most of this programming, so check their calendars.

October 25 has two special Halloween treats for San Francisco. The first is the Fleischer Halloween Party: a celebration of master animator Max Fleischer’s most ghoulish cartoons (also playing Oct. 26). And, best of all, there’s Dismember the Alamo — a marathon selection of kitschy horrors that remain a total surprise until you get there. Roll the dice, kids!

Balboa Theater

3630 Balboa St., San Francisco
Oct. 10–31, 2025

The Balboa opens its seasonal offerings with an appetizer plate of Fright Night (1985), Lake Mungo (2008), Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) and Village of the Damned (1995). But the main course — Ghost Fest — is a relentless feast of haunted house–themed terror spread across Oct. 18 and 19.

Saturday the 18th is awash with classics of yore, including The House on Haunted Hill (1959) and 13 Ghosts (1960). There’s even a 15-minute film of a paranormal investigation that took place at the Balboa back in 2016. For those brave enough to stick around after that, the evening closes with the 1977 Japanese flick House (Hausu). If you’re not worn out yet, you can catch The Changeling (1980) at noon on Sunday. Want to finish that day with The Amityville Horror (1979)? Knock yourself out.

Keeping with this menu-themed metaphor, the Balboa is serving up some treats at the end of the month too — The Exorcist and Scream on 35mm, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween itself.

Check the theater listings and practice your best Final Girl scream.