Forget about romantic comedies; scary movies are just as ideal for date night! What other movie genre warrants consecutive hours of holding each other tight?
We’ve compiled this guide to Halloween movies in Tampa Bay for your spooky viewing pleasure.
<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>Top picks for Halloween Movies in Tampa Bay
A Nightmare on Franklin Street
- Dates: Select nights October 19-31, 2026
- Location: Tampa Theatre
Tampa’s most historic—and most haunted—movie palace is proud to present its most sinister series, A Nightmare on Franklin Street. The hair-raising historic landmark goes 100% Halloween with classic horror movies, ghost tours, and family-friendly frights! General admission is $13, and members can get admission for $10.
Guests can enjoy the movie palace’s iconic star-lit sky for an evening of Campfire Stories at 7 pm on October 27, 2026. The Suncoast Storytellers are back with a program of PG tales appropriate for all ages (who don’t mind having a chill sent down their spine). Tickets are $10 for general admission and FREE for Tampa Theatre Members.
On Thursday, October 29, the theatre welcomes special guest star Chandler Riggs (Carl from The Walking Dead) for an evening of conversation and a preview screening of his new short film, Biohazard, at 7 p.m. Then, join Tampa’s own horror filmmaker and actor Joe Davison (Stranger Things) for the premiere of his new feature, Demon Queen Pinball Machine.
2026 Nightmare on Franklin Street Lineup
- October 19 at 7 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street
- October 20 at 7 pm: Misery
- October 21 at 7 pm: Notorious (1946), part of The Big Picture series
- October 22 at 7 pm: The Blair Witch Project
- October 22 at 9:30 pm: Shadow of the Vampire
- October 23 at 7 pm: Legend
- October 23 at 7:30 pm: Them!
- October 23 at 9:30 pm: Clue
- October 23 at 10 pm: Gorgo
- October 24 at 3 pm: K-Pop Demon Hunters Sing-Along
- October 24 at 7 pm and 11 pm: Rocky Horror Picture Show
- October 24 at 7:30 pm: Straight Jacket
- October 24 at 10 pm: Burnt Offerings
- October 25 at 2 pm: Dracula
- October 25 at 4 pm: Drácula (Spanish Version)
- October 25 at 4:30 pm: Young Frankenstein
- October 25 at 7 pm: Horror of Dracular
- October 25 at 7:30 pm: The Mummy
- October 26 at 7 pm: The Shape of Water
- October 26 at 7:30 pm: Cronos
- October 27 at 7 pm: Campfire Stories
- October 27 at 7:30 pm: The Tingler
- October 28, 7 pm: The Third Man (1949), part of The Big Picture series
- October 28 at 7:30 pm: A Quiet Place
- October 29 at 7:15 pm: Forbidden Fruits
- October 29 at 10 pm: Chopping Mall
- October 30 at 7 pm: Scream
- October 30 at 10 pm: Wes Craven’s New Nightmare
- October 31 at 3 pm: Hocus Pocus
- October 31 at 6 pm: Halloween: Season of the Witch
Bonus date idea – Late Night, Lights Off Paranormal Investigation and Ghosts of Tampa Theatre Tour. And explore more ghost tours in Tampa Bay.
Related: A Century of Tampa Theatre
Outdoor Halloween Movie Nights
- Dates: Fridays in October 2026
- Location: Tampa Premium Outlets
Enjoy FREE movies under the stars every Friday in October! Grab a blanket, bring your crew, and meet us at The Greenery for a Halloween favorite on the big screen.
- October 2: Hocus Pocus
- October 9: The Addams Family
- October 16: Hotel Transylvania
- October 23: Disney and Pixar’s Coco
- October 30: Halloweentown
Sun-Ray Cinema Horror Movies
- Dates: Select dates in October 2026
- Location: Sun-Ray Cinema
Enjoy some iconic Halloween flicks at Sun-Ray Cinema!
Horror Movies at Green Bench Brewing
- Dates: October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2026
- Location: Green Bench Brewing, St. Pete
Movie nights have returned to the beer garden! Enjoy some horror movie classics on select Fridays with your favorite brew.
Gigglewaters
- Dates: Select days in October 2026
- Location: 737 Main St., Safety Harbor
Head to Safety Harbor for an awesome indoor date idea, especially during spooky season. Gigglewaters has speakeasy vibes, a food menu, and yummy drinks. And their movie schedule is nearly non-stop.
Here’s a look at the Gigglewaters Halloween movie schedule for 2026, each movie has multiple showings throughout the day.
- October 1, Creepshow
- October 2, Shaun of the Dead
- October 3, Mean Girls
- October 4, Beetlejuice
- October 6, The Lost Boys
- October 8, THe Lost Boys
- October 9, Hocus Pocus
- October 10, Scream
- October 11, The Craft
- October 12, Army of Darkness
- October 13, Hereditary
- October 14, Blade
- October 17, Hocus Poucs
- October 18, Ghostbusters
- October 19, The Cabin in the Woods
- October 20, Zombieland
- October 21, The Thing
- October 23, Obsession
- October 24, Poltergeist
- October 25, Hocus Pocus
- October 26, The Addams Family
- October 27, IT
- October 28, A Nightmare on Elm Street
- October 29, The Exorcist
- October 30, The Crow
- October 31, Halloween
Joy Lan Monster Movie Marathon
- Date: Friday, October 23, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Silver Moon Drive-In
It’s a bit far to technically be Halloween movies in Tampa, but how fun would it be to watch Halloween movies at a drive-in? The concession area is stocked with affordably priced drinks (including beer!), popcorn, and other snacks. It all takes place at Silver Moon Drive-In in Lakeland.
Movies on the Lawn
- Date: Friday, October 30, 2026, 5-9 p.m.
- Location: Sparkman Wharf
Sparkman Wharf is hosting a family-friendly spooky evening featuring trick-or-treating at local retailers, roaming entertainment, face painters, a live DJ, and a double-feature showing of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl!
Spooky Movie Marathon
- Date: Friday, October 30, 2026
- Location: Silver Moon Drive-In
Classic Monsters Vs Grind House Favorites! Classic Monsters:Dracula 1931 / Frankenstein 1931 / Bride of Frankenstein 1935 / Wolfman 1941 / Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman 1943. Grind House: The Evil Dead 1981 / Scream Bloddy Murder 1973 / Zombie 1979 / House by the Cemetery 1981
Host a Private Theater Rental at AMC
Host a personal screening for one or make it a private party and invite up to 19 guests! You’ll get your own auditorium and have a variety of movies to choose from, starting at just $99+tax.
Tips for a Halloween Movie Date
- Dress for a comfy movie-watching snuggle session—especially fun on a chilly night!
- Talk about your comfort level ahead of time, how spooky is too spooky for you?
- Always arrive early, about 30 minutes before showtime, to stake out your spot!