Los Angeles is hosting an array of Halloween-themed events across the city this month, catering to a wide range of interests from classic horror film enthusiasts to families seeking seasonal festivities.
The Academy Museum is highlighting the season with its exhibit “The Horror Show,” which chronicles over a century of horror cinema. The exhibit features films spanning from early silent movies like “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1920) and “Nosferatu” (1922) to iconic titles such as “Psycho” (1960), “The Exorcist” (1973), “Midsommar” (2019), and the upcoming “Weapons” (2025). Visitors can explore six immersive themed chambers focusing on Gothic horror, psychological horror, science, slashers, religion, and ghosts. The museum will also host its family-friendly Monster Mash event on October 24, offering exhibit tours, a vampire special effects workshop, hair and makeup demonstrations by Academy Award winners Joel Harlow and Howard Berger, and photo opportunities with classic Universal monsters. The day’s film screenings will include titles like “Hotel Transylvania,” “Blade,” and “Horror of Dracula.”
Outdoor movie screenings remain popular, including those organized by Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. On October 30, the 2009 film “Jennifer’s Body,” written by Diablo Cody and starring Megan Fox, will be shown, followed by John Carpenter’s “The Thing” on Halloween night. Both screenings will feature live DJs and photo booths, with attendees encouraged to wear costumes.
Family audiences can also experience the Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s annual Halloween offerings. Although the “Hallowe’en Spooktacular” at the theater has sold out, the Spook-A-Nanny event at Heritage Square Museum on October 18 will present classic puppet performances alongside vintage Halloween-themed videos from Screen Novelties. The event includes live-action and animated works, complemented by refreshments such as churros and popcorn.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall hosts a full day of Gothic music and cinema on October 30. Beginning at 3 p.m., there will be a screening of the 1920 silent film “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” accompanied by organist Clark Wilson, noted for his evocative live scores. That evening, composer Michael Giacchino will present a separately ticketed double feature, including an early look at his new musical “Headless,” inspired by “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” followed by a screening of Marvel’s “Werewolf by Night” with live orchestral accompaniment conducted by Sarah Hicks.
Other outdoor attractions include King Gillette Ranch’s “Night of the Jack,” a mile-long trail featuring illuminated pumpkin displays and mythical creatures, and the South Coast Botanic Garden’s “Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns” on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, showcasing over 10,000 carved pumpkins along a walking trail with activities such as s’mores-making.
L.A. Opera is presenting “Hercules vs Vampires” on October 30 and 31 at the United Theater on Broadway. This live musical adaptation pairs the 1961 film “Hercules in the Haunted World” with performers and musicians synchronizing their score to the original movie, described as having intentionally campy production values. A costume contest is scheduled for Halloween night.
Lastly, the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens offers “Strange Science” on the evenings of October 30 and 31, a 21-and-over event blending art, mysticism, and science. Highlights include fortune tellers, aerial performances, live demonstrations of Nikola Tesla’s lightning machine, and talks such as one by a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineer. The program also features a presentation on the Integratron dome in the Mojave Desert by podcast host Jack Wagner and architectural historian Daniel Paul.
These events collectively showcase Los Angeles’s diverse approach to celebrating Halloween, combining cinematic history, live performances, interactive experiences, and outdoor exploration throughout the city.