TCM Halloween Terror-Thon Schedule This Weekend

Lucas Bennett 10/29/2026

Every October, the cinematic world pauses for a dose of fright, and Turner Classic Movies turns the volume up for its annual celebration of the macabre. The tradition continues as the network prepares for the Halloween Terror-Thon, an event that transforms the classic horror library into a cinematic gauntlet spanning two nights: Friday, October 30th, and Saturday, October 31th.

This year’s event is an absolute feast for horror aficionados, bringing together a staggering array of cinematic terror. The schedule promises to be a deep dive into the history of fright, featuring beloved classics such as Carnival of Souls, White Zombie, The Haunting, House of Wax, The Tingler, Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein, and The Cat People, among many other legendary entries.

TCM has hosted this Halloween tradition since its launch in 1994, cementing the event as a hallmark of cinematic spookiness. This year’s lineup is not just a retrospective; it’s a masterclass in cinematic dread. The festivities are amplified by new content, including the premiere of Vincent Price: What Keeps Us Alive (2026), a documentary that explores the legacy of horror icons and features contributions from figures like John Waters and Tim Burton.

Beyond the classic scares, the Terror-Thon features stunning psychological thrills drawn from some of cinema’s most celebrated masterpieces. Fans will witness the chilling brilliance of Georges Franju’s French thriller Eyes Without a Face (1960) and Robert Wise’s iconic The Haunting (1963), alongside Jacques Tourneur’s Curse of the Demon (1958).

The weekend also features a spectacular showcase of cinematic history. A special film noir tribute, featuring Eddie Muller, brings together a double dose of shadows with Cat People (1942) and The Leopard Man (1943), supplemented by the addition of The Seventh Victim (1943).

The schedule digs deep into the Golden Age of horror, offering a nostalgic journey through iconic actors like Lon Chaney, Jr., Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Peter Lorre in films such as Spider Baby (1967), White Zombie (1932), The Walking Dead (1936), and Mad Love (1935).

For Halloween night, the celebration culminates with a bill of pristine, restored Technicolor classics. Prepare for a night of timeless Gothic glamour, featuring films like director Michael Curtiz’s Doctor X (1932) and The Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), both starring Fay Wray and Lionel Atwill. The night sets the stage for a grand finale that honors the roots of cinematic horror, including the foundational trilogy of Dracula (1931), The Mummy (1932), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932), and Bride of Frankenstein (1935).

Whether you are tracing the lineage of horror masters or reliving the most iconic cinematic scares, the TCM Halloween Terror-Thon promises a weekend packed with unforgettable frights, proving that some classics are simply too brilliant to ignore.