The Ultimate Halloween Playlist, From Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to Sam Smith's "Unholy"

By Noelle Devoe

Updated on 10/13/2023 at 5:30 PM

Michael Jackson in the THRILLER music video, 1983
POPSUGAR Photography | Arturo Torres
POPSUGAR Photography | Arturo Torres

Halloween isn't just for children. That's why whenever scary season rolls around, you need a music playlist that keeps everyone in mind — from the kids who love the latest ghoulish Disney Channel Original Movie musical to those who got down to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" when it first came out in the '80s.

That's also why you have to get creative when it comes to the spooky songs you choose for your Allhallows' Eve playlists. If you only include songs that are explicitly Halloween-themed, like "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers or "This Is Halloween" from "The Nightmare Before Christmas," the tunes could get stale real quick. So remember to work in music that has Halloween vibes, too.

Jimin's "Filter" may not strike you as a Halloween song at first but with lyrics like, "I can be your genie / How about Aladdin? / I'll be anything / You can pick and choose me," it's all about wearing different faces depending on who you're trying to please — just like wearing a different costume every Halloween. And while Sam Smith and Kim Petras's "Unholy" isn't explicitly spooky, its title and gothic background vocals make it perfect for any Halloween bash.

Ahead, check out POPSUGAR's ultimate Halloween playlist for 2023.

Halloween Music Playlist

  1. "Bloody Mary" by Lady Gaga
  2. "Bury a Friend" by Billie Eilish
  3. "Calling All the Monsters" by China Anne McClain
  4. "Chillin' Like a Villain" From Disney Channel's "Descendants 2"
  5. "Circus" by Britney Spears
  6. "Creep" by Radiohead
  7. "Disturbia" by Rihanna
  8. "Do You Believe in Magic" by The Lovin' Spoonful
  9. "E.T." by Katy Perry
  10. "Filter" by BTS's Jimin
  11. "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr.
  12. "Halloween" by Phoebe Bridgers
  13. "Haunted" by Beyonce
  14. "I Put a Spell On You" by Annie Lennox
  15. "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers
  16. "Monster" by Kanye West, JAY-Z, Nicki Minaj, and Rick Ross
  17. "Rotten to the Core" From Disney Channel's "Descendants"
  18. "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush
  19. "Season of the Witch" by Lana Del Rey
  20. "She Wolf" by Shakira
  21. "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell
  22. "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder
  23. "Sisters of the Moon" by Fleetwood Mac
  24. "This Is Halloween" from "The Nightmare Before Christmas"
  25. "Thriller" by Michael Jackson
  26. "Unholy" by Sam Smith and Kim Petras
  27. "Vampire" by Olivia Rodrigo
  28. "Vigilante Sh*t" by Taylor Swift