National Horror Movie Day
Watch a horror movie on National Horror Movie Day, one week before Halloween. This informal October 23 film date is for the genre on a screen — classics, new releases, a double feature — not for a night of real-world fear.
About National Horror Movie Day
History & origins
National Horror Movie Day falls on October 23. It is an informal U.S. pop-culture observance, not a government holiday.
The date is recent and has a named founder. In 2023, National Day Calendar and Black Vortex Cinema — a horror-film and events group — announced the first National Horror Movie Day. Producer Christian Ackerman is credited as founder; collaborators named in the announcement include Chuck Foster, Felissa Rose, Joshua McKevitt, and Sean Decker. They chose 23 October both because it sits a week before Halloween and because it is the birthday of filmmaker Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Drag Me to Hell, and later studio films). That is a fan-calendar origin, not a film-history decree. Horror as a movie genre is more than a century old; this day did not invent it.
Keep the page distinct from Halloween (31 October) and from any “scary food” dates. It is a movie day.
Why it matters
October is already full of Halloween marketing. A named movie date is useful only if people actually watch a film instead of buying décor. Horror is a craft — lighting, sound, performance — and a way some viewers process fear safely. The day is optional fun, not an obligation to be scared.
How to celebrate
Watch a horror film you have never seen, or replay one you know well. Host a small screening with a start time and a runtime, not an all-night dare. Pick a subgenre on purpose: gothic, slasher, folk horror, comedy-horror. Support a local theater’s October calendar if it has one. If jump-scares are not for you, skip it; the day is not a test of nerve. Keep real-world safety ordinary: locks, lights, and no stunts.
Facts
- Black Vortex Cinema and National Day Calendar launched the day in 2023
- Founder Christian Ackerman is a horror producer; collaborators voted on October 23
- October 23 is filmmaker Sam Raimi’s birthday, one reason the date was chosen
- The day sits one week before Halloween
- It is informal; it is not a U.S. federal holiday
Upcoming dates
- Friday, October 23, 2026
- Saturday, October 23, 2027
- Monday, October 23, 2028
- Tuesday, October 23, 2029
- Wednesday, October 23, 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is National Horror Movie Day in 2026?
National Horror Movie Day in 2026 falls on Friday, October 23, 2026.
What is National Horror Movie Day?
It is an informal film observance for watching horror movies, timed a week before Halloween. It is a popcorn-and-screen date, not a public holiday.
Who started National Horror Movie Day?
Christian Ackerman of Black Vortex Cinema founded it in 2023 with National Day Calendar. They chose October 23 in part for Sam Raimi’s birthday and for its place in Halloween week.
How do you celebrate National Horror Movie Day?
Watch a horror movie. A planned screening is enough. Pick a film, not a stunt.
Is National Horror Movie Day an official holiday?
No. It is not a U.S. federal holiday. Halloween on October 31 is a separate date.
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