30 Best Goth Movies to Watch

Some movies are so goth that half the scene learned how to dress from them. This list of the 30 best goth movies covers the classics, the cult favorites and a few newer films that deserve a spot on your shelf. Grab a blanket, light a candle and pick your next movie night.

The essential goth classics

These are the films that shaped the look and mood of the scene. If you've only seen a few, start here.

1. The Crow (1994). Brandon Lee as Eric Draven, a musician who comes back from the dead. The makeup, the rain, the soundtrack: it's goth in movie form.
2. The Hunger (1983). Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie as stylish vampires, with Susan Sarandon. It opens with Bauhaus playing "Bela Lugosi's Dead" in a club, which is about as goth as cinema gets.
3. Beetlejuice (1988). Lydia Deetz is a goth icon, full stop. Strange and unusual, and still hilarious.
4. Edward Scissorhands (1990). Tim Burton's gentle, sad-sweet fairy tale with Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder.
5. The Lost Boys (1987). Teen vampires on a boardwalk in California. Leather jackets, big hair and a killer soundtrack.
6. The Craft (1996). Four teen witches, one Catholic school, endless plaid skirts and chokers. Nancy is still the blueprint.
7. Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). Francis Ford Coppola's lush, over-the-top version, with incredible costumes.
8. Interview with the Vampire (1994). Based on Anne Rice's novel. Velvet, candlelight and centuries of drama.

Old-school gothic horror

The roots of the aesthetic go back to early cinema.

9. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920). German Expressionist horror with painted, twisted sets. Its look still shows up in goth art.
10. Nosferatu (1922). The original silent vampire film with Max Schreck's unforgettable Count Orlok.
11. Dracula (1931). Bela Lugosi in the role that inspired that Bauhaus song.
12. Bride of Frankenstein (1935). That striped beehive hairdo has been copied ever since.
13. Suspiria (1977). Dario Argento's candy-colored nightmare set at a dance academy, with a pounding score by Goblin.

Tim Burton and Henry Selick picks

14. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Directed by Henry Selick from Tim Burton's story. Jack Skellington is a year-round mood.
15. Sleepy Hollow (1999). Foggy forests, a headless horseman and Christina Ricci.
16. Corpse Bride (2005). A stop-motion love story where the land of the dead is more fun than the living world.
17. Sweeney Todd (2007). A bloody musical in Victorian London. Very dark, very dramatic.
18. Coraline (2009). Selick's stop-motion film based on Neil Gaiman's book. Button eyes will haunt you.
19. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024). The sequel brings Lydia back, now with a teenage kid of her own who finds her embarrassing.

Dark romance and stylish vampires

20. Only Lovers Left Alive (2013). Jim Jarmusch's film with Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as ancient vampire lovers who mostly hang out, collect guitars and talk about music. Basically a goth dream date.
21. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014). Ana Lily Amirpour's black-and-white vampire western, in Persian, with a skateboarding vampire in a chador.
22. Crimson Peak (2015). Guillermo del Toro's gothic romance in a crumbling, blood-red mansion. The gowns alone are worth it.
23. Let the Right One In (2008). A Swedish vampire story about two lonely kids in the snow. Quiet, eerie and beautiful.
24. Nosferatu (2024). Robert Eggers's remake, full of shadows, candles and dread.

Cult favorites and goth-adjacent gems

25. The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993). Christina Ricci's Wednesday stole both films.
26. Ginger Snaps (2000). Two goth sisters in a Canadian suburb, one of whom is turning into a werewolf.
27. Jennifer's Body (2009). Horror comedy that flopped at first and later became a cult favorite.
28. Donnie Darko (2001). Moody, confusing, and full of 80s new wave and post-punk music.
29. Pan's Labyrinth (2006). Del Toro's dark fairy tale set in 1940s Spain. Gorgeous and haunting.
30. Lisa Frankenstein (2024). A goofy, 80s-set horror romance written by Diablo Cody and directed by Zelda Williams, about a teen and a reanimated Victorian corpse.

How to plan a goth movie night

A great movie is only half of it. Set the mood:

• Pick a theme. Vampire night, witch night, Tim Burton night or silent film night with a darkwave playlist in the background.
• Do a double feature. Pair an old classic with its modern take, like the 1922 and 2024 versions of Nosferatu.
• Dress up a little. Not a full costume, just a velvet robe or your best lace.
• Snacks with a theme. Black popcorn, red candy, or anything blood-orange.

If you're planning a spooky date, check out our list of picks for a horror movie date night. And for October, our goth Halloween ideas guide has more ways to celebrate.

Where to start if you're new

Thirty movies is a lot. If you only have one weekend, try this mini marathon:

• Friday night: The Lost Boys, then The Craft. Pure fun, great soundtracks and peak 80s and 90s style.
• Saturday night: The Hunger, then Only Lovers Left Alive. Two very different takes on stylish vampires.
• Sunday afternoon: Corpse Bride or Coraline for something cozy, then Crimson Peak once the sun goes down.

By Monday you'll have opinions about every vampire's wardrobe, which is exactly how it should be. Keep notes on which looks you loved too. A lot of goths have borrowed a velvet coat idea from Interview with the Vampire or a hat from Lydia Deetz, and movies are still one of the best places to find style ideas.

Movies as conversation starters

"What's your favorite goth movie?" is one of the best questions you can ask someone in the scene. People have strong feelings about whether The Crow or The Lost Boys has the better soundtrack, and that debate can carry a whole first date. On Alt Chat, plenty of members post movie picks and clips in Realm, the app's feed, so it's an easy way to find someone who also thinks Crimson Peak deserved more love.

Want to go deeper into the look these films inspired? Our guide to the types of goth breaks down the styles, from romantic goth to trad goth. And if the soundtracks got you hooked, start with our list of the best goth bands.

FAQ

What is the most goth movie of all time?

The Crow (1994) and The Hunger (1983) are the usual top picks, since both are soaked in goth music and style. The Hunger even opens with Bauhaus performing "Bela Lugosi's Dead" in a nightclub.

What makes a movie goth?

Goth movies usually mix dark romance, gothic settings like crumbling mansions or foggy cemeteries, and characters who are drawn to the macabre. Vampires, ghosts, witches and moody outsiders show up a lot, and the visuals are often as important as the plot.

What are some good goth movies that aren't horror?

Edward Scissorhands, Corpse Bride, The Addams Family and Only Lovers Left Alive are dark and stylish without being truly scary. They're great picks if you want the aesthetic without the jump scares.

Are Tim Burton movies goth?

Many fans count them as goth staples. Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow and Corpse Bride all have the pale faces, striped tights and spooky romance that the scene loves.