Watching “Hocus Pocus” and other quintessential Halloween movies is certainly a nice way of getting into the ghoulish spirit. But what might help you most is listening to the best and most memorable Halloween songs — whether you’re putting up Halloween decorations around the house or having a few seasonal cocktails with friends.
To determine the most played Halloween songs of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on sales, streams, and airplay from music magazine Billboard. Songs were ranked according to a cumulative score based on their performance on the Billboard Hot 100.
Let’s just get one thing straight right away: It’s not “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. While “Thriller” is arguably the greatest album ever made — and the video of the title song may be the greatest video ever produced — the song itself doesn’t rank as the most popular Halloween song of all time. But it’s in the top 10.
After loading up with candy, decorating the house, and preparing a playlist with the best Halloween songs and a queue of classic horror movies, all that’s left for a successful holiday celebration is a memorable costume — this is the most popular Halloween costume in every state.
Click here to see the most played Halloween songs of all time
To determine the most played Halloween songs of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on sales, streams, and airplay from music magazine Billboard. Songs were ranked according to a cumulative score based on their performance on the Billboard Hot 100, wherein a week at position No. 100 is worth one point, a week at position No. 99 two points, and so on, up to a week at position No. 1 worth 100 points. Only songs identified by Billboard as “Halloween songs” in a variety of articles on the best Halloween songs were considered. Supplemental data on total weeks on the Billboard 100, peak position, and appearance dates also came from Billboard.
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25. Little Mix, “Black Magic”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #67 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 8
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Aug. 29, 2015
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Oct. 17, 2015
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Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
24. AC/DC, “Highway To Hell”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #47 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 10
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Oct. 13, 1979
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Dec. 15, 1979
Source: Cole Bennetts / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
23. Adam Lambert, “Ghost Town”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #64 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 17
> First appearance on Billboard 100: July 4, 2015
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Oct. 24, 2015
Source: Aaron Rapoport / Corbis Historical via Getty Images
22. Warren Zevon, “Werewolves Of London”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #21 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 12
> First appearance on Billboard 100: March 25, 1978
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: June 10, 1978
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Source: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images
21. Radiohead, “Creep”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #34 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 20
> First appearance on Billboard 100: June 26, 1993
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 6, 1993
Source: Jim Steinfeldt / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
20. D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, “A Nightmare On My Street”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #15 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 16
> First appearance on Billboard 100: July 30, 1988
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 12, 1988
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Source: Larry Busacca / Getty Images
19. Eagles, “Witchy Woman”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #9 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 13
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Sept. 9, 1972
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Dec. 2, 1972
Source: Stan Meagher / Getty Images
18. The Searchers, “Love Potion Number Nine”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 14
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 28, 1964
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Feb. 27, 1965
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images
17. Santana, “Black Magic Woman”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #4 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 13
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 14, 1970
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Feb. 6, 1971
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Source: Ross Gilmore / Redferns via Getty Images
16. Ella Henderson, “Ghost”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #21 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 20
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 15, 2014
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: March 28, 2015
Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
15. Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Bad Moon Rising”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #2 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 14
> First appearance on Billboard 100: May 3, 1969
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Aug. 2, 1969
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Source: Michael Putland / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
14. The Charlie Daniels Band, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 18
> First appearance on Billboard 100: June 23, 1979
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Oct. 20, 1979
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Source: Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images
13. Stevie Wonder, “Superstition”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 16
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 18, 1972
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: March 3, 1973
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
12. Blue Oyster Cult, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #12 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 20
> First appearance on Billboard 100: July 31, 1976
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Dec. 11, 1976
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
11. Norman Greenbaum, “Spirit In The Sky”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #3 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 15
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Feb. 28, 1970
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: June 6, 1970
Source: Phil Walter / Getty Images
10. Michael Jackson, “Thriller”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #4 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 20
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Feb. 11, 1984
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 14, 2020
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Source: Michael Putland / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
9. Edgar Winter Group, “Frankenstein”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 20
> First appearance on Billboard 100: March 10, 1973
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: July 21, 1973
Source: Courtesy of Motown Records
8. Rockwell, “Somebody’s Watching Me”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #2 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 19
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Jan. 28, 1984
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: June 2, 1984
Source: Thomas Niedermueller / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
7. Ray Parker Jr., “Ghostbusters”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 21
> First appearance on Billboard 100: June 16, 1984
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 3, 1984
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
6. KC And The Sunshine Band, “I’m Your Boogie Man”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 23
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Feb. 26, 1977
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: July 30, 1977
Source: RB / Redferns via Getty Images
5. The Steve Miller Band, “Abracadabra”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 25
> First appearance on Billboard 100: May 29, 1982
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 13, 1982
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Source: Courtesy of Garpax Records
4. Bobby “Boris” Pickett And The Crypt-Kickers, “Monster Mash”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 37
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Sept. 8, 1962
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Sept. 15, 1973
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Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images for MTV
3. Eminem Featuring Rihanna, “The Monster”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 29
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 16, 2013
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: May 31, 2014
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images
2. Rihanna, “Disturbia”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 37
> First appearance on Billboard 100: July 5, 2008
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: March 14, 2009
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Source: Rich Lam / Getty Images
1. Imagine Dragons, “Demons”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #6 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 61
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Jan. 26, 2013
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: July 5, 2014
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