From childhood classics like The Addams Family to cult favourites like Hocus Pocus, Halloween wouldn't be Halloween without the iconic movies that come with it. But aside from the jump scares, plot lines and major costume inspo, are the iconic vehicles. So, in the spirit of Halloween, here's a look at the most iconic cars the genre has to offer.
01 | A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984), 1958 Cadillac Series 62
The Movie: What is often considered one of Wes Craven's best works, as it introduces the iconic Freddy Krueger to the world is his 1984 American supernatural slasher, "A Nightmare on Elm Street".
The Car: We might have only seen it for the briefest of scenes, but Freddy Kruger's 1958 Cadillac Series 62 is one of the most memorable cars from the horror genre. With Kruger's trademark stripes on the roof, it goes without saying that the car leaves the impact it is meant to.
đź’ˇ The Cadillac Series 62 was produced by General Motors for just 14 years from 1950 to 1964.
02 | Scooby-Doo (2002) 1965 Chevrolet Sports Van
The Movie: The latest in the long line of live-actioned-up retro cartoons, Scooby-Doo and his crime-solving gang took to the silver screen in 2002 and captured the imaginations of generations, bringing the Mystery Machine to life.
The Car: This blue van, with its iconic orange flowers and green accents, was just as much a character in the show as any of the humans or animals who stared in it. While the van's particular model, make and lineage are often debated, it's based on a 1968 Chevrolet Sport Van 108 with a 1965 Chevrolet Van front and rear.
đź’ˇ Before the Mystery Machine became the official vehicle of Mystery Inc, it was owned by a family band - the Mystery Kids.
03 | Ghostbusters (1984) 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Sentinel
The Movie: "Ghostbusters" is THE essential rewatchable movie. Considered one of the first ever blockbusters, this 1984 movie redefined filmmaking creating a new genre that mixed comedy, science fiction, horror, and thrills. Â
The Car: There aren't quite enough words to describe just how epic the car the Ghostbusters used in the first and second Ghostbusters movies is. A 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Sentinel, end-loader combination (ambulance and/or hearse), the Ecto-1 is what the Ghostbusters used to travel through New York busting ghosts and other entities.
đź’ˇThe original Future Duplex, by manufacturer Miller-Meteor, was a very rare vehicle. Only 400 were ever produced. But the Ghostbusters team managed to locate two of them for use in the film.Â
04 | The Addams Family (1991) 1933 Packard V-12
The Movie: Based on the classic 1960s sitcom, "The Addams Family" is one of those classic Halloween movies that feels like it's existed as long as Halloween itself.Â
The Car:Â While many people think that the Addams drove a hearse, it's actually a 1933 Packard V-12, which does have an exquisite enough design to pass as a death wagon at first glance. Introduced by Detroit's Packard Car Company in 1899, the Packard V-12 was considered the
crème de la crème of the American luxury automobile industry even through the Great Depression.
đź’ˇ Packard out-sold and duelled with Cadillac for the top American product in the 20's and 30's.
05 | Jeepers Creepers (2001), 1941 Chevrolet AK Series COE
The Movie: In August 2001 a movie hit the silver screen that became an instant horror classic and that movie was "Jeepers Creepers". The movie, written and directed by Victor Salva is based in part on a terrifyingly true story.
The Car: It's rare that a vehicle becomes an important part of a movie, but when it comes to Jeepers Creepers, it takes the crown. The menacingly iconic Creeper truck is a modified 1941 Chevrolet AK Series COE that came with a flatbed frame. Like it wasn't already creepy enough, the plate on the truck reads “BEATNGU” which means “Be Eating You”.Â
đź’ˇ In 2008, a collector in California bought one of the Creeper trucks for $4,559 from a person in Florida.
06 | The Shining (1980) 1973 Yellow Volkswagen Beetle Sedan
The Movie: Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" is arguably one of the most iconic psychological thrillers ever made. The movie was adapted from the novel "The Shining" by Stephen King and, almost 40 years later is fondly thought of as a cult classic.Â
The Car: The Volkswagen that makes an appearance in the 1980 movie is a 1973 Yellow Beetle Sedan. However, those who are familiar with the novel will know that the car was meant to be red but Kubrick changed it to yellow following "their widely noted disputes about the adaptation".
đź’ˇ The original Volkswagen Beetle was built for 65 years, from 1938 to 2003, and is the longest-produced vehicle in history.
 07 | The Exorcist (1973), 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE
The Movie:Â "The Exorcist" is a 1973 American horror film adapted from the novel by William Peter Blatty of the same name. Ranked as the scariest movie of all time and winning two Academy Awards, it's no surprise it's one of the most well-known Halloween movies of all time.
The Car:Â The 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE is one of The Exorcist's highlights for a particular kind of viewer. It makes an appearance at the end of the film, carrying Regan out of Washington, D.C. after being exorcised and finally demon-free. Nothing quite like a lengthy drive in an S-Class after a difficult period like the MacNeils experienced in the movie, right?
đź’ˇ The 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 4.5 - the period equivalent of today's S-class - is perhaps the best and most attainable example of Stuttgart's golden-age greatness.
08 | Hocus Pocus (1993), 1991 Ford Explorer
The Movie: Almost 2 decades after its initial release, Disney's 1993 film "Hocus Pocus" once again becomes one of the most popular movies of the season. A trio of witches... in Salem, Massachusettes... on Halloween night, it's a match made in Halloween heaven.
The Car: What could be considered the antihero of the movie for tricking the Sanderson sisters into believing the sun is rising is the 1991 Ford Explorer. A replacement for the outgoing Bronco II model, the Ford Explorer seems to have put a spell on us all as it takes the title as the best-selling SUV of all time!Â
đź’ˇ The Ford Explorer is the best-selling SUV in history. In 2020, Ford sold nearly 8 million Explorers since its debut in 1990.
09 | Edward Scissorhands (1990), 1974 Plymouth Duster
The Movie: Back in 1990, director Tim Burton filmed his goth classic "Edward Scissorhands". This movie didn't just manifest one of Johnny Depp's most iconic characters, but is one of the most versatile Halloween movies by Burton that you can watch from Halloween until Christmas.
The Car: Edward comes down from the mountain through the pastel suburbs in a 1974 Plymouth Duster. Although not significant to the actual story, interestingly the Plymouth Duster was an under-appreciated mini muscle car of its time which could be seen to represent the Boggs position in the ordinary American suburb. Â
đź’ˇ The Plymouth Duster was going to be named after a Warner Bros character, Tasmanian Devel much like the Plymouth Road Runner, the Duster.
 10 | Scream (1996), 1984 Jeep Cherokee
The Movie:Â A movie that defined the slasher horror movie genre, "Scream" was an instant sensation when it was released back in 1996.Â
The Car: While there are plenty of cool background cars in the first movie, whether it's Tatum Riley's 1967 Volkswagen Beetle or 1994 Ford Mustang, none were quite as iconic, or as recognisable as Dwight "Dewey" Riley 1984 Jeep Cherokee. With its XJ looks in an iconic tan, the Jeep Cherokee gets plenty of screen time, and rightly so.
