13 Scariest Bug Movie Moments to Watch for Halloween
We adore Halloween and everything that comes with it. Decorating with skeletons and bats, the spooks and scares of zombies roaming haunted houses, and maybe most of all—evenings jam-packed with scary movies.
In our world, it’s not the typical slashers and psychological thrillers that have us on edge; it’s the movies about giant, man-eating bugs that keep us awake at night. Lucky for us, we have a giant Bug Bite Thing!
To give you some of the same thrills this Halloween, we put together a list of 13 bloodcurdling bug moments that may have you covering your eyes.
Creepiest Bug Movies that will Haunt Your Dreams
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
“That’s no cookie!” We’re not 100 percent sure which is worse: having ceiling spikes grow towards you, or reaching into a hole filled with unidentified bugs … while they are also crawling through your hair. Thankfully for Indiana Jones, Willie Scott chooses the former. - Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
Eighties babies will likely remember the freaky photo of the girl from the book that inspired this movie. The short story, “The Red Spot,” from the 1981 horror collection made every girl and boy who read it think twice before falling asleep. Unknowingly bitten by a spider while sleeping, the main character has a blemish that gets bigger and bigger until hundreds of baby spiders escape. Well guess what … now the stem of your arachnophobia has been reenacted in film!
- Candyman (1992)
There are a ton of truly tragic moments in this slasher film, though the bees really get to us (please don’t get us started on the movie poster). Apparently the actors filmed this with real bees buzzing all over them, which ups the freak factor. Rumor has it that Tony Todd made $1,000 per bee sting, though! Would you do it? Still, you better not say his name 5 times … unless you have the Bug Bite Thing handy, anyway. - Mosquito (1995)
Hungry mosquitoes swarm dying aliens: at first glance, we can dig this idea … take the aliens, not us, please! But the insects’ genetic mutation into human-sized mosquitoes is a whole other story. Thankfully the effects on this one are nothing to write home about, so the “cheese” of this movie evens it out. - Hereditary (2018)
Looking for a movie the whole family can enjoy? This is definitely not it. We just can’t with the ant scene. There is so much to unpack in this thriller, but the ants crawling in bed part really sets us over the edge.
- The Craft (1996)
A Halloween classic for witchy 90s girls everywhere, The Craft is not your typical bug movie, but it had to have a spot on the list. While snakes steal the show in the scary house scene, maggots and cockroaches make an appearance, which are all topped off with more than a few rats. But relax, it’s only magic. - Men in Black (1997)
Ok, we know this was supposed to be a funny scene, but there is something about the arrival of the giant cockroach that gave us nightmares, especially when he comes back to haunt us in human form … and then stretches out his face. Let’s just say we would not have taken it as calmly as his wife. - Starship Troopers (1997)
Hostile alien insects – need we say more? This sci-fi movie and its attacking Arachnids is at the top of every bug-lover’s list. - Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)
A giant spider that is one of the oldest living creatures … no thank you. We were pretty frightened when Frodo was stung by Shelob, but wrapping him in the webbing was just plain wrong. - The Fly (1986)
For some reason, this remake really grosses us out. The idea of genetically merging with a fly that has Jeff Goldblum oozing everywhere may not seem as horrifying as flesh-eating insects, but it’s still a big “yuck” from us.
- The Mummy (1999)
Honestly, many of us didn’t even know what scarabs were before this movie, but any carnivorous insect that stays alive for years is still pretty triggering. Good news: these black beetles may seem eerie in real life, but they are also pretty harmless. - The Reaping (2007)
Is it possible to find bugs creepy but simultaneously want to high-five them? That’s how we feel with the locust scene in The Reaping. - Creepshow (1982)
If it’s written by Stephen King, you know it’s going to make your skin crawl. This comic book-like horror anthology film offers the ultimate bug scare with death by cockroaches in “They’re Creeping Up on You.” Panic room meets cockroaches? Nah, we’re good. Warning: this movie clip is extra spine-chilling, so watch at your own risk.
Did we miss any of your favorites (or should we say, least favorites)? Let us know which bug movie moments leave you running to get under the covers at night … and maybe check under them first, just in case.