The Star Wars franchise is one built on hope, adventure, family, fantasy, and heroism, among other things. Rarely does the franchise veer into the scarier side of things. The franchise, though, does touch on genres of all kinds, from romance to comedy to action to, yes, horror, with certain stories being perfect for indulging in during the spooky season.
Whether they be fantastic novels that delve into creepy and intimidating villains, comics that showcase the eerie side of the Galaxy far, far away, or episodes of TV shows filled with classic horror tropes, Star Wars has some perfect Halloween entertainment for fans. All of the movies and shows can be streamed on Disney+.
LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales (2021)
- Written by David Shayne & directed by Ken Cunningham.
The newest LEGO Star Wars special will not send shivers down the spine of the more mature or adult portions of the Star Wars fandom, but it is a perfect little forty-plus minute of fun and frights for kids.
It sees three cautionary tales told to the likes of Poe and BB-8 by one of the special's best characters, Vaneé. Mix that with the Mustafar setting, a ton of great easter eggs and references, and a creepy ulterior story coming from the aforementioned Vaneé and a Sith Holocron. The special is great for families on Halloween.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
- Written & directed by George Lucas.
Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is not a horror movie, but of all the Skywalker saga films, there is no doubt it is the creepiest and most harrowing of the lot, challenged only by The Empire Strikes Back.
What perhaps pushes Revenge of the Sith to the top in terms of the fear factor is Order 66 and the tragic deaths that come with it, especially when the surrounding content like The Clone Wars adds so much pain to it for the audiences. The movie is full of moments that give fans goosebumps and fill them with both sorrow and fear.
Star Wars: Lords Of The Sith (2015)
- Written by Paul S. Kemp.
Lords Of The Sith sees Darth Vader and the Emperor stranded on Ryloth and set to face off against hordes of opponents, not least of all an insurgency. It showcases and reaffirms how terrifying Vader is.
Of course, it is no surprise that Vader, one of the most powerful and consistently brilliant villains in all of Star Wars, has some jaw-dropping moments in the novel. However, the ruthlessness and brutality shown throughout make it an almost harsh but thrilling read and one bound to inspire some fear in fans.
Star Wars: Rebels - "Out Of Darkness" (2015)
- Written by Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg, & Carrie Beck and directed By Dave Filoni & Steward Lee.
Star Wars: Rebels may be the underappreciated masterpiece of the franchise, but it is far from a scary show. Episodes like "Twilight of the Apprentice" give fans a lump in their throat, shock them to their core, and induce other severe emotions, but rarely is it scary.
Of all the episodes, though, "Out Of Darkness" may be the scariest as Hera and Sabine have to deal with being stranded and having to fend for themselves. Episodes like "Hera's Heroes" also have some kind of fearful moments thanks to characters like Thrawn, but with its use of isolation and creatures, "Out Of Darkness" is the most horror-esque.
The Mandalorian - "Chapter 10: The Passenger" (2020)
- Written by Jon Favreau & directed by Peyton Reed.
There are so many fantastical and horrifyingly well-designed creatures for fans to marvel at throughout the forty-plus-year history of Star Wars, but never has one been used on-screen in such a typically horror fashion like the knobby white spider.
Chapter 10 of the hit series The Mandalorian has the heroes and the fans having to endure these spiders, and it is an undoubtedly frightening affair. For those with arachnophobia, this episode will be a hard watch. Overall the episode may be the piece of on-screen Star Wars content that best delves into the horror genre.
Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel (2017)
- Written by Jason Aaron & Kieron Gillen and pencilled by Marco Checchetto, Salvador Larroca, & Andrea Broccardo.
The Screaming Citadel is a big crossover event of the extended canon, seeing Dr. Aphra, one of the best Star Wars comic book characters with one of the best arcs, team up with the beloved Jedi Luke Skywalker.
Taking place across the mainline Star Wars series and Dr. Aphra comics, The Screaming Citadel sees the pair on a mission to the Citadel of Ktath'atn to unlock the secrets of the Eternal Rur. Things do not go to plan, and the two are forced to fight off creepy, mind-controlling enemies, making it one of Star Wars' scarier comic books.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - "Legacy Of Terror" & "Brain Invaders"
- Written by George Lucas, Eoghan Mahony, Andrew Kreisberg, Drew F. Greenberg and directed by Steward Lee.
A few episodes of The Clone Wars are undoubtedly scary for younger audiences while being creepy enough for fans to appreciate, such as "Massacre." But "Legacy of Terror" and "Brain Invaders" are perhaps the best examples.
Both a part of the Second Battle of Geonosis arc, the episodes have zombie Geonosians and a mind-controlling parasite infecting people. "Brain Invaders" is especially creepy, with Ahsoka all on her own trying to save Barriss Offee and the clones who have fallen victim to the parasite.
Star Wars Adventures: Beware Of Vader's Castle (2021)
- Written by Cavan Scott and penciled by Derek Charm, Chris Fenoglio, Kelley Jones, Corin Howell, Robert Hack, Charles Paul Wilson III, Nicoletta Baldari, Nick Brockenshire, Francesco Francavilla, & Megan Levens.
Fortress Vader on Mustafar is undoubtedly one of the scariest pieces of architecture in Star Wars, and the setting of Beware Of Vader's Castle, which is a collection of both comic runs Tales From Vader's Castle and its sequel Return To Vader's Castle.
Both comics have a series of creepy, cautionary tales, as well as their own little horror subplot, similar to LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales, but a much less child-centric, more serious, canonical setting. All comic books exploring and involving Darth Vader seem to be great, and these ones specifically are perfect for Halloween reading for Star Wars fans.
Star Wars: Dark Legends (2020)
- Written by George Mann and illustrated by Grant Griffin.
Dark Legends is not one linear story, nor is it a series of tales told by one character to another with a central plot. Rather it is just a series of dark and scary short stories, and it is a fantastically terrifying read.
The collection of stories are well-written and chilling with monsters and exploration of the creepy corners of the Galaxy. While it is a YA novel, it is far from being just for kids. The way it is written and the stories themselves can be enjoyed by any Star Wars fans, just like The Clone Wars, which has its dark moments despite being marketed for children.
Death Troopers (2009) & Star Wars: Red Harvest (2010)
- Written by Joe Schreiber.
When talking about Star Wars and horror, there is no avoiding the pair of Legends novels Death Troopers and its prequel Red Harvest. They are perhaps the most horror-focused pieces of Star Wars content ever.
Death Troopers focus on two brothers who find themselves imprisoned on a ship, with everyone on said ship falling sick, dying, and coming back to life. Red Harvest sees a captured Padawan and a bounty hunter attempt to stop a Sith Lord who has brought the dead back to life for his own dastardly causes. Both are filled with horror, both are well written, and they are some of the scariest pieces of Star Wars content fans could enjoy on Halloween.