When it comes to Halloween viewing, the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland each have distinct tastes, according to a year‑long analysis of Google search trends compiled by Only In Your State. The data, which examined searches from across the United States over the twelve months ending in October 2026, highlights how local pride and regional humor shape seasonal movie choices.
Virginia’s Horror Favorites
Virginia residents lead the pack with the 2020s thriller The Invisible Man as the top‑ranked standalone horror film. The movie’s tense, technology‑driven anxiety appears to resonate strongly with Virginians seeking modern scares. When it comes to franchises, the state’s favorite is the long‑running Final Destination series, praised for its relentless suspense and fatalistic twists.
Maryland’s Local Legend
Maryland’s number‑one horror pick is the iconic The Blair Witch Project, a film rooted in the real‑world woods of Burkittsville, Maryland. The state’s love for home‑grown folklore extends to franchises as well, with the 1990s urban legend Candyman taking the top spot over other series such as Saw.
Shared Comedy Choice
Both Virginia and Maryland turn to the same light‑hearted option when they want to dial back the terror: Tom Hanks’ cult classic The ‘Burbs. The film’s suburban satire provides a family‑friendly laugh that appeals across the DMV region.
National Trends Mirror Local Preferences
On a broader scale, the Final Destination franchise dominates the nation, topping search charts in ten states—twice as many as its nearest competitors, Candyman and Saw. For standalone scares, the classic 1976 horror Carrie and the modern thriller The Invisible Man are tied, each leading in five states.
In the comedy category, the surprising sleeper hit The ‘Burbs claims the national crown, ranking as the top Halloween watch in eight states, outpacing long‑standing favorites like Ghostbusters and Practical Magic.
Hometown Hero Bias
The research also uncovered a strong “hometown hero” bias: more than a dozen states crowned movies that were set or filmed within their own borders, underscoring the appeal of locally relevant storytelling during the holiday season.
Methodology
Only In Your State built its watchlists by selecting highly rated titles from IMDb—100 top‑rated horror movies, 25 major horror franchises and 60 family‑friendly Halloween films. Google Trends data was then used to measure relative search interest by state over the twelve‑month period ending October 2026. The resulting rankings reflect which titles residents were most eager to watch relative to the rest of the country.
These findings offer a glimpse into how regional culture and local pride shape entertainment choices, providing a fun, data‑driven guide for families planning their Halloween movie marathons.
Original reporting: Arlington County | FOX 5 DC — read the source article.
