How much do you really love Halloween? We curated a list of spooky and surprising Halloween trivia questions that'll test you and your friends' knowledge of the holiday and its most classic movies.
Answers included to make it easy to prep for your next spooky season trivia night!
1. How many pounds did the world's largest pumpkin pie weigh?
It weighed 3,699 pounds!
2. When did the first Spirit Halloween stores open?
3. Which famous person died on Halloween: Audrey Hepburn, Harry Houdini, Aretha Franklin, or Edgar Allen Poe?
Harry Houdini
On October 22, while lecturing at McGill University, Houdini invited some students to visit him in his dressing room. A student named J. Gordon Whitehead asked Houdini if it was true that he could resist hard punches to his abdomen, and when Houdini said the rumors were true, Whitehead punched Houdini very hard several times on the stomach. Houdini then travelled to Detroit, where he developed severe abdominal pain, cold sweats, and a fever of 104 degrees. Although a doctor suspected appendicitis, Houdini chose to take the stage at the Garrick Theater, collapsing immediately after the final curtain. He died on October 31st.
4. The writer for the film Child's Play was inspired by Cabbage Patch Kids and the My Buddy toy.
Specifically, to address the craze of the popular toys during the 80s. The advertising and marketing to children played a hand in inspiration as well.
5. The Halloween tradition of bobbing for apples stemmed from a courting ritual: true or false?
True. One version of the ritual was as follows: girls would mark their names on their respective apple before dropping them into barrels of water. Potential suitors would bob for the apples, and picking the name of a girl would indicate the possibility of their future relationship.
6. Why are black cats associated with Halloween?
7. Halloween celebrations span three days in Spain: true or false?
8. What is the name of the Gothic novel about a scientist who creates a monster?
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. While the name 'Frankenstein' is often associated with the name of the famous monster, it is actually last name of the scientist.
9. When was the first citywide Halloween celebration held in the US?
1921 in Anoka, Minnesota
10. Halloween originated in Ireland: true or false?
True. The roots of this holiday come from Samhain, a Celtic festival of the Pagan religion. This festival celebrates the last summer harvest, where participants would dress up to scare off ghosts and ghouls.
11. Jack-O’-Lanterns used to be made from onions: true or false?
12. Why did trick-or-treating gain traction in the 1930s in America?
To curb pranking
Apparently, pranking became the preferred practice on Halloween among young people in the 1920s, but it became dangerous during the Great Depression, devolving into vandalism and violence. So, to prevent pranking (or worse behavior) in communities, the organized activity of trick-or-treating was encouraged.
13. Which animal will shelters not allow people to adopt on Halloween?
Black cats
In the late 1980s, a woman in Chicago adopted a black cat as a part of her Halloween costume and days later, the animal was found dead. So in the years that followed, it became policy for shelters to refuse black cat adoptions on Halloween to prevent ritual sacrifices of black cats.
14. Where can you be fined for using Silly String on Halloween?
Hollywood
If you use Silly String on Halloween in Hollywood, you could receive up to a $1,000 fine.
15. Approximately how many years does Halloween date back?
2,000 years
16. The Scottish term for dressing up on Halloween is guising: true or false?
True
17. The word "Halloween" means what?
Saints' evening
18. True or false: the night before Halloween has different names depending on where you live?
True
The night before Halloween is called "Mischief Night" around New Jersey and Pennsylvania, while it's called "Devil’s Night" n Michigan. Other names for this day include All Hallows Eve, Lamswool Snap-Apple Night, Samhaim, and Summer’s End.
19. What is the most popular Halloween costume for pets?
20. Which US state produces the most pumpkins?
Illinois
21. What is the record for most lit jack-o'-lanterns on display?
30,581
According to Guinness World Records, Keene, New Hampshire flaunted the most lit jack-o'-lanterns on display on October 19, 2013.
22. Halloween originated from an ancient ___ festival.
Celtic
23. World War II caused sugar rationing, which put a halt to trick-or-treating for how many years?
Five. The rationing existed between 1942 and 1947.
24. The fear of Halloween is known as samhainophobia: true or false?
True
25. Trick-or-treating has existed ever since the medieval times: true or false?
True
Around 1000 A.D. in England, a practice called "souling" emerged. Poor families traveled door to door to wealthier families' homes to receive "soul cakes," pastries offered in exchange for prayers for the souls of the homeowners’ departed relatives. Eventually, souling became an activity for children.
26. A city in Canada banned kids older than 16 from trick-or-treating: true or false?
True. Bathurst, New Brunswick banned kids older than 16 from tick-or-treating as an attempt to decrease Halloween mischief.
27. Where is the biggest Halloween parade in the US thrown?
New York
There are typically over 50,000 participants in the Village Halloween Parade. It happens in the evening on Halloween night itself. It's free for anyone to march in the parade, but costumes are mandatory, of course! There is also always a fun theme for each year's parade; in 2023, the theme is "Upside Down Inside Out".
28. Which celebrity is known for throwing epic Halloween parties?
Heidi Klum
29. Jack-o'-lanterns are literally named after a guy named Jack: true or false?
True
According to a 17th century Irish Legend, "Stingy Jack" was a cranky old man who tricked the Devil into doing a number of things. When Jack died, as punishment for his trickery, the Devil sent him into the night with only a burning coal, which Jack put into a carved-out turnip, to light his path. He has been roaming the earth ever since; the Irish called the ghost, “Jack of the Lantern,” or “Jack O’Lantern.”
30. The color orange stands for harvest, and the color black signifies death: true or false?
True
31. A pumpkin is a fruit: true or false?
True
Although many people may believe pumpkins to be vegetables, they're actually in the fruit family. The difference between a fruit and a vegetable is based on how they grow. A fruit relies on pollination of the flower, and the flower typically grows into the part we eat, as is the case with pumpkins. Other produce that is commonly improperly categorized includes tomatoes, olives, tomatoes, eggplants, avocados, corn, zucchini, and peppers, all of which, shockingly, are fruits.
32. Why did Dani leave the salt circle in the cemetery in Hocus Pocus?
33. What happens if Marni doesn't begin her training by midnight of her 13th Halloween in Halloweentown?
34. How long were Adam and Barbara waiting to speak to Juno in Beetlejuice?
35. What's the name of the song Debbie plays for Fester right after they get married in Adams Family Values?
36. What is the name of the island the gang goes to in the 2002 Scooby-Doo movie?
Spooky Island
37. What was the number on the police car that announces Jack has been shot down in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
38. In The Nightmare Before Christmas, which holiday is NOT one of the doors that appears in the forest?
April Fool's Day
39. What was the name of the lobster that was picked from the tank in Hocus Pocus?
40. What was the last ingredient the Sanderson witches added to their cauldron in Hocus Pocus?
41. What card did Pugsley offer Joel in trade for his Debbie card in Adams Family Values?
42. The three witches in Hocus Pocus are Winnie, Mary, and who?
Sarah
43. How many times has Betelgeuse seen The Exorcist in Beetlejuice?
44. What other Halloween film features a snake inspired by the snake from Beetlejuice?
The Nightmare Before Christmas
45. What was the name of the broom Marni buys in Halloweentown?
46. In The Nightmare Before Christmas, what is Zero's nose?
A jack-o'-lantern
47. What animal did Wednesday and Pugsley bury at the beginning of Adams Family Values?
48. The ending we have now of The Shining isn't the original ending.
49. In Hotel Transylvania, what color is Frankenstein?
Blue. While the monster is commonly thought to be a shade of green, there's no reason for this. In fact, in the book, the monster is described as yellow and translucent.
50. What book was Joel trying to read in Adams Family Values?
51. What item is NOT something we see Nebbercracker take in Monster House: Tricycle, shoes or kite?
Shoes
52. What's the shape of the mayor's bow tie in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
53. How is Winnie Sanderson defeated in Hocus Pocus?
Hallowed ground
54. How long is Adam gone the first time when he sees a sandworm in Beetlejuice?
55. What is the name of the large green ghost Ray first encounters in Ghostbusters?
Slimer
56. Including Zero, how many creatures pull Jack's sleigh in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
57. In The Nightmare Before Christmas, the names of Boogie's Boys are Lock, Shock, and ___?
Barrel
58. In the 2002 Scooby-Doo movie, where does the voodoo man tell Daphne NOT to go?
Spooky Island castle
59. Why can't the Sanderson sisters follow the kids into the cemetery in Hocus Pocus?
60. What does Emily turn into at the end of Corpse Bride?
Swarm of butterflies
61. What insult did Marni call Calabar in their final confrontation in Halloweentown?
62. What is Ice's real name in Hocus Pocus?
63. According to ancient legend, seeing a spider on Halloween means what?
A loved one is watching over you and protecting you
64. What do Australians think of Halloween?
Unpopular and "too American"
65. Which celeb was born on Halloween?
Vanilla Ice. He was born on October 31, 1967, making him a scorpio.
66. What animal caused Adam and Barbara's car to crash in Beetlejuice?
67. How much will people spend on average on haunted house attractions?
$300 million
68. What's the name of the cab company that Benny works for in Halloweentown?
69. What was candy corn more popular than when it was first invented?
Regular corn
70. Candy corn was originally made by hand: true or false?
True
Now, machines are able to do the work, but before machines, workers called "stringers" mixed the main ingredients (literally just sugar, water and corn syrup) in large kettles. Then they added fondant and marshmallow, to help with smoothness. Then the workers had to walk backwards three times, pouring out each color into the mold.
71. What was the first present Jack gave out as Santa in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
72. Why was the iconic "I see dead people" scene in The Sixth Sense was almost changed?
Because the film's producer, Frank Marshall, was scared that people would figure out the ending.
73. Who wrote all the songs for The Nightmare Before Christmas?
Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman has written over 100 film scores, some of the most notable ones are collaborations with Tim Burton: Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands and Alice in Wonderland, to name a few. Other notable film scores include collaborations with Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting and Don't Worry He Won't Get Far On Foot), and the recent DC comic Justice League and the Fifty Shades blockbuster trilogy.
74. What did Debbie kill her first husband with in Adams Family Values?
75. Why did Alfred Hitchcock shoot Psycho in black and white?
So that the shower death scene wouldn't look as gory! It's believed that Alfred Hitchcock also opted for black and white to recreate the style of the 1954 French film, Les Diaboliques.
76. What year was a score added to 1931's Dracula?
1998
77. When was Halloweentown established in Halloweentown?
78. In The Exorcist, who was the character of Chris MacNeil based on in real life?
Shirley MacLaine
79. What candy bar does Beetlejuice tempt the fly with in Beetlejuice?
80. Where did the idea for Final Destination originate from?
A spec script for The X-Files
81. Who did Tim Burton want to cast as Betelgeuse in Beetlejuice?
Sammy Davis Jr.
The role eventually went to Michael Keaton.
82. Who did Drew Barrymore request that her blonde wig in Scream be modeled after?
Michelle Pfeiffer's character's hair in Scarface
83. Where did the vampires look for Jack Skellington in Nightmare Before Christmas?
84. Hocus Pocus was originally what?
A short story
85. Snickers are the most popular candy in the US: true or false?
False. As of 2023, the most popular candy is the US is Reece's Cups, followed by Skittles and M&Ms.
86. How many ingredients are in a Butterfinger bar?
19
87. What was candy corn originally called?
Chicken Feed
88. How did bobbing for apples begin?
As part of an ancient Roman Festival
89. Why does candy corn have its corn shape?
Because ~nature~-inspired candy was all the rage in the 1880s.
This post contains content from Brian Galindo, Terri Pous, Chris Peña, thegothdragon, wilburnh20, ega22, peace_and_love, LifeUnderReview, and thatmovienerd. It was compiled by Laura Frustaci.