5 best Goth movies to watch

May 22 is observed every year as World Goth Day. It is like Halloween for gothic people who get to celebrate their culture and way of expression on this day. Although the culture has been around for a long time, World Goth Day only first started in 2009 in the United Kingdom.

For the unversed, a UK-based DJ, Lee Meadows, first suggested the idea of the celebratory day on a Myspace blog, which caught traction simultaneously. In 2010, both Meadows and another London-based DJ, Martin Oldgoth, decided to make it global to promote solidarity and visibility among the goth community, and the whole thing has been going on still.

On this day, many aspects of the culture in film, fashion, and art are celebrated. Below are five movies of this subculture that one can watch to enjoy World Goth Day.

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Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, and 3 other goth movies to look out for in celebrations of World Goth Day

1) The Addams Family (1991)

Even though many did not know about the cult classic, they do now, thanks to Tim Burton’s iconic 2022 reimagination starring Jenna Ortega, Wednesday. The original 1991 movie can be seen as an indoctrination of gothic culture for many people.

The Addams Family is a supernatural black comedy which follows the lives of the titular family's member, including Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday, and the Hand.

The morbid yet enjoyable humor, the out-of-the-box thinking, and the eccentrically absurd tone of the movie, everything adds to the fun of it and makes it what it really is: a classic comic goth movie to watch if anyone is an avid follower of the culture.

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2) Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Tim Burton is a master of the goth genre, and he got to prove it early on, with Sleepy Hollow.

The movie follows scientist Ichabod Crane, who is more prone to investigating through early forensics and finding answers. However, as he is sent to look into the decapitation of three people, he is reluctant to believe in The Headless Horseman. But things soon take a turn, and now he must see if there is more than what he believes in the universe.

Adapted from a classic story of the horror of the same name, the movie does not disappoint. From gore to violent horror, the film has a lot to offer. From production to acting to even background music, everything has been taken care of with minute attention.

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3) The Invitation (2022)

The Invitation is one such movie that should be on top of every goth movie lover's list. The movie follows a young orphan girl who suddenly finds a connection with a wealthy family. As she finds her heart fluttering at Thomas Doherty’s character Walter De Ville, sinister things start to unwind.

The Invitation is a pretty fast-paced movie, but it manages to build its intriguing world and establish characters pretty well. Many complained that the trailer gave away the movie, but it is still an enjoyable watch nonetheless.

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4) Corpse Bride (2005)

Another Tim Burton flick, Corpse Bride, is helmed as quite possibly his best work in animation. Although the name sounds morbid, the actual movie is pretty beautiful and, to some extent, even wholesome.

The movie follows a young man who is so nervous about his impending wedding that he goes to a cemetery to practice for the day. However, trouble in paradise happens when he practices the vows near the grave of a bride who has never been married, and now the latter thinks she is married to him.

The movie’s entire color palette is pretty dark and only works in black and white with shades of pale blue. The animation is helmed by many as one of the best in not just Tim Burton’s career but altogether in Hollywood. It takes a somber topic like life and death and turns it into a bittersweet tale with lots of humor and many heartfelt moments.

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5) Beetlejuice (1988)

The 'Original Gangstar' goth movie of 1988, Beetlejuice, is truly one of a kind. It follows a deceased couple who are unsuccessful, even after many tries, to turn away the people living in their home. So they seek the help of another, much more sinister spirit, to drive them out.

Beetlejuice won an Oscar and proved to be definitely one of the stepping stones in Tim Burton’s career. The dry comedy is absolutely on par that struck a chord with the audience. Michael Keaton is an absolute delight to behold.