Call ‘A Cinderella Story’ a Halloween Movie, You Cowards

Waiting for people to call A Cinderella Story what it is — a Halloween movie — is like waiting for rain in a drought. Useless and disappointing. So this October, I’m taking charge and declaring once and for all that the 2004 rom-com is now, always has been, and forever will be a perfect Halloween watch.

For nearly two decades, fans of the iconic modern-day Cinderella-inspired fairytale and Spooky Season alike haven’t been ready for this conversation. But it’s time. Yes, A Cinderella Story is jam-packed with LOLs and swoon-worthy moments that can be enjoyed year-round, but it’s so much more than just another rom-com. It’s a quality Halloween movie deserving of a permanent spot in our annual fall lineups.

A Cinderella Story follows California teen Sam Montgomery (Hilary Duff) eight years after her dad’s unexpected death. Sam’s evil stepmother Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge) and her two stepsisters Brianna (Madeline Zima) and Gabriella (Andrea Avery Ray) delight in making her days difficult, but things look up for Sam when she starts anonymously texting and emailing “Nomad,” a fellow Princeton-loving secret admirer. The mysterious man — who turns out to be the coolest guy in school, Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray) — asks Sam to meet him at the big Halloween Homecoming Dance. And that, my friends, is where my ironclad seasonal film argument begins.

The school’s radio DJ, Astrid (Aimee-Lynn Chadwick), first mentions the Halloween dance within the film’s first 15 minutes. When delivering the daily announcements, she reminds her peers to buy tickets, saying, “You too can dress up like someone you’re not for a change!” By the end of the first act, Austin invited Sam to meet him in the middle of the dance floor at 11:00 p.m. and Sam’s best friend Carter (Dan Byrd) burst through the door of her stepmother’s diner on the big night dressed as Zorro. Since Fiona’s making Sam work the night shift and she has no costume, she tells Carter she can’t go to the dance. But that doesn’t fly with Rhonda (Regina King), Sam’s real-life fairy godmother, who takes her costume shopping and covers her shift so she can meet her cyber crush.

Thanks to a Halloween miracle (Rhonda offering free diner breakfast for a month), the three make it to the costume shop before it closes. As “Falling For You” by Busted blasts, Sam gives us a glorious Halloween costume fashion show, cycling through everything from matador and Porky Pig looks to a hula dancer and a nun. Duff is incredibly charming in the lively scene, which sends an infectious Halloween spirit rippling through the screen.

Just as Sam sighs and dubs the costume search “hopeless,” Rhonda spies a white, lace eye mask that matches an outfit she has at home. That outfit? Her old wedding dress. Which means Sam rides up to the dance dressed as — yep, you guessed it — Cinderella.

The lavish Halloween dance takes place at a swanky hotel all done up with lights, balloons, and extravagant decorations. There’s a DJ, teachers are scouring the room for the school’s next homecoming prince and princess, and honestly? These teens spared no expense when it came to dressing up. This isn’t your typical high school cafeteria dance with cheap Party City costumes. These kids put some thought into their disguises and did the holiday justice. They look like they just stepped out of professional Hollywood wardrobe fittings. Largely because they did! Sam’s stepsisters are joined at the hip in a chaotic Siamese twin cat costume, Austin’s ex Shelby (Julie Gonzalo) and her two friends channeled their inner Charlie’s Angels, his two besties dressed as the Thre— uh, Two Musketeers, and he ditched them to become *the* Prince Charming, with no prior knowledge that Sam would be Cinderella might I add. The Halloween miracles just keep coming.

The dance vibes hit their peak when Sam shows up and dramatically descends the staircase, catching every eye in the room. She finally meets her literal Prince Charming, but there’s just one problem. He can’t tell who she is because she’s wearing that tiny little mask around her eyes. Despite Austin Ames’ inability to see recognize his Cinderella as Sam — a girl he sees at school pretty regularly and even has conversations with — the two share a magical night at the Halloween bash and wind up slow dancing to Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be” in a candlelit gazebo. A best-case Halloween scenario!

When midnight approaches, Sam leaves Austin behind to race back to the the diner. And though A Cinderella Story‘s Halloween scenes end when the clock strikes midnight, the film’s third act deals not only deals with the aftermath of the Halloween dance, it focuses on the subtle, everyday masks people wear to fit in in high school. (Plus, Coolidge’s extremely extra wardrobe screams “Halloween costume” throughout the movie.)

When determining the criteria for Halloween movies, they shouldn’t have to be scary. Sure, spooky, supernatural, slasher, and horror films scream Halloween. But if a movie’s entire plot is based around a Halloween dance, it also counts! We deserve a Halloween romance! A Halloween fairytale! A Halloween comedy about a hot guy who can’t recognize a hot girl because she has a few inches of fabric on her face! A Halloween movie soundtrack that includes Hilary Duff songs!

If you’re tired of the same old tricks and are craving a treat, start celebrating the Halloween season with A Cinderella Story. And remember: Never let the fear of striking out keep you from calling Halloween movies like you see them.