How To Throw A Hitchcocktober Party This Fall

Every year in October, movie buffs celebrate Hitchcocktober in honor of the famed British director Alfred Hitchcock. Called “The Master of Suspense,” Hitchcock left an indelible mark on history with his films focused on murder, mystery, and, in the case of his classic Psycho, horror. With a career that began in silent films and continued well into the 1970s, Hitchcock’s films have a little something for everyone. 

While hosting parties can be a wonderful way to celebrate our femininity in our community, thinking of new ideas can be exhausting. If you’re tired of ghosts and witches for your yearly Halloween party, Hitchcocktober is the perfect, fresh theme for your get-together this year. Whether you select one film as your theme – including favorites such as Rear Window or The Birds – or throw a party celebrating all of Hitchcock’s films, it’ll give you and your guests a chance to step into a world of murder mystery and suspense for the evening. 

Evie's product selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.

Inviting Your Cast of Characters

Every murder mystery needs a cast of characters, and that means they’ll need invitations. Physical invitations may have gone out of style in the modern era, but I think they’re a good idea for a Hitchcocktober party. They set the perfect tone for the old-fashioned vibe of a good Hitchcocktober party, and you can send them without breaking the bank. Websites like Canva can easily be used to edit an image and create your perfect Hitchcocktober invite. Just make sure you ask your guests to RSVP “M for Murder.”

Here are some pictures that evoke the artistry of Hitchcock films from different eras to get you started! PS. Don’t forget your Hitchcock stamps!

Setting the Scene

If there’s one thing that stops me from throwing a good party, it’s the feeling that I’m not creative enough to decorate my apartment for the event. The nice thing about a Hitchcocktober party, though, is how simple it is to find thousands of film stills that provide easy decoration. Hang some posters and film stills, or even an “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” sign in your entry, to set the mood for your mysterious evening.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents Poster Classic Movie Posters Set of 6, $20

Hitchcock Silhouette Window Sticker, $19

For your dinner table, you can draw inspiration from several of Hitchcock’s films. There’s the dinner party held over a dead body in Rope, or the more refined dinner at Manderley in Rebecca. Check out these suggestions for inspiration for your table decor.

If you feel like being a little fancier, you can fold some cloth napkins into the shape of birds – but luckily your guests will be safe from attack from these pretty creatures.

It’s Not a Party Without Food

Once you have your cast of characters, it’s time to decide how to feed them. While most murder mystery-style parties involve a full meal, you may decide to go with hearty finger food and a well-stocked charcuterie board. If this is the direction you want to take, you can draw inspiration from Rope’s charcuterie board, and maybe even add a spooktacular Halloween twist.

If you do want a meal that’s a little more substantial for your guests, though, look no further than Grace Kelly’s picnic meal in To Catch a Thief. “Do you want a leg or a breast?” she asks Cary Grant suggestively. This dinner recipe will leave you wanting both.

Dress the Part

Isn’t the best part of any party that it gives us the chance to dress up? Hitchcocktober gives us a chance to dress up as our favorite elegant Old Hollywood stars and show off our new fall hairstyle. From colorful evening gowns to indigo jeans and a bright red button-down, Grace Kelly’s costumes alone provide inspiration for some beautiful Hitchcocktober costumes.

Hitchcock’s films are full of iconic fashion moments that will be fun to imitate, from Marlene Dietrich’s bejeweled actress in Stage Fright to Tippi Hedren’s green wool suit in The Birds. Just make sure you don’t wear your husband’s dead wife’s Halloween costume like Joan Fontaine does in Rebecca. Recipe for disaster.

It’s time to air out your suits, gentlemen! A Hitchcocktober party also allows your man to flex his Cary Grant suavity and gentlemanly sense of style. Grant, who starred in multiple films for Hitchcock, shows off some of his best looks in films like Notorious or To Catch a Thief. Check out some of these looks for inspiration!

And for the party-goer who wants to get extra creative? There are plenty of quirky costume ideas from Hitchcock’s films that go beyond fine dining outfits. Check out Jimmy Stewart’s pajama-clad photographer with crutches, L. B. Jeffries from Rear Window, or Montgomery Clift’s priest in I Confess to start your search.

The Plot Thickens: Activities for the Evening

Once your guests have eaten, they’ll be ready for some fun and games. A few well-crafted activities will spark conversation and laughter. There are several traditional board games like Clue and Mysterium that pair well with a murder mystery Hitchcocktober evening, and there’s even a Rear Window board game! If you want an activity that is a little more involved, you can consider a formal murder mystery game. 

It wouldn’t be a Hitchcocktober party without the chance to watch some of the great director’s work. But watching a movie at the end of a party has a practical purpose as well: It can punctuate your evening with a definitive end time so your guests know when to leave without overstaying their welcome. Many of Hitchcock’s most famous films are referenced above, but if you’re looking for one a bit more off the beaten path, here are a few suggestions.

The Lady Vanishes (1938)

Iris Henderson has a conversation with an old lady on a train back to England, but the old lady disappears and nobody else on the train remembers there being an old woman at all. Is Iris imagining things, or is something afoot?

Lifeboat (1944)

A small group of British and Americans survive the sinking of their ship by a German U-boat on a lifeboat. They find another lost soul in the water – and then discover he is a surviving German soldier.

The Wrong Man (1956)

The only Hitchcock film based on a true story, The Wrong Man follows Manny Balestrero as he is mistaken for a serial thief. As the evidence mounts against Manny, he fights to prove his innocence.

Closing Thoughts

Hosting a Hitchcocktober celebration of the great director and his films is the perfect fall gathering this year. Show off your hostess skills by celebrating a great filmmaker, and the spooky stories he told, with your friends and family.

Support our cause and help women reclaim their femininity by subscribing today.