Zoom Backgrounds from 10 Iconic Horror Movies and TV Shows
Amber Stefanson | October 28th, 2022
Halloween falls on a Monday this year, but that’s no reason to wait until 5 pm to celebrate. Spice up your remote meetings with these spooky backgrounds from some of our favorite horror movies and TV shows!
1. Midsommar (2019)
It’s no surprise that Ari Aster’s Midsommar has become a modern classic. Its bright, saturated colors are a welcome departure from the classic horror movie trope that everything sinister happens at night. Bring a little color into your Zoom meetings this Halloween with these striking stills from the 2019 horror flick.
Center yourself on your screen to become an instant May Queen — just make sure you wear something green so that your shoulders blend into the background! Alternatively, you can participate in the festivities from afar and take your meetings in front of the maypole dance.
2. Suspiria (1977)
The 2018 remake of this cult classic film may be scarier, but nothing beats the art deco architecture of the original 1977 Suspiria. You’ll catch everyone’s attention with the bewitching symmetry of the Tanz Dance Academy’s jewel-toned lobby.
3. X (2022)
Picture the chaos of Super Smash Bros, but your characters just wiggle around like jello. This makes for some crazy ragdoll physics when throwing your opponents across the map. And better yet, the randomness of each map will have you and your friends laughing for hours. To name a few, you can fight on top of a blimp, a moving truck through the highway, or a ferris wheel that’s slowly sinking into the ocean.
4. The Shining (1980)
The hallway from The Shining is the kind of visual that lives in your head rent-free. Maybe this iconic hallway pops into your mind every time you check into a hotel or walk down a long, narrow corridor. Maybe you think of it every time you see the funky carpet at the airport or at your local casino. No matter how it haunts you, this hallway scene will surely invite some spooky vibes to your next Zoom call.
5. Alien (1979)
Hallways are a horror movie trope for a reason: these narrow passageways offer little space to run or hide as the protagonist goes from one unseen location to another. Invite some suspense into your Halloween festivities with the spaceship corridor from Alien.
Just keep an eye on those vents!
6. Stranger Things (2016 – Present)
Stranger Things bridges the gap between old and new horror. These virtual backgrounds are perfect for those who want something fresh and trendy, while still being wonderfully nostalgic of the sci-fi horror of the 1980s. You can take your home office to The Upside Down, or work from Joyce’s living room for a brighter and more recognizable homage.
7. Psycho (1960)
Declare your love for classic cinema with this gothic still of the Bates house from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. You can even match your face to this black-and-white backdrop using Zoom’s ‘Noir’ video filter. The overall effect will be striking, and a great conversation starter in your next remote meeting.
8. American Psycho (2000)
Appear like you’re working from a swanky, New York apartment while paying subtle homage to American Psycho with this still of Patrick Bateman’s bachelor pad. The subdued, realistic lighting of this interior shot makes it easy to look like you’re really there. Use some dim, neutral light and a green screen so you can blend in perfectly with your virtual background.
9. Nope (2022)
Sometimes you don’t want to blend into your backdrop. If people are going to know it’s a virtual background anyway, why not let it pop? Jordan Peele’s Nope is perfect for this effect. Its vast, striking landscapes are made ominous by night with a darkened, inky blue palette. If you stay off-center, the string of multi-colored flags will instantly grab the attention of anyone who’s seen the movie, and create a sense of mystery for those who haven’t.
10. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
And on a less unsettling note, you can honor the classic Charlie Brown Halloween special with this cheery virtual background. It’s the perfect pick for those who want to make a more wholesome, nostalgic expression of the spooky season… or for those who want to indulge in a much-needed palette cleanser after a long Spooktober of watching scary movies. Just don’t forget to un-mirror your video in the settings or else your colleagues won’t be able to read Linus’ sign!
Don’t just take inspiration…
You can right-click on any of these photos to save them to your computer to upload onto Zoom. If you choose a virtual background from a newer movie, don’t forget to upgrade your laptop’s built-in camera so that your face is just as cinematic as your background is. Happy Halloween from the NexiGo team!