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The best horror documentaries

Wrinkles the Crown is the stuff of nightmares.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Documentary films can often be written off as just a bunch of National Geographic specials or educational deep dives on world-changing folks and phenomena, socioeconomic subjects, and other textbook explorations of the universe as we know it (or don’t know it). But for cinema-goers who want to learn about something a bit more sordid, uncomfortable, or downright terrifying, there are horror documentaries. Some of these titles are about the horror genre itself, while others explore more esoteric matters, such as the many terrors of sleep paralysis and killer clowns for hire. 

If you’re in the mood for something hair-raisingly informative, we’ve gone ahead and rounded up all the best horror documentaries you can stream right now.

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Looking for more horrors? Check out our roundups of the best horror films on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Shudder.

Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)

Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror
7.5/10
r
83m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Meosha Bean, Ashlee Blackwell, William Crain
Directed by
Xavier Burgin
Watch on Shudder
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror is a groundbreaking documentary that explores the history of the American Black experience alongside the evolution of the horror film genre. Going all the way back to the late 1890s, the doc unpacks and examines the various roles that Black actors, filmmakers, and various industry affiliates have played or been subjected to throughout a century-plus of genre filmmaking, with excellent talking-head segments from the likes of Keith David, Jordan Peele, Tony Todd, and more, and plenty of archival footage to round out the feature.
Horror Noire - Official Trailer [HD] | A Shudder Original Documentary

The Nightmare (2015)

The Nightmare
68%
5.7/10
r
90m
Genre
Horror, Documentary
Stars
Kate Angus, Forrest Borie, Christopher Bleuze-Carolan
Directed by
Rodney Ascher
Watch on Shudder
You thought that A Nightmare on Elm Street was a tough watch? Well, get ready for the all-too-real examination of a phenomenon called sleep paralysis. In director Rodney Ascher’s The Nightmare, sleep paralysis is explored through the many eyewitness experiences of individuals suffering from the debilitating condition — a sleep-induced state of hallucinatory terrors, where the human body is rendered immobile, to the point where some sufferers even find it hard to breathe. Through detailed reenactments that feature some impressive costume, makeup, and VFX work, Ascher creates a pulse-pounding world of scares that will keep you wide awake at night.
The Nightmare Official Trailer 1 (2015) - Documentary HD

Demon House (2018)

Demon House
4.8/10
r
111m
Genre
Documentary, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Zak Bagans, Billy Tolley, Jay Wasley
Directed by
Zak Bagans
Watch on Amazon

Have you ever caught an episode or two of the Travel Channel series Ghost Adventures? If not, we’ll give you a nice nutshell summation: A team of paranormal investigators heads to some of the world’s most haunted places in hopes of capturing something supernatural for the TV show. The 2019 film Demon House, a documentary about a man who purchases a supposedly demon-infested house and brings a paranormal film crew in to investigate, is written and directed by Zak Bagans, the main creative mind and host of Ghost Adventures. The house Bagans purchases was the site of the 2014 Ammons haunting case, and while we’re sure there are some skeptics in our readership, Bagans’ unnerving little doc is enough to make us question whether or not the bumps we hear at night are pipes or marauding spirits looking to mess with our heads.

Demon House Official Trailer #1 (2018) Zak Bagans Documentary Movie HD

In Search of Darkness (2019)

In Search of Darkness
8/10
r
264m
Genre
Documentary, Horror
Stars
Tom Atkins, John Bloom, Doug Bradley
Directed by
David A. Weiner
Watch on Shudder

’80s horror will forever hold a special place in our hearts. In Search of Darkness: A Journey into Iconic 80s Horror is a documentary love letter from director David A. Weiner, perhaps the biggest fan of ‘80s horror the world has ever known. With a runtime of over five hours, Weiner’s film breaks down some of the best genre films of the camp-infested decade while exploring the evolution of special effects, poster art, and the prolific home video surge of the era. There are talking heads aplenty, and while we highly recommend breaking the film into multiple viewings, we promise you’ll walk away from this masterpiece with a major education on a very special part of ‘80s cinema history.

In Search of Darkness- Official Trailer [HD] | A Shudder Exclusive

Wrinkles the Clown (2019)

Wrinkles the Clown
r
75m
Genre
Documentary
Directed by
Michael Beach Nichols
Watch on Hulu

Have your children been misbehaving? Well, you could always call Wrinkles. The 2019 horror doc Wrinkles the Clown sheds some light on a rather scary and bizarre subject. For “a few hundred dollars,” Florida residents were able to hire Wrinkles, the titular horrifically-garbed clown, to prank family and friends, keep kids in line, and make party appearances. But it turns out there’s far more to the Wrinkles mythos than meets the eye, and writer-director Michael Beach Nichols is the one to break the case. We won’t give any spoilers, but let’s just say that it’s worth sticking with this one for its surprising third-act reveal.

Wrinkles The Clown - Official Trailer

Beware the Slenderman (2016)

Beware the Slenderman
78%
6.2/10
r
117m
Genre
Crime, Documentary
Stars
Richard Dawkins
Directed by
Irene Taylor Brodsky
Watch on HBO

Slenderman is the stuff nightmares are made of, a looming, ghoulish figure with no face, a creepy suit, and long, dangly fingers. And even though the creature in question is merely a web-based myth shared by many, Beware the Slenderman follows the real-life story of two Wisconsin pre-teens who exploited Slenderman in the most horrific fashion: by repeatedly stabbing a friend of theirs in an ode to the titular monster. An in-depth and unique examination of the internet’s effects on impressionable minds, Beware the Slenderman is a truly one-of-a-kind horror doc that you don’t want to miss.

Beware the Slenderman (HBO Documentary Films)

The Cheshire Murders (2013)

The Cheshire Murders
r
115m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Marilyn Bartoli, Deb Biggins, Michael Daluz
Directed by
Kate Davis, David Heilbroner
Watch on HBO
On the morning of July 23, 2007, the lives of the Petit family would be forever changed when a vicious crime took place in their quiet home in their idyllic neighborhood. Leading to one of the most notorious homicide cases in Connecticut state history, The Cheshire Murders explores the horrific events in sobering detail, delving into the criminal backgrounds of the men who carried out the disturbing act while shining a light on details that could have prevented the incident from ever happening in the first place. This isn’t an easy one to watch, but this documentary is as brutally forthright as they come.
Movie images and data from:
Michael Bizzaco

Michael Bizzaco has been selling, installing, and talking about TVs, soundbars, streaming devices, and all things smart home for the better part of 15 years. He even knows a thing or two about how to fix this stuff when it starts misbehaving (because no tech is perfect!).

Mike has been writing for Digital Trends and several other publications since 2020. Fortunately, he’s still able to write after he got his index finger stuck in a vending machine at the Ramada Inn the summer before fourth grade! From hands-on reviews to best-of roundups, Mike does his best to share his expertise in a friendly and informative way with all readers, and loves staying on top of the latest AV and smart home trends.

When he’s not thanking his father for dislodging his finger from that vile vending machine in New Jersey, Mike enjoys playing guitar, reading, and indulging in horror films with his girlfriend.

The best British TV shows on Netflix
Nanette posing with her arms on a chair wearing a uniform on the spaceship in the USS Callister sequel episode in Black Mirror.

When it comes to the best British TV shows on Netflix, they will keep you enthralled from start to finish. Oftentimes, these shows rise up the ranks for the streamer, becoming among the most popular and watched. In March, for example, the Jack Thorne series Adolescence started gaining a lot of attention and leading to conversation, with viewers dissecting the heart-wrenching, gripping, eye-opening story about kids, mental health, and social media. Black Mirror returns in April, too, and fans have been waiting a long time to see the new set of anthology episodes featuring a high-profile cast and the show's first-ever sequel.
Bottom line: the best British shows on Netflix sometimes count among the best shows on Netflix, period. When it comes to which ones are worth checking out, we have you covered with this curated list.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new shows to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, best shows on Hulu, best shows on Amazon Prime Video, the best shows on Max, and best shows on Disney+.

Adolescence (2025)

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The best horror movies on Amazon Prime right now
Naomi Scott as Skye Riley being forced into a grim smile by a man behind her in Smile 2.

Amazon Prime Video offers audiences a collection of some of the best horror movies to stream. Amazon's streaming service will cater to all horror fans thanks to the variety on hand, ranging from small-budget flicks to blockbuster movies. Prime Video also has fans covered with the many horror subgenres available, which include cheesy creature features to character-driven psychological horror.
Fans might need to take some time sifting through Prime Video's offerings, as the sheer number of available movies might make it difficult to single something out. Thankfully, this guide takes care of the skimming for you. This guide is updated monthly and highlights recent hits like Smile 2 and more niche horror movies like Sam Raimi's Evil Dead II, all of which audiences can find on Amazon Prime Video right now.
Here are some of the best horror movies on Prime Video you can look forward to streaming.

Want more Prime Video content? Check out the best movies on Prime Video right now. If you don't see anything of note on Amazon Prime, we've also rounded up the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

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The best kids movies on Disney+ right now
Maui and Moana sailing together on the sea in Moana 2 key art.

Disney+'s offerings continue to cement its place as the best place to stream kids movies. From the classic Disney vault to its library of recent releases, families are spoiled for choice when it comes to animated and live-action movies for the young ones in the family. This guide is updated monthly to relieve some of choice paralysis, focusing on a list of the best kids movies on Disney+ right now.
For customers wanting more, the Disney Bundle is a worthwhile subscription package. This gives fans access to Disney+, Hulu's ad-supported tier, and ESPN+'s sports coverage. It's the most comprehensive way for fans to get plenty of Star Wars, Marvel Studios, and sports entertainment to keep them entertained all year.

We’ve also rounded up the best kids movies on Hulu, the best kids movies on Netflix, and the best kids movies on Amazon Prime Video if you don't find what you’re looking for on Disney+. For older audiences, check out the best new movies to stream this week and the best movies on Disney+.

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