Netflix is the king of streamers, thanks to its impressive library, which includes every major film genre; however, few are better represented than horror. The best horror movies on Netflix include a who’s who of cinematic nightmares, including certified classics of the genre and new, ambitious additions from modern filmmakers. These movies will provide chills and thrills while delivering a high-quality experience for terror-starved audiences.
To make things better, Netflix stays consistent every month with new and exciting arrivals that make up for whatever movies are leaving the service. With this list, we’ve found the worthy films and omitted those that might not be the best, making it easier for you to sit back and scream with these horrifying movies. From supernatural stories to psychological thrillers and good old-fashioned slashers, these are the best horror movies that Netflix has to offer, and we wholeheartedly recommend them.
Looking to get your scares elsewhere? We’ve curated guides to the best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video and the best horror movies on Hulu.
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Old People2022
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The Munsters2022
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Veronica2017
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The Day of the Lord2020
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Starring an ensemble of young talent, including Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova and the underrated Amandla Stenberg, Bodies Bodies Bodies is among the most celebrated horror comedies in recent years. The plot centers on a group of twenty-somethings trapped at a mansion during a hurricane. When a party game leads to a dead body, the group starts turning on each other as secrets emerge. Wickedly funny and refreshingly subversive, Bodies Bodies Bodies is an appropriately chaotic blend of comedy and slasher horror that will keep audiences entertained—and might even make them scream more than a few times.
Thanksgiving (2023)
Eli Roth directs the hysterical Thanksgiving, based on his fake trailer from the Robert Rodriguez movie Grindhouse. Set a year after a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, the film follows a small town terrorized by a deranged killer out for revenge. A love letter to the classic slashers of the past, Thanksgiving strikes the perfect balance between comedy and gore. It’s bloody, over-the-top, and explosive, delivering an uncommonly dynamic slasher that will surely become a staple of the season of giving.
The First Purge (2018)
The fourth entry in the Purge movie franchise but the first film within its chronology, The First Purge is a worthy addition to this unexpectedly successful series. The film depicts the origins of The Purge, which begins as an experiment on Staten Island where the winners are offered a large sum of money for staying and surviving the chaos. Things get complicated when a new political group, the New Founding Fathers, emerge, determined to get things their way. Although it doesn’t venture outside its series’ familiar territory, The First Purge continues to explore the same themes that made the original so successful, mixing its social subtext with overt and shockingly effective violent thrills.
30 Days of Night (2007)
Oppenheimer‘s Josh Hartnett and Melissa George star in the action horror film 30 Days of Night. The plot concerns an isolated Alaskan town that becomes the target of hungry vampires wanting to take advantage of a 30-day period of total darkness. With an intriguing premise, competent action sequences, and two committed central performances, 30 Days of Night is an underappreciated horror gem from the 2000s. It has more than a few plot holes, and the story often threatens to crumble, but director David Slade and a scene-stealing Danny Huston keep this action nightmare afloat, ultimately resulting in a worthwhile picture that’s a must-see for fans of vampiric cinema.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Robert Englund became a horror icon with his portrayal of Freddy Krueger in the late Wes Craven’s game-changing supernatural slasher film A Nightmare on Elm Street. The story centers on a group of teenagers who find themselves haunted by Freddy Krueger, a vengeful serial killer who targets them in their sleep as revenge for their parents burning him alive. A Nightmare on Elm Street marks a before-and-after in horror, redefining the genre’s boundaries and cementing Craven as a talent unlike any other. Original, genuinely scary, and instantly iconic, the film is a modern masterpiece and a seminal watch for any self-respecting horror fan.
It (2017)
Andy Muschietti reinvented Stephen King’s seminal novel It with his 2017 remake. Bill Skarsgård plays Pennywise the Dancing Clown, the personification of an ancient creature terrorizing the children of the small Maine town of Derry. The film stars an ensemble of young actors, including Jaeden Martell, Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Oleff, and Jack Dylan Grazer. It rises on the strength of the incredible cast, with Skarsgård making the legendary killer clown his own and reinventing him for a modern audience. Chilling without forgetting about the human aspect at the story’s heart, It is among the superior horror films of the 2010s.
Resident Evil (2002)
Milla Jovovich first played her now-iconic heroine Alice in Paul W. S. Anderson’s 2002 horror-action film Resident Evil. Co-starring Michelle Rodriguez and Eric Mabius, the film follows a group of Umbrella Corporation commandos attempting to contain the dangerous T-virus while trapped in a secret underground facility. Loosely based on the first two games of the Resident Evil game series, the film would launch one of the most successful horror sagas in modern cinema. Although far from perfect, Resident Evil remains a worthwhile mix of over-the-top action and horror that does justice to its source material, largely thanks to Jovovich’s fiercely committed lead performance.
Train to Busan (2016)
X (2022)
Ti West’s X is among the best films of 2022 and a brilliant slasher that proves the subgenre is very much alive. Starring an ensemble led by a hypnotic Mia Goth in a dual role, the plot centers on a group of pornographers wanting to shoot a film in an elderly couple’s secluded farmhouse. However, it soon becomes clear they are being targeted by a dangerous killer when they start dying under gruesome circumstances. Excelling as a commentary on sexuality and old age and a loving ode to 1970s cinema, X is a fascinating horror picture from a remarkably daring and unabashed mind.
Anaconda (1997)
The campy cult classic that is Anaconda is a master class of absurd terror. Jennifer Lopez stars alongside Ice Cube, Owen Wilson, Eric Stoltz, Danny Trejo, and a scenery-chewing Jon Voight in this story about a documentary film crew in the Amazon rainforest who become prey to a massive green anaconda. With visual effects that are equal parts ridiculous and gruesome and a collection of over-the-top performances, Anaconda is a masterpiece of the elusive so-bad-it’s-good genre. It’s a truly bonkers picture that must be seen to be believed.
The Pope's Exorcist (2023)
Oscar-winner Russell Crowe stars in Julius Avery’s 2023 supernatural horror film The Pope’s Exorcist. The plot follows Father Gabriele Amorth, the Chief Exorcist of the Vatican, who stumbles upon a centuries-old conspiracy within the church as he investigates the possession of a young boy. A strange, yet surprisingly effective showcase for Crowe, The Pope’s Exorcist is uneven, but suitably chilling. It might not be the best movie about exorcisms, but a series of creepy sequences and Crowe’s commanding performance make up for any flaws the film might have.
Suzzanna: Kliwon Friday Night (2023)
Suzzanna: Kliwon Friday Night tells the story of a young woman cursed by a shaman and killed by dark sorcery. Resurrected as a vengeful spirit, the woman attempts to reunite with her newborn baby. Blending elements of the revenge thriller with straight-up horror, Suzzanna: Kliwon Friday Night is an unsettling, yet unexpectedly campy film that offers something for everyone. It might not be outright terrifying, but the film will successfully have audiences on the edge of their seats — and might even bring out a terrified scream once in a while.
El Conde (2023)
Acclaimed Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín directed the 2023 horror comedy El Conde. The plot revolves around a fictionalized version of infamous dictator Augusto Pinochet, who is, in this reality, a 200-year-old vampire seeking to end his life after all the pain and disgrace he’s caused. Taking a wicked and subversive approach to one of Chile’s most notorious figures, El Conde is a clever, biting, and unsettling satire whose real-life inspiration is far more horrific than anything depicted on the screen.
Insidious (2011)
Horror king Patrick Wilson stars opposite the ever-underrated Rose Byrne in James Wan’s 2011 supernatural horror film Insidious. The plot centers on a desperate couple whose son falls into a coma and becomes the vessel for numerous demonic entities on a different astral plane. Guided by Wan’s now-distinctive approach to horror, Insidious is a truly terrifying nightmare that will leave audiences shaking. The film launched a wildly successful series, and while the sequels didn’t recapture the original’s quality, they at least maintained its atmospheric terror.
It Follows (2015)
Maika Monroe stars in the 2015 horror film It Follows. The plot centers on a young woman who becomes terrorized by a supernatural entity after a strange sexual encounter with her new boyfriend. The curse — passed from victim to victim via sexual encounter — will arrive in various forms, driving the young woman to the verge of desperation. Wearing its clever metaphors on its sleeve, It Follows is a perfect example of the elevated horror that dominated the big screen throughout the 2010s. It offers a clever narrative that is as scary as its thought-provoking.
Vivarium (2019)
Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg stars opposite Imogen Poots in the 2019 horror film Vivarium. It tells the story of a couple trapped within the maze-like houses of a seemingly idyllic suburban neighborhood that hides chilling secrets. Stylish and clever albeit slightly frustrating, Vivarium‘s lofty ambitions might be too much for some viewers. However, a pair of committed leading performances and an intelligent screenplay unafraid to challenge and disturb are enough to elevate this sci-fi horror to new and terrifying heights.
Mr. Harrigan's Phone (2022)
Slowly but surely, Jaeden Martell has become a modern scream king through his consistent contributions to the horror genre. John Lee Hancock’s Mr. Harrigan‘s Phone sees him playing Craig, a young man who discovers he can communicate with his recently deceased friend through an iPhone. Aided by a creepy and scene-stealing Donald Sutherland, Martell makes the best out of the intriguing premise, elevating Mr. Harrigan’s Phone past other similar techno-horror movies. The film might not be based on one of Stephen King’s best-known stories, but it is among the best adaptations of the prolific author’s work.
Lights Out (2016)
David F. Sanberg’s 2016 supernatural horror film Lights Out stars Teresa Palmer and the ever-underrated Maria Bello. Based on Sandberg’s 2013 short, the film follows Rebecca, a young woman who must protect her younger brother from a vengeful supernatural entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother. Unsettling and offering a well-deserved showcase for Palmer and Bello, Lights Out is a superior supernatural nightmare with a compelling story that never forgets about the chills and thrills that audiences love.
The Babysitter (2017)
Bonafied modern scream queen Samara Weaving stars as the titular character in McG’s 2017 slasher comedy The Babysitter. The plot follows a lonely 12-year-old boy Lewis, who discovers his beautiful and mysterious babysitter, Bee, is the leader of a satanic cult and wants to kill him. Benefitting from Weaving’s deliciously wicked performance and a plot that excels at if not necessarily reinvents the slasher formula, The Babysitter is an entertaining blend of horror and comedy for fans of both genres.
Gerald's Game (2017)
The underrated Carla Gugino stars opposite Bruce Greenwood in Mike Flanagan’s 2017 psychological horror film Gerald’s Game. Adapted from Stephen King‘s 1992 novel, the film follows a married couple at a secluded getaway home. Looking to rekindle their strained relationship, the man handcuffs the woman to the bed; however, he suddenly dies of a heart attack, leaving his wife in a dire situation. With little hope of escaping and a series of demons haunting her mind, the woman must do everything in her power to survive.
Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
A prequel to the 2014 film Ouija, Ouija: Origin of Evil follows a woman and her two daughters who conduct a fraudulent seance business. Looking to improve their act, the woman introduces a Ouija board into her sessions, unknowingly summoning a vengeful spirit looking to possess her youngest daughter. Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel, and Henry Thomas star, with Mike Flanagan directing.
Old People (2022)
The Munsters (2022)
Rob Zombie may have made quite the name for himself with his traditional backwoods horror fare, including films like 31 and House of 1,000 Corpses. But in a refreshing change of pace, the maestro of terror takes his genre chops into a more family-friendly kind of playing field with his cinematic reimagining of The Munsters. Starring Jeff Daniel Philips, Sheri Moon Zombie, and Daniel Roebuck as Herman, Lily, and Grandpa Munster, respectively, our story follows Lily and Herman’s ghoulish wooing of one another, serving as a fun-filled prequel to the mid-1960s TV series that we know and love.
Veronica (2017)
When will the world learn that using ouija boards is a surefire way to get yourself mixed up with supernatural forces that won’t leave, even when you ask them nicely? In director Paco Plaza’s Veronica, the latest victim of the ghoulish phenomena turns out to be the film’s titular character, a 15-year-old girl who begins experiencing paranormal events after going a round with the infamous ouija. Veronica is an unsettling film for sure, effectively relying on tone and atmosphere more than one would expect in crafting what could have been just another possession film.
The Day of the Lord (2020)
Choose or Die (2022)
Incantation (2022)
Here’s a solid blast of found-footage madness for you and yours to enjoy. Incantation is co-written and directed by Kevin Ko and stars Tsai Hsuan-yen as Li Ronan, a desperate mother who is suffering the consequences of accidental desecration. Years before, Li violated a sacred Chen ritual, leading her newborn daughter to be cursed by an ancient deity. With time running out, Li must now do everything in her power to lift the hex from her child before the deity consumes the innocent girl. While the narrative veers off course here and there, as a whole, Incantation is a mostly cohesive and kinetic bit of shaky-camera scariness that we bet most viewers will thoroughly enjoy.
Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)
Bird Box (2018)
The Perfection (2018)
Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight (2020)
1922 (2017)
The Old Ways (2020)
Blood Red Sky (2021)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
No One Gets Out Alive (2021)
A Classic Horror Story (2021)
Elisa (Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz) isn’t having the greatest days of late. On her way to Calabria with folks she’s never met before (her travels are arranged through a rideshare app), the RV ends up getting wrecked and one of the passengers injured. What’s more peculiar is that when Elisa awakens the next morning, she discovers that she and her fellow travelers are stranded in the woods. Soon after, the members of a mysterious cult descend on the wayward companions, forcing everyone to fight for their lives.
There's Someone Inside Your House (2021)
Coming Home in the Dark (2021)
Don't Listen (2020)
The 8th Night (2021)
Nightbooks (2021)
Malevolent (2018)
Oxygen (2021)
Fear Street: 1994 (2021)
Things Heard & Seen (2021)
Army of the Dead (2021)
#Alive (2020)
Crimson Peak (2015)
The Block Island Sound (2021)
Before I Wake (2016)
His House (2020)
Apostle (2018)
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016)
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