Are you ready for a terrifying movie marathon? Look no further than Netflix’s extensive collection of horror films that are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. From classic slashers to psychological thrillers, we’ve compiled a list of the 25 best horror movies available on Netflix right now. Brace yourself for sleepless nights and prepare to be scared out of your wits!
1. The Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
Director: Leigh Janiak
The Fear Street trilogy is a must-watch for any horror fan. This gripping series of films, inspired by R.L. Stine’s beloved books, follows the cursed town of Shadyside across three different time periods: 1994, 1978, and 1666. Kiana Madeira stars as Deena, a teenager who finds herself at the center of a centuries-old mystery when her girlfriend, Sam (Olivia Scott Welch), becomes possessed by an ancient evil. As Deena and her friends race against time to break the curse, they uncover the dark secrets that have haunted Shadyside for generations. With its neon-soaked aesthetics, terrifying scares, and compelling characters, the Fear Street trilogy is a thrilling ride from start to finish.
2. Run (2020)
Director: Aneesh Chaganty
In this psychological thriller, Sarah Paulson delivers a chilling performance as Diane Sherman, an overprotective mother who has raised her daughter Chloe (Kiera Allen) in isolation due to her numerous health conditions. However, as Chloe grows older and begins to question her mother’s motives, she starts to suspect that there may be more to her situation than meets the eye. Run is a tense and suspenseful film that keeps you guessing until the very end, with twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Paulson’s portrayal of a mother whose love has turned into something much darker is both unsettling and captivating, making Run a must-watch for fans of psychological horror.
3. The Perfection (2018)
Director: Richard Shepard
This twisted tale of revenge and obsession follows Charlotte (Allison Williams), a former cello prodigy who returns to her prestigious music school after a long absence. There, she meets Lizzie (Logan Browning), the new star pupil who has taken her place. As the two women form an intense bond, their relationship takes a dark and disturbing turn that will leave you reeling. The Perfection is a wild ride filled with shocking twists, gruesome body horror, and biting social commentary. Williams and Browning deliver powerhouse performances as two women locked in a deadly game of cat and mouse, making this a standout entry in the horror genre.
4. Incantation (2022)
Director: Kevin Ko
This Taiwanese found footage film follows Li Ronan (Tsai Hsuan-yen), a mother desperate to protect her daughter Dodo (Huang Sin-ting) from a terrifying curse that she accidentally unleashed years earlier. As Ronan races against time to find a way to break the curse, she must confront the demons of her past and the malevolent forces that threaten to consume her and her child. Incantation is a deeply unsettling film that relies on atmosphere and dread rather than cheap jump scares to get under your skin. With its creepy imagery, haunting score, and powerful central performance from Tsai Hsuan-yen, this is a horror movie that will linger in your mind long after the credits roll.
5. The Wailing (2016)
Director: Na Hong-jin
In this South Korean horror masterpiece, a small village is plagued by a mysterious illness that causes its victims to develop strange rashes and violent behavior. As the local police officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) investigates the outbreak, he begins to suspect that a newly arrived Japanese stranger may be behind the chaos. The Wailing is a slow-burn horror film that builds to a truly terrifying climax, with stunning visuals, complex characters, and a story that grapples with themes of faith, guilt, and the nature of evil. With its mix of supernatural scares and psychological depth, The Wailing is a must-see for any serious horror fan.
6. Psycho (1960)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
No list of great horror movies would be complete without Alfred Hitchcock’s groundbreaking classic, Psycho. When secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) goes on the run after stealing money from her employer, she checks into the remote Bates Motel, run by the awkward but seemingly harmless Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). However, as Marion soon discovers, there is more to Norman and his mysterious mother than meets the eye. With its iconic shower scene, brilliant performances, and shocking twist ending, Psycho remains a masterclass in suspense and psychological horror that continues to influence filmmakers to this day.
7. Jaws (1975)
Director: Steven Spielberg
While not strictly a horror film, Jaws is a masterpiece of suspense that taps into our primal fear of the unknown lurking beneath the surface. When a giant great white shark begins terrorizing the beachgoers of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) teams up with a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw) to take down the beast. With its iconic score, memorable characters, and still-terrifying shark attacks, Jaws is a classic that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Even if you think you know what’s coming, the film’s expertly crafted tension will keep you on the edge of your seat.
8. The Babadook (2014)
Director: Jennifer Kent
In this Australian psychological horror film, single mother Amelia (Essie Davis) is struggling to cope with the death of her husband and the increasingly erratic behavior of her young son Samuel (Noah Wiseman). When a mysterious pop-up book about a creature called the Babadook appears in their home, Samuel becomes convinced that the monster is real and coming to get them. As strange and terrifying events begin to occur, Amelia must confront the darkness within herself and her son before it’s too late. The Babadook is a deeply unsettling film that uses its titular monster as a metaphor for grief, trauma, and the challenges of motherhood. With its haunting imagery, powerful performances, and thought-provoking themes, it’s a modern horror classic that will stay with you long after the final frame.
9. His House (2020)
Director: Remi Weekes
In this haunting and socially conscious horror film, a young refugee couple from South Sudan, Bol (Sope Dirisu) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku), are granted asylum in the UK and move into a dilapidated government housing unit. However, as they try to adjust to their new life and cope with the traumas of their past, they begin to realize that something evil is lurking within the walls of their new home. His House is a powerful and thought-provoking film that uses the haunted house trope to explore themes of displacement, guilt, and the lingering impact of war and violence. With its strong performances, chilling atmosphere, and devastating emotional core, it’s a horror movie that will haunt you long after the credits roll.
10. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
Director: Mike Flanagan
Okay, so this one is technically a TV series, but it’s so good that we had to include it on our list. The Haunting of Hill House follows the Crain family, who lived in the titular haunted mansion in the summer of 1992. When tragedy strikes, the family is forced to flee the house, but the trauma of their experience continues to haunt them into adulthood. As the siblings reunite to confront their past, they must face the ghosts that have been waiting for them all along. With its stunning visuals, complex characters, and emotionally devastating story, The Haunting of Hill House is a masterful work of horror that will leave you both terrified and deeply moved.
11. The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)
Director: Mike Flanagan
Another entry from horror maestro Mike Flanagan, The Fall of the House of Usher is a miniseries adaptation of the classic Edgar Allan Poe story. When a young man visits his childhood friend Roderick Usher at his family’s ancestral home, he discovers a house full of secrets, madness, and supernatural terror. With its all-star cast (including Bruce Greenwood, Mary McDonnell, and Mark Hamill), gothic atmosphere, and trademark Flanagan emotional depth, The Fall of the House of Usher is a must-watch for fans of literary horror and anyone who loves a good ghost story.
12. It Follows (2015)
Director: David Robert Mitchell
This indie horror gem follows Jay (Maika Monroe), a teenage girl who, after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, finds herself stalked by a malevolent entity that can take the form of anyone. As Jay and her friends try to outrun the creature, they discover that it can only be passed on through sexual contact, leading to a desperate game of cat and mouse. It Follows is a stylish and deeply unsettling film that taps into primal fears of sexuality, adulthood, and the inescapable specter of death. With its haunting score, dreamlike visuals, and nail-biting suspense, it’s a modern horror classic that will get under your skin and stay there.
13. The Ritual (2017)
Director: David Bruckner
In this British horror film, a group of college friends reunite for a hiking trip in the Swedish wilderness, seeking to honor the memory of their recently deceased friend. However, when they take a shortcut through an ancient forest, they find themselves stalked by a malevolent presence that feeds on their guilt and fear. The Ritual is a tense and atmospheric film that uses the isolation of the wilderness to create a sense of mounting dread. With its strong performances, effective scares, and thought-provoking themes of grief and masculinity, it’s a solid entry in the “lost in the woods” subgenre of horror.
14. Creep (2014)
Director: Patrick Brice
In this found footage thriller, a videographer named Aaron (Patrick Brice) answers an online ad for a one-day job in a remote mountain town. When he arrives, he meets Josef (Mark Duplass), a terminally ill man who wants to record a video diary for his unborn child. However, as the day goes on, Aaron begins to suspect that Josef may not be who he claims to be. Creep is a minimalist horror film that relies on the unsettling chemistry between its two leads to create a sense of mounting unease. With its clever premise, dark humor, and shocking finale, it’s a unique and effective entry in the found footage genre.
15. The Conjuring (2013)
Director: James Wan
Based on the real-life case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), The Conjuring follows the Perron family as they are terrorized by a malevolent presence in their new farmhouse. As the Warrens investigate, they discover a history of violence and supernatural activity that threatens to consume the family. The Conjuring is a masterfully crafted horror film that relies on old-school scares and a pervasive sense of dread to get under your skin. With its strong performances, effective set pieces, and genuinely terrifying moments, it’s a modern classic of the haunted house genre.
16. Hush (2016)
Director: Mike Flanagan
In this tense home invasion thriller, a deaf writer named Maddie (Kate Siegel) lives a solitary life in the woods. When a masked killer (John Gallagher Jr.) begins stalking her, Maddie must rely on her wits and her remaining senses to survive the night. Hush is a lean and effective horror film that uses its protagonist’s disability to create a unique and terrifying scenario. With its clever premise, strong performances, and nail-biting suspense, it’s a standout entry in the home invasion subgenre.
17. The Invitation (2015)
Director: Karyn Kusama
In this slow-burn psychological thriller, a man named Will (Logan Marshall-Green) attends a dinner party at the home of his ex-wife Eden (Tammy Blanchard) and her new husband David (Michiel Huisman). As the night goes on, Will begins to suspect that something sinister is afoot, and that his hosts may have a hidden agenda. The Invitation is a masterful exercise in tension and paranoia, using its claustrophobic setting and complex characters to create a sense of mounting unease. With its shocking finale and thought-provoking themes of grief and cult mentality, it’s a must-watch for fans of psychological horror.
18. Cam (2018)
Director: Daniel Goldhaber
In this techno-thriller, a camgirl named Alice (Madeline Brewer) discovers that her online identity has been hijacked by a mysterious doppelganger who looks exactly like her. As Alice tries to reclaim her account and her livelihood, she begins to question the nature of her own identity and the blurry line between reality and performance. Cam is a smart and provocative film that uses the world of online sex work to explore themes of identity, technology, and the commodification of the self. With its strong lead performance and thought-provoking premise, it’s a unique and effective entry in the horror genre.
19. The Platform (2019)
Director: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
In this Spanish dystopian thriller, a man named Goreng (Ivan Massagué) wakes up in a strange vertical prison where food is delivered once a day via a platform that descends through the levels. As Goreng navigates the brutal hierarchy of the prison and the scarcity of resources, he begins to question the nature of the system and his own role within it. The Platform is a bleak and thought-provoking film that uses its high-concept premise to explore themes of inequality, greed, and the human capacity for violence. With its stunning visuals, strong performances, and biting social commentary, it’s a must-watch for fans of dystopian horror.
20. Under the Shadow (2016)
Director: Babak Anvari
Set in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War, Under the Shadow follows a mother named Shideh (Narges Rashidi) and her young daughter Dorsa (Avin Manshadi) as they are terrorized by a malevolent spirit that may be linked to the ongoing conflict. As the war rages on outside and the supernatural threat grows within, Shideh must confront her own past traumas and the oppressive society in which she lives. Under the Shadow is a haunting and politically charged film that uses the horror genre to explore themes of war, trauma, and the oppression of women in post-revolutionary Iran. With its strong performances, effective scares, and thought-provoking themes, it’s a standout entry in the genre.
21. The Endless (2017)
Directors: Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead
In this mind-bending sci-fi horror film, two brothers named Justin and Aaron (played by the directors themselves) return to the cult they escaped from years earlier, seeking closure and answers about their past. However, as they spend time with the seemingly friendly members of the cult, they begin to realize that there may be more to their beliefs than meets the eye. The Endless is a complex and thought-provoking film that blends elements of science fiction, horror, and existential dread to create a truly unique viewing experience. With its clever premise, stunning visuals, and mind-bending finale, it’s a must-watch for fans of cerebral horror.
22. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Director: André Øvredal
In this atmospheric horror film, a father-and-son coroner team (played by Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch) receive the body of an unidentified woman (Olwen Kelly) and begin to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. However, as they delve deeper into the examination, they begin to uncover a series of increasingly bizarre and terrifying clues that suggest the woman may not be entirely dead. The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a tense and claustrophobic film that uses its morgue setting to create a sense of mounting dread. With its strong performances, effective scares, and shocking finale, it’s a standout entry in the supernatural horror genre.
23. The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015)
Director: Oz Perkins
In this slow-burn psychological horror film, two girls named Kat (Kiernan Shipka) and Rose (Lucy Boynton) are left alone at their boarding school over winter break when their parents fail to pick them up. As strange and terrifying events begin to occur, the girls must confront the dark forces that seem to be lurking in the empty halls of the school. Meanwhile, a young woman named Joan (Emma Roberts) hitchhikes her way towards the school, with a mysterious and potentially sinister purpose. The Blackcoat’s Daughter is a haunting and atmospheric film that uses its slow pace and ambiguous storytelling to create a sense of unease and dread. With its strong performances, chilling visuals, and thought-provoking themes of guilt and trauma, it’s a must-watch for fans of psychological horror.
24. Veronica (2017)
Director: Paco Plaza
In this Spanish supernatural horror film, a teenage girl named Veronica (Sandra Escacena) uses a Ouija board during a solar eclipse to try and contact her deceased father. However, she unwittingly summons a malevolent entity that begins to terrorize her and her younger siblings. As the haunting escalates, Veronica must turn to her school’s blind nun, Sister Death (Consuelo Trujillo), for help in banishing the evil spirit. Veronica is a well-crafted and effectively scary film that uses its period setting and Catholic imagery to create a sense of authenticity and dread. With its strong lead performance, creepy visuals, and pulse-pounding finale, it’s a standout entry in the possession horror subgenre.
25. The Descent (2005)
Director: Neil Marshall
In this claustrophobic horror film, a group of female friends go on a caving expedition in the Appalachian Mountains, seeking to bond and heal after a tragic event. However, when they become trapped in an uncharted cave system, they discover that they are not alone in the darkness. As they fight for survival against a pack of blind, carnivorous creatures, they must also confront their own inner demons and the tensions within the group. The Descent is a tense and visceral horror film that uses its cramped and disorienting setting to create a sense of primal fear. With its strong ensemble cast, effective creature design, and shocking moments of violence, it’s a modern classic of the survival horror genre.
There you have it, horror fans! These 25 spine-chilling movies are sure to keep you up at night and haunt your dreams for days to come. So grab some popcorn, turn off the lights, and get ready to scream your way through Netflix’s best horror offerings. Just don’t blame us if you can’t sleep afterwards!
