Celebrating Pride Month with a horror movie might sound a bit weird, but it actually makes sense, considering how supportive the LGBTQ+ community is of the genre. Luckily, the best horror movies on Netflix should make for excellent watches for both casual and loyal fans. The streamer’s library includes a wide collection of cinematic nightmares, including certified classics of the genre and new, ambitious additions from modern filmmakers. These movies offer chills and thrills while delivering a high-quality experience for terror-starved audiences.
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 - The Munsters2022
- Veronica2017
- The Day of the Lord2020
The Conjuring (2013)
68%
7.5/10Academy Award nominee Vera Farmiga and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom star Patrick Wilson star in James Wan’s The Conjuring, one of the most terrifying films of the 2010s. The story centers on Lorraine and Ed Warren, two paranormal investigators who help Roger and Carolyn Perron, a couple experiencing horrifying events at their rural farmhouse. The Conjuring is among the most successful horror IPs in recent memory, spawning a successful franchise and receiving solid reviews throughout its run. The first movie remains the best, an exercise in dread and atmospheric terror that keeps audiences on edge before delivering multiple jump scares that are as effective as they’re memorable. Few horror movies measure up to the sheer dread of The Conjuring.
The Babadook (2014)
86% 6.8/10The poster child for the wave of “elevated horror” that took over the latter part of the 2010s, The Babadook is a powerful and thought-provoking tragedy disguised as a horror movie. The brilliant Essie Davis stars as Amelia, a troubled, widowed mother raising her six-year-old son, Sam. When he begins displaying abnormal behavior, Amelia realizes he is being haunted by the Babadook, a humanoid monster who torments its victims. The Babadook is a remarkable examination of grief and acceptance, elevated by an impressive screenplay and Davis’ tour de force performance. The film is as scary as i i’s poignant and affecting, demonstrating the inherent bond between horror and tragedy.
Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
45% 5.5/10Along with The Conjuring, the Insidious franchise is probably the most successful horror IP of the 2010s. Patrick Wilson strikes again, this time as director and star, in Insidious: The Red Door, the fifth entry in the franchise and a direct sequel to 2013’s Insidious: Chapter 2. The plot sees Josh and a now college-bound Dalton haunted by the demons of their past, forcing them to venture into The Further again to try and put them to rest for good. Although weaker than its predecessors, Insidious: The Red Door is a decent directorial debut for Wilson and an effective expansion of the series. It mostly sticks to the same ideas as the first two movies, but Insidious: The Red Door offers a good combo of horror and family drama that should satisfy fans of the franchise.
Viking Wolf (2022)
5.2/10Some of the best horror movies aren’t afraid to explore the genre’s boundaries, boldly venturing into sillier territory. Such is the case for Viking Wolf, the story of a teenager who transforms into a terrifying wolf-human hybrid after being scratched by an abnormally large wolf in the woods. Borrowing from classics like Ginger Snaps, Viking Wolf delivers another werewolf horror story that offers enough blood and gore to satisfy. It finds further strength in its lore and cold Norwegian setting, standing out frome run-of-the-mill werewolf movies, even if it never reaches the highs of the true gems in the subgenre. Even so, it’s entertaining enough for an afternoon at home.
Sister Death (2023)
5.7/10The 2023 Spanish supernatural horror film Sister Death is a prequel to 2017’s Veronica, another horror film on Netflix. It tells the story of Narcisa, a novice with supernatural abilities who’s working as a teacher at a convent operating as an all-girls school in 1940s Spain. Soon, she begins experiencing disturbing events that lead her to discover the sinister truth behind the convent. Sister Death is a great addition to the ever-expansive collection of religious horror movies that come out every year. Utilizing its Gothic setting to its fullest, the film tells an eerie and often disturbing tale of human cruelty and pain that is as unsettling as its supernatural themes, if not more.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
69% 6.2/10Starring an ensemble of young talent, including Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova and the underrated Amandla Stenberg (The Acolyte), 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)
63% 6.3/10Eli 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.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
76% 7.4/10Robert 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.
Resident Evil (2002)
33% 6.6/10Milla 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.
X (2022)
80% 6.5/10Ti 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)
37% 4.9/10The campy cult classic that is Anaconda is a master class of absurd terror. Atlas‘ 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)
45% 6.1/10Oscar-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)
6.1/10Suzzanna: 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)
72% 6.5/10Acclaimed 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.
It Follows (2015)
83% 6.8/10Maika Monroe (Longlegs) 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)
64% 5.9/10Academy 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)
55% 6.0/10Slowly 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.
The Babysitter (2017)
6.3/10Bonafied 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)
77% 6.5/10The 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)
65% 6.2/10A 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)
6.2/10When 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)
4.9/10Choose or Die (2022)
43% 4.7/10Incantation (2022)
6.9/10Here’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)
51% 6.6/10The Perfection (2018)
60% 6.1/10Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight (2020)
4.9/101922 (2017)
70% 6.2/10The Old Ways (2020)
67% 5.4/10Blood Red Sky (2021)
43% 6.1/10Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
34% 4.8/10No One Gets Out Alive (2021)
43% 5.3/10A Classic Horror Story (2021)
5.7/10Elisa (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)
45% 4.8/10Coming Home in the Dark (2021)
64% 5.7/10Don't Listen (2020)
6.1/10The 8th Night (2021)
5.3/10Nightbooks (2021)
65% 5.7/10Malevolent (2018)
Oxygen (2021)
67% 6.5/10Fear Street: 1994 (2021)
67% 8.7/10Things Heard & Seen (2021)
49% 5.3/10Army of the Dead (2021)
57% 5.8/10#Alive (2020)
The Block Island Sound (2021)
5.3/10Before I Wake (2016)
68% 6.2/10His House (2020)
72% 6.5/10Apostle (2018)
62% 6.3/10I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016)
68% 4.6/10Editors' Recommendations
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