The end of the summer can only mean one thing: the beginning of the spooky season that will carry all the way until Halloween and probably Thanksgiving. Luckily for fans of scary cinema, the best horror movies on Netflix provide an ample source of terrifying entertainment that should make for excellent viewing for both casual and loyal fans. The streamer’s library includes a wide collection of cinematic nightmares, including certified classics of the genre and 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
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Veronica2017
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The Day of the Lord2020
Jigsaw (2017)
39%
5.9/10The long-awaited return of the Saw movie series and the eighth entry in the ongoing story, Jigsaw sees a group of people forced to participate in a series of deadly games in a barn. Meanwhile, the police investigate a new string of murders that share the same MO with the infamous Jigsaw killer, who has been seemingly dead for a decade. Featuring the return of modern horror icon Tobin Bell in the titular role, Jigsaw is a decent return for the long-running franchise. It’s far gorier than its predecessors and perhaps not as scary as it could be, but loyal fans will surely be satisfied by this nightmarish story.
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
72%
7.1/10Western legend Kurt Russell stars in this dark twist on the genre. Bone Tomahawk casts Russell as Sheriff Franklin Hunt, who leads a small posse on a rescue mission to a secluded area where a clan of cannibalistic Native Americans has kidnapped three people. With a strong supporting cast, including Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and Oscar-nominee Richard Jenkins, Bone Tomahawk is a gruesome and atmospheric blend of Western and horror sensibilities that brings out the best of each genre. The story is a decidedly slow-burn, but those with enough patience to fully absorb the film’s distinctive style will be rewarded with a harrowing experience they won’t soon forget.
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
65%
7.3/10Horror king and queen Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprise their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren in this sequel to their 2013 hit, The Conjuring. Aptly titled The Conjuring 2, the film sees the duo coming out of a self-imposed sabbatical to travel to London and help a single mother of four whose daughter is showing signs of demonic possession. The Conjuring 2 lives up to the impressive standards set by its predecessor with an equally unsettling story that’s further elevated by Wilson and Farmiga’s performances. The film also introduces one of the franchise’s most iconic villains, the demon nun Valak, adding to its legacy as one of the best horror sequels.
The Rental (2020)
62%
5.7/10Dave Franco’s feature directorial debut, The Rental is an unnerving tale of small-scale psychological horror that deserves far more attention. It features an impressive cast led by Franco’s wife, Alison Brie, and that also includes Cuckoo‘s Dan Stevens, Jeremy Allen White, and Sheila Vand. It follows two couples who begin suspecting they are being stalked while at their rental home. Born from the increasing anxieties of modern-day vacation trends, The Rental is a solid and intimate scary story that preys on our primal fears concerning privacy and how easy it is to invade it. Flawed but ambitious, The Rental is a worthy horror picture that is sure to please genre fans.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
65%
6.8/10A true hidden gem of horror, The Autopsy of Jane Doe stars Emile Hirsch and Brian Cox as a father and son working at a morgue who begin to experience supernatural phenomena when investigating the cause of death of a beautiful, unidentified woman. The film succeeds thanks to its overwhelmingly eerie atmosphere, which favors slow, quiet, dreadful chills rather than overt horror. However, whenever it does succumb to horror’s best-known tropes, including some off-putting moments of gore, it does so cleverly, offering a superior entry into the genre. Memorable, creepy, and unexpectedly funny, The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a brilliant blend of styles, themes, and genres.
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.
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 it is thought-provoking.
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%
4.6/10
