Despite the controversy and turmoil it sometimes finds itself in, Netflix is still the king of streamers. Its extensive library is home to pretty much every kind of film genre, from grueling dramas to riotous comedies and terrifying horror stories that’ll creep under your skin. So if your cinematic hunger is only satiated by ghost stories, disturbing psychological thrillers, supernatural nightmares, and slasher flicks, Netflix has you covered.
Indeed, Netflix’s library of horror films is a hellishly delightful curation that we wholeheartedly recommend. That collection is always changing, with new movies coming and going each month. So grab a blanket and brace yourself for an evening of screams and good, old-fashioned scares.
If you’re not up for the challenge of sifting through rows of terrifying titles, we’ve already done the hard work for you. Here’s our roundup of the best horror movies on Netflix right now.
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.
-
Old People2022 -
The Munsters2022
-
Veronica2017
-
The Day of the Lord2020
Paranormal Activity (2007)
68%
6.3/10Paranormal Activity revolutionized the horror genre in 2007. Presented in found-footage form, the film follows a couple haunted by a paranormal presence in their home. Made independently at a ridiculously low cost, Paranormal Activity was a smashing success and launched a cinematic franchise. The film expertly utilizes its simple, yet chilling setting to deliver an unnerving and anxiety-inducing experience that will keep audiences turning around to make sure there’s no one — or nothing — behind them.
The Ring (2002)
57%
7.1/10Two-time Oscar nominee Naomi Watts stars in Gore Verbinski’s 2002 horror film The Ring. Based on the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring, the film follows Rachel Keller, a journalist who stumbles upon a cursed video that kills whoever watches it in seven days. Racing against time, she must find a way to avoid the video’s wrath. Benefiting from Watts’ committed performance, as well as one of cinema’s most haunting and terrifying sequences, The Ring is one of modern horror’s most effective efforts.
Psycho (1960)
97%
8.5/10Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 masterpiece Psycho stars Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, a woman on the run after stealing a large sum of money from her boss. Forced to seek refuge from the rain, she checks into the secluded Bates Motel, run by the meek Norman, played by Anthony Perkins. Soon, Norman’s secrets come to light, leading to unexpected twists. Widely considered among the all-time best horror movies, Psycho is a pioneer of the genre, defying conventions and introducing many of the classic elements that now dominate horror.
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
59%
7.3/10Zack Snyder’s 2004 remake of George Romero’s 1978 classic stars a large ensemble of familiar faces, including Sarah Polley and Ving Rhames. Set in modern-day Milwaukee, the plot revolves around a group of survivors seeking refuge in a mall during a zombie outbreak. Action-packed, gory, and genuinely thrilling, Dawn of the Dead is among Snyder’s best efforts, a confident and exhilarating ride that honors the original while still providing a much-needed update.
The Thing (2011)
49%
6.2/10A sequel to John Carpenter’s iconic 1982 sci-fi, The Thing stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, and Eric Christian Olsen. The plot follows a scientific crew in a Norwegian research station who discover a parasitic alien buried in the ice. Realizing too late that it’s still alive, the crew tries to protect themselves against the unpredictable and dangerous alien. While it fails to live up to the original, The Thing is an effective and well-crafted film that provides enough thrills to make it worth the audience’s time.
I See You (2019)
65%
6.8/10Academy Award winner Helen Hunt stars in the 2019 horror thriller I See You. The plot centers on a small-town detective who uncovers a violent presence in his home as he investigates the disappearance of a 10-year-old boy. With an eerie atmosphere, a surprising twist, and a committed cast, I See You is a chilling thriller that will keep audiences on edge.
The Birds (1963)
90%
7.6/10Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece The Birds is among the director’s most recognizable and celebrated movies. The film stars Tippi Hedren and Rod Taylor and focuses on several vicious and unexplained bird attacks in Bodega Bay, California. A masterclass in suspense and build-up, The Birds is one of Hitchcock’s most effective thrillers, creating an anxious and terrifying atmosphere without relying on cheap scares.
Red Dragon (2002)
60%
7.2/10Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins returns to the role that made him a cinematic icon in 2002’s thriller Red Dragon. The plot follows FBI agent Will Graham, played by three-time Oscar nominee Edward Norton, as he seeks infamous serial killer and cannibal Hannibal Lecter to help find another killer, Francis Dolarhyde. With a stellar supporting cast including Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson, Red Dragon is a well-made thriller elevated by yet another masterfully frightening performance from Hopkins in his signature role.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
52%
5.8/10One of the most iconic slasher movies from the late ’90s, I Know What You Did Last Summer stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Ryan Phillippe. The story centers on a group of high schoolers who run over a man and drop his body into the ocean, hoping to keep the accident hidden. However, a vengeful killer returns a year later to terrorize them, leading them to uncover unexpected secrets about their victim. Although far from the best slasher, I Know What You Did Last Summer is an entertaining entry into the genre, elevated by Love Hewitt and Gellar’s committed performances.
Umma (2022)
51%
4.7/10Umma stars television icon Sandra Oh alongside Fivel Stewart and Dermot Mulroney. The plot centers on a single mother leading a quiet and uneventful life with her homeschooled daughter on a secluded American farm. Things get complicated when her mother’s cremated remains arrive from Korea, and she soon finds herself dealing with a vicious supernatural presence.
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%
6.1/10The Mist (2007)
58%
7.1/10It Follows (2014)
83%
6.8/10Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight (2020)
4.9/101922 (2017)
70%
6.2/10The Rental (2020)
62%
5.7/10The 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%
4.8/10Till Death (2021)
66%
5.9/10Coming 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%
8.7/10Unfriended (2015)
59%
5.6/10Things Heard & Seen (2021)
49%
5.3/10Army of the Dead (2021)
57%
5.8/10#Alive (2020)
Crimson Peak (2015)
66%
6.5/10The Block Island Sound (2021)
5.3/10Before I Wake (2016)
68%
6.2/10His House (2020)
72%
6.5/10Apostle (2018)
62%
6.3/10Piercing (2018)
63%
5.5/10I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016)
68%
4.6/10Editors' Recommendations
- The best family movies on Netflix right now
- 5 sci-fi movies on Netflix that are perfect for the summer
- The best movies on Max right now
- The best animated movies on Netflix right now
- The best action movies on Netflix right now
