It seems like cinephiles and entertainment industry profiles haven't been able to stop talking about how horror has become one of the most unique and thought-provoking genres of the 2020s. In 2024 alone, several indie movies became surprise smash hits, from Strange Darling's word-of-mouth success story to Longlegs becoming the year's highest-grossing independent release to The Substance's awards recognition. The genre continued its reign in 2025, with many acclaimed, original ideas that became must-sees and even shattered box-office records, as audiences rushed to the theater to see films with little to no promotion (we're looking at you, Sinners and Weapons!).
From the latest projects from award-winning, cult-loved directors to highly anticipated sequels, this year, there were many scary movies and thrillers worth seeing (including some that even scaredy cats can tolerate). Below, find the best horror movies of 2025. (For more recommendations of what to watch, check out our list of the best horror movies of 2024, as well as our round-ups of the best comedy, romance, drama, and thriller movies of the year.)
'Presence'
Release date: January 24
Starring: Lucy Liu, Julia Fox, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Lucas Papaelias, West Mulholland, and Eddy Maday
Why it’s worth seeing: There are countless haunted house movies, but Steven Soderbergh flips the genre on its head in Presence. The Oscar-winner, known for his innovative filmmaking tactics like shooting on an iPhone, frames this spooky film entirely through the POV of a ghost haunting a family who moves into a new house.
'Companion'
Release date: January 31
Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, and Harvey Guillén
Why it’s worth seeing: If you liked the 2022 hit Barbarian, add Companion to your must-see list: It comes from the same production team and twists abound. The thriller, written and directed by up-and-comer Drew Hancock, centers on a twisted love story involving a man and an AI girlfriend, or "companion," and a weekend away gone very wrong.
'Heart Eyes'
Release date: February 7
Starring: Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa, and Jordana Brewster
Why it’s worth watching: This horror-comedy arrived just in time for Valentine’s Day. The genre-bending serial killer movie is about a pair of coworkers who work late on February 14 and are mistaken for a couple by the sadistic, romance-hating Heart Eyes Killer.
'The Monkey'
Release date: February 21
Starring: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Christian Convery, Colin O'Brien, Rohan Campbell, and Sarah Levy
Why it’s worth seeing: Did Longlegs give you nightmares but absolutely wow you in 2024? Well, its writer/director Osgood Perkins kicked off 2025 with another film. An adaptation of genre master Stephen King’s 1980 short story of the same name, Theo James pulls double duty, playing a pair of twins who uncover a creepy toy monkey in their family attic. When deaths start unfolding around them, they have reason to believe the monkey is the cause of it, leading them to hide the toy—and set out to destroy it years later when similar deaths start to occur.
'Holland'
Release date: March 9 on Prime Video
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Gael García Bernal, Matthew Macfadyen, and Jude Hill
Why it’s worth seeing: Filmmaker Mimi Cave burst onto the scene with the unsettling feminist horror film Fresh in 2022, and she followed it up with another movie in which everything is not as it seems. Set in Holland, Michigan—which retains a lot of Dutch architecture and traditions still to this day—a woman (Nicole Kidman) suspects her husband (Matthew Macfadyen) may lead a dark, double life.
'Hell of a Summer'
Release date: April 4
Starring: Fred Hechinger, Abby Quinn, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Bryk, Finn Wolfhard, Pardis Saremi, Rosebud Baker, and Adam Pally
Why it’s worth seeing: Call it Friday the 13th for a new generation. Co-directed by Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk, this horror-comedy toys with the camp trope as it follows a group of camp counselors who face off against a masked killer the night before campers arrive.
'Drop'
Release date: April 11
Starring: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Jeffery Self, Gabrielle Ryan Spring, Violett Beane, Jacob Robinson, Ed Weeks, Travis Nelson, and Reed Diamond
Why it’s worth seeing: We’ve all had our fair share of bad dates, but few may compare to what happens to Meghann Fahy’s character Violet in this thriller. She stars as a widowed mother who goes on a pleasantly surprising date with a charming man (Brandon Skienar), which quickly turns into a nightmare as she starts to receive texts with a series of commands. Among the requests is an order to kill her date, and if she doesn't, whoever is on the other end of her texts threatens to harm her and her loved ones. Major yikes!
'Sinners'
Release date: April 18
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, and Delroy Lindo
Why it’s worth seeing: Whenever frequent collaborators Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler team up, it’s a must-see. The Black Panther and Creed filmmaker’s latest is an original horror movie about twin brothers (both played by Jordan) who return to their hometown to open a juke joint, only to be preyed upon by evil forces. If you haven't already seen the sensation—which broke several box office records, including becoming the highest-grossing original movie of the 2020s so far—what are you doing?
'The Shrouds'
Release date: April 30
Starring: Diane Kruger, Vincent Cassel, Guy Pearce, and Sandrine Holt
Why it’s worth seeing: If you’re a horror fan, any David Cronenberg film is a must-see. The master of body horror’s latest is set in the future, when a technology known as GraveTech exists, so people whose loved ones die can monitor their decaying corpse. When a man (Vincent Cassel) who has been watching his wife’s body discovers hers and several others have been desecrated, he sets out to find who did it and get revenge.
'Clown in a Cornfield'
Release date: May 9
Starring: Katie Douglas, Kevin Durand, Will Sasso, Cassandra Potenza, and Aaron Abrams
Why it’s worth seeing: Based on Adam Cesare’s YA horror novel, this is a teen scream about the re-emergence of Frendo the clown in a small rural, Midwestern town. Once a symbol of the town’s success, now he’s a terrifying force who's back and ready to wreak havoc on local high schoolers.
'Fear Street: Prom Queen'
Release date: May 23
Starring: India Fowler, Suzanna Son, Fina Strazza, David Iacono, Ella Rubin, Ariana Greenblatt, Lili Taylor, Katherine Waterston, and Chris Klein
Why it’s worth seeing: It may have taken four years, but another Fear Street movie arrived on Netflix this year. A standalone story from R. L. Stine’s books, this one is set in the ‘80s and about the deadly battle for Prom Queen at Shadyside High.
'Bring Her Back'
Release date: May 30
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton, Stephen Phillips, and Liam Damons
Why it’s worth seeing: Were you totally obsessed with the word-of-mouth A24 sensation Talk to Me when it came out in 2022? Well, you can expect filmmaking twin duo Danny and Michael Philippou's follow-up to be even gnarlier. When a brother and sister (Billy Barratt and Sora Wong) are placed in the foster system and wind up in the home of a woman named Laura (Sally Hawkins), it seems something sinister is at play and threatening to tear them apart. It's one of this year's very best—but, if you're squeamish, know that you may avert your eyes at times.
'28 Years Later'
Release date: June 20
Starring: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes
Why it’s worth seeing: The filmmakers behind the cult-loved zombie film 28 Days Later reteamed for a long-awaited sequel. While star Cillian Murphy doesn't appear, he’s on as an executive producer, and original screenwriter Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Civil War) and director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) returned. The new movie follows Rage virus survivors on a desolate island who learn that the virus has mutated and can now infect even survivors when one travels to the mainland.
'M3GAN 2.0'
Release date: June 27
Starring: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, Jenna Davis, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Ivanna Sakhno, Timm Sharp, Aristotle Athari, and Jemaine Clement
Why it’s worth seeing: After the Blumhouse horror-comedy about a killer AI doll slayed at the box office in early 2022, a sequel was green-lit. Though her tech was deactivated at the end of the original, M3GAN makes a comeback in this follow-up to face off with a rogue new bot.
'I Know What You Did Last Summer'
Release date: July 18
Starring: Freddie Prinze Jr., Chase Sui Wonders, Madelyn Cline, Sarah Pidgeon, Tyriq Withers, Jonah Haur-King, Lola Tung, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Austin Nichols, and Gabbriette
Why it’s worth watching: Could this cast be any more stacked? I Know What You Did Last Summer is the latest ‘90s movie to get rebooted. For the unfamiliar, the original franchise followed a group of teens being stalked by a killer with a hook for a hand after a tragic accident. The new version has a similar premise and sees original stars making cameo appearances.
'Together'
Release date: August 1
Starring: Alison Brie, Dave Franco, and Damon Herriman
Why it’s worth seeing: Married couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco have worked together before, but the funny pair flexed their horror muscles in this bonkers body horror movie. The two star opposite one another as a couple whose relationship is on the rocks after moving to the countryside, and then find themselves undergoing a peculiar transformation after coming across a bizarre sight in the woods. Not only do they offer killer performances, but the visuals will also make your skin crawl—so much so that you may leave the experience wondering if you should break up with your partner.
'Weapons'
Release date: August 8
Starring: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan
Why it’s worth seeing: Aunt Gladys, enough said. If that's left you puzzling, despite the many adoring memes and buzz this film has generated, just know you're about to meet the next great horror villain. Barbarian filmmaker (and former indie comedy star from the Whitest Kids You Know) Zach Cregger was the talk of the town in Hollywood when this script was on the market (largely because Jordan Peele wanted to produce it and lost out on a bidding war)—giving this movie a lot of hype...which it in fact lived up to. The less you know, the more fun it is for its mystery to unfold, but it centers on the stellar premise that all the children from one classroom, save for one boy, disappeared one night at 2:17. Told in several chapters from different people involved, with dark humor sprinkled throughout, and no-holds-barred imagery, it certainly comes for the title of one of the year's very best.
'The Conjuring: Last Rites'
Release date: September 5
Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ben Hardy, and Mia Tomlinson
Why it’s worth seeing: The Conjuring universe has produced spinoff series like the Annabelle and The Nun movies, making this sequel the franchise’s whopping ninth installment overall. The film focuses on the paranormal investigators who started it all, the Warrens (Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson), and adapts the true story of the Smurl family haunting.
'Rabbit Trap'
Release date: September 12
Starring: Dev Patel, Rosy McEwen, and Jade Croot
Why it’s worth seeing: This one’s for fans of folk horror—and creepy kid movies. In Bryn Chainey’s debut feature, a couple (Dev Patel and Rosy McEwen) moves to a home in a desolate, wooded area of Wales. While the musician wife works on her new album, her music “disturbs local ancient folk magic,” inviting a mysterious child (Jade Croot) to their front door. May our crushes on Dev Patel help us brave through the inevitable terrors to come.
'Bone Lake'
Release date: October 3
Starring: Maddie Hasson, Alex Roe, Andra Nechita, and Marco Pigossi
Why it’s worth seeing: We’re always on the lookout for rising female horror filmmakers to watch, and this project, directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan, should be on your radar. The plot of this confined indie reads, "Disaster ensues." When a couple’s romantic getaway goes awry, they must share a mansion with another mysterious couple.
'Good Boy'
Release date: October 3
Starring: Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, Larry Fessenden, and Indy the dog
Why it’s worth seeing: This supernatural film earned a lot of buzz at festivals and on social media ahead of its release, considering its unique perspective. A new kind of haunted house story, it’s told through the dog’s POV and starring filmmaker/star Larry Fessenden’s real-life pup, Indy. Meaning, this may pull on heartstrings as much as it offers scares! Fur baby owners, be warned!
'The Black Phone 2'
Release date: October 17
Starring: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies, Miguel Cazarez Mora, Demián Bichir, and Arianna Rivas
Why it’s worth seeing: While the 2021 hit horror movie The Black Phone was based on Joe Hill’s stand-alone novella of the same name, it received the sequel treatment, thanks to the movie’s blockbuster success. The first film was a coming-of-age story about a 13-year-old boy named Finney (Mason Thames) abducted by a child predator known as The Grabber (Ethan Hawke), who tries to escape with the help of his past victims’s spirits. Part two tactfully expands the story as, two years later, Finney's sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) starts experiencing nightmares that lead her and her brother to investigate at a winter camp. As it turns out, the Grabber is even scarier from beyond the grave.
'Frankenstein'
Release date: October 17; November 7 on Netflix
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Lauren Collins, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz
Why it’s worth seeing: Guillermo del Toro is famously endeared to monsters, and now he’s adapted the seminal story about a mad creator and his lonely, misunderstood creation. A very faithful adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel, fit with stunning production and costume design—not to mention scream queen Mia Goth in two roles—this is sure to cast a spell on you.
'The Hand That Rocks the Cradle'
Release date: October 22 on Hulu
Starring: Maika Monroe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Raúl Castillo, and Martin Starr
Why it’s worth seeing: We’ve been fans of Maika Monroe's since she became an instantly iconic final girl in 2014’s It Follows, and have respected her starring in more horror movies since then. She leads this remake of a 1992 movie about a woman with secret motives who poses as a nanny and infiltrates another family. With rising Mexican filmmaker Michelle Garza Cervera directing, she gives the story an updated take.
'Shelby Oaks'
Release date: October 24
Starring: Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, and Keith David
Why it’s worth seeing: Chris Stuckmann built a massive following as one of YouTube’s most popular film critics, and now he’s released a film of his own, which came out of one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns ever. About a woman (Camille Sullivan) who comes into contact with a supernatural evil while searching for her missing sister, it marks a chilling debut.
