Horror had a banner year in 2024. 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. That's not to mention how Nosferatu quickly reached a milestone for filmmaker Robert Eggers, as his biggest hit at the box office to date. As the genre continues its reign as one of the most exciting and thought-provoking today, there are, thankfully, just as many excellent horror movies in 2025.
From the latest projects from award-winning and cult-loved directors to highly anticipated sequels, there are a lot of scary movies and thrillers to look forward to (including some that even scaredy cats can tolerate). Below, find the best horror movies of 2025 that you can watch now and are coming to cinemas soon. (For more recommendations of what to watch right now, check out our list of the best horror movies of 2024.)
'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.
'Wolf Man'
Release date: January 17
Starring: Christopher Abbott, Julia Garner, Matilda Firth, Sam Jaeger, and Ben Prendergast
Why it’s worth seeing: Leigh Whannell has penned several hit horror movies, many of which were directed by blockbuster genre filmmaker James Wan, from the Saw movies to the Insidious series. He became a filmmaker to watch in his own right by directing 2020’s The Invisible Man, and he returned to helm this film inspired by Universal Pictures’ iconic monster movie The Wolf Man. In the updated version, Christopher Abbott plays a family man who relocates with his wife (Julia Garner) and daughter (Matilda Firth) to his late father’s remote home in Oregon after his death. When a werewolf attacks him, he transforms himself, much to the horror of his family.
'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.
'The Parenting'
Release date: March 13 on Max
Starring: Nik Dodani, Brandon Flynn, Parker Posey, Vivian Bang, Lisa Kudrow, Dean Norris, Brian Cox, and Edie Falco
Why it’s worth seeing: As if taking a trip with your partner and both of your parents wasn’t stressful enough, imagine encountering a supernatural entity. That’s the chaos that ensues on Rohan (Nik Dodani) and Josh’s (Brandon Flynn) trip when they accidentally stay in a haunted house. With a cast this stacked, we’d bet you’ll be laughing in between the screams.
'Death of a Unicorn'
Release date: March 28
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant
Why it's worth seeing: The title of this A24 horror-comedy is quite literal—which sounds like the makings of a wonderfully weird feature debut from Alex Scharfman. Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega play a father and daughter who hit a real-life unicorn with their car, much to their surprise. When they bring the creature to the dad's company retreat, his boss tries to harness its magical properties to dangerous results.
'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 book-to-movie adaptation 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 whose 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 and the visuals will make your skin crawl—so much so that you may leave the experience wondering if you should break up with your partner.
'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, so you can consider us intrigued about this project directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan. 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.
'Coyotes'
Release date: October 3
Starring: Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, Mila Harris, Katherine McNamara, Brittany Allen, Keir O'Donnell, and Norbert Leo Butz
Why it’s worth seeing: Anyone who lives in L.A. will tell you what terrors coyotes are—which is basically what this movie is all about. The survival thriller centers on a family in the Hollywood Hills who must fend for their lives when vicious coyotes target them.
'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 garnered a great deal 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!
'Vicious'
Release date: October 10 on Paramount+
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Kathryn Hunter, Mary McCormack, Rachel Blanchard, and Devyn Nekoda
Why it’s worth seeing: We’re here for the Dakota Fanning-assiance. She leads this spooky, paranormal movie about “a young woman who, after being left with a strange present from a late-night visitor, must spend the night fighting for her existence as she slips down a disturbing rabbit hole contained inside the gift,” per the synopsis.
'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’s getting 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 (Mason Thames) abducted by a child predator known as The Grabber (Ethan Hawke), who tries to escape with the help of his past victims’ spirits. It’s yet to be announced what part two will be about, but much of the cast from the first film is reprising their roles—including Ethan Hawke as the masked villain.
'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. Said to be 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 us.
'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, we’d bet the story is getting an updated feminist 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 releasing 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 should be a chilling debut. We know what we’ll be seeing this year’s Halloweekend.
'Keeper'
Release date: November 14
Starring: Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland
Why it’s worth seeing: Osgood Perkins (Longlegs, The Monkey) can’t be stopped. After already releasing one film this year, he’s back with Keeper. It’s a star vehicle for Tatiana Maslany, who appeared in The Monkey, following her as she’s stuck in a secluded cabin when her boyfriend has to depart their anniversary trip early, leaving her to fend off a dark entity.
'Five Nights at Freddy’s 2'
Release date: December 5
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, and Piper Rubio
Why it’s worth seeing: Get ready to return to the Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. A sequel was ordered for the video-game-movie-adaptation Five Nights at Freddy’s as soon as it became a surprise box-office smash in 2023. Though no major details have been confirmed, we’d bet security guard Mike (Josh Hutcherson) will try to stop the killer animatronic mascots once and for all.
'Dust Bunny'
Release date: December 12
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Sophie Sloan, Sigourney Weaver, and David Dastmalchian
Why it’s worth seeing: Hannibal fans, this one’s for you. Mads Mikkelsen reteams with Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller for this horror-thriller, marking his feature debut. It’s basically your childhood nightmares come to life, as it follows an 8-year-old (Sophie Sloan) who asks her neighbor (Mikkelsen) for help getting rid of the monster under her bed.
