HomeHorror MoviesThe Definitive Guide to the Best Horror Movies on Netflix (2025)

The Definitive Guide to the Best Horror Movies on Netflix (2025)

For horror aficionados and casual thrill-seekers alike, the quest to find the best horror movies on Netflix can feel like its own terrifying ordeal. The platform’s library is a vast, ever-shifting haunted house of content—where today’s gem is tomorrow’s ghost. You’re not just looking for a scare; you’re searching for a quality experience. That’s where we come in. Forget endlessly scrolling through algorithm-driven rows. Our team has done the digging for you, curating the definitive list of the most chilling, thought-provoking, and downright terrifying films available to stream right now.

This isn’t just another list of horror movies on Netflix. We’ve meticulously combed through the current catalog to separate the timeless horror classics on Netflix from the forgettable flops. Whether you’re in the mood for the psychological dread of a psychological horror thriller, the visceral shocks of rated R horror movies, or the unsettling truth behind horror movies based on true stories, our guide has you covered. We celebrate the breadth of the genre, from the clever wit of Horror comedies to the relentless tension of Slasher movies and the innovative storytelling of Netflix original horror movies.

We constantly update our recommendations to reflect the latest arrivals and departures, ensuring you receive the best movie recommendations2025 has to offer. So, dim the lights, turn up the sound, and prepare to discover your next favorite nightmare. This page is your ultimate resource for top horror movies on Netflix, cutting through the noise to deliver the best scary movies on Netflix you can stream tonight.

List of the best horror movies on Netflix 2025

Apostle (2018)

The Apostle horror movie is a gritty, atmospheric, and brutal period piece from director Gareth Evans. Set in the early 1900s, this action horror movie follows a desperate man who travels to a remote island to rescue his sister from a fanatical religious cult. Dan Stevens delivers a fiercely committed and intense performance in this innovative combination of historical drama, folk horror, and visceral body terror, making it a gripping and distinctive entry among Netflix original horror movies.

The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)

A wildly fun and bloody sequel, The Babysitter: Killer Queen’s horror movie doubles down on the chaos of the original, solidifying its place as a top-tier horror comedy pick. This popular horror movie continues the story of Cole, who must once again fight for his life when the satanic cult returns from the dead. The cast’s infectious energy, particularly Samara Weaving’s return as Bee, and its over-the-top action horror sequences make it an endlessly entertaining and gory ride.

Barbarian (2022)

A masterclass in subverting expectations, the Barbarian horror movie is a wildly unpredictable and terrifying psychological horror thriller. The plot begins with a woman discovering her rental home is double-booked by a stranger but quickly spirals into a much darker and more twisted nightmare. Georgina Campbell delivers a stellar performance as the resourceful final girl, anchoring a film that is both a clever commentary on toxic masculinity and one of the creepiest movies to recently hit the platform.

Bird Box Barcelona (2023)

This Bird Box Barcelona horror movie expands the universe of the original hit doomsday horror movie with a fresh, international perspective. Set in the same apocalyptic world where entities drive those who see them to suicide, the film follows a man and his daughter navigating the perilous streets of Barcelona. It successfully translates the original’s tense, blindfolded suspense into a new cultural context, offering more of the chilling world-building that fans crave.

The Blackening (2022)

A sharp, hilarious, and clever satire, The Blackening horror movie is a

brilliant deconstruction of the genre and a standout in Horror comedies. The plot centers on a group of Black friends who reunite for a weekend getaway only to be forced to play a twisted game by a masked killer who targets them for not being “Black enough.” Its witty social commentary, combined with genuine slasher thrills, makes it a refreshing and popular horror movie that challenges genre tropes.

Cam (2018)

A unique and unsettling psychological horror thriller, the Cam horror movie expands on the dark side of the digital age. The story follows an ambitious camgirl who finds her online identity stolen and replaced by a perfect doppelgänger. Madeline Brewer gives a captivating and dual performance, masterfully portraying the confusion and terror of having one’s livelihood and identity hijacked in this innovative Netflix original horror movie.

The Conference (2023)

A refreshingly gruesome and witty slasher, The Conference horror movie is a fantastic Horror comedy import from Sweden. The plot centers on a team-building retreat for municipal employees that descends into a bloodbath when a masked killer begins hunting them. It’s praised for its sharp satire of corporate culture, likable characters, and creative kills, offering a perfect blend of laughs and genuine scares that makes it a worthy addition to the slasher movie canon.

Creep 2 (2017)

Building on the found-footage success of the first film, Creep 2 horror movie is a brilliantly unsettling psychological horror thriller. Mark Duplass returns as the intensely bizarre Josef, now targeting a video artist looking for a subject for her web series. The dynamic shifts, with Desiree Akhavan delivering a compelling performance as a woman who thinks she’s in control, creating a tense cat-and-mouse game that deepens the mystery and dread of the Creep universe.

Fear Street Part One: 1994

The horror movie “Fear Street Part One: 1994” kicks off a massively popular trilogy that serves as a love letter to slasher films. These Netflix original horror movies span three centuries—from 1994 to 1978 to 1666—unraveling the witch’s curse that plagues the town of Shadyside. The trilogy is celebrated for its clever mix of nostalgia, high-energy action horror sequences, and genuine scares, making it a landmark popular horror movie event for the platform.

Fear Street Part Three: 1666

The supernatural trilogy’s epic finale reveals the terrifying origin of the Shadyside curse. Transporting the main characters back to the colonial settlement of Union, the film masterfully unveils the truth behind the witch’s persecution and the dark pact that doomed the town for generations. This chapter brilliantly ties the entire Fear Street saga together, shifting from a grim historical folklore tale back to the modern day for a climactic, action-packed conclusion. It’s a satisfying and clever binge-watch finale that completes the backstory and provides a thrilling end to the decades-spanning curse.

Fear Street Part Two: 1978

Transporting viewers to the peak of summer, this prequel takes place at Camp Nightwing and serves as the essential backstory to the curse of the Fear Street trilogy. When a supernatural force possesses a camp counselor, the idyllic retreat descends into a bloody fight for survival, mirroring the classic slasher films set in summer camps of the era. The story focuses on two sisters caught in the nightmare, whose actions will have dire consequences for the future of Shadyside, making it a perfect binge-watch for those invested in the overarching supernatural mystery.

It’s What’s Inside (2024)

A mind-bending and inventive new release, the It’s What’s Inside horror movie is a brilliant sci-fi horror movie and psychological horror thriller. The plot follows a group of friends whose reunion is disrupted by a mysterious party game that allows them to swap bodies, leading to paranoia and chaos. This fresh and unpredictable film is a talking-point movie, praised for its clever premise and execution, making it one of the most intriguing new Netflix movie recommendations.

The Platform (2019)

The Platform is a brutally effective and high-concept sci-fi horror movie. It is a vicious social allegory. A platform in a vertical prison feeds inmates by descending through levels, leaving those at the bottom with scraps. The film is a stark commentary on class inequality and human nature, its grim atmosphere and shocking moments making it a profoundly unsettling and thought-provoking popular horror movie.

The Pope’s Exorcist (2023)

The Pope’s Exorcist is a must-watch hit for fans of rated R horror movies and gripping exorcism tales. Starring Russell Crowe as Father Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican’s chief exorcist, the film explores a powerful and terrifying case in Spain. Crowe’s performance is both commanding and surprisingly witty, effortlessly carrying the film and driving this engaging horror movie based on true stories adapted from Father Amorth’s own files.

Run Rabbit Run (2023)

A slow-burn Australian psychological horror thriller, Run Rabbit Run, delves into themes of inherited trauma and fractured motherhood. Sarah Snook gives a compelling performance as a fertility doctor whose young daughter begins exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior, claiming to be her mother’s long-lost sister. This atmospheric and ambiguous film leans into horror movies about fear of the past and oneself, offering a moody and thought-provoking chill.

Talk to Me (2022)

The Talk to Me horror movie is an A24 supernatural sensation that has instantly cemented its place among the best modern horror movies on Netflix. This chilling tale follows a group of friends whose party game—summoning spirits using an embalmed hand—goes violently and devastatingly wrong. Audiences and critics are unanimous in praising Sophie Wilde’s breathtaking lead performance, which masterfully captures raw grief and visceral terror, making the film’s supernatural horrors feel painfully human.

Verónica (2017)

A The relentlessly tense Spanish-language film, Verónica, is a standout supernatural horror entry and is famously known for being based on a true police case. The plot follows a teenage girl who becomes increasingly tormented by a malevolent entity after using a Ouija board with her friends during a solar eclipse. Its effective jump scares, gritty atmosphere, and compelling lead performance make it one of the creepiest movies and most convincing horror movies based on true stories on Netflix.

Watcher (2022)

A masterful exercise in slow-burn paranoia, the Watcher horror movie is a supremely suspenseful horror movie. The film follows a woman who moves to Bucharest with her husband and becomes convinced she is being stalked by a mysterious watcher in the apartment across the street. Maika Monroe delivers another iconic performance of vulnerability and mounting dread, perfectly capturing the terror of isolation and gaslighting in this stylish psychological horror thriller.

Train to Busan (2016)

A perfect blend of heart-pounding action and genuine emotion, the Train to Busan horror movie is a universally celebrated sci-fi horror movie and zombie thriller. The film takes place almost entirely on a speeding train during a sudden and violent zombie apocalypse in South Korea. As passengers fight for survival, the film excels through its strong character development, social commentary, and relentless pace, all anchored by Gong Yoo’s powerful performance as a father desperately trying to protect his young daughter.

Under the Shadow (2016)

Set in post-revolutionary Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War, the Under the Shadow horror movie is a critically acclaimed psychological horror thriller and sci-fi horror movie. The plot follows a mother and daughter who are plagued by a sinister djinn in their apartment building while also dealing with the constant threat of missile strikes. TThis brilliant film uses its supernatural elements as an allegory for political and social anxiety, making it both a smart, suspenseful horror movie and a standout indie film.

Smile (2022)

A breakout hit that preys on primal anxiety, the Smile horror movie is a relentless and innovative psychological horror thriller. The story follows a therapist who, after witnessing a patient’s bizarre traumatic suicide, becomes plagued by an entity that masks itself in the smiling faces of everyone around her. SOsie Bacon delivers a powerful, unhinged, and committed performance, portraying a descent into paralyzing paranoia and despair that makes this one of the creepiest movies in recent memory.

Incantation (2022)

Hailed as a modern found-footage triumph, the Incantation horror movie is one of the creepiest and most effective horror movies about curses you can stream. After breaking a religious taboo six years prior, a mother must protect her daughter from the relentless curse she inadvertently unleashed. The film’s ingenious use of interactive rituals and direct-to-camera narration creates an unnerving sense of participation and guilt that makes its horrors feel deeply personal and utterly terrifying.

Wendell and Wild (2022)

A stop-motion animated marvel, the Wendell & Wild horror movie is a perfect entry into Horror comedies for a broader audience. From the mind of Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas), the film follows a teenage girl who conjures two scheming demon brothers, Wendell and Wild. With its stunning visuals, voice talents of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, and themes of grief and redemption, it’s a wonderfully macabre and inventive original horror movie.

Don’t Move (2024)

A brutal and intense new entry, the Don’t Move horror movie is a vicious and inventive action horror film. The plot follows a seasoned hunter who becomes injected with a paralyzing toxin by a mysterious creature, forcing her to stay perfectly still while fending off a horde of ravenous creatures. Kelsey Asbille delivers a physically demanding performance, selling the sheer will to survive in this tense and gory sci-fi horror movie that feels like a fresh take on creature features.

The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)

A family-friendly Horror comedies pick, The Curse of Bridge Hollow horror movie offers spooky fun without the extreme terror. The story follows a teenager who must team up with her father to stop an ancient and mischievous spirit that brings the town’s Halloween decorations to life. With a charming performance from Priah Ferguson and a lighthearted, spooky atmosphere, it’s a perfect popular horror movie for viewers seeking seasonal scares that aren’t too intense. The Netflix library changes frequently. This list was last updated to reflect the best horror movies available. We regularly monitor new additions and removals to keep this guide accurate.

abubakarbilal
abubakarbilal
Abubakar is a writer and digital marketing expert. Who has founded multiple blogs and successful businesses in the fields of digital marketing, software development. A full-service digital media agency that partners with clients to boost their business outcomes.

Must Read

spot_img