Evaluating Netflix’s range of content in 2024, one finds that its assortment of horror titles is quite the assortment, hitting both highs and lows. As rival platforms and, more specifically, those dedicated solely to horror, such as Shudder, continually enhance their selections of scary movies, Netflix struggles to appear as a comprehensive source, increasingly depending on its originals and seeing its collection remain unchanged month after month. In recent years, Netflix could claim to host classics like The Shining, Scream, Jaws, The Silence of the Lambs, or Young Frankenstein, not to mention modern indie hits like The Witch or The Descent.
However, these titles have all vanished, often replaced by lower-budget, straight-to-VOD movies with eerily similar single-word names, such as Demonic, Desolate, and Incarnate. However, Netflix still houses some gems, particularly among newer releases, ranging from comedic horror like The Babysitter to lesser-known, unsettling films like The Wailing, It Follows, Apostle, and recent additions such as His House and the Fear Street series.
While you might not come across many beloved series like Halloween or Friday the 13th, there are notable exceptions such as The Haunting of Hill House, Cabinet of Curiosities, or Fall of the House of Usher that, despite not being films, are essential mentions. Netflix truly shines in the realm of horror with its limited series.
This list serves as a reference point. The films at the bottom rank as “fun-bad”—imperfect yet entertaining for various reasons. Check out our list of the best horror movies streaming on Netflix.
What is the scariest horror movie ever to exist?
Horror films possess an uncanny ability to embed themselves in our psyche, evoking a mixture of terror and intrigue. Below is a list of the most unsettling and eerily captivating horror movies that have led viewers to doubt their state of mind: the best horror movies streaming.
The Exorcist (1973)
Barbarian (2022)
The Perfection (2018)
Deliver Us from Evil (2014)
Hereditary (2018)
The best classic horror movies of all time
Time-honored horror films have made an unforgettable impact on the genre, entrancing viewers with their chilling ambiance, legendary creatures, and nerve-racking tension. Here are a few classic horror movies that persist in haunting our dreams:
Dracula (1931)
Psycho
Halloween
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Shining
Rosemary’s Baby
Nosferatu
The Wolf Man (1941)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
What is a psychological horror movie?
The roots of psychological horror cinema trace back to Hollywood’s Golden Age, prominently featuring two of Universal Pictures’ legendary actors in the foundational roles of this genre. Specifically, in The Black Cat from 1934, we see Dr. Vitus, portrayed by Bela Lugosi, gruesomely skinning Boris Karloff’s character Hjalmar alive, a horrific act only implied through the projection of their shadows.
Selecting the finest examples from this horror niche is a challenging task, given its extensive and rich history. For those newly acquainted with this genre, films like Ingmar Bergman’s Hour of the Wolf (1968) or Roman Polanski’s Repulsion (1965) serve as excellent entry points. Meanwhile, aficionados with a taste for deeper, more unsettling narratives may find themselves drawn to titles such as The Killing Kind (1973), Jacob’s Ladder (1990), and Don’t Breathe (2016).
We invite you to explore our curated selection of the top 20 must-see psychological horror movies.
Silence of the Lambs
Black Swan
The Babadook
Get Out
Resolution (2012)
The Invitation (2015)
Coherence (2013)
What are the top popular horror movies?
Creating a roundup of the top popular horror movies ever made is an excellent strategy to separate the aficionados of horror from those who would rather avoid it.
Notice them anytime there’s a sudden startling scare, such as when a demon-possessed girl crawls crab-like down the stairs or when an alien emerges from a victim’s torso, Paying attention to them had us more terrified than not—go ahead and judge! We considered several factors, such as the overall quality of the factors, their influence on the horror genre, the potential for becoming a classic, the level of fright and creepiness it induces, and a unique element we like to call the Editor’s Pick, to curate a selection guaranteed to have you insisting on keeping the lights on.
The films we’ve chosen range from classic horror to the sort of twisted and bizarre that leaves a lasting imprint (think The Silence of the Lambs). However, each film has one thing in common: it’s bound to terrify you. So, dive in, enjoy, and feel free to share your personal horror favorites or recommendations in the comments!
Below is a list of the best horror movies streaming that have effectively kept viewers on the edge of their seats in fear:
Alien
The Conjuring
It
The Sixth Sense
Scream
Friday the 13th
Poltergeist
Saw
Let the Right One in
Jaws
What are the Best horror movies streaming that’s based on a true story?
For those who easily get jittery and find themselves near the edge of panic when a horror scene unfolds on screen, the mantra ‘it’s only a movie!’ probably sounds all too familiar as a comfort chant whispered in the dark. But what if the line between movie and reality blurs? Imagine that the horror on screen is not just creative fiction but a mirror of the events that have unfolded.
In an attempt to calm your racing heart, you might remind yourself that the phrase ‘based on a true story’ in Hollywood could merely signify that the filmmakers took a tiny grain of truth and expanded it so extensively that it becomes an unrecognizable piece of entertainment, far from the true story. This rationalization might be enough to slow your breathing. However, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t hold up for every film.
Within this collection of 15 spine-chilling movies inspired by real-life events, artistic liberties may have tweaked the narratives, but the essence of the tales hews closely enough to reality, rendering them irreducible to mere figments of imagination. Familiarize yourself with these stories, and strive to maintain your composure.
Here is a list of the Best horror movies streaming ever made, which is even more unsettling because they are based on true stories:
The Amityville Horror
The Haunting in Connecticut
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The Girl Next Door
Wolf Creek
Open Water
The Strangers
The Serpent and the Rainbow
An American Haunting
The Amityville Horror (2005)
The Entity (1982)
The Amityville Horror (1979)
Which horror movie will be released in 2024?
2023 has been yet another standout year for the horror genre, rewarding us richly over recent years with a copious selection of scares. As we reminisce about the top picks of this year, our anticipation is already building for the thrilling horror releases expected in 2024.
Initially unsure of what would unfold, we’ve now been treated to a title and a sneak peek through a trailer, securing our attendance on its debut weekend at the cinemas.
Below is an exhaustive catalog of all the best horror movies streaming set to premiere in 2024.
The Strangers: Chapter 1 (Release Date: May 17, 2024)
The Watchers (Release Date: June 14, 2024)
A Quiet Place: Day 1 (Release Date: June 28, 2024)
MaXXXine (Release Date: July 5, 2024)
Trap (Release Date: August 9, 2024)
The Crow (Release Date: August 24, 2024)
Who is the most famous horror character?
Horror films have presented us with a slew of legendary and terrifying characters throughout the years. Some noteworthy horror movie antagonists include chainsaw-wielding murderers and otherworldly creatures.
Leatherface is the chainsaw-wielding murderer from “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
Freddy Krueger is the terrible dream-stalker that haunts the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise.
Regan MacNeil: The possessed little girl in “The Exorcist.”
Chatterer is the hideous silent enforcer from Clive Barker’s “Hellraiser.”
Jason Voorhees is the merciless undead murderer from the “Friday the 13th” series.
Pazuzu is the ancient demonic spirit that possesses Regan in “The Exorcist.”
Pyramid Head is the terrifying blade-wielder from the “Silent Hill” video game adaptation.
Candyman: The furious hook-handed murderer from the movie of the same name.
Kurt Barlow, the quintessential vampire from “Salem’s Lot.”
Michael Myers: The faceless, unstoppable evil from the “Halloween” franchise.
The Thing is the morphing extraterrestrial parasite in John Carpenter’s “The Thing.”
Xenomorph is the deadly sci-fi creature from the “Alien” series.
Samara Morgan is the ghostly cursed girl from “The Ring.”
Crawlers: monstrous cave dwellers from “The Descent.”
Pumpkinhead: The furious monster from the film of the same name.
Mr. Boogie: The gloomy, heartless entity from “Sinister.”
Bathsheba: The witch who haunts families in “The Conjuring.”
Cheryl: A demon corrupts innocence in “Evil Dead.”
Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” has the strange monster Fauno, while “The Visit” features the decrepit and malicious Old Woman.
Predator is the sophisticated extraterrestrial hunter from the “Predator” series.
Fire Face (Lipstick-Face Demon) is a horrifying monster from “Insidious.”
Who is the best director of horror movies?
The creative brains behind the camera contribute significantly to horror films’ spine-tingling effect. Here are some renowned horror film filmmakers who have left an unmistakable imprint on the genre:
Toby Hooper, well known for “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” is regarded as a horror master.
John Carpenter is the creator behind masterpieces such as “Halloween” and “The Thing.”
George A. Romero was the father of zombie films, and his film “Night of the Living Dead” transformed the genre.
Dario Argento is an Italian horror director known for his films “Suspiria” and “Deep Red.”
Alfred Hitchcock was the director of the legendary film “Psycho” and a great suspense master.
Sam Raimi’s cult hit “The Evil Dead” exemplified his innovative approach to horror.
Steve Miner is a “Friday the 13th” franchise veteran.
Tom Holland directed the renowned vampire flick “Fright Night.”
Rob Zombie is known for his distinctive combination of music and horror in films such as “House of 1000 Corpses.”
Neil Marshall is a British filmmaker who directed “The Descent” and “Dog Soldiers.”
These filmmakers have influenced the horror scene, generating nightmares and enthralling viewers worldwide.
