There was a period when Netflix’s movie selection felt a little lackluster, but things have changed. The platform is now stacked with fantastic films, including some of the best horror movies available on any streaming platform. Below is just a short list of the many titles of the best horror movies on Netflix that are sure to give you the shivers.
What are the best horror movies on Netflix?
There’s no shortage of options for horror movies on Netflix, though a few titles are leaving at the end of the month. You’ll find several entries from Jordan Peele’s canon, Scream 1-3 films (perfect for a marathon ahead of Scream 7’s theatrical release), multiple Stephen King adaptations, teen horror, gothic horror, and just about everything in between. No matter where your taste in horror falls, there’s something here for you.
Get Out (2017)
The film that firmly placed Jordan Peele at the forefront of modern filmmaking, Get Out follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) as he reaches a major relationship milestone: meeting his girlfriend’s well-to-do, white, liberal parents. At first, Chris chalks up the family’s overeager behavior to nervousness about the interracial relationship. But things aren’t what they seem, and it isn’t long before he discovers something far more disturbing.
Barbarian (2022)
If you were a fan of Weapons but never got around to checking out Zach Cregger’s earlier film, Barbarian is now on Netflix for your viewing pleasure. Released in 2022, Barbarian follows Tess (Georgina Campbell), who arrives in Detroit for a job interview only to discover that her Airbnb has been double-booked and is already occupied by a man named Keith. Though understandably unsettled, Tess decides to make the most of the mix-up and stay the night. But that’s only the beginning.
1922 (2017)
Based on Stephen King’s novella of the same name, 1922 takes us to the slow-burning psychological horror genre. Wilfred James (Thomas Jane) is a farmer in rural Nebraska who conspires to murder his wife (Molly Parker) after she proposes selling their land and moving to the city. Though the crime initially appears to solve his problems, paranoia soon takes hold. As strange occurrences begin to plague Wilfred and his son, it becomes clear that some sins refuse to stay buried.
Scream (1996)
One of the best movies in the modern horror canon, Scream is as funny as it is freaky. We have Wes Craven to thank for a full reinvention of the horror genre, thanks to Scream. The small town of Woodsboro is still reeling from the brutal murder of Maureen Prescott the year before. While things appear to have quieted down with the accused killer safely locked away, new murders begin to shake the community as a masked killer starts stalking high schoolers in this middle-class suburbia. As the body count piles up, the killer draws closer and closer to Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Maureen’s daughter.
A Quiet Place (2018)
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where extraterrestrial predators have decimated Earth, A Quiet Place follows a family living in solitude as one of the few survivors who live by one rule: don’t make a sound. The story begins on day 89 of the ordeal, when the Abbott family faces constant threat from mysterious creatures that hunt by sound. Tragedy strikes early on, and the family has to manage their own grief and guilt from the event, as well as try to survive. But they think there may be a way to stop the creatures using high-frequency audio, and they set out to find other survivors.
Us (2019)
Another entry from Jordan Peele, Us follows a family whose beach vacation takes a freaky turn when a group of strangers descends on the house. Things get even more terrifying when the masked attackers reveal themselves and look exactly like each member of the Wilson family. Lupita Nyong’o’s performance in this is bone-chilling.
Carrie (1976)
Perhaps one of the most well-known horror films ever made, Carrie tells the story of a telekinetically gifted but deeply outcast teenager living with her terrifyingly religious-fanatic mother. At school, things aren’t any better for Carrie (Sissy Spacek), who is bullied relentlessly. She does, however, experience genuine kindness from a teacher who does her best to help her navigate a world that’s never been kind to her. For a brief moment, it seems like Carrie might finally get to experience the feeling of beauty and acceptance. Of course, cruelty has a way of finding her anyway. You probably know how things go down at the prom. This one is absolutely worth a rewatch.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
This is one of those movies that feels untouchable at this point. Known more as a psychological thriller than horror, we’re still going to add it to this category because it’s dark enough that it feels like part of the genre. The Silence of the Lambs follows Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a young FBI trainee brought in to help track down a serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. Her path leads her to Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins in his Oscar-winning performance), a brilliant psychiatrist and imprisoned cannibal who may be the only person capable of helping her.
Frankenstein (2025)
Released last fall, this gothic adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic leans more toward the beautiful than the frightening, which is exactly what you’d expect under the visionary direction of Guillermo del Toro. There’s a lot to praise here, but if you needed any further proof of the film’s impact, Jacob Elordi has already nabbed a Critics’ Choice Award for his performance as the Creature, with an Oscar nomination likely not far behind. If you haven’t had a chance to catch it yet, now is the perfect time to do so before awards season fully ramps up.
The Conjuring (2013)
Maybe the most terrifying horror movie on Netflix, The Conjuring goes fully supernatural. The film starts in 1968, when renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren get their hands on the most terrifying doll you’ve probably ever seen. But they explain the doll as a conduit for the spirit, and they manage that case. Fast forward to 1971, when the Perron family moves into a farmhouse in Rhode Island. Increasingly violent things start happening, and the Perrons determine it’s time to call in the pros. But this particular case is something more powerful than the Lorraines have ever encountered.
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