Scary Good
With the spookiest month of the year upon us, it seems only fitting that we take some time to make your next scary movie night the best it can be. Don't be scared of the classic Netflix endless scroll—stream one of these horror movies instead.
Note: Netflix does remove content from their service at times so while these movies might be available today, they might not be there forever. Also, the streamer's content does vary by region so all of these horror flicks might not be available everywhere.
The Conjuring
The Conjuring was a huge hit back in 2013—raking in $319 million on just a $20 million budget. There were, of course, a couple sequels and even a spinoff movie. But if you have yet to watch the OG that started it all, now is your chance.
New Line Cinema, The Conjuring (2013)
The Conjuring 2
And speaking of that first sequel. It too is on Netflix, and is also worth your horror time.
New Line Cinema, The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Jaws
Does this count as "horror" or is it just a thriller? We're going to say horror, just so we can add it here. The reason a whole generation was scared to swim in the ocean: Jaws.
Zombieland
Speaking of "does it count as horror"—what about this post-apocalyptic zombie comedy? Again, we're going to say "yes, it does" because it's a really good flick and we wanted it on the list.
The Babadook
This Australian film is about a single mother and her son and their mysterious humanoid monster houseguest. The film has become a cult classic since it was released in 2014 and you may have also seen the popular memes it has generated as well. Maybe even more impressive is the 98% Rotten Tomatoes score it has generated.
Screen Australia, The Babadook (2014)
Cargo
Staying in Australia, we next offer up Cargo—a post-apocalyptic horror thriller set in a world ravished by a virus that turns people rabid. This take on the zombie genre was one that Brian Tallerico—writing for RogerEbert.com—said George A Romero would have enjoyed. High praise right there, don't you think?
Addictive Pictures, Cargo (2017)
His House
His House—about a South Sudanese refugee couple in a small British town with evil all around them—dropped on Netflix back in 2020 and the acclaim it's received has been overwhelming. With over 100 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, His House is rockin' a 100% score. It was also nominated for Outstanding British Film at the 2021 BAFTAs.
Regency Enterprises, His House (2020)
Ouija: Origin Of Evil
The first Ouija film wasn't very good but it was a financial hit—so, of course they made a second one. However, given the mediocrity of the first film, we didn't have very high expectations for the Ouija: Origin of Evil prequel. Well, it proved us wrong. Not only was it a financial hit, but this one was also a good horror film.
Universal, Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
Pearl
Pearl is the second film in the X film series and acts as a prequel to the first film, X. Neither film made huge box office numbers ($15 million and $10 million respectively), but both have been very well reviewed. Pearl is an origin story of the "Pearl" character—played brilliantly by Mia Goth.
Gerald's Game
A husband and wife and an isolated house—already we're getting some classic horror trope vibes. Then the husband dies and the wife wakes up handcuffed to the bed. Boom! Enjoy.
Intrepid Pictures, Gerald's Game (2017)
Under The Shadow
Set in Tehran in the 1980s, Under the Shadow is a Persian-language psychological horror film about a mother and daughter and the evil that haunts them. The Times called it "an eerie, often unsettling, Iranian feminist horror film". How can you not be curious about this one?
Wigwam Films, Under the Shadow (2016)
The Autopsy Of Jane Doe
Looking for a little supernatural horror? The Autopsy of Jane Doe might just hit the spot. The film was Norwegian director André Øvredal's first English-language movie and while it didn't do much box office business, it is well worth your time to check out what Variety called a "taut, yet often slyly funny scarefest". This isn't Øvredal's only scary movie worth checking out on the streamer either.
42, The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark
André Øvredal's other worthy scary-movie-night entry is Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. With a script based on a screen story by Guillermo del Toro (which he based on a horror book series for children), Øvredal delivers all the spooks and scares you need, and a "creepy gateway into horror for younger genre enthusiasts" should movie night involve some non-grown-ups.
CBS Films, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
The Rental
Two couples staying in a rental house start to suspect they're being watched. The Rental—directed by Dave Franco (yes, James Franco's brother)—was only the second film to ever top video-on-demand charts and the box office in the same weekend.
Cam
Set in the world of adult webcams, this low-budget psychological horror film won awards at both the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival and the Fantasia International Film Festival. It also holds a 93% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Although, we will point out that the audience score is only 54%. Check it out and see which side of the fence you land on.
Vampires Vs. The Bronx
And speaking of critic and audience disagreement, let us also mention Vampires vs. The Bronx. This comedy horror film has a 90% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a critical consensus that reads: "In the sharp, socially conscious battle of Vampires vs. the Bronx, comedy and horror blend brilliantly—and the audience is the winner". But the audience didn't consider themselves winners, as they have scored it at 45% on the site.
Universal, Vampires vs. the Bronx (2020)
Fear Street Part One: 1994
Based on the RL Stine Fear Street series of books, Netflix has produced three films so far and they have all been good. The first one is Fear Street Part One: 1994, which tells the story of an ancient evil and the two teens who take it on.
Netflix, Fear Street: Part One - 1994 (2021)
Fear Street Part Two: 1978
It isn't a fun summer in this second film of the series. Instead, it's more evil in the cursed town of Shadyside.
Netflix, Fear Street: Part Two - 1978 (2021)
Fear Street Part Three: 1666
This third installment takes us back to the origins of the curse—and was once again well-received by critics. A fourth film in the series, Fear Street: Prom Queen, has been announced—but no release date has been mentioned yet.
Netflix, Fear Street: Part Three - 1666 (2021)
El Conde
Looking for something completely original? It isn't always easy to find these days, but with El Conde, that's what you get. Winner of the Best Screenplay award at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, this dark comedy horror film posits Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet as a 250-year-old vampire. It also picked up a Best Cinematography Oscar nomination.
Coming Home In The Dark
Psychological horror is on the menu in Coming Home in the Dark when a seemingly random abduction reveals a dark past. To quote the Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus, the film is "Smart, well-acted, and above all scary".
Light in the Dark Productions, Coming Home in the Dark (2021)
It Follows
Maika Monroe is stalked by an entity, whose pursuit is precipitated by a physical encounter, in It Follows. The film has grown in popularity and acclaim in the years since its release and a sequel, They Follow, is set to begin filming in 2025.
Northern Lights Films, It Follows (2014)
Rust Creek
A college student lost in the woods, hunted by criminals. The film was a top 10 movie on Netflix when it premiered on the service back in 2020. If you missed it then, you can catch it now.
Soft & Quiet
Presented in one continuous take, this horror thriller never lets up, taking the audience through the story in real time.
Blumhouse Productions, Soft & Quiet (2022)
Shadow In The Cloud
"Part creature feature, part war movie, and part social commentary"—this action horror flick about a female pilot in WWII and a gremlin is a lot of fun. The film won the People's Choice Award for Midnight Madness at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.
Fifth Season, Shadow in the Cloud (2020)
1922
Looking for your next based-on-a-Stephen-King-story movie? Then maybe 1922 should be your next click. The film hit Netflix all the way back in 2017, so there's a good chance it hasn't shown up in your algorithmic suggestions. But, given its 92% Rotten Tomatoes score, this one is worth searching out.
Apostle
In 1905, a man travels to a remote island to attempt to rescue his sister from a cult. Director Gareth Evans, to quote one review, "creates an effectively creepy setting that feels authentic and tactile".
Thanksgiving
The 2007 Grindhouse Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino double-feature was more than just two movies. There were also some fake commercials and movie trailers for films that didn't exist....yet. Since the film's release, there have been three films made based on those trailers—one of them being Eli Roth's 2023 Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving
A man in a John Carver mask terrorizes a town in Massachusetts during Thanksgiving. Sounds simple enough—but in the hands of Eli Roth you know it's probably gonna be good and really scary. And it is—with both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes scoring this one above 80%.
