10 New Horror Movies You Can’t Miss This Halloween

2025 has been a fantastic year for horror movies, offering a lot of great options for anyone wanting a scare this Halloween. What’s really noticeable is how diverse the films are – they range from seriously dramatic and frightening stories to clever and original takes on classic horror themes.

Beyond these ten standout films, many other great horror movies came out this year, including Queens of the Dead, Shelby Oaks, V/H/S/Halloween, The Monkey, The Conjuring: Last Rites, and Him. These are our recommendations for the best new horror films of the year, perfect for a Halloween movie night for the horror fan in your life.

Frankenstein

Guillermo del Toro’s take on Frankenstein is a stunning and emotionally rich addition to the modern Gothic tradition, clearly inspired by the original story and the director’s unique vision. Featuring strong performances from Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, this version of the classic sci-fi horror is both terrifying and moving, with a touch of melancholy that makes it truly special.

What truly sets this film apart is its genuine portrayal of human emotion, making it better than most versions of the story. It balances intense violence and disturbing imagery with surprising romance and moments of both everyday cruelty and kindness. This adaptation of Frankenstein is grand in scope and highly recommended for anyone who enjoys horror.

Frankenstein is now playing in select theaters and will be streaming on Netflix on Nov. 7.

Bugonia

If you enjoy strange, suspenseful stories, Bugonia is a darkly funny and disturbing film, boosted by excellent performances from Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. Director Yorgos Lanthimos has created one of his best movies yet—a tense, claustrophobic drama about a pharmaceutical executive and two men convinced she’s not human.

The most frightening parts of the movie happen when Teddy, played by Plemons, appears about to lose control – whether through pointed accusations, sudden outbursts, or increasingly harsh electroshock therapy. This tension culminates in a truly unforgettable and emotionally resonant ending, making it a particularly powerful choice for a Halloween viewing.

Bugonia is now playing in theaters.

Weapons

One of the year’s biggest cinematic surprises, Weapons is a film best experienced knowing as little as possible. It centers around the aftermath of a group of young children disappearing one night, and takes a chilling idea in constantly unexpected and frightening directions.

Like Zac Cregger’s previous film, Barbarian, Weapons is deeply unsettling and features a standout villain. However, Weapons is even more ambitious, with a more developed story and exceptionally moving performances that perfectly complement the intense horror. It’s a uniquely frightening film that will likely resonate most strongly with parents.

Weapons is now streaming on HBO Max.

Sinners

As a huge movie fan, I can tell you that Sinners is seriously one of the best films of the year, and it’s perfect for a Halloween watch – whether you’ve seen it before or it’s totally new to you. Ryan Coogler really nailed it with this vampire movie set in the past. It’s got everything – it’s funny, sweet, genuinely moving, full of action, and the music is fantastic. But honestly, what really stands out is how scary it is!

In Sinners, director Ryan Coogler expertly blends the skills he’s demonstrated in both sports and superhero films, creating a truly unsettling atmosphere. He uses jump scares effectively, turning a vibrant club into a terrifying trap. Jack O’Connell delivers a standout performance as a villain – one of the best of the year – and Michael B. Jordan gives a captivating performance in a dual role, highlighting the contrast between the two characters.

Sinners is now streaming on HBO Max.

Dream Eater

Dream Eater is a new take on the found footage horror style. This chilling mockumentary follows a filmmaker who documents her boyfriend’s increasingly disturbing sleepwalking. The film gets creepier and creepier, and is anchored by a compelling lead performance.

Critics have praised this Eli Roth-produced film, drawing comparisons to popular found-footage horror movies like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. With a haunting conclusion and a Lovecraftian spin, Dream Eater is sure to please fans of films such as Rec and the found-footage genre in general.

Dream Eater is now playing in theaters.

Jimmy & Stiggs

Eli Roth’s latest offering from The Horror Section, Jimmy & Stiggs, is a wild, bizarre, and incredibly chaotic movie – easily one of the year’s most frantic films. It follows two old friends who find themselves stuck in an apartment during an alien invasion, resulting in a visually stunning and indescribable, neon-soaked experience.

When Jimmy & Stiggs fully embraces its wild side and goes all-in, it’s a standout horror film. Its over-the-top body horror is reminiscent of Sam Raimi, and the darkly comedic, gruesome transformations – clearly inspired by David Cronenberg – are relentless. For fans of grindhouse horror, Jimmy & Stiggs is a must-see this year.

Jimmy & Stiggs is now available for VOD.

Dracula

This fall, audiences aren’t just getting a new version of Frankenstein; Dracula has also been reimagined in a wildly creative way. Radu Jude’s film is a unique and unsettling exploration of how stories are told and the difficulties of making movies – it’s strange, visually striking, and delightfully odd.

This playfully critical take on using AI for creative work, Dracula is a must-see, particularly when it reveals the director’s unsettling perspective on art and filmmaking today. It’s both artistic and frightening, making it a great choice for those who enjoy horror that challenges expectations.

Dracula opens in theaters Oct. 31.

Final Destination Bloodlines

The latest Final Destination movie, Bloodlines, was a surprisingly popular success when it came out earlier this year. With Halloween approaching, it’s a great time to check it out if you missed the film’s famously elaborate and gruesome death traps.

In Final Destination Bloodlines, a family discovers they’re being targeted by Death, leading to a darkly creative and gruesome series of accidents. Everyday objects like garbage trucks and vending machines become terrifying weapons. If you enjoy over-the-top gore and shocking twists, this film is a bloody good choice for Halloween.

Final Destination Bloodlines is now streaming on HBO Max.

Together

Often called the anti-date movie, Together is a truly unsettling and creepy film. It stars real-life couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple struggling in their relationship. When they try to move to start over, they encounter a strange substance that begins to merge them into one being.

This film masterfully blends dark humor, intense emotion, and genuinely disturbing body horror, creating a truly unforgettable experience that lingers long after the credits roll. Together is a fantastic and surprising horror movie, made even stronger by its deliberate ambiguity and thoughtful exploration of what it means to connect with others.

Together is now available on VOD

Good Boy

Considered one of the year’s top horror films, Good Boy is also a remarkably creative movie. It tells a creepy and emotional story almost entirely through the eyes of a dog, who tries to protect its owner from a mysterious and frightening threat. It’s a bittersweet and genuinely unsettling experience.

This low-budget indie horror film is another example of Shudder’s recent success with scary movies. It’s thankfully short and doesn’t drag on, and Good Boy effectively tells its story, leading to a genuinely moving ending, especially for pet lovers.

Good Boy is now streaming on Shudder and available for VOD.

2025-10-29 01:23