15 best horror movies on Netflix to watch right now

Director: Zach Cregger
Starring: Georgina Campbell, Justin Long, Bill Skarsgård

If you enjoyed Weapons this year, you should definitely check out Zach Cregger’s earlier film, Barbarian. It’s just as unpredictable, and some might even say more so.

The story begins when Tess arrives at her vacation rental only to find it’s already occupied by a man named Keith. He seems friendly enough, but Tess quickly wonders if something isn’t quite right with him – and what secrets are hidden in the basement.

One of the best parts of the movie Barbarian is discovering its secrets alongside the characters, and things get even more interesting when Justin Long’s character, a particularly unlikeable actor named AJ, appears. While the film is often funny, it’s also genuinely scary.

Director: Wes Craven
Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox

As a horror fan, I have to say, sometimes you just can’t beat the originals! I was so excited to see Netflix has Scream available, and honestly, it holds up incredibly well – it’s just as scary and clever as it was almost 30 years ago!

Everyone likely knows the plot, but just to be clear, it centers on Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her friends who are terrorized by a killer in Woodsboro. The film is famous for bringing the slasher horror genre back to life, and many believe it revitalized the horror genre as a whole when it became a huge success in 1996.

Looking for more Ghostface? Netflix has the original Scream 2 and Scream 3 available, letting you enjoy the complete original trilogy.

Director: John Krasinski
Starring: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe

It’s surprising how talented Jim Halpert from The Office is! He starred in A Quiet Place, the 2018 horror film that really scared audiences and led to successful follow-up movies.

The story centers around a family – Evelyn (Emily Blunt), her husband Lee (John Krasinski), and their children – trying to survive in a world overrun by creatures that hunt by sound. The situation becomes even more challenging as Evelyn is about to go into labor.

“A Quiet Place” is a truly frightening and now-classic horror film. Its clever premise creates intense suspense, and it’s so well-executed that even the slightest sound will make you jump.

Directed by Carter Smith and starring Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker, Shawn Ashmore, Laura Ramsey, and Joe Anderson.

Even though The Ruins came out 15 years ago, it’s still a truly disturbing and frightening horror movie.

Inspired by Scott Smith’s novel, this horror story will make you think twice about your next vacation. It follows two couples who travel to Mexico to explore an ancient Mayan ruin, but they soon find it’s overrun with man-eating vines.

Okay, so the version you can stream on Netflix is the one that played in theaters. It’s a little less graphic and has a slightly different ending than the director’s cut, but trust me, it’s still super intense and scary! It’s definitely not for the faint of heart.

Directed by William Brent Bell and starring Isabelle Fuhrman, Julia Stiles, Rossif Sutherland, Hiro Kanagawa, and Matthew Finlan.

Okay, I’ll admit, I was totally unsure about a prequel to Orphan. But Orphan: First Kill is seriously a blast! It’s a really fun horror movie and honestly, I think it might even be better than the first one.

Before the story of Orphan begins, Esther (played by Isabelle Fuhrman) pretends to be the long-lost daughter of a well-off family. What she doesn’t know is that this family is hiding a troubling secret of their own.

Like the original Orphan, Orphan: First Kill features a fantastic twist that flips the entire movie on its head. It transforms from a straightforward thriller into a delightfully over-the-top horror film that embraces its wild story.

Directed by Luis Javier Henaine, this film stars Harold Torres, Teté Espinoza, Fermín Martínez, Vicky Araico, and Norma Reyna.

The new Netflix film, Disappear Completely, launched in April 2024 and quickly earned a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, and after watching it, the reason is clear.

A terrifying horror film centers on Santiago, a callous photographer who covers crime for the tabloids. After he photographs a young woman’s death, he starts to lose each of his five senses, one at a time.

The film powerfully portrays Santiago’s desperate hunt for a remedy, vividly showing his fading senses, thanks to a fantastic performance by Torres. It’s a deeply moving and captivating experience.

Directed by Jordan Peele and starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, and LaKeith Stanfield.

Before his breakout horror film, Get Out, in 2017, Jordan Peele was primarily recognized for his comedy. Now, he’s widely celebrated as a leading figure in the horror genre.

The movie starts like a typical romantic comedy: Chris is going to meet his girlfriend Rose’s parents for the first time. Rose assures him they’ll accept him, even though he’s Black, and that they aren’t prejudiced.

Once Chris arrives, he gradually uncovers the terrifying reality of Rose’s family, leading to a horror film that is both intensely frightening, chilling, and surprisingly darkly humorous.

Directed by Agnieszka Smoczyńska, the film stars Marta Mazurek, Michalina Olszanska, Kinga Preis, Magdalena Cielecka, and Jakub Gierszał.

While not necessarily the most frightening film here, The Lure is definitely one of the most original horror movies you’ll find.

Okay, so this movie is loosely based on The Little Mermaid, but it’s totally different! It’s about two mermaid sisters who decide to try and build a life for themselves working at a nightclub in Poland. The really wild part? They’re mermaids who need to eat meat, and getting legs makes it super hard to control that urge. It’s a crazy, fun twist on the classic story!

“The Lure” is a captivating and unique blend of horror and musical genres, and it’s as alluring and inescapable as the mermaids’ deadly charm in the story.

Directed by Remi Weekes and starring Sope Dirisu, Wunmi Mosaku, Matt Smith, Javier Botet, and Emily Taaffe.

Released in 2020, His House is considered one of the best movies on Netflix—and perhaps one of the scariest and most impactful ever. It’s a truly outstanding performance from both Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu.

Remi Weekes’ new horror film centers on a young couple who fled South Sudan and now find themselves haunted by a terrifying presence within the walls of their new home.

His House is a fresh and frightening take on the haunted-house genre, and its unsettling story will stay with you even after the credits roll.

Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou, the film stars Sophie Wilde, Joe Bird, Miranda Otto, Zoe Terakes, and Alexandra Jensen.

The horror film Talk to Me, which became a big hit in 2023, is now available on Netflix in the UK. Even though Halloween is over, it’s still worth watching or rewatching!

This horror movie follows a group of teenagers who jokingly try to contact spirits using an old, preserved hand. It quickly turns out to be a terrible idea. When Mia (Sophie Wilde) breaks the rules of the game, she and her friends face terrifying and life-altering consequences.

Dim the lights and prepare to be genuinely frightened by one of the most terrifying horror films released recently.

Directed by Leigh Janiak and starring Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Maya Hawke, Benjamin Flores Jr., and Gillian Jacobs.

For a thrilling and retro horror movie night, check out Netflix’s Fear Street. It’s a connected trilogy – three movies set in different eras – full of surprises, suspense, and plenty of scares. (A fourth movie came out in 2025, but it didn’t quite live up to the others.)

Leigh Janiak directed Fear Street, a horror series based on RL Stine’s books. The story jumps between the ’90s, ’60s, and the 17th century, following different characters as they confront a persistent evil. Many consider the three movies to be among the scariest and best horror offerings on Netflix.

Horror fans will enjoy these films, which clearly draw inspiration from the genre. They echo the iconic opening scene from Scream and feature common horror themes, like teenagers trying to survive at summer camp.

Directed by Paco Plaza and starring Sandra Escacena, Claudia Placer, Bruna González, Iván Chavero, and Ana Torrent.

Get ready to be frightened! REC director Paco Plaza brings you a genuinely scary story inspired by real events that took place in Vallecas, Madrid, during the 1990s.

Okay, so I just finished watching Verónica and it seriously freaked me out! It’s a really good horror movie that takes familiar scary stuff – creepy nuns, possessions, haunted places – and blends it with a story about growing up. Basically, it’s about this teenager, Sandra Escacena, who messes with a ouija board with her friends, and then things go horribly wrong. She starts getting haunted by something evil, and it’s terrifying!

You won’t be disappointed by the shocking and intelligent terror this movie is able to conjure.

Directed by Babak Anvari, this film stars Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobby Naderi, Ray Haratian, and Arash Marandi.

Babak Anvari, the Iranian filmmaker behind the unsettling film Wounds, first gained recognition with his impressive debut, Under the Shadow. This film skillfully blends the classic haunted house story with a realistic depiction of history and important social themes.

Now streaming on Netflix as one of the top horror picks, this film takes you to 1980s Tehran during the height of the Iran-Iraq War.

The story centers on a mother and daughter facing danger both outside – in the terrifying streets – and within their own home, where a demonic presence is growing.

I just finished watching Under the Shadow, and it’s a really unique horror film. It’s not your typical scary movie, but be warned – there are definitely a few moments that made me jump! Just wanted to give you a heads-up.

Directed by David Casademunt and starring Inma Cuesta, Asier Flores, Roberto Álamo, Alejandra Howard, and Víctor Benjumea.

The horror story The Wasteland (originally titled El Páramo in Spanish) follows a family haunted by a frightening creature reminiscent of Slender Man. The film features strong performances from Inma Cuesta, Asier Flores, and Roberto Álamo, making for a truly effective and scary tale.

In a desolate and abandoned world, a mother and son struggle to cope after the loss of their father. As they hold onto hope for his return, a strange creature begins appearing on their land, drawing nearer with each passing day.

The Wasteland effectively uses jump scares and a genuinely frightening creature design to explore the idea that monsters can be both external and internal threats.

I just finished watching this movie, and I have to say, Daniel Goldhaber really knows how to build tension! The cast is amazing too – Madeline Brewer is fantastic, and I also loved the performances from Patch Darragh, Melora Walters, Devin Druid, and Michael Dempsey. They all really brought their characters to life.

Cam is the debut film for both director Daniel Goldhaber and writer Isa Mazzei. It’s a psychological thriller that takes place within the world of webcam pornography.

The story centers on Alice, a determined camgirl, who is shocked to find she’s been duplicated – an identical version of herself is now appearing on her show.

As Alice creates a stronger online presence, she starts to lose control over her life and the men who are in it.

As she tries to rebuild her life, she gradually becomes reconnected with her work and the enigmatic individual who now fills her former role.

Be quick: Cam is leaving Netflix on 15 November.