These 7 horror movies belong on your Halloween watchlist
These 7 horror movies belong on your Halloween watchlist
From a classroom full of missing kids to a love wish gone horribly wrong, these movies have some seriously twisted stories.
It’s spooky season, and even though I’m not a big horror movie fan, I always find myself curious as to what’s worth watching if I’m craving something dark. The good news is that there are a ton of great horror movies to watch at home. And even better, they cover a range from spooky, to scary, to pure adrenaline-pumping nightmare fuel so you have options. Most of these are new (the last couple of years), and the list even includes a massive, Academy Award-winning hit (along with a possible future awards winner). So, here’s my list for the best horror movies on streaming right now.
Top 7 horror movies on streaming right now
No. 7: ‘28 Years Later’ (2025) | Netflix
Tara and I saw “28 Years Later” in theaters when it dropped last year, and all I can say is that it’s a worthy addition to a franchise that’s been around for almost 25 years since the original “28 Days Later.”
Danny Boyle (director) and Alex Garland (writer) are back — you guessed it — 28 years since the Rage Virus outbreak. The film follows 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams) on his first trip into infected territory with his father (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). In addition to fast, nasty, weird infected, you get Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson, who adds a surprisingly touching humanity to an otherwise pretty messed-up world. The horror is fun, but the heart is what separates it.
28 Years Later
Twenty-eight years after the Rage virus outbreak, a heavily-defended island survives connected to the mainland by a single causeway. When one of the group leaves the island into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.
No. 6: ‘Together’ (2025) | Hulu
This was one of my favorite movies (not just horror movies) from last year. Another one I saw in theaters with Tara, “Together” takes Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie and asks what would happen if they literally couldn’t separate. I don’t mean like as a couple… I mean literally… physically, cannot separate.
Now think through the natural consequences and escalation of that idea, and you will get to the very weird, very satisfying climax of the film. This movie is awkward, gross, pretty funny, and the premise is not something I’ve ever seen. I think it’s seriously underrated and as good as any movie on this list.
Together
Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie find themselves at a crossroads as they move to the country, abandoning all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.
No. 5: ‘Weapons’ (2025) | HBO Max
If you saw and liked the most recent “Resident Evil” film, you have to go back and watch Zach Cregger’s last film, “Weapons.” Like many of last year’s hits, it’s more a genre mashup than a straight horror movie, but the plot mostly revolves around the disappearance of an entire third-grade class (save for one child) at exactly the same time.
It’s part family drama, part detective thriller, and part horror movie — with each part working pretty darn well. I’ll say this: I could NOT anticipate what was going to happen next. And when I walked out of the theater, I was still trying to put it all together. It’s a slow burn, but once it takes off, there’s no looking back. Watch it!
Weapons
When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.
No. 4: ‘The Substance’ (2024) | Hulu
Just because we’re now a few years removed from the release of “The Substance” doesn’t make it any less worth recommending. Now, I loved this movie because I can stomach body horror no problem (it’s clowns and jump scares I can’t handle), so I really wasn’t squeamish during this one. But if YOU are, buckle up because this movie is gross and weird.
Demi Moore (who got an Oscar nom for her role) plays a fading celebrity who buys an illegal drug that creates a younger, “better” version of herself (played by Margaret Qualley). The catch? They have to trade off who gets to live a week at a time… and breaking the rules can really mess things up. Not only does this tear into Hollywood’s obsession with youth, but the transformations, including all the makeup and special effects work, are worth watching for their own sake. If you like body horror, there’s no better movie.
The Substance
A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
No. 3: ‘Backrooms’ (2026) | HBO Max
I was really excited to watch “Backrooms” because I missed it in theaters, and I have always loved this kind of premise. I read the horror novel “House of Leaves” years ago by Mark Z. Danielewski, which tells the story of a house that’s bigger on the inside than it is on the outside, and that idea has always stuck with me. Well, “Backrooms” takes that premise to the basement of a furniture store, and unleashes an unsettling visual nightmare.
For most of the movie, you follow Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark, the owner of the store who discovers a secret entrance to the “backrooms” — a warped, seemingly never-ending labyrinth of rooms that make no sense (and creatures within them that also make no sense). Now, the ending did let me down, but I’m recommending it because director Kane Parsons has such a strange, unique visual sensibility. I was enthralled by the production design and am left thinking about what I saw, even if I’ve forgotten the why and how (or never knew to begin with).
No. 2: ‘Sinners’ (2025) | HBO Max
Speaking of genre-mashups, “Sinners” is perhaps the best example of how a horror movie can incorporate a whole lot more. It’s part historical drama, part vampire-flick, and part musical (yes, seriously) — and it’s ALL good.
Ryan Coogler is a master of the craft, and watching twin brothers run from their past, only to find something much darker at home, is extremely satisfying and fun. Another extremely unique movie that one paragraph in an article just cannot properly capture. You’ve got to watch it.
Sinners
Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
No. 1: ‘Obsession’ (2026) | Peacock
In the intro, I alluded to a horror movie that could be a future award winner. If I were a betting man (I’m not), I suspect we’ll see director and writer Curry Barker nominated for best original screenplay for “Obsession.” And once you watch this movie, you’ll understand why. Besides being an absolute profit machine, costing just $750,000 and grossing over $520 million worldwide, this movie is all the things. It’s entertaining, scary, funny, powerful, and Barker shows the mastery of his craft every step of the way.
The premise is stupid-simple: a guy is too scared to tell his friend he loves her, gets his hands on this weird “One-Wish Willow,” and wishes she’ll love him more than anyone else in the world. Well, that turns into a personal nightmare (for both of them) pretty quickly. I don’t really want to ruin anything if you haven’t seen this movie yet, but just know Barker takes it to the limit… then a little further. Kudos to the whole team because this movie is a modern classic already.
Obsession
After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.