When it comes to the best horror movies on Netflix, there's so much to choose from. The streaming giant has a lot of titles in its library, with more being added over time, so you're guaranteed to find something to give you a good scare.
But with many options out there, it can also be overwhelming. No one wants to waste an evening scrolling endlessly, so we're here to make it easier with our picks of the best titles to keep you up at night.
Horror is an incredibly diverse category with psychological tales, jump-scare heavy thrill rides, gross body horror, and tense slashers galore, so it's a genre with plenty to sink your teeth into.
So, without further delay, here are the best horror movies to watch on Netflix right now. Enjoy!
Saw (2004)
James Wan's Saw went from humble beginnings to one of the biggest horror franchises of all time. It's now got ten movies (and counting!), its own theme park ride, and an escape room in London, so it's going from strength to strength.
But why not throw it back to where it all started? In the first instalment of the grisly series, two strangers Adam (Leigh Whannell) and Lawrence (Cary Elwes) wake up kidnapped and chained, and they soon realise escape will not be easy.
It also features the now iconic voice of Jigsaw actor Tobin Bell and Danny Glover as an obsessed cop, so it makes for thrilling viewing even 19 years after it was first released!
Scream (2022)
The 2022 instalment of the Scream franchise (unofficially known as Scream 5) is available on Netflix, and it's a welcome return to the franchise since the 90s movies and well worth your time.
Set 25 years after the original, Woodsboro is once again tormented by the masked Ghostface figure and its a race against the clock to stop them from going on a killing spree. Much like the originals, it showcases an expert blend of horror and comedy, this time with a modern twist.
Scream favourites like Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette return as well as new faces Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera and Jack Quaid.
Talk To Me (2022)
The directorial debut for twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou was a huge critical hit and is widely regarded as being one of the scariest movies in recent years.
It follows a group of teenagers who discover they are able to contact spirits using a mysterious severed and embalmed hand. This starts as a silly party game of sorts, but soon descends into some seriously harrowing stuff.
Talk To Me stars the likes of Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen and Miranda Otto.
Freaky (2020)
What happens when Kathryn Newton and Vince Vaughn swap bodies for a movie? Why, Freaky of course!
In this hilarious yet wonderfully gory horror movie, we follow high-school senior Millie as she finds herself swapped with a serial killer known as The Butcher, and she's got a mere 24 hours to swap back.
Right now studies are the least of Millie's worries and Christopher Landon's hugely entertaining horror flick is the perfect choice for a movie night. It's also accessible for your non-horror-loving friends so you never know, you might convert them...
Paranormal Activity (2007)
Oren Peli's Paranormal Activity was a smash hit at the box office, bringing in $194.2 million despite only having a budget of $240,000. Fans everywhere went wild, and now you can enjoy the thrill at home.
A very successful entry into the found-footage genre, the movie follows a young couple (Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat) who are haunted by a supernatural presence inside their home.
They decide to set up a camera at home, and well, all hell breaks loose!
Nocebo (2022)
In the underrated gem Nocebo, we follow fashion designer Christine (Eva Green) who suffers from a mysterious illness that confounds her doctors and frustrates her husband (Mark Strong).
However, help arrives in the form of a Filipino nanny named Diana (Chai Fonacier) who uses traditional folk healing, but she uncovers a horrifying truth along the way, changing Christine's life forever.
Fall (2022)
If you're scared of heights, you might want to give this one a miss!
In Fall, thrill seekers and best friends Becky (Grace Caroline Currey ) and Hunter (Virginia Gardner) find themselves stuck at the top of a 2,000-foot TV tower when the rickety ladder collapses.
With supplies low and signal non-existent, the two must hatch a plan to get down from the tower before the elements kill them. It's a cautionary tale to, hey, maybe not go climbing up big TV towers without letting anyone know!
Circle (2015)
The concept of Circle is a simple one, but it's utterly brilliant in its execution. In it, we follow fifty people who wake up in a darkened room, only to find that one of them is killed every two minutes or when they attempt to leave.
They soon realize they can control who dies and that they're required to decide which one of them should leave, providing a moral and ethical dilemma as people try to justify why they should or shouldn't die.
If you enjoy a slow burn and lots of dialogue, Circle will have you on the edge of your seat as you watch these people try to reach an unthinkable decision.
Cloverfield (2008)
As far as "creature features" go, Cloverfield might be one of the most iconic and memorable ones of recent years, which had a hugely compelling marketing campaign ahead of its release (check out Cinema Blend's piece on that).
It's also another great entry into the found-footage genre and follows six young New York City residents fleeing from a massive monster and other smaller creatures that attack the city during a party. Talk about killing the mood!
If you want tension galore and some great music by Michael Giacchino, Cloverfield has certainly got you covered.
Insidious (2010)
Insidious is the second entry for James Wan, really solidifying him as one of the greatest horror filmmakers of the modern era.
In a classic tale of demons and things that go bump in the night, Insidious centers on a married couple (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) whose son inexplicably enters a comatose state and becomes a vessel for a variety of demonic entities in an astral plane.
This movie has become notorious for that jump-scare (brace yourself!) and for a truly terrifying scene involving Tiptoe Through the Tulips. Yes... James Wan really can make anything scary!
Creep (2014)
As far as horror movies go, Creep is small but mighty. It has a cast of just three people, two of which also serve as the writers and director of the project!
In it, a young videographer (Patrick Brice) answers an online ad for a day job in a remote town to record the last messages of a dying man (Mark Duplass). However, he starts to notice the man's odd behavior and things get very strange from there.
If you enjoy Creep, the sequel is also available on the streaming service.
