The recent trailer for Evil Dead Rise excited fans of Sam Raimi's hit horror franchise. It’s just one of many new horror movies coming out in 2023 that are highly anticipated by movie fans. The upcoming year will feature sequels for classic horrors, new entries in long-running franchises, and sequels for exciting new hits like The Nun.
Horror fans are preparing to return to the terrifying world of The Exorcist in 2023. A new film in the Saw franchise is on the way along with the sixth entry in the Scream franchise following the successful 2022 relaunch. There are quite a few terrifying options for horror fans to enjoy in 2023.
10 Scream VI
Release Date: March 10, 2023
Following the successful return to Woodsboro in 2022’s Scream, viewers excitedly anticipated Ghostface’s return. Scream VI will bring the franchise to a new setting as the survivors from the fifth entry relocate to New York City.
While Scream VI will be the first in the franchise to not feature Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, fans are still excited for the next entry. Ghostface is a very capable slasher and the meta franchise works better than ever with modern horror fans. The new setting along with the appearance of returning franchise characters Gale Weathers and Kirby Reed only further excited fans.
9 The Pope's Exorcist
Release Date: April 7, 2023
The upcoming sequel to William Friedkin's iconic classic isn't the only horror movie about terrifying demonic possessions. Russell Crowe stars as The Pope's Exorcist, which will hit theaters in April. The Pope's Exorcist follows the life of Father Gabriele Amorth, the chief exorcist of the Vatican.
Amorth claimed to have performed over 100, 000 exorcisms for the Vatican. The Pope's Exorcist will take a horror-edged look into his various battles against the demonic forces that possessed numerous innocents over the years, from Overlord director Julius Avery.
8 Renfield
Release Date: April 14, 2023
There have been quite a few different cinematic takes on Dracula over the years. However, fans are uniquely excited about the upcoming Renfield and Nicolas Cage's fascinating portrayal of the eternal vampire. Not to take away from Nicholas Hoult's titular familiar, Dracula's ever-faithful Renfield.
Both Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult recently impressed in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and The Menu, respectively. The first trailer for Renfield revealed an action-packed horror-comedy that is sure to be one of the weirdest Dracula movies ever. It followed the titular servant as he used his granted abilities to break from his long-time master in the modern world.
7 Beau Is Afraid
Release Date: April 21, 2023
Writer/director Ari Aster terrified and disturbed audiences with horror hits like Hereditary and Midsommar. Fans have been early anticipating Aster's next film, which will be the intriguing horror comedy Beau is Afraid. Originally titled Disappointment Blvd., Aster has described the film as a surrealist nightmare horror.
Joaquin Phoenix stars as the titular Beau and will play the character alongside the younger Armen Nahapetian in the decades-spanning film. The first trailer for Beau is Afraid left fans wanting more of Aster's latest, which is sure to drive viewers to theaters in April.
6 Evil Dead Rise
Release Date: April 21, 2023
The first trailer for Evil Dead Rise gave fans the first glimpse at the latest entry in Sam Raimi’s hit franchise. Directed by Lee Cronin, the fifth installment in the Evil Dead film series moves the horror from the iconic cabin in the woods to a high rise in the city. Evil Dead Rise follows two reconnecting sisters as the Necronomicon resurfaces to terrorize a Seattle apartment building.
While some horror sequels fail by taking the story in a new direction, the Evil Dead franchise has found unique success by changing things up. Evil Dead Rise looks to please fans of the original series while terrifying new viewers, even though everyone's favorite cinematic zombie killer might not appear.
5 Insidious: Fear The Dark
Release Date: July 7, 2023
The upcoming release of Insidious: Fear the Dark is the fifth entry in the successful horror franchise. It will feature a return from a few familiar faces as the Lambert family continues the fight against terrifying threats from the horrifying alternate dimension known as The Further.
Patrick Wilson is not only returning as Lambert's patriarch, but he also stepped behind the camera to make his directorial debut in Insidious: Fear the Dark. Original series writer Leigh Whannell returned to provide the story as well. Insidious: Fear the Dark follows young Dalton Lambert as he headed off to college where the supernatural troubles started once again.
4 The Last Voyage Of The Demeter
Release Date: August 11, 2023
After almost two decades in development hell, The Last Voyage of the Demeter will finally hit theaters in the summer of 2023. Director André Øvredal adapted "The Captain's Log" chapter from Bram Stoker's iconic novel, Dracula.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter follows a merchant ship carrying unknown cargo on a voyage from England to America. A dark figure preyed on the crew while the captain chronicled the largely unexplored chapter from Dracula. The casting of Corey Hawkins, Liam Cunningham, and David Dastmalchian only further fans excited for the upcoming expansion.
3 The Nun 2
Release Date: September 8, 2023
James Wan’s hit horror film The Conjuring was so successful, it led to a few spinoffs that explored the horrifying threats that appeared in the main trilogy. 2018’s The Nun explored the origins of the demonic Valak from The Conjuring 2.
2023’s The Nun 2 will follow Sister Irene and her ongoing battle against Valak that sets the stage for the rest of The Conjuring’s cinematic universe. The ninth installment in the horror franchise is actually the second chronologically, which will provide a lot of opportunity to further set up the eventual confrontation between Valak and the Warrens.
2 The Exorcist
Release Date: October 13, 2023
Fan reaction to the announcement of a sequel to 1973’s hit horror film The Exorcist has been somewhat mixed. However, that only helped build the anticipation for 2023’s upcoming entry into the long-running horror franchise.
Ellen Burstyn will return to her role from the 1973 original as a new family seeks her help to deal with a new evil possession. The demonic Pazuzu who featured in almost every other entry in the series will also appear in some form in the upcoming sequel. While fans haven’t learned much, the excitement remains high for one of 2023's most anticipated sequels.
1 Saw X
Release Date: October 27th, 2023
One of the most prolific horror franchises is the gory and gruesome Saw series, which first hit theaters in 2004. The most recent entry Spiral served as a huge departure from the series. Saw X’s rumored return to basics is a huge selling point for fans since the original horror movie changed the game.
The announcement that Tobin Bell would return as the original Jigsaw Killer John Kramer further built up the anticipation for the untitled tenth Saw film. The series suffered after Kramer’s apparent death, even though he inspired other killers over the years. Saw X could recapture the horrifying magic of the first few entries with Bell’s reinvigorating return.