Netflix has a ton of horror movies, but with such a surplus of content, it's hard to choose what to watch — especially for someone looking for quality. Since Netflix's site catalog changes often, it's easy to miss available movies before the company removes them.
Netflix's current offer of horror films covers many different subgenres. From witches to evil scientists, Netflix has some of the best horror movies ever made. These options are great for those who are seeking a truly thrilling time. The only problem will be trying to sleep with the lights off after watching them.
Updated on April 28th, 2023 by Mayra García: Since Netflix updates its catalog often, this list has been updated to keep up with this streaming site. We have added new horror films that will definitely give the subscribers nightmares.
This article discusses sensitive topics, including murder, sex, abuse, homophobia, and body horror.
25 The Wretched (2019)
Runtime: 1h 46m
Ben (John-Paul Howard) is an aggressive teenager dealing with his parents' divorce. When he moves in with his father, he discovers a human-eating witch has possessed his new neighbor, Abbie. In order to stop her, he teams up with Mallory, but things only grow more complex when the witch starts possessing others.
The Wretched does a great job of delivering this simple premise without getting too entangled in the metaphoric dimension of the film. This movie has an old-fashioned vibe that only makes it creepier.
24 The Thing (2011)
Runtime: 1h 43m
Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton, The Thing remake follows a team of scientists in an Antarctic research station who find a live alien in the ice. The creature, which has shapeshifting abilities, puts them at odds with each other before killing them one by one.
The Thing has a very basic premise, but it compensates with gruesome imagery. The remake stands out for giving the viewers a constant and dreading sensation of claustrophobia and paranoia.
23 The Chalk Line (2022)
Runtime: 1h 46m
In The Chalk Line was directed by Ignacio Tatay, Paula and Simón are a regular couple living in a residential rich area when they find a disturbed girl wandering alone. Together, they try to understand the kid's past while also dealing with the metaphorical ghosts of their own relationship.
The Chalk Line is more a psychological thriller than a paranormal film, but it's still a terrifying story. As audiences discover the truth together with Paula and Simón, they will find themselves in awe at how disturbing things really are.
22 The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Runtime: 2h 14m
The Conjuring series follows famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they work to help families being terrorized by things that go bump in the night. The first two films were directed by James Wan, who undeniably knows what he's doing in a horror setting. The Conjuring movies have only gotten more popular with time, and there's no denying how truly terrifying they are.
The Conjuring 2 takes place in England, where Ed and Lorraine are investigating a poltergeist occurrence in a family's home. Meanwhile, Lorraine is haunted by visions of a nun from a previous case. The second film ups the ante as James Wan delivers on the horror spectacle.
21 Incantation (2022)
Runtime: 1h 51m
An instant classic, Incantation charmed horror fans immediately. The film follows Li Ronan, a woman who became cursed after breaking a religious taboo during a Yunnan ceremony. Years later, Li pleads with the viewers to help her try to save her own daughter from the same fate as herself.
One thing that makes Incantation such a popular film is its format. Incantation is a found footage movie with Li narrating and referring directly to the audience. From beginning to end, it makes viewers feel like they're a part of the story, which is incredibly unsettling.
20 Umma (2022)
Runtime: 1h 23m
Sandra Oh stars in Umma as Amanda, a Korean immigrant in the U.S. who lives on a farm without technology under the pretense that she is allergic to electricity. When her mother's ashes arrive from Korea, her presence haunts her and her daughter. Throughout this ordeal, Amanda remembers the years of emotional and physical abuse Umma put her through.
Sandra Oh's performance in Umma is as heartbreaking and stressful as it gets. She does an incredible job of conveying Amanda's fear of her mother, both as a ghost and as a presence in her past. This, combined with the Umma's tension and well-placed scare jumps, make Umma a must-watch for horror fans.
19 Cadaver (2020)
Runtime: 1h 26m
Cadaver is a gem of Norwegian horror. The film centers on Leo and Jacob, a couple living in a post-apocalyptic, starving city. When Leonora learns about a theater play where they offer a meal to the audience, she buys tickets for her family. Unfortunately, things at the play aren't as safe as she thought.
Cadaver offers audiences an intriguing plot that will keep them on the edge of their seats. The movie doesn't have many scare jumps, so it can feel slow-paced for thrill lovers, but it includes lots of disturbing moments and touches on several taboo topics.
18 It Follows (2015)
Runtime: 1h 40m
It Follows is a criminally underrated horror movie about a girl named Jay who sleeps with her new boyfriend, only to be drugged and woken up tied to a chair. Jay's boyfriend then explains that he just gave her a curse that is passed on through sexual intercourse.
Jay is now cursed and pursued by an entity that imitates humans, maybe people its victims know, and "It" will always be coming for them. It walks slowly, but the sense of urgency is still there. Some audeinces aren't fond of the fact victims have to have sex in order to be in danger, but others might realize that a sexually transmitted curse has a deeper meaning.
17 Eerie (2018)
Runtime: 1h 41m
After a student at a Catholic school for girls dies, the school's counselor, Pat Consolacion, ends up in the middle of the mystery surrounding the circumstances of this death. This situation ties to the suicide of another student, Erika, which happened many years ago.
Directed by Mikhail Red, Eerie is a Philippine horror film that tackles child abuse, religious hypocrisy, and even homophobia. Additionally, the movie has some creepy creatures that will haunt anyone's dreams, like a kid crying blood and a ghoulish smiley student.
16 The Platform (2019)
Runtime: 1h 34m
One of Netflix's most popular films in 2019, The Platform concerns the events of "The Pit," a vertical self-management center where residents are fed through a platform that descends through dozens of floors. Because the residents on higher floors get to eat first, this system creates conflict with the others.
Since the residents change floors every month, they abuse their privilege when they can, otherwise starving for days. A social satire wrapped in sci-fi, The Platform confronts the audience with the horrors of human nature, with a bit of gore and even cannibalism.
15 Gerald's Game (2017)
Runtime: 1h 43m
A Netflix Original movie, Gerald's Game is a psychological horror based on a story by the master of horror himself, Stephen King. The film is co-written for the screen and directed by Mike Flanagan, best known for his Netflix series Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass.
In Gerald's Game, a married couple tries to spice up their love life, but things go from sensual to scary when Jessie's husband, Gerald, has a heart attack and dies, leaving Jessie handcuffed to a bed in a remote cabin. As Jessie tries to escape, she flashes back to dire moments from her childhood and begins to see a strange man in the bedroom.
14 In The Tall Grass (2019)
Runtime: 1h 30m
Based on the Stephen King novella of the same name, Patrick Wilson and the rest of the cast star in the lovely freakiness that is In The Tall Grass. The movie successfully instills fear and a lasting feeling of dread in the viewer. In the Tall Grass follows Becky and Cal, a pair of siblings who reluctantly walk into a field of tall grass when they hear a child calling for help.
In The Tall Grass soon reveals this is no ordinary field. It's a mysterious landscape that doesn't follow the laws of time and space. Once Becky and Cal are in the field, it feels like they will never find the road again. The grass is always moving, and with no one coming to save them, they might be lost in the tall grass forever.
13 Before I Wake (2016)
Runtime: 1h 37m
Before I Wake focuses on the home of Jessie and Mark, a couple who foster children. The movie begins with the parents bringing Cody, an eight-year-old boy, home with them. Before I Wake is straightforward and has a good flow to it. The story is mainly from the parent's point of view, but this is not a simple movie.
Before I Wake keeps the audience in the position of "parent," so viewers can feel concerned about Cody, who says he's afraid to go to sleep because his dreams and nightmares become real. Before I Wake is a tad cliché because it's about parents grieving over a dead child, but it's very successful at keeping horror at its forefront.
12 Old People (2022)
Runtime: 1h 41m
When Ella (Jolene Andersen), a divorcee, travels with her kids to her hometown, she discovers that her sister has placed their father in a neglectful retirement home. Although she tries to make things better even for a moment, the man and all the other elders living in the town transform into raging beasts looking for vengeance.
Old People feels a lot like a zombie film and it's just as scary as any of them, but it has an interesting twist. The monsters in the movie are humans, old people who have been abandoned by their families in retirement homes. Although its premise is simple, Old People makes a powerful point about modern's society neglect of the elders.
11 The Ritual (2017)
Runtime: 1h 34m
An adaptation of the novel of the same name, The Ritual follows a group of old friends who get together in Sweden to go on a hiking trip. One of them almost immediately hurts their leg, forcing the group to take a shortcut. They need to get to the cabin quickly, and tensions between the men begin to rise.
The Ritual's heroes find a seemingly abandoned shack for the night, which they approach with trepidation. They discover unknown stains, creepy statues, and a mysterious force. The Ritual is a film about the hysteria friends can face in isolation and crisis, along with the guilt everyone carries in life.
10 Apostle (2018)
Runtime: 2h 10m
Apostle is set in 1905 where a former Christian named Thomas takes a boat to an island in order to rescue his sister, who has joined a cult. He tries to blend into the culture to see just how dangerous this congregation is and quickly discovers he needs to earn their trust if he ever wants to leave.
Some very dark secrets are being kept by Apostle's cult leaders, and Thomas is dead-set on revealing them to everyone on the island. Actor Dan Stevens does an excellent job and Michael Sheen's performance is a standout as well. Apostle's ending is impossible to see coming, and it's an absolutely chilling story.
9 A Classic Horror Story (2021)
Runtime: 1h 35m
A Classic Horror Story is lesser-known film on Netflix, but this Italian thriller is undeniably terrifying. The movie starts when five people carpooling in an RV crash into a tree, knocking everyone out. When they finally wake up, they discover their vehicle is in the middle of an empty field.
The road is completely gone, and the only thing in sight is a small, spooky house. The travelers enter the house and find themselves at the mercy of a cult, looking for some sacrifices. A Classic Horror Story is incredibly intense and gory, and it would be a good idea to watch the trailer first to make sure it won't overwhelm you.
8 Raw (2016)
Runtime: 1h 39m
Garance Marillier stars in Raw as Justine, a lifelong vegetarian who starts her studies at veterinary school. After the hazing ceremonies where she's forced to eat raw meat, she begins to develop a taste for it. As she starts changing, her relationship with her sister, also in vet school, changes too.
Raw is a horror coming-of-age story like no other. Between the great acting from its cast, its shocking twists, and its bloody scenes, viewers will feel sick to their stomachs. Although Raw doesn't touch on paranormal topics, it's still a bloodcurdling film.
7 Sightless (2020)
Runtime: 1h 28m
Madelaine Petsch stars in Sightless as Ellen Ashland, a violinist who was left blind after an attack. In order to adjust to her new life, she gets a 24/7 carer, Clayton (Alexander Koch). In the beginning, everything is fine, but things get weird after Ellen's neighbor, Lana, asks her not to trust anybody around her.
As the viewers see Ellen's position, they end up feeling just as powerless as she does. Sightless definitely sets the journey for its shocking twist and then treats the fans to an intense climax. Sightless doesn't have witches, ghosts, or even demon possessions, but it's still a top-notch scary cinema.
6 Creep & Creep 2 (2014 & 2017)
Runtimes: 1h 17m, and 1h 20m, Respectively
Starring Mark Duplass as the main character, Creep and Creep 2 are a terrifying exploration of the gig economy gone wrong. The first film is a ludicrously low-budget setup that instills a terror many films with a larger budget fail to achieve. Duplass plays "Josef," a man who wants a videographer to document his dying days. Awkward encounters go from bad to worse, leading to a fairly predictable, though no less harrowing, ending.
Creep 2 picks up sometime later when "Josef," now going by "Aaron," finds that the thrill of his crimes are no longer enough for him. Jaded and discontent, he reaches out to a young woman named Sara, trying to rekindle his love of being a creep.