While you can find a little bit of everything on Netflix, if you’d prefer not to be able to sleep through the night, try out some of the best horror movies on Netflix. From suspenseful thrillers to classic ghost stories, there’s something for every type of horror fan. Since it’s hard to pick a best overall, these aren’t in any particular order.
1. I Am the Pretty Thing that Lives in the House
I Am the Pretty Thing that Lives in the House is a Netflix original that follows the nurse Lily who’s tasked with taking care of an old horror writer dealing with dementia. Of course, they’re not the only two in the house. The slow build as the house reveals its secrets is what makes this a must-watch for horror fans that love ghost flicks.
- Cast – Ruth Wilson, Paula Prentiss, Bob Balaban
- Director – Oz Perkins
- Year – 2016
- Time – 1 hr 29 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 58%
2. We Summon the Darkness
We Summon the Darkness is a must-see indie thriller set in the 1980s. Meeting some guys at metal show goes horribly wrong when three girls take the guys back to their house. Instead of a fun night, they’re stuck in the middle of satanic murders.
- Cast – Alexandra Daddario, Keean Johnson, Johnny Knoxville, Maddie Hasson
- Director – Marc Meyers
- Year – 2019
- Time – 1 hr 23 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 69%
3. #Alive
Love zombies? Then you’ll love #Alive, which is definitely one of the best horror movies on Netflix and a Netflix original. Instead of the standard group trying to survive, one man is shut off from everything, locked in his apartment as he tries to stay alive in a post-apocalyptic zombie world. Another Netflix original zombie thriller worth binging after this is Ravenous.
- Cast – Yoo An-in, Park Shin-hye
- Director – Il Cho
- Year – 2020
- Time – 1 hr 38 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 88%
4. Crimson Peak
Period piece mixed with romance and horror? Crimson Peak has it all, along with Tom Hiddleston. With stunning visuals, this gothic horror instantly draws you in as you follow the story of a young woman’s marriage to a British aristocrat. Naturally, it’s not all love and roses as her husband’s ancestral home gives them both more than they expected.
- Cast – Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain
- Director – Guillermo del Torro
- Year – 2015
- Time – 1 hr 59 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 72%
5. Insidious
Insidious made director James Wan a household name and led to even more edge of your seat horror movies. But, it all started with a family who discovers their house is haunted when their comatose son is suddenly possessed. It’s a terrifying thriller that’ll make you never want to buy a new house.
- Cast – Patrick Wilson, Ty Simpkins, Rose Byrne
- Director – James Wan
- Year – 2010
- Time – 1 hr 41 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 66%
6. Vampires vs. the Bronx
One of the best horror movies on Netflix is a throwback to hilariously horrific teen movies. The Netflix original Vampires vs. the Bronx has the classic plot of kids coming to the rescue to fight back against evil in their neighborhood. Not only are they fighting bloodsuckers, but the gentrification of the Bronx. It’s a fun horror movie the entire family can sink their teeth into.
- Cast – Jaden Michael, Gregory Diaz IV, Method Man
- Director – Osmany Rodriguez
- Year – 2019
- Time – 1 hr 25 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 90%
7. The Conjuring
It’s hard not to include The Conjuring in a list of the best horror movies on Netflix. The entire Conjuring franchise is filled with possession flicks that’ll make you second guess everything. Of course, the best place to start is the beginning as a family seeks the help of two world renowned demonologists.
- Cast – Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor
- Director – James Wan
- Year – 2013
- Time – 1 hr 51 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 86%
8. Apostle
Sinister religious cult? Check. Plenty of gore? Check. Follow a drifter in 1905 as he tries to rescue his sister in the slow-build horror in Apostle, created just for Netflix. It’s a crazy mix of cult, folklore, and bloody butchery that horror fans absolutely love.
- Cast – Dan Stevens, Lucy Boynton, Michael Sheen
- Director – Gareth Evans
- Year – 2018
- Time – 2 hr 9 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 79%
9. Hush
Hush is yet another example of Netflix’s powerful original entries in the horror genre. It’s a unique premise that sets a deaf writer living alone against a masked killer stalking her. If you love home invasion thriller/horror combos with plenty of violence, check this movie out right now.
- Cast – Kate Siegel, John Gallagher Jr., Michael Trucco
- Director – Mike Flanagan
- Year – 2016
- Time – 1 hr 27 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 93%
10. His House
Trying to escape a war-torn country should be horrible enough on its own, but His House steps things up a notch as South Sudan refugees have to deal with a sinister force in their new England home. While all they wanted was a fresh start, you’ll get plenty of scares throughout their journey.
- Cast – Sope Dirisu, Wunmi Mosaku, Matt Smith, Cornell John
- Director – Remi Weekes
- Year – 2020
- Time – 1 hr 33 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 93%
11. It Comes at Night
As two families shelter together after an apocalypse, it’s hard to tell whether the true danger comes from the outside or inside of the house in the horror/thriller movie It Comes at Night. While it’s a simple premise, you’ll be left guessing to the very end, making this what’s sure to become a classic in the genre.
- Cast – Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo
- Director – Trey Edward Shults
- Year – 2017
- Time – 1 hr 37 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 87%
12. The Ritual
The Ritual follows the harrowing journey of four friends as they navigate the Swedish wilderness. They meet face to face with something evil straight out of Norse legend. While it might seem predictable at first, it quickly throws you off course with a series of twists and turns makes it far more than just another horror movie.
- Cast – Rafe Spall, Rob James-Collier, Arsher Ali, Sam Troughton
- Director – David Bruckner
- Year – 2017
- Time – 1 hr 34 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 74%
13. Fear Street Part 1: 1994
If you enjoyed the Fear Street books by R.L. Stine, you’ll absolutely love this loose movie adaptation. Fear Street Part 1: 1994 is one of the best horror movies on Netflix that showcases brave teens battling an evil curse in the small town of Shadyside. It’s a refreshing mix of slasher flick, comedy, and even romance that makes it a great addition to Netflix’s growing catalogue of original horror films. Don’t forget to check out part two and three when you’re done.
- Cast – Kiana Madeira, Olivia Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr.
- Director – Leigh Janiak
- Year – 2021
- Time – 1 hr 45 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 83%
14. Blood Red Sky
Blood Red Sky is a truly unique take on your standard vampire horror. Despite only coming out in 2021, it’s already one of the best horror movies on Netflix. A woman dealing with a mysterious illness must unleash a terrible secret to save her son when their transatlantic flight is hijacked. Vampirism meets action, horror, and slasher in this must-watch corny, yet fun supernatural thriller.
- Cast – Graham McTavish, Dominic Purcell, Peri Baumeister
- Director – Peter Thorwarth
- Year – 2021
- Time – 2 hr 1 min
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 81%
Wrapping Up
This is far from an exhaustive list. Don’t see your favorite on here? Share some of your favorite horror movies on Netflix. After all, it won’t take long to binge watch all the ones I’ve listed.
