Best Horror Movies On Netflix

Horror movie enthusiasts don't have to look far these days for entertaining films. With so many streaming services available, finding a movie to keep you up at night isn't too difficult. Netflix offers a nice selection of genres that cater to almost every kind of horror aficionado.

Whether it's haunted houses, demonic possessions, or underwater terror, there's typically something for everybody on Netflix. For those who have never seen these gems before, now is the perfect time to start streaming them. Longtime horror fans know full well that many films in the genre can be hit or miss. However, one really can't go wrong with this selection of the best horror movies on Netflix.

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Netflix does not have most of the movies in The Conjuring universe, however, for some reason, the streaming service has the second entry in the main series. Permitting someone is not a completionist, this sequel is accessible to newcomers who skipped out on the original film. James Wan's film takes inspiration from the Warrens' historical reports of real hauntings, with The Conjuring 2 focusing on the Enfield poltergeist.

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A thrill ride from beginning to end, this Netflix horror movie carefully guides audiences through a haunted house where something horrifying might be always lurking in the shadows. The scares are well spread out and pay off long stretches of understated tension, making each fright as impactful as possible.

The Babysitter (2017)

McG's The Babysitter pays homage to sleazy '80s slasher flicks, so someone's mileage with the movie will depend on their fondness for that era. The Netflix horror movie does not reach the highest heights seen during that decade, but it does not scrape the bottom of the barrel either.

Cole thinks his babysitter, Bee, is the coolest person ever. At least, that appears to be the case until it is revealed that Bee is secretly a Satanist who plans to perform a ritual that involves sacrificing an innocent. Stuck in a house with bloodthirsty teenagers, Cole has to high jinks his way to safety. The Babysitter is perfect to throw on a Tuesday night when someone wants a short and unchallenging slasher film.

The Call (2020)

South Korea has produced some of the most effective horror flicks of the last 20 years, and The Call ranks among the very best. While perhaps not one of the scariest movies on Netflix, this 2020 release has a gripping narrative, great acting, and even a cool sci-fi twist. The Call revolves around two women from different decades who are connected through a phone, a relationship that initially proves beneficial for both parties. However, things are not quite as they seem.

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Time travel has been done to death, but The Call presents a fresh spin on the concept that lends itself to the movie's thrilling tone. This film is a good pick for people who are not particularly enamored with the horror genre.

Oxygen (2021)

A sci-fi horror film with a magnetic performance by Melanie Laurent, Oxygen is about a woman, Elizabeth, stuck in a cryogenic unit that is quickly losing oxygen. This type of premise lives and dies through the strength of its central character and performer, two things this film knocks out of the park.

Elizabeth's memories are initially all over the place, but she steadily pieces together her past while questioning the system's AI, MILO. The latter is a character in its own right, even if MILO adheres to its programming throughout the story. Oxygen maintains a steady intensity throughout most of its relatively lengthy runtime (for this sort of narrative), and the film tackles themes of isolation and a brittle future well. Compared to other horror films on Netflix, Oxygen is not particularly scary, but it is horrifying in its own way.

It (2017)

Stephen King's It tells the timeless tale of a nightmarish entity that loves to manifest as a clown (among other things) to scare and eat children. The novel has inspired a couple of adaptations, with 2017's It Chapter One coming the closest to capturing the haunting magic of the source material. It lives and dies by its presentation of Pennywise, and Bill Skarsgård delivers a chilling performance as the Dancing Clown, a distinct portrayal that shares little in common with Tim Curry's iconic '90s rendition.

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It also does right by the story's children, all of which are well-written and acted. The Losers Club's members go through hell throughout the movie, a journey that is filled with sadness and tragedy but also humor and hope. It Chapter Two is not on Netflix, but the first movie works well as a standalone experience.

Under The Shadow (2016)

Set during the War of the Cities in Tehran, Under the Shadow blends a supernatural horror story with real-world subtext and culturally relevant social themes. Despite the pleas of her husband, Shideh decides to stay with her daughter in Tehran; following an air raid, the pair begin to experience strange incidents while getting glimpses of an apparition.

Although rife with familiar concepts and thrills, Under the Shadow utilizes its material to tell a completely unique and terrifying tale of fear and resistance. It is also consistently scary, particularly in its final act.

Scream 4 (2011)

Scream 4 exists in a somewhat weird place. Upon its release, the film garnered a relatively positive reception and was considered an improvement over the disappointing third entry. However, the sequel played things a bit too safe for its own good and, ultimately, did not revitalize the horror franchise.

That said, Scream 4 is a competent slasher from one of the genre's masters. The 2011 movie was also Wes Craven's final project, and while not among the director's masterpieces, the film was and still is a respectable swan song. This entry also has perhaps the most vicious Ghost Face in Scream, a necessary shift following the villain's goofier presentation in the third movie.

It Follows (2014)

It Follows' premise is brilliantly simple. There is a curse that causes an entity to stalk the target until they kill them, and the only way for the latter to survive is to pass it along to somebody else. Naturally, such circumstances can lead even the most reasonable of people to commit acts that they would never otherwise humor.

While only periodically terrifying, It Follows is constantly intense, mainly because the horror movie makes clever use of backgrounds to deliver its scares. Consequently, there is an always-present feeling that something horrifying is around the corner.

Ravenous (2017)

Not to be mistaken with 1999's Ravenous, another great horror film, this 2017 release is a zombie flick. By the early 2000s, this subgenre had been already beaten to death; however, somehow, horror keeps on finding new ways to breathe life into the concept.

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Ravenous takes place in Quebec and follows a group of survivors as they are run out of their town by zombies (or worse). While the movie delivers plenty of horror goodness synonymous with the walking dead, Ravenous stands out due to the way it explores the idea that zombies could form something akin to a community.

The Mist (2007)

Any person craving Stephen King adaptations could easily fill a weekend with just a Netflix subscription, and the service has some of the best horror movies based on the author's work. The Mist takes place in a small town that suddenly finds itself shrouded in a dangerous and deadly fog, prompting many people to take refuge in a supermarket.

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In a brilliant move, The Mist uses its titular threat as fuel to explore how its human characters react to such imminent danger, and these sections are incredibly intense and drenched in social commentary. Difficult as it might be to imagine that someone does not know the film's legendary ending, The Mist should be experienced blind.