Summary
Reader, beware, you’re in for a scare. Nothing is spookier than watching a bone-chillinghorrormovie with the lights turned off. From bloodthirsty zombies to spine-tingling serial killers, the film industry has terrified the world with some of the creepiest stories ever told. But with so many options to choose from, where do you even start?
The best horror movies use a mix of suspense, haunting imagery, and nightmare-inducing performances to create fear. Special effects may get old, but a nail-biting scenario that puts your favorite characters in danger never stops being scary. Grab some popcorn, flick off the lights, and try not to scream.
Directed by
Written by
Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill
June 21, 2025
81 Percent
The Black Phone is a frightening supernatural thriller about a teenager named Finney (Mason Thames) who’s kidnapped by a masked serial killer known as The Grabber (Ethan Hawke). Locked in a basement and forced to play a twisted game of life and death, Finney’s only ally is a phone that lets him talk to the ghosts of the killer’s previous victims.
Each spirit provides a clue to help Finney survive The Grabber’s devilish traps. The longer he lasts, the more clever the killer’s tricks become. It’s a horrifying roller coaster ride accentuated by phenomenal acting, excellent characters, and an emotional, twist-heavy plot.
Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza
Paco Plaza, Luis A. Berdejo, and Jaume Balagueró
June 10, 2025
90 Percent
If you like found footage movies, Rec is by far the scariest. This Spanish horror film follows journalist Ángela Vidal (Manuela Velasco) as she investigates a mysterious zombie-like virus. When an outbreak happens, Ángela and her cameraman, Pablo (Pablo Rosso), are trapped inside a zombie-infested apartment building and must survive as their crew gets infected one by one.
The film makes excellent use of its found footage format, creating an immersive, nightmarish experience that genuinely feels like watching a real-time news broadcast. Gritty, down-to-earth, and scary beyond belief, Rec is easily among themost frightening movies of the 2000s.
June 13, 2025
91 Percent
Based onan iconic Stephen King book, Misery is a bone-chilling tale about world-renowned author Paul Sheldon (James Caan), who, after getting into a horrible car accident, wakes up imprisoned by his number one fan, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates). What starts as a nurturing relationship as she heals him back to health quickly becomes a nightmare when he realizes she has no intention of letting him leave.
As Annie’s behavior grows increasingly disturbing, Paul must find a way to escape despite his broken legs. It’s a non-stop nail-biter with plenty of suspense and shocking twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. Plus, Kathy Bates’s Oscar-winning performance makes for one of the most terrifying horror villains ever to grace the screen.
Stephen King film adaptations are usually hit or miss, but Misery really surpassed all of my expectations. It’s hard to deliver a spectacular movie while staying faithful to the book, but Misery manages to pull it off.
June 01, 2025
93 Percent
There aremany Alien movies, but none have managed to top the original. This horrifying sci-fi thriller follows astronaut Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), who’s trapped on a spaceship with a bloodthirsty alien called the Xenomorph. The film not only explores the cosmic horror of being hunted by a monster but also the more grounded terror of how human greed can lead someone to capitalize on an alien attack.
Featuring a mix of Hitchcockian suspense and blood-curdling body horror, Alien perfectly captures the fear of isolation and dealing with an unstoppable threat. The special effects still look unsettling decades later, creating some truly haunting imagery that never fails to give you goosebumps.
John Russo and George A. Romero
June 17, 2025
95 Percent
If you want to delve into the classics, Night of the Living Dead is the best place to start. When flesh-eating zombies attack a town in rural Pennsylvania, seven strangers must barricade themselves inside a farmhouse to survive. What follows is a nightmarish thrill ride as the survivors desperately try to fend off the ever-growing army of ghouls.
Despite its age, Night of the Living Dead is still as spooky as when it debuted. Watching the ghouls burst through the windows and viciously bite into their victims is nothing short of panic-inducing. Not to mention, the ending delivers one of the most shocking twists in film history. Don’t sleep on this haunting classic.
I went into Night of the Living Dead expecting it not to have aged well, but I was surprised at how scary it still is. It just goes to show that good horror never gets old.
John Carpenter and Debra Hill
July 12, 2025
96 Percent
Slasher movies don’t get more iconic than Halloween. The story follows teenage babysitter Laurie Strode as she’s stalked by the ruthless serial killer Michael Myers. As her friends die one by one, Laurie must find a way to survive while piecing together Michael’s disturbing backstory.
Halloween excels in its use of suspense to create fear. You won’t find any over-the-top violence or gore here. Instead, the film captivates you with the simple terror of a killer getting closer and closer to his victim. Many staples of the horror genre originated here, making Halloween an essential watch for anyone looking for a good scare.
June 07, 2025
98 Percent
Arguably themost famous Japanese horror movie, Ring centers around a cursed VHS tape that kills anyone who watches it within seven days. After viewing the tape herself, Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima) has one week to decipher its cryptic contents and find a way to break the curse.
The mystery behind the video and the ghost haunting it is enough to make the flesh crawl. This film is home to some of the creepiest scenes in the genre, including the iconic moment where the ghost emerges from the TV. In short, Ring is a must-watch for fans of ’90s horror or supernatural movies in general.
Make sure to watch the Japanese original as opposed to the American adaptation. Both are good, but the Japanese version is far superior.
July 01, 2025
Nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, Get Out is a psychological horror that combines goosebump-inducing frights with thought-provoking societal commentary. When photographer Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) meets his girlfriend’s parents for the first time, things take a mind-bending turn when he discovers the family’s terrifying secret.
The mystery behind the Armitage family’s cult-like rituals is both frightening and an excellent metaphor for racism in modern-day America. Throw in stellar performances and outstanding direction, and Get Out will surely stick with you long after the credits roll.
