The Best Horror Movies Streaming On Netflix Right Now

Skull Mask killer in Fear Street: 1994
(Image credit: netflix)

Being a die-hard fan of horror means that seeking out scary movies streaming on all the major digital platforms can be a time consuming and sometimes costly commitment. However, as the current selection of the best horror movies on Netflix can prove, to satisfy your dark side, a Netflix subscription could be all you need.

As a longtime fan of the genre, I think the platform has some of the best horror movies of all time, even despite the expiration of a few old school classics. Nevertheless, when it comes to acclaimed recent thrillers or upcoming horror movies to keep your weary eyes open for, Netflix is a reliable source. In fact, here are our favorites it currently has available to stream.

Essie Davis in The Babadook

(Image credit: IFC Midnight)

The Babadook (2014)

A single mother (Essie Davis) fears that she and her young son (Noah Wiseman) are being taunted by an unsettling character from a children’s book. 

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: One of the best horror movies directed by a woman (namely writer and director Jennifer Kent) is The Babadook – a thought-provoking, allegorical examination of how grief affects motherhood that also introduced one of the scariest modern horror movie villains.

Stream The Babadook on Netflix.

Pearl sits in bed with Maxine in X.

(Image credit: a24)

X (2022)

A group of amateur adult filmmakers set up their production at a Texas farm owned by an elderly couple who are not quite what they seem.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: By borrowing from the tone and aesthetic of classic ‘70s horror movies but adding a refreshingly nuanced commentary on aging, writer and director Ti West crafted one of the best A24 horror movies out of his chilling, star-studded slasher, X

Stream X on Netflix.

Gong Yoo in Train to Busan

(Image credit: Well Go USA)

Train To Busan (2016)

A group of strangers on a train must band together to fight and stay alive after a deadly virus that turns people into vicious flesh-eaters breaks out in South Korea.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: One of the most intense, intelligent, heartbreaking, and surprisingly realistic zombie movies in recent memory (if not ever) is Train to Busan from co-writer and director Sang-ho Yeon.

Stream Train to Busan on Netflix.

Lulu Wilson in Ouija: Origin Of Evil

(Image credit: Universal/Blumhouse)

Ouija: Origin Of Evil (2016)

A single mother (Elizabeth Reaser) who makes a living pretending to be a medium incorporates a seemingly harmless board game into her act, which comes with grave consequences, in 1960s California.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: Only a horror master like writer and director Mike Flanagan could make an effective thriller out of a follow-up to a widely disliked horror flick like he does with Ouija: Origin of Evil, which serves as a prequel to 2014’s Ouija.

Stream Ouija: Origin of Evil on Netflix.

Maika Monroe in It Follows

(Image credit: RADiUS-TWC)

It Follows (2015)

A young woman (Maika Monroe) becomes targeted by a merciless shapeshifting entity only she can see as part of a curse that can only be passed down through sexual intercourse.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: One could argue that the spark of the horror genre’s modern renaissance was writer and director David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows – a stunningly unique, captivatingly suspenseful, and cleverly nuanced creepfest that has a follow-up called They Follow in the works.

Stream It Follows on Netflix.

Kiana Madeira and Olivia Scott Welch in Fear Street

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Fear Street Trilogy (2021)

A group of teenagers struggle to survive against multiple costumed killers while trying to uncover the dark secrets plaguing their town.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: Inspired by a series of young adult horror novels by R.L. Stine, the Fear Street movies are a trio of fun old school horror throwbacks that each take place in a different time period to tell the full story.

Stream the Fear Street trilogy on Netflix.

Wunmi Mosaku and Some Disiru in His House

(Image credit: Netflix)

His House (2020)

After taking refuge in England, a South Sudanese couple (Sope Disiru, Wunmi Mosaku) find themselves living a different kind of nightmare when they move into their new home. 

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: Writer and director Remi Weekes’ BAFTA-winning debut, His House, is one of few horror movies to earn 100% on Rotten Tomatoes for its powerful, grounded message amid an otherwise traditional haunted house movie conceit.

Stream His House on Netflix.

Sarah Snook in Run Rabbit Run

(Image credit: Netflix)

Run Rabbit Run (2023)

A single mother (Succession cast member Sarah Snook) is forced to confront her dark past as she tries to understand her young daughter’s (Lily LaTorre) concerning behavior.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: Writer Hannah Kent and director Daina Reid crafted a horror film that effectively addresses grief and will keep you mystified until the shocking ending of Run Rabbit Run.

Stream Run  Rabbit Run on Netflix.

Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots in Vivarium

(Image credit: Saban Films)

Vivarium (2020)

While looking for a new home, a couple (Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots) find themselves trapped in a strange, desolate, inescapable neighborhood where they soon discover they are not alone.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling would have been proud of co-writer and director Lorcan Finnegan’s recent, underrated sci-fi/horror thriller, Vivarium for its satirical mundanity, stunningly surreal production design, and creeping atmosphere of existential dread throughout.

Stream Vivarium on Netflix.

Rafe Spall in The Ritual

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Ritual (2018)

Already haunted by a tragic loss, a group of college buddies reunite for a hiking trip in the Swedish wilderness, only to find themselves haunted (or, more accurately, hunted) by a sinister presence.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: From director David Bruckner, The Ritual is an underrated Netflix original you should see for its old school camping trip disaster enhanced by other shocking horror elements and – like Unfriended – relatable themes of friendship to keep it grounded.

Stream The Ritual on Netflix.

Carla Gugino as Jessie in Gerald's Game

(Image credit: Netflix)

Gerald’s Game (2017)

A woman (Carla Gugino) takes a weekend getaway with her husband (Bruce Greenwood), whose plans to spice up their love life take a devastating turn for the worse.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: Without giving too much away, I would call this adaptation of Stephen King’s Gerald’s Game one of the most intense Netflix original titles by Mike Flanagan for its deeply grim story about survival of both the body and soul.

Stream Gerald’s Game on Netflix.

Two of the main stars of Alive.

(Image credit: Lotte Entertainment/Netflix)

#Alive (2020)

A young man (Ah-In Yoo) lives in isolation to protect himself from a viral outbreak that has affected most of Seoul, Korea, and from the flesh-eating, reanimated corpses those infected have become.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: The Netflix original hit, #Alive, is a Korean horror movie offering a clever, claustrophobic take on the zombie genre.

Stream #Alive on Netflix.

Samara Weaving in The Babysitter

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Babysitter (2017)

A young boy's (Judah Lewis) latest night with the girl of his dreams – his fun and attractive babysitter, Bee (Samara Weaving) – becomes a living nightmare after discovering that she and her unexpected party guests are hiding a deadly secret.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: Before leading Ready or Not, Samara Weaving's reign as one of Hollywood's top Scream Queens began when she played the titular antagonist of The BabysitterMcG's comical satanic panic throwback that later spawned a sequel.

Stream The Babysitter on Netflix.

Mark Duplass in Creep

(Image credit: Blumhouse)

Creep And Creep 2 (2014, 2017)

This pair of intense found footage thrillers chronicles the interactions of a disturbed – and disturbing – man (Mark Duplass) with two different videographers whose curiosities get the best of them.

Why they are some of the best horror movies on Netflix: Duplass and director Patrick Brice developed the concepts for Creep and Creep 2 (the first two installments of a planned trilogy), which are both full of shocking twists – the biggest surprise of all being that the stories are improvised pretty much from scratch.

Stream the Creep movies on Netflix.

Travis Becca and Cal in In The Tall Grass

(Image credit: Netflix)

In The Tall Grass (2019)

A pregnant woman (Laysla De Oliveira) and her brother (Avery Whitted) follow a young boy's cry for help into a large field of high-growing grass, but it soon becomes apparent that there is no way out.

Why it is one of the best horror movies on Netflix: Father/son writing duo Stephen King and Joe Hill’s novella, In the Tall Grass, inspired this survivalist thriller with elements off startling fantasy, engrossing mystery, and a menacing performance by The Conjuring star Patrick Wilson that makes this Netflix original one of the coolest surprises in horror of its year.

Stream In the Tall Grass on Netflix.

Whether you click on an old school classic, freaky favorite, or one of Netflix’s own original horror movies, the platform is sure to keep you streaming into the wee hours of the night – partially because you might not be able to sleep.

Jason Wiese
Content Writer

Jason Wiese writes feature stories for CinemaBlend. His occupation results from years dreaming of a filmmaking career, settling on a "professional film fan" career, studying journalism at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO (where he served as Culture Editor for its student-run print and online publications), and a brief stint of reviewing movies for fun. He would later continue that side-hustle of film criticism on TikTok (@wiesewisdom), where he posts videos on a semi-weekly basis. Look for his name in almost any article about Batman.