Welcome to the best horror movies of 2025 (and 2024), ranking every dark and dreary delight coming out this year by Tomatometer! We start the list with Certified Fresh films (these movies have maintained a high Tomatometer score after enough critics reviews), followed by the pulp-pounding Fresh movies (these are rated at least 60%), and then concluding with the morbidly Rotten.
Critics Consensus: A rip-roaring fusion of masterful visual storytelling and toe-tapping music, writer-director Ryan Coogler's first original blockbuster reveals the full scope of his singular imagination.
Synopsis: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only [More]
Critics Consensus: An elegant and spooky ghost story punctuated with clever jolts, Oddity hews to the fundamentals of fright and achieves shout-inducing results.
Synopsis: When Dani is brutally murdered at the remote country house that she and her husband Ted are renovating, everyone suspects [More]
Critics Consensus: A fiendishly clever contraption that doesn't rest on the laurels of its twists, Companion thrillingly puts the demented into domestic bliss.
Synopsis: New Line Cinema--the studio that brought you "The Notebook"--and the unhinged creators of "Barbarian" cordially invite you to experience a [More]
Critics Consensus: Immersing audiences in pure pandemonium with technical ingenuity and an unblinking point-of-view, MadS is a thrill ride that never lets up.
Synopsis: Eighteen year old Romain has just graduated and makes a stop at his dealer's place to try a new pill. [More]
Critics Consensus: Hugh Grant has infectious fun playing against type in Heretic, a religious horror that preaches the gospel of cerebral chills over cheap shocks.
Synopsis: Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by [More]
Critics Consensus: A squirm-inducing period piece that locates true horror in both mind and spirit, The Devil's Bath might be Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz's most chilling directorial effort yet.
Synopsis: In 1750 Austria, a deeply religious woman named Agnes has just married her beloved, but her mind and heart soon [More]
Critics Consensus: The V/H/S series shows no signs of the tape wearing out with this terrifying entry, boasting an assortment of shorts that'll sate the appetite of horror and sci-fi aficionados alike.
Synopsis: Six bloodcurdling tapes unleash horror in a sci-fi-inspired hellscape, pushing the boundaries of fear and suspense. [More]
Critics Consensus: Audaciously gross, wickedly clever, and possibly Demi Moore's finest hour, The Substance is a gasp-inducing feat from writer-director Coralie Fargeat.
Synopsis: Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? You, only better in every way. You should try this [More]
Critics Consensus: Grounded in raw humanity by Lupita Nyong'o and Joseph Quinn, this sideways entry into A Quiet Place finds fresh notes of fright to play amid the silence.
Synopsis: Experience the day the world went quiet. [More]
Critics Consensus: Blessed with a nerve-jangling star turn by Naomi Scott, writer-director Parker Finn broadens Smile's conceit into a pop stardom nightmare that'll leave a rictus grin on horror fans' faces.
Synopsis: About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and [More]
Critics Consensus: Saturated in disquieting mood while leveraging a nightmarishly gonzo performance by Nicolas Cage, Longlegs is a satanic horror that effectively instills panic.
Synopsis: In pursuit of a serial killer, an FBI agent uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to [More]
Critics Consensus: Marvelously orchestrated by director Robert Eggers, Nosferatu is a behemoth of a horror film that is equal parts repulsive and seductive.
Synopsis: Robert Eggers' NOSFERATU is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with [More]
Critics Consensus: With a distinctive visual aesthetic that enhances its emotionally resonant narrative, I Saw the TV Glow further establishes writer-director Jane Schoenbrun as a rising talent.
Synopsis: Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a [More]
Critics Consensus: A Hitchcockian thriller that cleverly utilizes modern technology for its twists and turns, Drop delivers on its pulpy premise while providing a welcome showcase for leading lady Meghann Fahy.
Synopsis: Emmy nominee Meghann Fahy, breakout star of White Lotus and The Perfect Couple, plays Violet, a widowed mother on her [More]
Critics Consensus: Harnessing sick suspense from the glimmer in James McAvoy's eye, Speak No Evil is the rare remake that hushes up concerns of "been there, done that."
Synopsis: When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family [More]
Critics Consensus: Carrying off well-worn vampire tropes with a balletic flourish, Abigail dances around the familiarity of its premise with a game cast and slick style.
Synopsis: After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to [More]
Critics Consensus: Frequently frightening even as it plays within the confines of a nearly 50-year-old film series, this prequel is The First Omen of a bright future for the franchise in quite some time.
Synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters [More]
Critics Consensus: A mixture of gory slasher and sweet rom-com that ingeniously nails both formulas, Heart Eyes serves up a bloody valentine that'll make the heart skip a beat.
Synopsis: For the past several years, the "Heart Eyes Killer" has wreaked havoc on Valentine's Day by stalking and murdering romantic [More]
Critics Consensus: Honoring its nightmarish predecessors while chestbursting at the seams with new frights of its own, Romulus injects some fresh acid blood into one of cinema's great horror franchises.
Synopsis: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face [More]
Critics Consensus: Cleverly constructed and leaping off the screen with stylistic verve, It's What's Inside centers around a party from hell that audiences can enjoy from a safe remove.
Synopsis: A pre-wedding reunion descends into a psychological nightmare for a group of college friends when a surprise guest arrives with [More]
Critics Consensus: Directed with inventive flair by Tilman Singer while given flavorful personality by stars Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens, Cuckoo is a madcap madhouse horror that's on the right side of deranged.
Synopsis: Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in [More]
Critics Consensus: Cruelly clever with some unforgettably gory set pieces, The Monkey reaffirms director Osgood Perkins' horror bona fides while revealing he also has a surprising -- albeit sick -- sense of humor.
Synopsis: When twin brothers find a mysterious wind-up monkey, a series of outrageous deaths tears their family apart. Twenty-five years later, [More]
Critics Consensus: As single-mindedly focused on mayhem as its demonic monster, In a Violent Nature serves up a deliciously disgusting feast for gore aficionados.
Synopsis: When a locket is removed from a collapsed fire tower in the woods that entombs the rotting corpse of Johnny, [More]
Critics Consensus: Led by a trio of strong performances, Arcadian blends family drama and post-apocalyptic horror to visceral, emotionally stirring effect.
Synopsis: In a near future, life on Earth has been decimated. Paul (Nicolas Cage) and his twin teenage sons, Thomas (Jaeden [More]
Critics Consensus: Taking an axe to yuletide cheer and everything else in its path, Terrifier 3 is a bloody fantastic stocking stuffer for the holiday season.
Synopsis: After surviving Art the Clown's Halloween massacre, Sienna and her brother are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives. As the [More]
Critics Consensus: Hypnotic and stylish if a little too indulgent in its pacing, Gazer is an intriguing mood piece featuring a terrific performance by Ariella Mastroianni.
Synopsis: Afflicted with a rare and fatal condition that affects her ability to perceive time and causes sudden blackouts, single mother [More]
Critics Consensus: Michael Keaton's devious poltergeist still has plenty of juice left in this madcap return to form for Tim Burton, marrying charming practical effects and ghoulish gags to provide a fun fun time.
Synopsis: Beetlejuice is back! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still [More]
Critics Consensus: A grounded zombie picture with emotional bite, Handling the Undead shuffles along at a patient pace but succeeds as a poignant and thoughtful addition to the genre.
Synopsis: On a hot summer day in Oslo, the dead mysteriously awaken, and three families are thrown into chaos when their [More]
Critics Consensus: A bold and memorable debut that thrusts Zoë Kravitz into the turf of directors to watch, Blink Twice is a live wire of a film.
Synopsis: When tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) meets cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at his fundraising gala, sparks fly. He [More]
Critics Consensus: Drawing blood and yucks from its literal tourist trap setting, Get Away is uneven as comedy and horror but makes for a highly unique blending of the two genres.
Synopsis: The Smith family's much-needed vacation to the remote Swedish island of Svalta takes a dark turn when they arrive during [More]
Critics Consensus:Night of the Zoopocalypse delightfully threads the needle as a child-friendly introduction to horror, delivering a gentle amount of good scares while dazzling the eye with its neon hues.
Synopsis: After a meteor unleashes a virus that turns zoo animals into zombies, a mountain lion (David Harbour) and wolf (Gabbi [More]
Synopsis: In a dystopian future ravaged by a viral apocalypse, three young brothers--Salvador, Oliver, and Benjamin--find themselves isolated in a remote [More]
Synopsis: After calling a late-night party hotline that promises out-of-this-world fun, uptight yuppie Conor Sweeney must battle the pint-sized forces of [More]
Critics Consensus:Hell Hole pokes much needed life into an aging genre, going back to basics and delivering the gory goods.
Synopsis: In the Adams Family's celebration of the classic creature-feature, an American-led fracking crew working deep in the Serbian wilderness find [More]
Critics Consensus: A potent metaphor for toxic relationships, The Dead Thing unfolds slowly but proves haunting thanks to its eerie mood and Blu Hunt's committed performance.
Synopsis: Alex is trapped in a downward spiral of shallow hookups and tepid connections, but she is caught off guard when [More]
Synopsis: Chinese scholarship student Wei travels to New Zealand to study medical research at a prestigious university. Shy, introverted, and hiding [More]
Critics Consensus: Flying Lotus' Ash delivers the phantasmagorical goods with vivid visuals and a throbbing soundscape, elevating a predictable sci-fi story into a memorably stylish head-trip.
Synopsis: When a woman wakes up on a distant planet and finds the crew of her space station viciously killed, she [More]
Critics Consensus: Bold, funny, and overall entertaining, Freaky Tales is a vibrantly well-acted period piece that makes up in style what it lacks in narrative substance.
Synopsis: An NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teenage punks, neo-Nazis and a debt collector embark on a [More]
Critics Consensus:Don't Move gets a reasonable amount of mileage out of its self-imposed limitations, making for a slight but effective thriller that'll get the blood pumping.
Synopsis: When a killer injects her with a paralytic agent, a woman must run, fight and hide before her body completely [More]
Critics Consensus: John Lithgow's frighteningly unhinged performance reigns over The Rule of Jenny Pen, a nasty chiller that's by turns monotonous and haunting.
Synopsis: Arrogant Judge Stefan Mortensen suffers a near-fatal stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed and confined to a retirement home. Resistant to [More]
Critics Consensus: Lead by another bloody fantastic performance from Samara Weaving, Azrael sacrifices depth on the altar of storytelling economy but delivers pure adrenaline in the bargain.
Synopsis: In a world in which no one speaks, a mysterious, devout community hunts down a young woman named Azrael (Samara [More]
Synopsis: William Brown (Jonah Ray Rodrigues), a neurotic, self-absorbed musician determined to finish his prog-rock magnum opus, faces a creative roadblock [More]
Critics Consensus:Immaculate in conception if not always in execution, this religiously themed horror outing is saved by a divine performance from Sydney Sweeney.
Synopsis: Sydney Sweeney (Anyone But You, Euphoria, The White Lotus) stars as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on [More]
Critics Consensus:Humane's twisted psychological thrills are diverting enough in the moment to distract from its occasionally awkward attempts to balance sociopolitical commentary against high-concept horror.
Synopsis: HUMANE takes place over a single day, mere months after a global ecological collapse has forced world leaders to take [More]
Critics Consensus:Sting should satisfy horror fans in the mood for a creature feature, even if the end results likely won't linger in the memory.
Synopsis: STING spins a web of thrilling terror when 12-year-old Charlotte's pet spider rapidly transforms into a giant flesh-eating monster, forcing [More]
Critics Consensus: Matching up Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins in a battle of wits, Locked is loaded with plenty of clever jolts even if it doesn't quite know where to park its story.
Synopsis: From producer Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Drag Me to Hell) comes a relentless horror-thriller where luxury becomes deadly. When Eddie [More]
Critics Consensus: Mixing multiple genres, The Gorge makes for a surprisingly endearing romance until its action-thriller obligations steer proceedings back onto a more predictable path.
Synopsis: Two highly-trained operatives (Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy) are appointed to posts in guard towers on opposite sides of a [More]
Critics Consensus: Director Alexandre Aja's latest horror offering boasts anxiety-inducing atmosphere and a committed performance from Halle Berry, although audiences will have to let go of some storytelling expectations to enjoy the ride.
Synopsis: From visionary director Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Crawl) and executive producers of Stranger Things and Arrival comes NEVER [More]
Critics Consensus:Hell of a Summer shows some promising ingenuity from its young directorial duo, but its lack of tonal cohesion also indicates some room for improvement.
Synopsis: Hell of a Summer follows 24-year-old camp counselor Jason Hochberg (Fred Hechinger), who arrives at Camp Pineway thinking his biggest [More]
Critics Consensus: Receiving some sparkle from Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega's father-daughter rapport, Death of a Unicorn's broad satire is a bit too on the horn but makes for an entertainingly splattery creature feature.
Synopsis: A father (Paul Rudd) and daughter (Jenna Ortega) accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend [More]
Critics Consensus: An affectionate callback to classic horror comedies of the '80s, Lisa Frankenstein can be fun in its own right despite not quite measuring up to the movies it imitates.
Synopsis: A coming of RAGE love story from acclaimed writer Diablo Cody (Jennifer's Body) about a misunderstood teenager and her high [More]
Critics Consensus: An unapologetically schlocky horror flick, Werewolves more or less scratches the genre itch without ever becoming the howling good time it could've been.
Synopsis: In WEREWOLVES, a supermoon event has triggered a latent gene in every human on the planet, turning anyone who entered [More]
Critics Consensus:Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 represents an improvement over the original in most respects, although the Poohniverse remains a place made for hardcore slasher fans.
Synopsis: Deep within the 100-Acre-Wood, a destructive rage grows as Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Owl, and Tigger find their home and their lives [More]
Critics Consensus: An old-fashioned spookfest, this Salem's Lot won't be the definitive adaptation of Stephen King's famed vampire tale but it makes for a passable reintroduction to a new generation.
Synopsis: Author Ben Mears returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration for his next book only [More]
Critics Consensus: Continuing the trend of schlocky puerile remakes, Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare guts a beloved character for low-brow horror that never manages to take flight.
Synopsis: Wendy Darling encounters a twisted Tinker Bell as she tries to rescue her brother, Michael, from the evil clutches of [More]
Critics Consensus:Apartment 7A is slickly assembled and solidly acted, but the lingering memory of Rosemary's Baby and a predictable prequel template make for a sub(par)lease.
Synopsis: When a struggling, young dancer (Julia Garner) suffers a devastating injury, she finds herself drawn in by dark forces when [More]
Critics Consensus:The Woman in the Yard has plenty of spooky promise in its premise and a committed performance from Danielle Deadwyler, but the story's heavy-handed metaphor leaves little room for scares or surprise.
Synopsis: Danielle Deadwyler (Till, The Harder They Fall, The Piano Lesson) stars as Ramona, a woman crippled by grief after she [More]
Critics Consensus:Y2K earns points for ambition and sheer audacity, even if it struggles to keep the laughs coming while maintaining a messy tonal blend.
Synopsis: On the last night of 1999, two high school juniors crash a New Years Eve party, only to find themselves [More]
Critics Consensus:The Front Room gets some mileage out of Kathryn Hunter's memorably grotesque turn as an in-law from hell, but the scatological scares in this family squabble are more off-putting than frightening.
Synopsis: Everything goes to hell for newly-pregnant Belinda (Brandy Norwood) after her mother-in-law (Kathryn Hunter) moves in. As the diabolical guest [More]
Critics Consensus: Malkovich is clearly having a ball playing a nefarious pop musician in Opus, but unfortunately the rest of this thriller is too conceptually confused for the star's fun to prove infectious.
Synopsis: A young writer (Ayo Edebiri) is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star (John Malkovich) who mysteriously [More]
Critics Consensus: Whipping up promising ingredients and elegantly plating them, House of Spoils has the presentation down but ultimately delivers empty calories.
Synopsis: From Blumhouse, House of Spoils follows an ambitious chef (Ariana DeBose) as she opens a restaurant on a remote estate [More]
Critics Consensus: Somewhere inside The Beast Within lies a clever riff on the werewolf genre, but it struggles to claw through a lack of incident and specificity.
Synopsis: After a series of strange events leads her to question her family's isolated life on a fortified compound deep in [More]
Critics Consensus: Sarah Paulson is as arresting as ever, but a dearth of incident and scares ultimately robs Hold Your Breath of long-awaited release.
Synopsis: In 1930s Oklahoma amid the region's horrific dust storms, a woman is convinced that a sinister presence is threatening her [More]
Critics Consensus: Lee Daniels' foray into horror works best when it leans into his melodramatic preoccupations, but it fails to deliver the exorcism goods.
Synopsis: Ebony Jackson, a struggling single mother fighting her personal demons, moves her family into a new home for a fresh [More]
Critics Consensus: The power of Crowe compels up to a point in this metatextual riff on the possession genre, but The Exorcism's greatest sin is ultimately falling back on clichés.
Synopsis: Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe stars as Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror [More]
Critics Consensus:Imaginary's core concept is solid enough to produce a handful of scares, but too much of its potential is lost in a clichéd story that gets bogged down in world-building.
Synopsis: From Blumhouse, the genre-defining masterminds behind FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S and M3GAN, comes an original horror that taps into the [More]
Critics Consensus: Repeating the beats of better techno-horrors, AfrAId short circuits due to the clichéd software of its script and the uninspired hardware of its craft.
Synopsis: In AFRAID, Curtis (John Cho) and his family are selected to test a revolutionary new home device: a digital family [More]
Critics Consensus: Lacking the chilling suspense of the original The Strangers and proving to be just unpleasant, this Chapter 1 closes the book on itself.
Synopsis: After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple (Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez) are forced [More]
Critics Consensus: Despite a promising start and a handful of solid scares, Night Swim is undone by a premise that just isn't strong enough to support a feature-length film.
Synopsis: Based on the acclaimed 2014 short film by Rod Blackhurst and Bryce McGuire, the film stars Wyatt Russell (The Falcon [More]
97%
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