Netflix stands as a premier destination for enthusiasts seeking immersive best horror movies on Netflix, delivering a rich array of tales that masterfully blend suspense, psychological depth, and raw terror. From supernatural encounters to brutal survival scenarios, the platform offers experiences that linger long after the credits roll. Dive into this curated selection of standout best horror movies on Netflix, where each entry promises to challenge perceptions and evoke profound unease.
Essential Must-Watch Horror Films on Netflix
The Shrine
- Runtime: 85 minutes
- Genres: Horror, Mystery
- Director: Jon Knautz
- Cast: Aaron Ashmore, Cindy Sampson, Meghan Heffern
A group of ambitious journalists ventures into a remote Polish village to probe a string of unexplained vanishings linked to an enigmatic fog-shrouded structure. What begins as a quest for truth quickly spirals into a confrontation with ancient, malevolent forces embedded in local traditions. The film masterfully builds atmospheric dread, exploring themes of cultural isolation and the perils of intruding upon forbidden rituals. Its practical effects and escalating tension create a visceral sense of entrapment, making it a compelling study in folk horror dynamics.
Critics praise its effective use of location to amplify paranoia, while the narrative delves into the clash between modern skepticism and primal beliefs. Released in 2010, this underrated gem highlights how subtle psychological manipulation can outweigh overt gore in crafting lasting chills.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
- Runtime: 83 minutes
- Genres: Horror, Thriller
- Director: Tobe Hooper
- Cast: Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain
This groundbreaking 1974 classic follows a group of friends who stumble upon a secluded farmhouse inhabited by a deranged family of cannibals. Anchored by the iconic Leatherface, the story unleashes unrelenting chaos through raw, documentary-style filmmaking that captures primal fear. Its influence on the slasher genre is undeniable, emphasizing realism over spectacle to evoke genuine discomfort.
The film’s exploration of rural decay and human savagery remains potent, with innovative sound design and minimalistic violence amplifying its impact. Decades later, it continues to redefine boundaries in horror cinema.
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
- Runtime: 88 minutes
- Genres: Horror, Thriller, Action
- Director: Adam Robitel
- Cast: Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Indya Moore
Survivors from a previous deadly puzzle series find themselves thrust into an even more elaborate and lethal competition orchestrated by the enigmatic Minos corporation. As alliances form and secrets unravel, participants must decode intricate traps blending physical and mental challenges. The sequel intensifies the stakes with inventive set pieces and revelations about past victors.
Themes of corporate malice and human resilience shine through clever design, offering adrenaline-fueled escapism laced with commentary on survival instincts. Its fast-paced structure keeps viewers engaged from start to finish.
Don’t Breathe 2
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- Genres: Horror, Thriller
- Director: Rodo Sayagues
- Cast: Stephen Lang, Madelyn Grace, Brendan Sexton III
Years after the events of the original, the blind veteran Norman Nordstrom lives a reclusive life raising a young girl as his own. When intruders target their home with sinister motives, Norman’s protective instincts unleash a brutal defense. The narrative shifts perspectives, examining redemption and moral ambiguity in extreme circumstances.
Intense home-invasion sequences and character-driven conflicts provide gripping tension, expanding the franchise’s exploration of vulnerability and vengeance.
The Call
- Runtime: 112 minutes
- Genres: Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi
- Director: Lee Chung-hyun
- Cast: Park Shin-hye, Jeon Jong-seo
Two women from different eras connect via a mysterious phone line, allowing actions in the past to alter the present. What starts as friendship devolves into obsession and terror as one manipulates events for personal gain. This South Korean masterpiece weaves time-bending mechanics with psychological torment.
Outstanding performances drive the escalating paranoia, critiquing fate, choice, and morality in a tightly constructed plot full of twists.
Annabelle Comes Home
- Runtime: 106 minutes
- Genres: Horror, Supernatural
- Director: Gary Dauberman
- Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mckenna Grace
Demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren secure the possessed doll in their artifacts room, but a curious visitor unwittingly releases its malevolent influence, awakening other cursed objects. The story focuses on their daughter and her friends enduring a night of paranormal assaults.
Blending franchise lore with standalone scares, it expands the Conjuring universe through creative entity designs and familial bonds tested by evil.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
- Runtime: 107 minutes
- Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
- Director: Johannes Roberts
- Cast: Kaya Scodelario, Hannah John-Kamen, Robbie Amell
Set in 1998, this reboot chronicles the origins of the Umbrella Corporation’s viral outbreak in Raccoon City, as survivors navigate zombie hordes and corporate conspiracies. Faithful to the games’ lore, it recreates iconic locations and characters amid escalating apocalypse.
Practical effects and nostalgic references appeal to fans, balancing action with survival horror elements in a gritty reimagining.
Oculus
- Runtime: 104 minutes
- Genres: Horror, Psychological
- Director: Mike Flanagan
- Cast: Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Katee Sackhoff
Siblings attempt to destroy an antique mirror blamed for their family’s tragic past, rigging experiments to prove its supernatural hold. Nonlinear storytelling blurs reality and illusion, heightening disorientation.
Flanagan’s early work showcases masterful tension-building, probing trauma, perception, and inescapable curses through innovative narrative techniques.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things
- Runtime: 134 minutes
- Genres: Psychological Thriller, Horror
- Director: Charlie Kaufman
- Cast: Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette
A young woman accompanies her boyfriend to meet his parents on a remote farm, but surreal distortions erode reality during the journey. Kaufman’s adaptation delves into identity, regret, and existential isolation through dreamlike sequences.
Layered symbolism and unreliable narration challenge viewers, offering profound introspection amid growing dread.
Cadaver
- Runtime: 86 minutes
- Genres: Horror, Thriller
- Director: Jarand Herdal
- Cast: Gitte Witt, Thorbjørn Harr, Thomas Gullestad
In a post-nuclear world, a desperate family attends a hotel theater performance promising food and entertainment, only to uncover horrifying truths about the hosts. Norway’s contribution builds claustrophobic suspense in confined spaces.
Themes of desperation and morality in crisis resonate, with atmospheric visuals enhancing the descent into madness.
These selections represent the pinnacle of best horror movies on Netflix, spanning subgenres and origins to deliver unforgettable thrills. Each film not only entertains but probes deeper fears—supernatural, psychological, and societal—ensuring diverse scares for every viewer. Explore further for endless nights of captivating terror.