20 Best Horror Movies on Netflix 2026
Find streaming scares worth your time, from Alien and Jaws to Smile 2, plus fresh picks, classic thrills, and 20 total movies to choose from.
If you’re hunting for a scary movie night that actually delivers, this roundup keeps the options tight and worth your time. You’ll find nerve-jangling picks like Alien and Aliens, the tense survival scares of Jaws, and the devilish home-invasion setup of Ready or Not. We also included modern standouts like Smile 2, The Witch, Resident Evil: Extinction, and the newly added The Last House, so there’s a mix of creature features, psychological dread, and fast-paced thrills. With 20 titles on the page, it’s easy to jump between horror, sci-fi, action, adventure, and thriller picks until you land on the right kind of fright.
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01
Godzilla Minus One
action · adventure · drama · horror · sci-fi
In postwar Japan, Godzilla brings new devastation to an already scorched landscape. With no military intervention or government help in sight, the survivors must join together in the face of despair and fight back against an unrelenting horror.
Directed by Takashi YamazakiCast Minami Hamabe, Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Munetaka Aoki, Sakura Andō, Yuki YamadaNetflix -
02
The Last House
action & adventure · horror · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
A family suddenly sealed inside their home must work together to survive against dwindling resources and the ominous threat keeping them trapped.
Directed by Louis LeterrierCast Greta Lee, Wagner Moura, Riley Chung, Noah Alexander Sosnowski, Emma HoNetflix -
03
Aliens
action · adventure · horror · sci-fi · thriller
Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromo's deadly encounter with the monstrous Alien, returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story is initially met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a team of Colonial Marines back to LV-426.
Directed by James CameronCast Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance HenriksenNetflix -
04
Host
horror · mystery
Six friends hire a medium to hold a séance via Zoom during lockdown — but they get far more than they bargained for as things quickly go wrong. When an evil spirit starts invading their homes, they begin to realise they might not survive the night.
Directed by Rob SavageCast Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova, Caroline WardNetflixAMC+ -
05
Scream
horror · mystery · thriller
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler GillettCast Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Melissa Barrera, Jack QuaidNetflixParamount Plus -
06
Prom Night
horror
Donna's senior prom is supposed to be the best night of her life, though a sadistic killer from her past has different plans for her and her friends.
Directed by Nelson McCormickCast Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup, Dana Davis, Collins PennieNetflix -
07
Ready or Not
action · comedy · horror · mystery · thriller
A young bride's wedding night turns into her worst nightmare when her ridiculously rich in-laws force her to play a gruesome game of hide-and-seek.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler GillettCast Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O'Brien, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowellNetflix -
08
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
horror · sci-fi · thriller
Dr. Kelson finds himself in a shocking new relationship - with consequences that could change the world as they know it - and Spike's encounter with Jimmy Crystal becomes a nightmare he can't escape.
Directed by Nia DaCostaCast Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Connor Newall, Erin Kellyman, Maura BirdNetflix -
09
Alien
horror · sci-fi
During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.
Directed by Ridley ScottCast Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John HurtNetflix -
10
The Witch
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · thriller
In 1630, a farmer relocates his family to a remote plot of land on the edge of a forest where strange, unsettling things happen. With suspicion and paranoia mounting, each family member's faith, loyalty and love are tested in shocking ways.
Directed by Robert EggersCast Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie GraingerNetflix -
11
Jaws
adventure · drama · horror · thriller
When the seaside community of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town's chief of police, a young marine biologist, and a grizzled shark hunter embark on a desperate quest to kill the beast before it strikes again.
Directed by Steven SpielbergCast Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray HamiltonNetflix -
12
Under the Skin
drama · horror · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
A seductive stranger prowls the streets of Glasgow in search of prey: unsuspecting men who fall under her spell.
Directed by Jonathan GlazerCast Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Lynsey Taylor Mackay, Dougie McConnell, Kevin McAlindenNetflix -
13
Smile 2
horror · mystery · thriller
About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.
Directed by Parker FinnCast Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter JacobsonNetflixAmazon Prime VideoParamount Plus -
14
Nope
horror · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
Residents in a lonely gulch of inland California bear witness to an uncanny, chilling discovery.
Directed by Jordan PeeleCast Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Brandon Perea, Michael Wincott, Steven YeunNetflix -
15
28 Years Later
horror · sci-fi · thriller
Twenty-eight years since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one member departs on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.
Directed by Danny BoyleCast Rocco Haynes, Haley Flaherty, Harriet Taylor, Hannah Allan-Robertson, Annabelle GrahamNetflix -
16
Run Rabbit Run
drama · horror · mystery · thriller
Sarah is a fertility doctor with a firm understanding of the cycle of life. When she is forced to make sense of the increasingly strange behavior of her young daughter Mia, she must challenge her own beliefs and confront a ghost from her past.
Directed by Daina ReidCast Sarah Snook, Lily LaTorre, Neil Melville, Katherine Slattery, Damon HerrimanNetflix -
17
Wrinkles the Clown
comedy · horror · mystery
In Florida, parents can hire Wrinkles the Clown to scare their misbehaving children.
Directed by Michael Beach NicholsCast Lillian Grubbs, D.B. Lambert, Miguel BeyNetflixAmazon Prime Video -
18
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
horror · mystery · thriller
One year since the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, the stories about what transpired there have been twisted into a campy local legend, inspiring the town's first ever Fazfest. With the truth kept from her, Abby sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, setting into motion a terrifying series of events that will reveal dark secrets about the real origin of Freddy's, and unleash a decades-hidden horror.
Directed by Emma TammiCast Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail, Matthew Lillard, Freddy CarterNetflix -
19
Frankenstein
drama · fantasy · horror · sci-fi
Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
Directed by Guillermo del ToroCast Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Christoph Waltz, Mia Goth, Felix KammererNetflix -
20
Thrash
horror · thriller
When a Category 5 hurricane decimates a coastal town, the storm surge brings devastation, chaos and something far more frightening: hungry sharks.
Directed by Tommy WirkolaCast Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak, Djimon Hounsou, Alyla Browne, Stacy ClausenNetflix
Wrapping Up
Whether you want slow-burn dread, sharp creature suspense, or something louder and more chaotic, this list is built to help you pick a great scare fast. From classic essentials like Alien and Jaws to newer favorites such as Smile 2 and The Last House, there’s enough range here to fit a solo watch or a group binge. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want fresh ideas for your next movie night. We update it regularly, so the lineup stays useful as Netflix’s catalog changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Netflix subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Netflix. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these horror movies ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the horror titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 11, 2026