12 Halloween Movies on Netflix (October 2026)
Find classic slashers, tense thrillers, and modern scares in this guide to horror picks, from Psycho and Alien to The Black Phone and Fear Street.
If you’re searching for the best horror movies on Netflix, this list gives you a mix of classic slashers, psychological chills, creature features, and modern mystery-heavy scares. Start with iconic picks like Psycho, Alien, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, then move into tense favorites such as The Ring, The Strangers, and The Black Phone. You’ll also find newer options like Fear Street: Part One - 1994 and Evil Dead, plus lighter choices such as Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation. Whether you want suspense, sci-fi dread, or a movie night that stays spooky without going too far, there’s something here for different kinds of horror fans.
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01
Friday the 13th
horror · mystery · thriller
Camp counselors are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer camp that was the site of a child's drowning.
Why watch: If you enjoy camp-set slasher stories with a mystery edge, this is a strong fit. Its stalking-and-murder premise makes it a straightforward choice for viewers who want familiar horror setup and tension.
Directed by Sean S. CunninghamCast Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, Kevin BaconNetflixPeacock PremiumAMC+Paramount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
02
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
horror
Five friends head out to rural Texas to visit the grave of a grandfather. On the way, they stumble across what appears to be a deserted house, only to discover something sinister within. Something armed with a chainsaw.
Why watch: If you like rural horror and a relentless, grim setup, this one fits well. The premise leans hard into survival fear and is best for viewers who want a lean, unsettling classic.
Directed by Tobe HooperCast Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain, William Vail, Teri McMinnNetflixAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
03
Alien
Won 1 Oscar 2 nominations
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.
Why watch: If you want horror with sci-fi mixed in, this is an easy pick. It suits viewers who like a suspenseful crew-versus-threat setup in a confined space.
Directed by Ridley ScottCast Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John HurtNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
04
Psycho
4 Oscar nominations Best Supporting Actress (1961)
drama · horror · mystery & thriller
When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where manager Norman Bates cares for his housebound mother.
Why watch: If you prefer horror with mystery and psychological unease, this is an excellent choice. It’s a good match for viewers who want a classic story built around suspicion and a notorious motel setting.
Directed by Alfred HitchcockCast Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Janet Leigh, Martin BalsamNetflixPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb → -
05
The Ring
horror · mystery
Journalist Rachel Keller investigates a strange videotape that may be behind the untimely deaths of four teenagers. There is an urban legend about this tape: the viewer will die seven days after watching it. Rachel tracks down the video... and watches it. Now she has just seven days to unravel the mystery of the Ring in order to save herself and her son.
Why watch: If you enjoy urban-legend horror and mystery-driven plots, this one should be on your list. The countdown-style premise is especially good for viewers who like a race to solve the problem before time runs out.
Directed by Gore VerbinskiCast Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Brian Cox, Jane AlexanderNetflixPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb →
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06
The Strangers
horror · mystery · thriller
After a 4 a.m. knock at the door and haunting voices, Kristen McKay and James Hoyt’s remote getaway becomes a psychological night of terror as three masked strangers invade. Now they must go far beyond what they thought themselves capable of if they hope to survive.
Why watch: If you want a home-invasion thriller with masked intruders and a tense atmosphere, this is a solid option. It’s best for viewers who like horror that stays close to a single, terrifying night.
Directed by Bryan BertinoCast Alex Fisher, Peter Clayton-Luce, Scott Speedman, Liv Tyler, Gemma WardNetflixPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb → -
07
Evil Dead
horror · thriller
Mia, a drug addict, is determined to kick the habit. To that end, she asks her brother, David, his girlfriend, Natalie and their friends Olivia and Eric to accompany her to their family's remote forest cabin to help her through withdrawal. Eric finds a mysterious Book of the Dead at the cabin and reads aloud from it, awakening an ancient demon. All hell breaks loose when the malevolent entity possesses Mia.
Why watch: If you like possession stories and darker supernatural horror, this version of Evil Dead may be the right pick. Its forest-cabin setup and thriller lean make it a fit for viewers who want a high-stakes, demonic premise.
Directed by Fede AlvarezCast Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, Elizabeth BlackmoreNetflixAmazon Prime VideoMaxMore details on IMDb → -
08
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
adventure · comedy · fantasy · horror
Be careful what you wish for. With their after school junk business, best friends Sonny and Sam hope to find treasure in other people’s trash. But when cleaning out the old Stine house, they open a locked book that frees a supernatural nightmare – Slappy! Now, with the help of Sonny’s sister Sarah, they’re in a race against time to get the sinister dummy and all the creatures he’s brought to life back into the pages before he unleashes total pandemonium!
Why watch: If you want horror that’s lighter and more family-friendly, this is a good match. Its mix of adventure, comedy, fantasy, and horror works well for viewers who like spooky fun rather than pure intensity.
Directed by Ari SandelCast Wendi McLendon-Covey, Madison Iseman, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Caleel Harris, Ken JeongNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
09
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
animation · adventure · comedy · family · fantasy
Dracula, Mavis, Johnny and the rest of the Drac Pack take a vacation on a luxury Monster Cruise Ship, where Dracula falls in love with the ship’s captain, Ericka, who’s secretly a descendant of Abraham Van Helsing, the notorious monster slayer.
Why watch: If you’re in the mood for animated family entertainment with fantasy and comedy, this is the easiest choice here. It works for viewers who want monster-themed fun without heavy scares.
Directed by Genndy TartakovskyCast Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Fran DrescherNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
10
The Black Phone
horror · mystery · thriller
Finney Blake, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.
Why watch: If you like mystery thrillers with a kidnapping premise and supernatural help from beyond the grave, this is a strong pick. It should appeal to viewers who want suspense built around a trapped protagonist and a phone that changes the game.
Directed by Scott DerricksonCast Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies, E. Roger MitchellNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
11
Fear Street: Part One - 1994
drama · horror · mystery
After a series of brutal slayings, a teen and her friends take on an evil force that's plagued their notorious town for centuries.
Why watch: If you enjoy teen-centered horror with mystery elements and a long-running evil force, this is a good fit. It’s especially appealing if you like stories rooted in a town’s troubled past.
Directed by Leigh JaniakCast Maya Hawke, Charlene Amoia, David Thompson, Noah Bain Garret, Darrell Britt-GibsonNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
12
The Curse of Bridge Hollow
adventure · comedy · family · horror
A Halloween-hating dad reluctantly teams up with his teenage daughter when an evil spirit wreaks havoc by making their town's decorations come to life.
Why watch: If you want a Halloween-themed comedy-horror option for a mixed crowd, this is worth considering. Its family and adventure genres make it a lighter pick for viewers who still want a spooky premise.
Directed by Jeff WadlowCast Marlon Wayans, Priah Ferguson, Kelly Rowland, John Michael Higgins, Lauren LapkusNetflixMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
From old-school classics to newer thrillers, this roundup makes it easier to pick a scary movie that fits your mood. You can use it to find a slow-burn mystery, a masked-invader story, or something more supernatural and strange. Bookmark this page and come back when you want a fresh horror option, because it’s updated regularly to reflect the current lineup. If you’re building a watchlist for October or any other time of year, this is a simple place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to watch this Halloween?
Our top picks right now are Friday the 13th (1980), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Alien (1979), Psycho (1960), The Ring (2002), The Strangers (2008), Evil Dead (2013), Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018), Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018) and The Black Phone (2021), all streaming on Netflix. There are 2 more picks in the full list above.
What are good horror movies on Netflix in 2026?
Our top picks right now are Friday the 13th (1980), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Alien (1979), Psycho (1960), The Ring (2002), The Strangers (2008), Evil Dead (2013), Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018), The Black Phone (2021) and Fear Street: Part One - 1994 (2021), all streaming on Netflix. There is 1 more pick in the full list above.
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?
The order follows curated IMDb lists, and we keep only the titles streaming right now, so the list changes as titles come and go.