12 Movies Like Barbarian You Need to Watch
Craving tense, twisty horror and thrillers? Explore 12 picks like Barbarian, including Saving Grace, Influencer, Night Shift, and more.
If you want movies like Barbarian, this list leans into the same mix of dread, twists, and uneasy tension that made the 2022 hit stand out. You’ll find titles such as Saving Grace, I Live Here Now, Nightmare, Night Shift, and Shattered, each bringing its own spin on horror, mystery, and thriller elements. Influencer and Incarnation add a more contemporary, paranoid edge, while the page also includes other tense picks from the same unsettling lane. Whether you’re after a creepy slow burn, a sharp psychological puzzle, or a story that keeps changing shape, these films deliver that off-balance feeling. With 12 titles on the page, it’s easy to pick your next unsettling watch.
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01
I Live Here Now
drama · horror · mystery & thriller
A woman finds herself trapped in a remote hotel where the violent echoes of her past come alive, blurring the lines between her darkest nightmares and the waking world.
Directed by Julie PacinoCast Anna Armstrong, Madeline Brewer, Lara Clear, Lucy Fry, Alex GaumondAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
02
Nightmare
drama · horror · mystery · thriller
A woman is plagued by constant nightmares after moving into a large, suspiciously cheap apartment. The apartment’s terrible secret soon reveals itself through her dreams.
Directed by Kjersti Helen RasmussenCast Eili Harboe, Herman Tømmeraas, Dennis Storhøi, Siri Black Ndiaye, Peter FørdeAMC+More details on IMDb → -
03
Night Shift
horror · thriller
A young woman working her first night shift at a remote motel begins to suspect that she is being followed by a dangerous character from her past. As the night progresses and increasingly supernatural events occur, she quickly finds out that nothing is what it appears to be.
Directed by Benjamin China, Paul ChinaCast Phoebe Tonkin, Madison Hu, Lamorne Morris, Christopher Denham, Patrick FischlerAmazon Prime VideoHuluMore details on IMDb → -
04
Influencer
horror · mystery · thriller
While struggling on a solo backpacking trip in Thailand, social media influencer Madison meets CW, who travels with ease and shows her a more uninhibited way of living. But CW's interest in her takes a darker turn.
Directed by Kurtis David HarderCast Emily Tennant, Rory J. Saper, Cassandra Naud, Justin Sams, Paul SpurrierNetflixAMC+More details on IMDb → -
05
Incarnation
horror · thriller
Brad and Jess move to Los Angeles in search of a better life. When they stumble upon a hidden real estate gem, managed by the laid-back landlord Peter, they are elated by their turn of fortune. But their ideal home is hiding a secret far more sinister than they could have ever imagined, for the very walls are alive with an ancient evil, and they soon learn that greed comes with a hefty price.
Directed by Isaac WalshCast Taye Diggs, Jessica Uberuaga, Michael Madsen, Rich Paul, Antonio Jones IIPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb → -
06
Saving Grace
horror · thriller
When Sarah becomes a remote carer to escape her violent city past, she discovers your demons can follow, turning tranquility into a terrifying nightmare.
Directed by Gareth Carr, David SullivanCast Kirsty McKenzie, Gary Boulter, Emily Wiseman, Carole Sharkey-Waters, Charlotte-York IslaAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
07
Smile
horror · mystery · thriller
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain.
Directed by Parker FinnCast Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, Jessie T. Usher, Robin Weigert, Caitlin StaseyParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
08
Speak No Evil
drama · horror · mystery · thriller
A Danish family visits a Dutch family they met on a holiday. What was supposed to be an idyllic weekend slowly starts unraveling as the Danes try to stay polite in the face of unpleasantness.
Directed by Christian TafdrupCast Morten Burian, Sidsel Siem Koch, Fedja van Huêt, Karina Smulders, Liva ForsbergAMC+More details on IMDb → -
09
Rounding
drama · horror · mystery · thriller
A driven young medical resident transfers to a rural hospital for a fresh start. There, the demons of his past start to catch up to him when he becomes consumed by the case of a young asthma patient.
Directed by Alex ThompsonCast Namir Smallwood, Sidney Flanigan, Michael Potts, Rebecca Spence, Charin AlvarezAMC+More details on IMDb → -
10
Contorted
horror · mystery
A family moves to a quiet and isolated place, but suffers from nightmares on their very first day in the new home.
Directed by Kang Dong HunCast Seo Young-hee, Kim Bo-min, Kim Min-jae, Cho Flora, Kang Gil-wooAMC+More details on IMDb → -
11
Orphan: First Kill
crime · drama · horror · mystery · thriller
After escaping from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Leena Klammer travels to America by impersonating Esther, the missing daughter of a wealthy family. But when her mask starts to slip, she is put against a mother who will protect her family from the murderous “child” at any cost.
Directed by William Brent BellCast Isabelle Fuhrman, Julia Stiles, Rossif Sutherland, Hiro Kanagawa, Matthew FinlanParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
12
Shutter
horror · mystery · thriller
Darwin, a senior photographer who consistently uses a manual camera, is shocked to discover the appearance of a woman's shadow in every photo he takes. Soon, the woman's figure appears in real life, terrorizing him. Pia, Darwin's girlfriend, decides to investigate the woman's identity. It turns out the woman is Lilies, an outstanding student who once studied at their university. When Darwin's friends die one by one, Pia is convinced this is related to a 'sin' Darwin committed in the past.
Directed by Herwin NoviantoCast Vino G. Bastian, Anya Geraldine, Niken Anjani, Donny Alamsyah, Andri MashadiNetflixMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
The best picks here share the same appeal as Barbarian: they build suspense carefully, then keep you guessing when you think you have the pattern figured out. From eerie house-bound stories to psychological thrillers and stranger, moodier dramas, the list gives you plenty of ways to keep the tension going. Bookmark this page so you can come back whenever you want another smart, unsettling recommendation. It’s updated regularly, so there’s always a fresh reason to revisit and find a new favorite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Barbarian?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.