12 Movies Like Scream You Need to Watch
Craving tense, twisty horror? Explore 12 picks with slashers, mysteries, and thrillers, from Scream (2022) to Longlegs (2024), updated regularly.
If you’re hunting for movies like Scream, the best picks usually mix sharp suspense, a masked killer, and plenty of bad decisions that keep the tension high. This list brings together familiar slasher energy and newer twists, from Scream (2022) and Halloween Ends (2022) to the colder, stranger corners of horror in Longlegs (2024) and Megalomaniac (2022). You’ll also find tense survival stories such as Viking Wolf (2022), the creepy deception of Orphan: First Kill (2022), and the campus-style paranoia of There’s Someone Inside Your House (2021). With mystery, thriller, drama, and even a little romance woven in, these picks are built for anyone who wants smart scares, fresh kills, and a reason to keep watching with the lights on.
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01
Halloween Ends
drama · horror · mystery · romance · thriller
Four years after the events of Halloween in 2018, Laurie has decided to liberate herself from fear and rage and embrace life. But when a young man is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.
Directed by David Gordon GreenCast Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, James Jude Courtney, Rohan Campbell, Will PattonNetflix -
02
Viking Wolf
horror · thriller
After witnessing a grotesque murder at a party in her new town, a teenager starts having strange visions and bizarre desires.
Directed by Stig SvendsenCast Elli Rhiannon Müller Osborne, Liv Mjönes, Arthur Hakalahti, Sjur Vatne Brean, Marius LienNetflix -
03
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 Plus -
04
There's Someone Inside Your House
horror · mystery · thriller
As the countdown to graduation begins, students at Osborne High are being stalked by a maniac intent on exposing their darkest secrets to the entire town, terrorizing victims while wearing a life-like mask of their own face. With a mysterious past of her own, Makani and her friends must discover the killer's identity before they become victims themselves.
Directed by Patrick BriceCast Sydney Park, Théodore Pellerin, Asjha Cooper, Dale Whibley, Jesse LaTouretteNetflix -
05
Longlegs
crime · horror · mystery · thriller
FBI Agent Lee Harker is a gifted new recruit assigned to the unsolved case of an elusive serial killer. As the case takes complex turns, unearthing evidence of the occult, Harker discovers a personal connection to the merciless killer and must race against time to stop him before he claims the lives of another innocent family.
Directed by Osgood PerkinsCast Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, Michelle Choi-LeeHulu -
06
Megalomaniac
horror
Felix and Martha, the two offspring of legendary serial murderer The Skinner of Mons, grapple with the grotesque legacy bequeathed to them. While Martha works a menial janitorial job, Felix continues his father's reign of terror. But following a brutal attack at work, Martha quickly descends into madness, finding she must come to terms with the infamous blood that flows through her veins.
Directed by Karim OuelhajCast Eline Schumacher, Benjamin Ramon, Hélène Moor, Wim Willaert, Raphaële BruneauAMC+ -
07
Vindicta
horror · thriller
When a city is terrorized by a sadistic serial killer, a seasoned detective and a newly recruited paramedic discover the key to stopping the bloodshed lies in unlocking the truth of their own haunted pasts.
Directed by Sean McNamaraCast Elena Kampouris, Jeremy Piven, Sean Astin, Travis Nelson, Jaime M. CallicaParamount Plus -
08
The Puppetman
horror · thriller
The Puppetman, a convicted killer on death row, always maintained his innocence saying that it was an evil force controlling his body as he slaughtered his victims. Now Michal, the killer's daughter, begins to suspect that there may be some truth to her father's claim when those around her begin to die in brutal ways. She must try and break the curse of The Puppetman before all her loved ones are killed.
Directed by Brandon ChristensenCast Alyson Gorske, Angel Prater, Kio Cyr, Cameron Wong, Anna TelferAMC+ -
09
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+ -
10
Play Dead
horror · thriller
Criminology student Chloe fakes her own death to break into a morgue, in order to retrieve a piece of evidence that ties her younger brother to a crime gone wrong. Once inside, she discovers that a sadistic coroner is using the corpses for his sick and twisted business, and when he realises that Chloe still has a pulse, a terrifying game of cat and mouse ensues.
Directed by Patrick LussierCast Bailee Madison, Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Turpel, Chris Lee, Chris ButlerAmazon Prime Video -
11
Mindcage
crime · drama · horror · mystery · thriller
When a copycat serial killer strikes, two detectives ask a convicted felon for help.
Directed by Mauro BorrelliCast Elisha Bascomb, Alba Borrelli, Neb Chupin, Nikola Chupin, Barry CliftonAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
12
Scream VI
horror · mystery · thriller
Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler GillettCast Courteney Cox, Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason GoodingNetflixParamount Plus
Wrapping Up
Whether you want a classic slasher rhythm, a mystery that keeps shifting, or something darker and more unsettling, this lineup gives you plenty of directions to explore. The mix of new releases and recent cult favorites makes it easy to find your next late-night watch without guessing blindly. Bookmark this page and come back when you want another round of terrifying, twisty recommendations. We update it regularly so the suggestions stay current and worth your time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Scream?
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.
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Last updated: September 11, 2026