12 Movies Like The Terror You Need to Watch
Explore 12 chilling picks for fans of The Terror, from Them and Channel Zero to Lovecraft Country, Penny Dreadful, and more.
If you’re searching for movies like The Terror, you probably want tense period atmosphere, slow-burn dread, and stories where survival feels uncertain. This list leans into that same mix of adventure, drama, horror, thriller, and fantasy, with picks that build unease as much through setting and character as through scares. You’ll find the icy menace of The Terror (2018), the haunting social horror of Them (2021), and the eerie anthology twists of Channel Zero (2016) and American Horror Stories (2021). Folklore (2018), Castle Rock (2018), Lovecraft Country (2020), and Penny Dreadful (2014) round out the lineup with unsettling worlds, rich mythology, and unforgettable tension. For readers who want dread with depth, these titles deliver the same kind of gripping atmosphere that made the original so memorable.
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01
Them
drama · horror · thriller
A limited anthology series that explores terror in America.
Directed by Craig William Macneill, Nelson Cragg, Ti West, Axelle Carolyn, Guillermo NavarroCast Deborah Ayorinde, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, Melody HurdAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
02
Channel Zero
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · thriller
A horror anthology series inspired by “Creepypasta” online tales.
Directed by Craig William Macneill, Steven Piet, E.L. Katz, Arkasha StevensonCast Brandon Scott, Marina Stephenson Kerr, Abigail Pniowsky, Diana Bentley, Keenan LehmannAMC+ -
03
American Horror Stories
drama · horror · mystery · thriller
An anthology series of stand alone episodes delving into horror myths, legends and lore.
Directed by Max Winkler, Loni Peristere, Alexis Martin Woodall, Manny Coto, Liz FriedlanderCast Sierra McCormick, Paris Jackson, Merrin Dungey, Selena Sloan, Ashley CarterHulu -
04
Folklore
horror
Bringing together some of the most talented Asian directors working within the genre sphere, this new anthology series creates an atmosphere unlike anything that’s come out of the region before.
Directed by Joko Anwar, Yuhang Ho, Eric Khoo, Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Takumi SaitōCast Li Wenqiang, Dolly De Leon, Maguire Jian, Dido de la Paz, Sivakumar PalakrishnanMax -
05
Castle Rock
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
Based on the stories of Stephen King, the series intertwines characters and themes from the fictional town of Castle Rock.
Directed by Greg Yaitanes, Michael Uppendahl, Phil Abraham, Anne Sewitsky, Ana Lily AmirpourCast Bill Skarsgård, André Holland, Lizzy Caplan, Melanie Lynskey, Paul SparksNetflixHulu -
06
Lovecraft Country
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
The anthology horror series follows 25-year-old Atticus Freeman, who joins up with his friend Letitia and his Uncle George to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America to find his missing father. They must survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the malevolent spirits that could be ripped from a Lovecraft paperback.
Directed by Daniel Sackheim, Yann Demange, Cheryl Dunye, Misha Green, Victoria MahoneyCast Jurnee Smollett, Jonathan Majors, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Wunmi Mosaku, Abbey LeeMax -
07
Penny Dreadful
drama · fantasy · horror
Some of literature's most terrifying characters, including Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the novel Dracula are lurking in the darkest corners of Victorian London. Penny Dreadful is a frightening psychological thriller that weaves together these classic horror origin stories into a new adult drama.
Directed by Damon Thomas, James Hawes, Brian Kirk, Paco Cabezas, J.A. BayonaCast Reeve Carney, Timothy Dalton, Eva Green, Rory Kinnear, Billie PiperParamount Plus -
08
Lore
documentary · horror · mystery
This anthology series brings to life Aaron Mahnke's “Lore” podcast and uncovers the real-life events that spawned our darkest nightmares. Blending dramatic scenes, animation, archive and narration, Lore reveals how our horror legends - such as vampires, werewolves and body snatchers - are rooted in truth.
Directed by Christoph Schrewe, Alice Troughton, Darnell Martin, Thomas J. Wright, Nick CopusCast Aaron Mahnke, Emmett J. Scanlan, Maimie McCoy, Paula Malcomson, Steven BerkoffAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
09
Accused
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
In this crime anthology series, viewers discover how an ordinary person got caught up in an extraordinary situation, ultimately revealing how one wrong turn leads to another, until it’s too late to turn back. Told from the defendant’s point of view, each episode opens in a courtroom on the accused without knowing their crime or how they ended up on trial.
Directed by Milan Cheylov, Tazbah Chavez, Michael Chiklis, Clark Johnson, Jonathan MostowCast Michael Chiklis, Shawn Doyle, Matthew James Thomas, Daniel Maslany, Vicki KimHulu -
10
Haunted
horror · reality-tv
Real people sit down with friends and family to share terrifying true stories from their past, re-created through chilling re-enactments.
Directed by Jan PavlackyCast Vanda Chaloupková, Hana Baronová, Vojtech Hýzdal, Janek Gregor, Jan PapírníkNetflix -
11
Angkhan Khlumpong: Extreme
drama · horror · mystery & thriller
A collection of haunting hit stories inspired by the "Angkhan Khlumpong (Terror Tuesday)" radio program with terrorizing twists and turns that are dialed up to the extreme.
Directed by Prueksa Amaruji, Abhichoke Chandrasen, Prin Keeratiratanalak, Chayan Laoyodtrakool, Alisa PienCast Pattaravadee Boonmeesup, Panisara Rikulsurakan, Nat Kitcharit, Chayanit Chansangavej, Cherprang AreekulNetflix -
12
The Winchesters
action · adventure · drama · fantasy · thriller
Before Sam and Dean, there was John and Mary. Told from the perspective of narrator Dean Winchester, this is the epic, untold love story of how John met Mary, and how they put it all on the line to not only save their love, but the entire world.
Directed by John F. Showalter, Lisa Soper, John T. Kretchmer, Geary McLeod, Richard Speight Jr.Cast Meg Donnelly, Drake Rodger, Nida Khurshid, Jojo Fleites, Demetria McKinneyMax
Wrapping Up
Whether you want haunted histories, creature-driven suspense, or supernatural stories with real emotional weight, this lineup offers plenty of strong next watches. Each title brings its own flavor, but they all share that same ability to keep you uneasy while pulling you deeper into the story. If you’re building a watchlist for dark, atmospheric TV, save this page and come back whenever you want a fresh recommendation. We update this list regularly, so it’s worth revisiting as new favorites appear and older picks shift around.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to The Terror?
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 7, 2026