Top 20 Netflix Horror Movies 2024

The spooky season has arrived and Netflix has some great horror movies to get you right in the mood! Although some movies such as The Conjuring 1 and 2 are leaving, new ones will come in to take their place. Netflix also has some original horror movies you can only find on the platform. But which horror movies are worth your time? 

Netflix has a huge catalog of horror movies. Not every one of them could be accounted for here, so if you have a favorite not mentioned on this list, let us know below! Also, as stated above, Netflix often removes horror movies and lists new ones. It’s possible some horror movies on this list will be removed from Netflix in the future but as of October 2024, this is our rating! The list descends from #20 to #1. 

See Also: 5 Biggest Horror Movies Releasing in October 2024

The Nun

I would buy this painting

Synopsis: A priest and novitiate yet to take her final vows visit a cloistered monastery in order to investigate the suicide of one of the nuns there ultimately discovering a dark secret. 

Overview: Including The Nun on this list might be a bit controversial as it’s generally not the most well-received film in the Conjuring Universe, but if you’re looking for some scares, The Nun will do the trick. It’s a bit over-hated in my opinion. Although not the greatest film in terms of narrative, the film offers a great trio of characters, an interesting mystery, and some good jump scares.

Unfriended

Good ole Skype days

Synopsis: A group of friends enter an online video call when one mysterious user enters the chat claiming to be someone that has died from their past.

Overview: Okay so this type of filmmaking has been done a few times since Unfriended originally released, but I still love the concept. Unfriended takes place entirely over an online video call. It’s a more stationary version of found footage films that forces the director to be creative with their scares and storytelling. This is one of those horror movies where you will have to sometimes suspend belief, but it’s a fun perspective to watch a horror movie play out and in all honesty, presents some pretty good scares. That ending was unexpected as well. If you like these more experimental types of filmmaking, you’ll want to check this one out.

In The Tall Grass

Would you enter if you heard a voice crying for help?

Synopsis: A brother and sister enter a field of very tall grass after hearing a young boy calling for help, only to realize they have no way out and nothing is at it seems.

Overview: I personally think this film is underrated. In The Tall Grass is based on a novella by Stephen King and features some weird twisty moments throughout. It’s a film that ups the creep factor with its audio. People are not always where they think, and that damn grass blowing in the wind gets to you. If you’re a fan of horror with some mystery in it, I’d definitely check this out. 

His House

They live with their demons

Synopsis: Barely escaping war-torn South Sudan, two asylum seekers attempt to get accustomed to their new home in England, but their past soon comes back to haunt them. 

Overview: His House has an incredibly engrossing story about this couple you can’t help but want the best for. They are traumatized by their past and what they had to live through. It is a story with themes surrounding guilt, loss, and trauma while being served as a haunted house film. I was frustrated by their experience and only wanted them to be able to live at ease, something that was difficult to do when they had visitors as night!

Incantation

This lore was fascinating to follow

Synopsis: A mother who recently gained custody of her daughter begins to experience paranormal events due to her breaking a religious taboo years ago. 

Overview: Incantation is labeled as a found footage film, but I felt as though everything was too clean and perfectly shot on camera. That being said, there are a couple of scenes where the camera angles offer some creepy imagery. The film goes back and forth from when the mother gains custody of her child and the experiences in her home, and back in the past when she worked as a part of a ghostbusting crew for their video channel. Although a bit longer than the typical horror film, Incantation moves quickly as we jump from one dark and unsetting setting to another. 

The Wailing

Love, love, love the isolated town

Synopsis: A sickness starts to take over a small town after a stranger moves in. A policeman tries to solve the case before it consumes his daughter. 

Overview: Due to the length of this film and its more dramatic and sometimes comedic perspective, I’d only recommend watching it when you feel like you’re ready to take it on. You sort of have to be in a mood as it’s not a film that is going to offer many scares throughout its runtime. The Wailing doesn’t immediately jump into the horror elements. It’s a very slow-burn film that builds up suspense with the various incidents occurring in the small town. But those last 20 minutes? Wow. Tense, shocking, and terrifying.

It Chapter 2

Absolutely frightening

Synopsis: The Losers Club reunite 27 years after the events of the first film due to a tragic death. Pennywise has returned and they vow to get rid of it once and for all. 

Overview: For some reason, the first film is not on Netflix (why does the platform do this!?) so for those that haven’t already seen it, I’d probably hold off on seeing this film. Although a step back from the amazing first film, It Chapter 2 still brings plenty of scares and has a fantastic ensemble cast that feels just like their younger characters. Although it’s another lengthy film, it’s certainly worth the watch if you’ve seen the first and are interested in seeing Pennywise wreak havoc.

Pearl

What a performance from Mia Goth

Synopsis: A young woman named Pearl wants to be a star and move away from the farm life she currently lives. Her pursuit of stardom takes her down a path of madness.

Overview: Pearl is a prequel to X and follows the old woman in the original film. This film isn’t going to keep you up at night by any means but the performance given by Mia Goth as titular character is mesmerizing. She puts everything into this performance and you’ll be captivated as you watch her descend further and further down. And once she arrives there, she brings this level of tension that petrifies all around her. 

Halloween

Terrifying

Synopsis: Michael Myers escapes from prison after 40 years and returns to Haddonfield to continue his killing spree. 

Overview: Halloween is a soft reboot of the original that may have had one too many sequels for its own good. This installment corrects this by going back to basics reminding audience members why he is so frightening. It would have been higher on the list had the script been more tight. Too much fluff is spent on a random love interest that doesn’t need to be there. But still, Halloween delivers a great slasher film with some haunting imagery and sick kills making it worthy of being on the list. 

Life

This trio of actors were fantastic

Synopsis: A group of scientists are excited to discover a new life form while in space, but their excitement quickly dies as the life form evolves and threatens to destroy Earth.

Overview: If you’re a fan of Sci-fi horror such as the Alien franchise, you’ll love Life. This horror movie takes place on a space station and the use of the interior spacing, movement, and dimmed lighting was executed fantastically. Having Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ryan Reynolds make up your lead cast doesn’t hurt either. I loved their characters in the film and wanted to see how they escaped this new alien threat. 

See For Me

This concept was unique and fun

Synopsis: A blind girl housesits a mansion for an owner who is away on vacation, but once intruders break into the house, the girl must rely on a stranger to navigate her through the danger via her phone application.

Overview: See For Me is a fun and unique movie idea. The main character can be a bit tough to sympathize with at the start of the film due to her strong attitude, but she grows on you as time goes on. It’s probably not the scariest film on the list but it definitely scratches that home invasion itch some viewers might have. 

Veronica

Their first mistake was playing with the Ouija board

Synopsis: Veronica and her siblings are haunted by a demonic spirit after she plays with a Ouija board. It’s now up to Veronica to protect her brother and sisters.

Overview: Another Ouija board movie is Veronica. I liked that the children here aren’t annoying like they sometimes can be in horror movies. They’re innocent and supportive of their sister as she is the one who primarily cares for them. As a result, Veronica is terrifying, not just because we are scared of the demon, but because we’re also afraid of what could potentially happen to this family. 

Ouija: Origin of Evil

This movie had so many disturbing images

Synopsis: A mother and her two daughters are involved in a scam claiming they can help people connect with loved ones who have passed away through the use of an Ouija board. But soon after, the danger becomes real as one of the daughters accidentally invites an evil entity. 

Overview: Many fans of horror were skeptical of this film due to it being involved in the very poorly received film, Ouija, from 2014. Those fears were put to rest when Ouija: Origin of Evil came out though. It was a genuinely terrifying film with a surprisingly heartfelt main cast. The family being involved in a scam and slowly getting sucked deeper into it was intriguing. I believed in these characters and the struggles they were going through. Some visuals involving the daughter were also creepy as hell. I’d highly recommend checking this one out! And don’t bother with the first film.

The Babadook

A mother, a son, and mister Babadook

Synopsis: A single mother struggling with her son’s tantrums comes across a children’s book containing a horrific presence that slowly starts to consume her. 

Overview: The Babadook might not be everyone’s cup of tea due to the child’s behavior throughout the film, but that’s sort of the point. You want to connect to the mother. You understand her desperation. She is depressed, without her partner, a child that doesn’t behave, and now a sinister entity that wants to take over. You understand how it all happens as she is vulnerable. The Babadook is also incredibly creepy. Director Jennifer Kent did a great job making his voice feel demonic. “Give me the boy” will stay in your mind long after you finish this film.

You’re Next

Enter if you dare

Synopsis: A family wedding anniversary turns sideways when a group of killers wearing animal masks break into the getaway house. 

Overview: You’re Next is a must-watch horror movie on Netflix. It’s a home invasion movie where one of the guests fights back. Watching them come up with ideas on how to fend off the invaders was incredibly entertaining to watch. Don’t get confused though. This isn’t just a regular action movie. You’re Next offers up plenty of scares for fans of horror. The use of the house, the mysteriousness of the invaders, and their creepy animal masks help to elevate this film as one of the great home invasion films. 

Fear Street Trilogy

Surprisingly scary…and cruel

Synopsis: Fear Street on Netflix is a trilogy of horror movies that only works well when all watched together. Each film takes place during different time periods with different characters, all trying to survive a serial killing evil. 

Overview: I sort of cheated here as this involves three films, but these films work as one piece. The Fear Street trilogy on Netflix starts in the present day and works its way back to explain events occurring in Shadyside. I love that it feels like a series in a way. The R rating goes a long way to help these films out as well. I think if it was PG-13, it could have felt a little too soap opera-y and not have been able to deliver those genuinely brutal kills. If you skipped these films thinking they’re more for teenagers, I’d highly recommend checking them out.

As Above, So Below

Found footage perfection

Synopsis: A group of explorers enter the catacombs beneath Paris and uncover dark secrets beneath the city.

Overview: As Above So Below excels in almost every way a good horror should. It’s a brilliantly done horror movie, expertly utilizing the found footage style of filmmaking in the dark claustrophobic environments that is the catacombs. There is just something from the get-go that’s creepy about shooting in a graveyard, and more with one that is underground. Watching these characters try to figure a way out and slowly get deeper and deeper was refreshing, fun, and most importantly, scary as all hell. 

The Ritual

Synopsis: A group of friends head out on a hike in Europe, but when one of their friends is injured, they attempt to take a shortcut through a forest where an evil entity stalks them. 

Overview: I’m not sure what it is about Horror movies and forests that gives me the chills. It could be the fact that no one lives there, or rather no one is supposed to. That feeling of isolation and confusion as people attempt to navigate land that doesn’t have easily distinguishable paths always makes for great scares and The Ritual is no exception. What makes this horror movie work so well however is how great the cast is. The group have a great backstory that continuously comes into play as they grow angrier and more desperate. Having that psychological element helps elevate this film further. 

Evil Dead Rise

Synopsis: An evil entity has made its way to an apartment complex in Los Angeles. The family the characters once knew begins to change forever as the demon wants nothing more than to tear them apart. 

Overview: Oh man, what a gore fest. Evil Dead Rise starts off running and doesn’t let up for the whole runtime. It gives time for the audience members to get acquainted with the characters and immediately throws them into a life-or-death situation where their family starts to change. It has some strong scenes in here and some crazy demonic performances from the cast. Evil Dead Rise is such a fun horror movie and one I would recommend to check out on Netflix. 

See Also: Evil Dead Rise Review: Horrifying Return

The Autopsy of Jane Doe

Synopsis: Two coroners receive a body with inexplicable injuries that do not relate to the crime scene where she was found. As they begin to perform the autopsy, strange occurrences begin to take place.

Overview: If you haven’t seen The Autopsy of Jane Doe, there is absolutely no time like the present. The film centers on two characters, a father and son, and a mysterious dead body in the basement of this building. It keeps the pacing quick and the script tight. The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a tight film with a runtime of only 86 minutes. And in that time, the film creates a palpable tense atmosphere with a mystery you as the viewer can’t help but feel will lead to something sinister. The mystery is compelling and the longer The Autopsy of Jane Doe goes on, the more bizarre and uncomfortable it gets. It’s currently the best horror movie on Netflix. 

How many of these movies have you seen? Do you agree with this list? Did we miss any horror movies? What are your favorite Netflix horror movies? Let us know!