Looking for a scary movie to watch this October? Netflix subscribers often choose horror films as their top picks. The company continues to produce new original horror movies for Halloween and acquires others from film festivals. The horror section of Netflix's movie library is extensive, making it challenging to discern between high-quality and lower-quality content compared to other genres.
Netflix offers a plethora of horror films that expertly balance spine-chilling suspense with heart-pounding romance. Whether your preference lies in psychological thrillers, supernatural frights, or classic slasher flicks, these movies will keep you both on the edge of your seats. With jump scares that will prompt you to clutch each other tightly and eerie plot twists that will spark conversation long after the credits roll, numerous horror films can create an unforgettable date night experience.
The top 20 horror movies on Netflix are mentioned here that are perfect for date nights.
20. American Psycho (2000)
Mary Harron, the director, and her adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel were controversial and iconic from the start. Christian Bale took on the role of the serial killer, who created controversy for years to come and changed the portrayal of psychopaths in movies. His performance has been imitated countless times in the two decades since the release of this unforgettable film and is regarded as a milestone in his illustrious career.
19. Apostle (2018):
Gareth Evans, the director of The Raid and its sequel, has also directed a Netflix Original horror movie. Released in 2018, Apostle features Dan Stevens as a man searching for his missing sister on a Welsh island, encountering an unwelcoming community. Kind of dismissed as a riff on The Wicker Man, this is a clever little film, greatly improved by Michael Sheen's performance.
18. The Babadook (2014):
One of the top horror films from the 2010s, directed by Jennifer Kent, hasn't always been easy to find on streaming services. Now's your chance to watch it on Netflix. Jennifer Kent's first directorial effort focuses on a mother, played by Essie Davis, as she grapples with the challenges of raising her difficult child on her own following her husband's passing. Oh, and there is also a genuine monster in the boy's room.
17. Bone Tomahawk (2015):
S. Craig Zahler has emerged as a polarizing filmmaker with three intense and gritty films, including Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete. Bone Tomahawk is considered his best work, a slow-burn Western classic featuring Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and Richard Jenkins as a group of men tracking down indigenous savages. The last scene is so frightening and gripping that it will take time to forget.
16. Disappear Completely (2022):
Disappear Completely by Luis Javier Henaine is a lesser-known and underrated movie. This Mexican horror film tells the tale of Santiago, a photographer willing to go to great lengths to capture the perfect shot. After a particularly disgusting task, he is cursed and begins to lose his five senses one by one.
15. Evil Dead Rise (2023):
Lee Cronin's film reboots the Evil Dead series for the second time. Following the successful 2013 iteration, the action is now set in L.A. A single mother (Alyssa Sutherland) in an apartment building is overtaken by the same evil force that previously haunted Ash. Twisted and clever, Evil Dead Rise is a gruesome horror flick that was so successful that it feels like a sixth film in the series won't take a decade to rise from the dead.
14. Fear Street (2021):
This new series, based on the books of R.L. Stine, has been a huge success. The trilogy narrates a curse affecting a small town in three separate time periods: 1994, 1978, and 1666. Fans debated on the best entry in 1994, but it is recommended to now view them as a single, well-crafted piece of horror entertainment. Sadie Sink and Maya Hawke, two of the most talented stars from Stranger Things, also contribute to the project.
13. Gerald's Game (2017):
Before directing The Haunting of Hill House, Mike Flanagan collaborated on writing and directing this top horror film created by Netflix. This film is an adaptation of Stephen King’s 1992 novel of the same title. Carla Gugino is handcuffed to her bed by her abusive husband…and then he has a heart attack. As she tries to work out how she will manage, she confronts the trauma of her past.
12. His House (2020):
What if it's not houses that are haunted but the individuals who reside in them? This is the main question in this tale about a pair of immigrants (performed by excellent Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu) from South Sudan who relocate to an English town and encounter foes outside and inside their new residence. This is a very original scary movie that has not received enough recognition. Don't overlook this underrated
11. The Babysitter (2017):
It's a typical scenario: a young child has a crush on an attractive teenage babysitter. However, the original movie The Babysitter from Netflix changes that by featuring an attractive babysitter who is also involved in a Satanic cult. The group brought their ritual into young Cole's house and will do anything to prevent Cole from exposing their secret. It's not truly a "frightening" horror movie; it's more silly, extremely bloody, and a sort of return to the cheesy horror of the 1980s.
10.The Pope’s Exorcist (2023):
This may not be a great film, but it's interesting to see an Academy Award winner like Russell Crowe fully embrace such a ridiculous B-movie. Crowe fully commits to portraying the notorious Father Gabriele Amorth, a supposed actual exorcist who attempts to help a possessed boy in Spain.
This movie is a perfect fit for the horror movies available on Netflix that you can watch while multitasking on your phone.
9. Vampires vs. The Bronx (2020):
Vampires vs. The Bronx is a recent scary movie with a straightforward change to a popular category that makes you wonder why it didn't happen earlier. A group of children residing in a Bronx community finds out that the property company purchasing nearby shops is controlled by a group of vampire-like creatures who feed on blood. The idea is successful since gentrification mainly involves draining a community's resources.
The similarities to Stranger Things are clear in director Osmany Rodriguez's work. The characters are shown taking notes from Blade.
8. Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016):
The director of Gerald’s Game directed this prequel about a couple who run a fake séance company. When they include an Ouija board in their performance, their lives take a dramatic turn as they accidentally release a spirit that takes control of their daughter. Intelligent and well-constructed, it foreshadowed what the future creator of Hill House had in store.
7. Pearl (2022):
Mia Goth has acted in three movies with Ti West: X (2021), MaXXXine (2024), and the middle chapter, which serves as the origin story for her character in the first film of this trilogy. This is the actor's best performance, showing fearless sociopathic behavior with a memorable smile.
6. The Perfection (2019):
Actress Allison Williams from Girls and Get Out takes on the lead role in this intricate story about a gifted young musician who journeys to Shanghai and encounters a rival named Lizzie, portrayed by Logan Browning. This constantly changing and evolving tale ultimately leads to a surprising ending in this Netflix movie that gained a lot of attention at festivals in 2018 and 2019.
5. The Ritual (2018):
The Ritual is unquestionably one of the scariest movies on Netflix that's worth viewing in recent times. Barton/Nevill's tale may initially seem familiar, but there are many surprises to keep you unsure; an extremely distressing event early on in the story will make you take notice because it shows that The Ritual is not just a typical scary movie.
The plot revolves around old university buddies who arrange a trip that quickly becomes terrifying—that's your typical scenario. To share more details would reveal too much, but just say that creating the monster is only part of the enjoyment, and the rest involves the main character's introspective psychological journey. Make sure to watch this one soon before the surprise is ruined.
4. Annabelle (2014):
The world of The Conjuring had its initial spin-off with this exploration of the story of Annabelle, a doll kept in the haunted objects room of Ed and Lorraine Warren in those movies. The tale of the cursed doll features Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, and Alfre Woodard. It's not fantastic - the follow-up movies are better, but it's crucial to the overall narrative of this incredibly successful horror series.
3. Psycho (1960):
Frequently listed as one of the greatest films of all time, Alfred Hitchcock's suspenseful movie unquestionably revolutionized the genre. Psycho was the first movie to play with structure in such a dramatic way, with its dramatic change in point of view and shocking murder scene in the middle of the film. It's still an engaging work, a movie where one can discover new techniques and pleasures with each viewing. This one might not be a date-night go-to, but a classic or two never hurt anyone.
2. The Conjuring (2013):
The Conjuring is a supernatural horror film directed by James Wan. It draws inspiration from the true-life experiences of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The narrative centers around the Perron family, who relocate to a haunted farmhouse in Rhode Island; however, they quickly find themselves embroiled in a series of terrifying occurrences.
Desperate for assistance, they reach out to the Warrens, who uncover a malevolent spirit determined to wreak havoc on the family. This film intertwines jump scares, atmospheric tension, and a chilling basis in reality. Although The Conjuring achieved both critical and commercial acclaim, it also spawned a franchise of sequels and spin-offs that further broadened its eerie, ghostly universe. Because of its captivating storytelling, audiences were left both enthralled and terrified.
1. Get Out (2017):
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Get Out (2017), helmed by Jordan Peele, is a psychological horror-thriller that intricately intertwines social critique with suspenseful storytelling. The narrative centers on Chris, a black man who travels to a remote estate to meet the family of his white girlfriend, Rose. What commences as an awkward family reunion quickly unravels into disturbing revelations as Chris gradually unveils the terrifying reality beneath their ostensibly liberal and congenial exterior.
This film delves into complex themes of racism, exploitation, and identity—utilizing both tension and psychological manipulation to evoke chilling insights. Although it has been lauded for its distinctive perspective on race relations, its sharp and suspenseful narrative ensures that Get Out remains a significant entry in modern horror. However, the layers of meaning within the film invite viewers to reflect deeply on societal issues.
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