Watching scary movies on streaming is kind of like a “choose-your-own-adventure” story these days. Who’s going to haunt your dreams tonight—witches, demons, ghosts, or aliens? With what feels like another golden age of horror (thanks to new releases like Weapons and Together, and upcoming reimaginings of Frankenstein), there’s truly a sub-genre for every kind of thrill seeker. From iconic classics to psychological mind-benders and gut-turning slashers, your choice of nightmare is literally endless.
Of course, “scary” can be somewhat subjective, but there are certain horror films that have unanimously cemented themselves as some of the absolute scariest. Whether you go for creepy, gory, jump scares, or all the above, these movies get to the heart of what really scares us the most. So, if you’re looking to add a little more horror to your Friday night or Sunday scaries, brace yourself for our list of terrifying movie picks. They truly put the horror in horrifying, and are guaranteed to give you a hair-raising good time.
1. The Substance
I’ve been begging the streaming gods to put this one on any of my subscribed streaming platforms, so when I saw it finally hit HBO Max this week, I was ecstatic! The Substance is a gory, blood-soaked love letter to body horror fans—and easily the best-worst way to spend your Friday night if you want your skin to crawl. Not only was it nominated for Best Picture this year, but Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley also scored Oscar nods for their perfectly unhinged performances. It’s twisted, it’s satirical, and it’ll have you questioning beauty standards and celebrity culture in the best possible way.
2. Hereditary
If you want to be thoroughly unsettled, try turning on Ari Aster’s Hereditary. This is one of those films that you really only need to see once because certain scenes will stick in your mind forever and haunt your dreams (as will Alex Wolff’s cries). It’s a great example of building tensions, as things go progressively from bad to worse to what in the demonic cult was that?! Plus, it’s a legitimately well-done movie, horror aside. I especially love the parallels between Annie’s work as a miniature artist and the family’s actual home. It gives the whole thing a very eerie and claustrophobic vibe, as if they’re all being played with like a bunch of dolls in a dollhouse.
3. Insidious
Before James Wan launched The Conjuring Universe, he was co-creating another horror franchise: Insidious. Also starring Patrick Wilson, along with Rose Byrne and Ty Simpkins, Insidious is like if Nightmare on Elm Street and Poltergeist had a baby that was ten times scarier. In fact, it holds the record for the biggest jump scare by heart rate, according to The Science of Scare Project. While you won’t find much gore here, there’s plenty of intense suspense and nightmarish imagery that will send you hiding under your blanket.
4. Smile 2
I swear, I haven’t smiled with my teeth since watching this movie, and shadowy corners of my home now look vaguely sinister thanks to Lukas Gage’s performance. It’s definitely the anticipation that gets you in the one—never trusting the corners of your screen because a grinning demon could be lurking in it. The story follows a global pop star (Naomi Scott) on the verge of a world tour, only to have her dark past come back to haunt her—literally. It’s terrifying, but also surprisingly layered and dare I say… deep? It has tons of symbolism and an opening scene that’s absolutely killer. Even if you skipped the first Smile movie, this sequel totally holds up as a stand-alone movie. So, if you want to visit this world, but don’t want to traumatize yourself twice, this second one gets my vote for movie night.
5. The Blair Witch Project
If you’re a fan of found-footage-style horror movies, you can’t go wrong with the OG. The Blair Witch Project is scary for what it doesn’t show, taking you along for the ride and leaving plenty for your imagination to fill in. As someone who just turned 13 when it came out, and left claw marks in her friends’ arms after watching it, I can tell you it revolutionized the horror movie-watching experience. It was also really the start of viral marketing before social media even existed. With its documentary-style filmmaking and (fictionalized) urban legend mystique, it’s easy to feel like you, too, are lost in the woods with Heather, Mike, and Josh.
6. Oculus
Oculus is another one of those movies that gets under your skin and stays there. When I watched it for the first time, I was messed up for a week—barely sleeping and avoiding all the mirrors in my apartment. Imagine being on a bad acid trip and questioning your reality at every turn while also watching your parents go insane and try to kill you. Yeah, Oculus is kind of like that. And if you thought old mirrors were kind of creepy before, after watching this film, you might choose the seven years of bad luck for breaking one, over having one anywhere near you. Thanks, Mike Flanagan.
7. Host
While similar to the found footage genre, Host is really a genre unto itself: video chat horror. Remember Zoom parties? Well, how about a Zoom séance? The very unconventional setting is somehow scarier because it’s like you’re watching it in real-time with the actors. It’s almost disorienting as the lines of reality are blurred, especially if you watch it on your laptop. Host was rated as the scariest movie by the Science of Scare Project and is in the top ten “jumpiest” movies by Scary Meter, so good luck sleeping after you’ve watched it.
8. The Thing
If extraterrestrial life and below-zero temperatures scare you, The Thing will be right up your alley. In this John Carpenter classic, a stationed helicopter pilot (Kurt Russell) and a group of Antarctic researchers discover a shapeshifting alien hiding among them. As paranoia takes hold, the group must uncover who’s human—and who isn’t—before it’s too late. The Thing is one of the goriest horror movies I’ve ever seen, with impressive body horror, creature effects, and SFX makeup. While it was remade in 2011 to critical acclaim, I still recommend the original over the remake for its dark, nihilistic portrayal of the story.
9. The Conjuring
The Conjuring has sealed its fate as one of the best horror movies of all time, launching an entire movie universe spanning across nine films. Based on a true story involving paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring focuses on the Perron family and the malevolent spirit that begins terrorizing them after moving into a Rhode Island farmhouse. There are so many scary, hair-raising moments in this film that it’s hard to pick a favorite. But I can’t help but shudder every time I see the sheet blow off the clothesline. Also, who knew that music boxes could be scary? Then again, it does have a mirror…
10. Weapons
After a decade of torturing myself with the above list of nightmares, I will admit I had been on a kind of horror movie detox until this movie came out. But after seeing this trailer, I just couldn’t resist a trip to the theater. Told through multiple perspectives, Weapons is creatively horrifying. It’s full of jump scares, blood-soaked scenes, and let’s just say I will never be taking a nap in my car—ever. It’s easily one of the best movies of 2025, but it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. That said, it is finally available to rent, and I will be traumatizing myself again, in the name of spooky season.
11. The Ring
Based on a novel series and a Japanese movie (Ringu), The Ring is about a journalist who sets out to investigate a videotape that, once watched, kills you in seven days. It sounds ridiculous in theory, but the execution is downright scary. The Ring is one of those horror films that became so popular that it just became a part of pop culture itself. I remember people would whisper “seven days” to each other in a spooky voice, or pretend to climb out of a TV. It’s iconic and creepy as hell. Although people don’t really watch VHS tapes anymore, the concept still feels very relevant in the digital age.
Liana Minassian, Contributing Entertainment Writer
Liana is an LA-based writer, editor, and photographer with over 12 years of experience in digital content creation. She specializes in entertainment and lifestyle content and especially loves it when the two subjects overlap. Aside from The Everygirl, her work has been published with ScreenRant, TheThings, Thought Catalog, The Mary Sue, Food Revolution Network, Travel-Wise, and the Daily Meal, among others.
Madigan Will, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Madigan writes and edits content for every topic under the digital media sun. As the oldest of four siblings, she enjoys utilizing her big sister persona to connect and inspire readers—helping them discover new ways to maximize their everyday.
