From Stephen King to Sinners, here's every horror film movie fans need to watch...and where to watch them.

Hi, I’m Crystal, a Senior Editor based in Los Angeles and creator of BuzzFeed’s “That Got Dark” newsletter.

What it’s about: Nothing is what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer's vicious murder spree.

Why you should watch it: This acclaimed indie horror has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Master of Horror himself, Stephen King, called it “a clever masterpiece.” 

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Paramount+ or for rent for $2.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: A weekend getaway at a remote cabin turns chaotic when one of the guests goes haywire.

Why you should watch it: If you’re in the mood for a less traditionally “scary” horror film, Companion errs more on the side of sci-fi thriller bordering dark comedy. A good date night movie for those with a dark side.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on HBO Max or for rent for $4.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: A clever and extremely twisted body horror retelling of the classic fairytale Cinderella.

Why you should watch it: This satirical, dark, and gory retelling from the perspective of one of the “ugly” stepsisters, will make you scream and cringe in pain alongside the characters. Seriously…it’s A. LOT.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on AMC+ or for rent for $3.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: A disturbing slasher film seen from the perspective of the killer.

Why you should watch it: The story itself isn’t groundbreaking; however, the choice to depict the events of the story from the killer’s perspective is realllllllly fun (and extra horrifying). 

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on AMC+ or for rent for $2.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: Set in 1932 Mississippi, twin brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to open a juke joint, but find themselves battling supernatural forces, racial tensions, and their past.

Why you should watch it: Directed by Ryan Coogler, who basically has a perfect track record with films like Fruitvale Station and Black Panther under his belt, this is a horror film so good that it earned a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on HBO Max or for rent for $5.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: A Korean thriller about a Deaf woman who becomes the target of a relentless serial killer after witnessing his latest crime, leading to a tense cat-and-mouse chase at night through the streets of Seoul.

Why you should watch it: If you’re not into gory horror, then you’ll appreciate that this leans far more into the dark thriller territory. But make no mistake, it’s a super intense ride and it will leave you feeling stressed and impressed.

Where you can watch it: For free on Tubi.

What it’s about: A blind medium returns to her sister’s murder scene, using supernatural powers and a sinister mannequin to uncover the truth and take revenge.

Why you should watch it: It’s a simple story filled with extremely creepy atmosphere and some clever scares…there’s a reason this horror film has a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes!

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on AMC+ or for rent for $2.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: The film centers on a disturbing event where a group of children, all students from the same class, mysteriously vanish one night at 2:17 a.m., leaving behind just one child from their class.

Why you should watch it: This soon-to-be-classic horror film is full of perfect scares, well-timed humor, and is just so, so, so well made. In fact, it’s so damn good that it has an extremely rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on HBO Max or for rent for $6.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), becoming ensnared in his maze-like home of horrors.

Why you should watch it: Hugh Grant gives a diabolically delicious against-type performance, which alone is worth watching.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on HBO Max or for rent for $4.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: Want to know even more about Dean Corll? Well, this new true-crime documentary is about him (sorta). It tells the story of how Elmer Wayne Henley was manipulated into helping Corll.

Why you should watch it: It’s a fascinating and haunting real-life story that even includes actual audio recordings from some of Henley’s interviews with forensic psychologist Dr. Katherine Ramsland.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on HBO Max or for rent for $1.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: Told from the perspective of an unseen ghost, a fractured family’s move into a new home unravels grief, secrets, and the haunting presence that binds them together.

Why you should watch it: It’s an unsettlingly original spin on a ghost story that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Disney+ or for rent for $3.99 on Prime Video.

What it’s about: A couple’s (played by IRL couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie) attempt to save their relationship takes a horrific turn when a supernatural force fuses them into one body.

Why you should watch it: If you’re not into scary horror (and are okay with some wild body horror), then this is a wild ride you’ll enjoy. You’ll probably even have a few good laughs along the way.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Disney+ or for rent for $5.99 on Prime Video.

What it’s about: Two estranged brothers reunite to destroy a cursed toy monkey whose clatter triggers gruesome deaths.

Why you should watch it: This is the latest horror film from Oz Perkins (Anthony Perkins’s son!), and it’s based on a Stephen King short story, which basically means you can expect a lot of gore and macabre humor. 

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Disney+ or for rent for $3.99 on Prime Video.

What it’s about: A group of friends trapped in a remote lodge must survive the night as dark and deadly forces close in.

Why you should watch it: Based on the popular video game of the same name, this horror film gets a little muddled as it goes along, but it packs some really fun, original ideas and kills. 

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Netflix or for rent for $5.99 on Prime Video.

What it’s about: A weekend escape at a secluded lake spirals into terror when passion awakens a monstrous secret lurking beneath the surface.

Why you should watch it: Strap in for a campy, erotic thrill ride full of twisted entertainment and kills so outrageous they’ll leave your jaw on the floor.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Netflix or for rent for $5.99 on Prime Video.

What it’s about: A documentary that traces how The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) reshaped horror and haunted the imaginations of five artists through memory, trauma, and aesthetic obsession.

Why you should watch it: If you’re a fan of Tobe Hooper’s iconic and groundbreaking 1974 horror film — a Halloween staple for horror fans — then you’ll love seeing how it affected other icons like Stephen King.

Where you can watch it: For rent for $3.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: In a dystopian America, teenage boys enter a brutal walking contest where slowing down means death…and only one can win.

Why you should watch it: Based on Stephen King’s 1979 novel, it’s a well-crafted, grim, and gripping adaptation that will leave you stressed, screaming, and guessing until the very end.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Starz or for rent for $5.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: Based on Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Guillermo del Toro’s take on this iconic story reimagines the timeless tale of a visionary scientist who defies nature to create life.

Why you should watch it: Obviously, del Toro is no stranger to cinematic masterpieces, and Frankenstein is another one to add to the list. Blending stunning visuals with powerful performances, this take leans less on traditional horror and more on gothic sci-fi tragedy.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Netflix.

What it’s about: When starvation grips a 19th-century Icelandic outpost, one woman’s fight to save her crew summons horrors far older than the storm.

Why you should watch it: It’s a slow burn, but if you’re into horror that’s as beautiful as it is unsettling, this one’s for you. Think The Witch — only bleaker, colder, and set on an Icelandic fishing island.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Disney+ or for rent for $2.99 on Prime Video.

What it’s about: Ed and Lorraine Warren face a malevolent mirror-bound demon that threatens a tormented family and their daughter’s psychic legacy in the fourth mainline Conjuring film.

Why you should watch it: As the latest installment of this iconic horror franchise (now nine films strong!), die-hard fans of modern horror will appreciate the fresh jump scares, eerie atmosphere, and spooky, lore-deepening storyline.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on HBO Max or for rent for $6.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: 28 years after the Rage Virus first decimated Britain, a new mutation sparks fresh terror, forcing a scattered group of survivors to confront not just the infected, but buried truths as well.

Why you should watch it: This new post-apocalyptic nightmare reunites original writer Alex Garland and director Danny Boyle, who return to the groundbreaking franchise with even more visceral horror…and a controversial ending.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Netflix or for rent for $5.99 on Prime Video.

What it’s about: A horror story about a man haunted by his family’s dark legacy told entirely from the perspective of his fiercely loyal dog.

Why you should watch it: Good Boy proves unique horror still has bite, using a dog’s perspective to deliver tension and heart in a way that’s genuinely a breed above the rest.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on AMC+ or for rent for $5.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: After a mysterious catastrophe, a woman joins a volunteer unit tasked with recovering the dead — and sometimes discovering they aren’t fully gone.

Why you should watch it: A slow, bleak meditation on grief that treats loss as its own kind of horror, anchored by a stark performance from Daisy Ridley.

Where you can watch it: For rent for $9.99 on Prime Video.

What it’s about: A family’s winter getaway to a remote Swedish island turns into a nightmare when they realize the locals aren’t just unfriendly…they’re dangerous.

Why you should watch it: A true horror-comedy, it's tense, creepy, weirdly funny in a dark way, and features a perfect slow-burning of dread where every interaction gets more unsettling.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Disney+ or for rent for $2.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: An elderly man moves into a nursing home only to discover another resident may be responsible for a string of mysterious, deeply disturbing deaths.

Why you should watch it: It transforms the fear of aging and powerlessness into a slow-burn psychological horror that quietly crawls under your skin.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Disney+ or for rent for $3.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: A masked killer known as “Heart Eyes” stalks and murders couples on Valentine’s Day.

Why you should watch it: It’s a bloody, date-night-friendly horror ride that mixes romance and murder, which is perfect if you like your movies with equal parts flirting and fear.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Netflix or for rent for $5.99 on Prime Video.

What it’s about: Years after surviving his abduction, Finney is forced to confront his past when the black phone begins ringing again.

Why you should watch it: It’s a brutal sequel that proves surviving the horror doesn’t mean escaping it.

Where you can watch it: For free with a subscription on Peacock or for rent for $5.99 on Fandango at Home.

What it’s about: When a seemingly harmless dating app turns sinister, a woman finds her newest match could be her last…and not in a good way.

Why you should watch it: If dating apps already feel like a horror movie, this one just makes it official. And, fair warning, it’s one of the grossest movies I’ve seen in a long time.

Where you can watch it: For free on Tubi.

What it’s about: When a grieving woman retreats to a remote cabin to perform a forbidden ritual, she unleashes an ancient force that blurs the line between devotion and possession.

Why you should watch it: It’s the kind of folk horror that trades jump scares for dread, building toward moments that feel disturbingly intimate and hard to shake.

Where you can watch it: For free on Sling TV.