Why do we love horror movies so much? If you ask most fans of the genre, they’ll probably come up with different answers. Some of us grew up watching scary movies, and find familiarity in the feelings these films evoke. Others love the rollercoaster of emotions they’ll take you on, as to watch a great horror film means being constantly on your edge, waiting for the big reveal to arrive. Not only that, but horror films deliver thrills and escapism, and can even help us overcome our fears, as we get to watch one or more brave protagonist face their worst nightmares and survive it all.
Whether you seek jump-scares and anticipation, gore and blood, or good old classic suspence, Netflix is a fantastic platform to look for a great horror film to watch, and if you don’t know where to start, a popular one would be your safest bet! But if you need some recommendations, we have you covered! We made a list of 5 popular horror films that are all available on Netflix in most countries – or, if you live in a country where a streaming platform isn’t available, a VPN can let you bypass geo-restrictions, as explained in this NordVPN review – and all are worth checking out! Take a look at our list of popular movies to stream on Netflix, all available right now and listed in alphabetical order!
1. Fear Street Part 1: 1994
Based on novelist and Goosebumps creator RL Stine’s series of novels, the Fear Street trilogy is the next best thing to Scream (1996) Netflix has to offer. This 2021 series is made of three movies, each set in a different time period (1994, 1978, and 1666), and each filled to the brim with references to classic slashers. In Part 1: 1994, we are taken to a small town named Shadyside, where in the best Halloween tradition, an evil, knife-wielding murderer has been terrifying its residents for over than three hundred years. In the titular year, our maniac has returned and is ready to make more victims: this time, it’s teenager Deena (Kiana Madeira) and her circle of friends’ turn to be scared.
It’s best to leave it at that, as discovering each of the twisted, brutal kills Fear Street Part 1: 1994 has in store is what will make it such a fun watch. Prepare for plenty of nostalgia, references to Scream and Friday the 13th, and more gore than you thought you’d find in a Netflix movie. Part 1: 1994 is a love letter to 90s slashers, with fantastic performances from its young cast that make it even more entertaining, and two sequels that are just as good and also available to stream on Netflix. It definitely earns its spot in our list of popular horror movies.
2. Gerald’s Game (2017)
From a nostalgic slasher gem, we move to a suspenseful, slow-burning yet terrifying movie anchored by a superb lead performance. Carla Cugino stars as Jessie, a woman who accidentally kills her husband when they are in the middle of enacting a fantasy involving handcuffs. But here’s the twist: Jessie, not her dead husband, is the one who’s handcuffed to the bedpost, with no way of freeing herself and escaping. To make things even worse, she finds herself at an isolated lake house in Alabama, where the couple had gone to try and reignite a spark between them. And as if the situation wasn’t absurd enough, Jessie starts hearing strange, disquieting voices and even having visions that completely alter her sense of reality, making it all twice as petrifying.
Gerald’s Game captivated audiences the moment it hit Netflix, back in 2017, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise, as it comes from The Haunting of Hill House‘s Mike Flanagan, who adapts a popular 1992 Stephen King novel. These two masters of horror, together, give us a tense, eerie psychological horror-thriller that’s ultimately about repressed trauma, acting both as the gripping tale of a woman’s descent into madness and a poignant analysis of marriage and relationships. If you like haunting, atmospheric films, you’re in for a treat!
3. Hereditary (2018)
With the recently released Mickey 17 and six upcoming projects already in development, 2025 feels like Toni Collette‘s time to shine. But the Sixth Sense actress has been delivering outstanding performances throughout her career, having starred in some of the most exciting and popular movies in the genre. Ari Aster’s debut feature Hereditary (2018) is one of them; despite having been released quite recently, it has achieved cult status thanks to Aster’s storytelling magic and Collette’s portrayal of a woman whose life is turned upside down when she learns about a family secret.
Collette plays Annie Graham, wife to psychiatrist Steve (Gabriel Byrne) and mother to teenagers Peter (Alex Wolff) and Charlie (Milly Shapiro). When Annie’s estranged mother passes away, the family begins to experience strange supernatural occurrences. Soon, Annie discovers a secret that her mother had been keeping hidden, and let’s just say that you won’t see it coming. Hereditary is a psychological thriller from an absolute master of the genre, and what makes it so terrifying, here, is that the situation depicted in the movie is something that could happen to anyone. On top of this, Hereditary is genuinely scary, filled with haunting visuals and terrifying scenes. It’s one of the most popular horror movies out there, and you should absolutely stream it while it’s still on Netflix!
4. His House (2020)
Remi Weekes’ 2020 gem is a rare find. On one hand, it’s once again an incredibly popular movie to stream on Netflix. On the other hand, though, there are still plenty of people who haven’t discovered it yet. This makes it the perfect hidden gem to add to this list, as once you’ve seen this incredible debut, you won’t be able to forget it. His House centers on two Sudanese refugees – couple Rial (Wunmi Mosako) and Bol (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) – who have just been granted asylum in the U.K. after a long immigration process.
But our two protagonists don’t know that their nightmares haven’t even begun yet, as they soon find out that the house they are given is haunted. This gorgeous film manages to provide plenty of thrills and suspense while also serving as timely commentary on the immigrant experience, which makes it all the more unique and disquieting. Not to be missed!
5. Watcher (2022)
Maika Monroe is an undisputed scream queen, having starred in incredibly popular horror releases like It Follows and The Guest – and only a year ago, in Osgood Perkins’s fantastic Longlegs – and Watcher is no exception. This 2022 stalker movie from director Chloe Okuno might follow familiar beats, but it still enthrals and captivates thanks to Monroe’s performance. Here, she plays a young American woman from named Julia, who has just moved to Bucharest with her boyfriend. Soon, Julia realizes that she’s being watched: a stranger is staring at her from across the street. Could the figure she keeps seeing be the notorious “Spider” murderer, who has been stalking and brutally killing women in her area? Could she be his next victim?
This horror-thriller is the definition of a slow-burning genre film, which is why it won’t be for everyone. But if you like tense movies that hold your attention throughout, it’s definitely worth the watch and it might even take you to places you don’t expect. Watcher is a strong, popular entry in the “stalker” subgenre, elevated by Maika Monroe’s screen presence and performance.
The 5 films listed above are all popular horror movies available to stream on Netflix right now! Whether you’re looking for a terrifying slasher gem or a lesser-known indie release, you’re bound to find something that grabs your interest here. And if you’d like more recommendations, don’t miss Don’t Move, The Dead Don’t Die, Ma, The Menu, The Platform, A Quiet Place Part II, The Ritual, and Scream (2022), which are all streaming on Netflix! Enjoy!
