With spooky season in full swing and October upon us, horror lovers all across the world are turning to streaming platforms to deliver plenty of thrills and chills, with viewers going on the hunt for terrifying content. Netflix is constantly acquiring and producing fan-favorite flicks and critical knockouts, and their dazzling horror catalog has only gotten better and better with the impending arrival of Halloween.
From popular box office hits like Zombieland and World War Z to hair-raising modern classics such as The Babadook, Pearl, and The Wailing, Netflix has an extensive and dynamic library of universally lauded horror masterpieces that are just begging to be binge-watched throughout the autumn season. Here are 10 award-winning horror movies you can stream on Netflix.
10 Shadow in the Cloud (2021) Shadow in the Cloud RActionWar Horror Release Date January 1, 2021 Director Roseanne Liang Cast Chloe Moretz , Nick Robinson , Callan Mulvey , Taylor John Smith , Beulah Koale , Benedict Wall
Chloë Grace Moretz continued showcasing her range and widespread appeal as an actress when she headlined the 2020 action horror film Shadow in the Cloud, in which she portrays the fearless RAF Pilot Officer Maude Garrett as she joins an all-male crew of an American B-17 bomber during World War II. When Maude is sent on a top-secret mission to deliver mysterious cargo from Auckland, New Zealand to Samoa, the savvy pilot and the rest of her comrades must fight for their lives against a nefarious gremlin lurking within the package.
Moretz Becomes a Bona Fide Action Heroine
Moretz delivered a commanding performance as the tenacious and headstrong Maude, with the actress emerging as a fierce action movie heroine who gave it her all as the resilient Pilot Officer battling against unfathomable evil.
Shadow in the Cloud debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival where director Roseanne Liang was the recipient of the People's Choice Award for Midnight Madness at the prestigious ceremony, with critics enjoying the unique meshing of the war and horror genres. Liang also nabbed the accolade for Director to Watch at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, showcasing her refreshing approach to filmmaking and storytelling.
9 The Babadook (2014) Babadook R HorrorDocumentaryDramaThriller Release Date May 22, 2014 Director Jennifer Kent Cast Essie Davis , Noah Wiseman , Hayley McElhinney , Daniel Henshall , Barbara West , Benjamin Winspear
Undeniably one of the most unsettling and hair-raising horror flicks of the last decade, 2014's The Babadook marked Jennifer Kent's directorial debut and centers on troubled single mother and widow Amelia Vanek (Essie Davis) as she struggles with raising her six-year-old Samuel alone after the devastating death of her husband years prior.
When Samuel begins to exhibit erratic and disturbing behavior after becoming obsessed with an imaginary monster living in their home, the duo realizes the creature from a pop-up book is actually real.
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A Certified Horror Cult Classic
The spine-tingling titular monster in The Babadook is pure nightmare fuel and is a representation of Amelia's raw grief, and Kent drew inspiration from classic horror films like The Shining, Carnival of Souls, and Nosferatu when coming up with the screenplay while also basing the creature's design on The Man in the Beaver Hat from 1927's London After Midnight.
The Babadook made its chilling debut at the Sundance Film Festival and attracted universal acclaim from critics and audiences for its provocative horror elements and terrifying monster, winning the Empire Award for Best Horror and Best First Feature at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards.
8 His House (2020) His House Horror Release Date January 27, 2020 Director Remi Weekes Cast Sope Dirisu , Wunmi Mosaku , Malaika Wakoli-Abigaba , Matt Smith , Javier Botet , Yvonne Campbell
When South Sudan war refugees Bol and Rial (Sope Dirisu & Wunmi Moasku) flee to Britain to seek asylum from their embattled country, the young couple struggles to acclimate to their new life and become targeted by something sinister in 2020's His House.
Haunted by the horrors they witnessed during their perilous journey to safety, the pair begin to experience bizarre phenomena in their London home and make the frightening realization that they are being stalked by an apeth or "night witch", with the dark entity seeking chilling retribution.
A Profound Exploration of Guilt & Grief
His House is among a select few prestigious films to earn a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, with both critics and viewers being blown away by the horror movie's exploration of guilt, fear, and grief while shining a light on the devastating effects of war.
Remi Weekes received Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards in addition to Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer at the British Academy Film Awards, with Rolling Stone calling His House, "a strong debut, and exciting -- even as its horrors risk redundancy as the film wears on -- for its uncanny merging of political experience and the usual, perilous haunted-house thrills."
7 Cam (2018) Cam Horror Release Date October 1, 2018 Director Daniel Goldhaber Cast Madeline Brewer , Patch Darragh , Melora Walters , Devin Druid , Imani Hakim , Michael Dempsey
The 2018 psychological horror film Cam stars Madeline Brewer as savvy camgirl Alice Ackerman, who has a job as an erotic performer for a website called FreeGirlsLive under the fake name Lola, making it her mission to climb the ranks on the site and claim the highly-coveted top spot. When Alice's channel becomes hacked and her followers stolen by a strange doppelganger, the young woman finds herself in a fight for her very existence after the identity thief makes it her mission to destroy Alice's life.
A Unique & Refreshing Premise
Screenwriter and former camgirl Isa Mazzei initially wanted to create a documentary about her own personal involvement within the profession, but decided instead to create a horror movie inspired by her experience having her videos pirated and stolen.
Shot in just 20 days, Cam was made on a modest budget of $1 million and was a hit at the Fantasia International Film Festival, garnering praise for its ominous atmosphere, Brewer's uninhibited performance, and Daniel Goldhaber's refreshing direction, winning the accolade for both New Flesh Award for Best Feature Film and Cheval Noir Award for Best Screenplay at the exciting event.
6 The Wailing (2016) The Wailing TV-MA HorrorDramaMystery Release Date June 3, 2016 Director Na Hong-jin Cast Jun Kunimura , Hwang Jung-min
Set in the small South Korean town of Goksung where the arrival of a mysterious stranger causes a puzzling sickness to spread, 2016's The Wailing chronicles the noble efforts of Officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) to investigate the bizarre incident that is leading to a series of gruesome murders in the remote mountain village. Jong-goo must race against the clock to save the sickness' latest victim, his beloved daughter, prompting the lawman to confront the dangerous drifter lurking in the shadows of the town before it's too late.
A Blend of Traditional & Modern Horror Tropes
Revered for its foreboding atmosphere, attention-grabbing premise, and stellar blending of both unique and traditional horror tropes like Asian mythology and demonic possession, The Wailing dominated the box office and grossed over $51 million while receiving universal acclaim. Director Na Hong-jin's masterful work on the slow burn picture led to numerous accolades for the talented filmmaker, as he won the Focus Asia Award at the Sitges Film Festival in addition to the Prix AQCC at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
5 World War Z (2013) World War Z PG-13ActionAdventureDocumentary Horror Sci-FiThriller Release Date June 20, 2013 Director Marc Forster Cast Brad Pitt , Mireille Enos , Daniella Kertesz , James Badge Dale , Ludi Boeken , Matthew Fox
Based on the bestselling Max Brooks novel of the same name, the 2013 action horror extravaganza World War Z features Hollywood leading man Brad Pitt as former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane, who is tasked with helping discover a crucial cure for a deadly virus that is causing a zombie apocalypse to take over the world.
Gerry must battle against time to find the source of the infection before all of humanity is consumed, all the while having to protect himself from the ravenous and vicious creatures the infected transform into.
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Pitt's Electrifying Zombie Knockout
World War Z became the highest-grossing zombie film of all time, raking in over $540 million at the box office and generating appreciation for Pitt's complex performance, exhilarating action sequences, and truly terrifying zombies.
The pulse-pounding picture won Best Thriller Film at the Saturn Awards and despite some criticism aimed for its lack of faithfulness to the original novel, a sequel was announced shortly after its massively impressive debut. However, a follow-up was ultimately canceled due to budget issues and China's decision to ban movies focusing on ghosts or zombies, thus eliminating that potential market.
4 Zombieland (2009) Zombieland RComedy Horror Release Date October 7, 2009 Director Ruben Fleischer Cast Woody Harrelson , Jesse Eisenberg , Emma Stone , Abigail Breslin , Amber Heard , Bill Murray
Featuring an all-star ensemble cast led by Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin, the 2009 horror comedy Zombieland takes place in a world that has been decimated by an outbreak of mad cow disease, with the virus turning much of the population into flesh-craving undead creatures and forcing the uninfected to engage in a relentless battle against the monsters. An eclectic group of four survivors team up and seek refuge in Los Angeles, combining their unique skill sets as they take on the ravenous zombies.
A Rip-Roaring, Gory Good Time
Zombieland had its worldwide premiere at Fantastic Fest and debuted at number one at the box office on its opening weekend, grossing over $102 million and thus becoming "the first American horror comedy in recent memory to find significant theatrical success." Praised for its wickedly delightful humor, charismatic cast performances, and heaping dose of blood and gore, the flick also featured an unforgettable cameo by comedy icon Bill Murray, all of which helped Zombieland become a certified hit.
The fan-favorite film took home numerous accolades, including Best Horror Movie and Best Cameo at the Scream Awards, and spawned the popular 2019 sequel Zombieland: Double Tap.
3 Pearl (2022) Pearl R Horror Release Date September 16, 2022 Director Ti West Cast Mia Goth , David Corenswet , Tandi Wright , Matthew Sunderland , Emma Jenkins-Purro
The second entry in Ti West's popular horror film series X, 2022's Pearl once again stars the sensational Mia Goth as the titular villain, with the installment serving as an origin story for the violent antagonist as she daydreams about becoming a famous movie star and escaping her unfulfilling life on a Texas farm. Forced to help take care of her ailing father and oppressive mother, Pearl begins to descend into madness and murder as she plots her great escape, with her dark fantasies causing the young woman to disturbingly unravel.
Goth Becomes a Horror Staple
Ti West described the prequel to X as being a combination of a Douglas Sirk melodrama crossed with the vibrant visual style of The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins, calling it a "demented Disney movie."
Goth's delightfully unhinged performance as Pearl in the gory flick was singled out, as she once again dazzled as the devious lead character with her splashy portrayal, and she nabbed the Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Actress in a Horror Movie. Pearl also won Best Independent Film at the Saturn Awards, and its popularity spawned a third movie in the shocking series, 2024's MaXXXine (in which Goth also starred).
2 El Conde (2023) 3.5/5 El Conde RComedyFantasy Horror Release Date September 15, 2023 Director Pablo Larrain Cast Jaime Vadell , Gloria Münchmeyer , Alfredo Castro , Paula Luchsinger
The 2023 Chilean black comedy horror movie El Conde provides a satirical spin on the history of Chile, portraying the country's notorious dictator Augusto Pinochet as a centuries-old vampire who after years of feeding his insatiable appetite which helped fuel his evil actions, decides he is ready to die. Pinochet decides to stop drinking blood (which will ultimately lead to his demise) after retiring to a secluded farm, though he finds himself developing a surprising bond with the nun hired to exorcise and murder him.
A Show-Stopping, Visual Spectacle
El Conde debuted at the Venice International Film Festival, where the visually stunning and provocative picture earned director Pablo Larraín and Guillermo Calderón were awarded the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay.
The dark and edgy satire helped brilliantly turn the turmoil and chaos the country faced into a historical horror hit, with Rolling Stone commenting in their glowing review of El Conde, "What ultimately stays with you, however, is how Larraín has audaciously staked the heart of someone who tore his country apart and still knows that it isn't enough to slay the beast."
1 Ravenous (2017) Close
Set in the aftermath of a devastating zombie-like outbreak where the residents of a remote Quebec town attempt to band together against the undead creatures, 2017's Ravenous focuses on survivor Bonin (Marc-André Grondin) as he comes across a woman named Tania (Monia Chokri) who declares that she had been bit by a dog but had not been infected by the virus. While on their journey to the big city in hopes of finding protection, the pair come across a young girl for whom they have to fight to keep safe while on their dangerous quest.
Ravenous Impresses Critics at TIFF
Named one of the country's top ten best movies of the year at the Toronto International Film Festival, Ravenous received the award for Best Canadian Film at the prominent ceremony and was celebrated for its adrenaline-pumping pacing, its storytelling, and its immersive atmosphere. Critics favorably compared the picture to George A. Romero's '60s masterpieceNight of the Living Dead, with many pointing out the similarities in their exciting survival themes and how it too features refreshing commentary on social identity.