Top 10 Horror Movies of 2025

2025 was a spectacular year for horror movies, especially for quality, imaginative stand-alone offerings bursting with buzzworthy performances, and films that were loved by audiences and critics alike that weren’t the by-product of an existing franchise. That isn’t to say that there was a shortage of sequels this past year. The Conjuring: Last Rites, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Black Phone 2, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, 28 Years Later, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and The Strangers: Chapter 2 were all 2025 releases, but exactly how many of those movies were good enough to land on either one or both of our TOP 10 HORROR MOVIES OF 2025 lists? Keep reading to find out. You may be surprised.

How does your TOP 10 HORROR MOVIES OF 2025 list compare to ours?

Rabbit in Red’s Top 10 Horror Movies of 2025

1/ Bring Her Back

Bring Her Back is a visceral and unsettling psychological horror from the Australian filmmaking duo Danny and Michael Philippou. The film expertly draws viewers into a dark exploration of trauma, grief, and the devastating lengths to which love can drive us. Not for the faint of heart, the haunting themes and imagery elicited some of the most lively and squirm-inducing theatre reactions this year, a testament to all efforts involved.

2/ Together

Michael Shanks’ directorial debut, Together, is an unforgettable plunge into the darkest corners of human relationships, expertly blending body horror with dark humour. Alison Brie and Dave Franco deliver powerhouse performances as Tim and Millie, bringing depth and nuance to their vulnerable characters. Their on-screen chemistry is undeniable, making the film’s most intense moments land with profound impact. With gripping tension and a wildly original narrative, Together is an entrancing cinematic experience that forges its own path in the genre.

3/ Companion

Writer/director Drew Hancock’s Companion explores the intersection of technology and relationships with razor-sharp storytelling and heart-pounding tension. With standout performances from Sophie Thatcher and Lukas Gage, crisp writing, and tight pacing, this feature debut is a gripping ride that infuses humour and sci-fi elements with unpredictable twists and turns. Loading fresh energy into the tech thriller genre, Companion is a captivating film with plenty of stimulating ideas.

4/ I Know What You Did Last Summer

Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s I Know What You Did Last Summer is a stylish revival of a ’90s classic, taking bold risks to breathe new life into the iconic horror franchise. This action-packed entry goes back to the basics, packed with unexpected twists, clever self-references, and the return of Julie James alongside some fresh new talent. With creative kills, nostalgic nods, and a confident tone, I Know What You Did Last Summer is a sexy, fun legacy sequel that’s perfect to watch alongside the first two installments.

5/ Clown in a Cornfield

Eli Craig’s Clown in a Cornfield is a delightfully gory thrill ride that proudly embraces its ’80s influences. This blood-soaked slasher combines self-aware humor with creative kills and likeable characters, delivering a fun, tense, and campy romp that feels nostalgic yet contemporary. With effective thrills, heart-pumping chase sequences, and deadly showdowns, it’s a well-directed and fast-paced horror gem that packs a punch in its 90-minute runtime, leaving fans eager for a potential sequel.

6/ Dangerous Animals

Dangerous Animals is an unrelenting experience that fearlessly pushes boundaries with its tight-paced storytelling and genre-bending mix of serial killer thrills and shark-fueled terror. Jai Courtney delivers a chilling performance as the film’s terrifying villain, while Hassie Harrison shines as the tough and resourceful lead, sharing compelling chemistry with Josh Heuston. With deadly sharks and standout performances, this tight survival tale is a must-see for fans of the genre.

7/ Him

Him is a daring and intelligent thriller that explores the dark side of sports and fame with top-notch acting and hypnotic cinematography. This trippy production plunges viewers into a twisted world where football is a brutal arena and athletes are pitted against each other like gladiators. Tyriq Withers shines as Cameron, while Marlon Wayans delivers a wickedly deranged performance as Isaiah. With its striking visuals, bold soundtrack, and creepy horror elements, Him is a unique picture that lingers long after the credits roll.

8/ Bone Lake

Bone Lake is a twisted psychological horror that’s both unpredictable and engaging. This compact thriller packs a punch, delivering sharp performances and fun twists. The script may not be groundbreaking, but it’s effective in exploring the importance of trust in the face of terror. With creative cinematography and fluid pacing, Bone Lake is a bloody ride that keeps you guessing until the end.

9/ Frankenstein

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a hauntingly beautiful retelling of the classic tale, with phenomenal visuals and outstanding performances, particularly Jacob Elordi’s heart-wrenching portrayal of the Monster. You can feel the passion del Toro poured into the film, with an evocative score and breathtaking cinematography that combine to create a visceral, beautifully shot gothic experience.

10/ Night of the Reaper

Night of the Reaper is a retro horror gem that embodies the spirit of Halloween, making it a perfect watch for the spooky season. Written and directed by Brandon Christensen, this atmospheric slasher channels the nostalgic charm of ’80s terror with its VHS aesthetic, eerie setting, and relatable small-town characters. As a Shudder original, Night of the Reaper cleverly pays homage to classic slashers while introducing something fresh and exciting to the genre. With its blend of nostalgia and originality, this film is a must-watch for horror fans looking for a chilling treat.

Scarlett O’Scara’s Top 10 Horror Movies of 2025

1/ Bring Her Back

Directors Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back raised the bar not only for the horror genre but for films in general this year. With the potentially consuming power of grief and loss as its central theme, the movie offers an award-worthy performance from Sally Hawkins, incredible support from young actors Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, and Jonah Wren Phillips, an intelligent, intense and uncompromising script, some unexpectedly beautiful cinematography, and a significant dose of gore that is guaranteed to get a reaction from the audience.

2/ Frankenstein

Director Guillermo Del Toro’s epic adaptation of the Mary Shelley classic is a breathtaking, gorgeous, often heartbreaking production, with excellent performances from Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, and especially Jacob Elordi (as The Creature), who is richly deserving of a supporting Oscar nomination; he is nothing short of phenomenal in his role.

3/ Sinners

Talented triple threat writer/director/co-producer Ryan Coogler’s film succeeds on many levels, exploring relevant, powerful themes, creating memorable, developed yet flawed characters (portrayed by brilliant actors, including sexy Michael B. Jordan in two roles), all the while delivering some tension-building horror.

4/ Weapons

This is a well-crafted film where the perspective of several characters, including Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, and Alden Ehrenreich, each serves as a puzzle piece to assist the audience in solving the bewildering mystery with which the movie opens. The pacing is intentionally slow, building nicely towards a delightfully unhinged final act (and iconic performance by probable Supporting Actress Oscar nominee Amy Maddigan) that is sprinkled with some unexpectedly humorous moments.

5/ Final Destination: Bloodlines

The latest installment in the successful franchise offers up a pretty spectacular opening scene, effectively laying the groundwork for a fun, interesting story, and delivering plenty of creative kills that are equally gory and silly fun in their execution (so to speak). The film also includes a very memorable appearance by horror icon Tony Todd in his final feature, and while his role is small, his performance is a quietly powerful, moving one. The best sequel of the year.

6/ Together

One of the many reasons why the horror genre reigned supreme this year in movies, Together is a film that succeeds on so many levels, as a body and psychological horror, a drama, a meditation on the intricacies of relationships, and ultimately a love story. Real life spouses Alison Brie and Dave Franco deliver amazing performances, and Michael Shanks’ direction and screenplay are terrific, too.

7/ Heart Eyes

Heart Eyes is an entertaining Valentine for horror fans who prefer for their romcoms to be served with a generous helping of blood and gore on the side. The slasher features a great cast, including the attractive, clashing ‘non-couple’ Mason Gooding and Olivia Holt, and super fun performances from Jordan Brewster and (the always welcome onscreen) Devon Sawa as a pair of cops on the hunt for a killer whose one true love is to kill couples in love. With a tight running time of an hour and 37 minutes, the movie moves along at a nice pace, and there are some creative, cool kills, which always warms my cold, black heart, lol. (BTW, don’t be fooled into thinking the movie is over once the closing credits start to roll.)

8/ Dangerous Animals

A movie which follows through on its effective trailer and creative poster, Dangerous Animals is an entertaining, often tension-filled ride for fins—er, fans of horror seeking a 98-minute thrill ride. The focus may be more on Jai Courtney’s twisted serial killer (and Josh Heuston’s perfect abs) than on sharks, but along with final girl Hassie Harrison, the talented trio delivers the goods and impressive performances. And although the movie is not without its flaws, it is nonetheless a fin—er, fun (damn it!) flick.

9/ Match

Match is a surprising case of love at first watch. With a slight tip of its hat to Barbarian (2022), this Tubi Original serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of online dating, especially when a wannabe matchmaking, hands-on parent is thrown into the mix. The film offers plenty of intense, suspenseful, frequently terrifying (not to mention gross) moments during its 109 minutes running time, and the performances by the talented cast are uniformly super solid and convincing.

10/ The Ugly Stepsister

This Norwegian-produced film serves up a very dark (and at times delightfully grotesque) re-imagining of the Cinderella fairy tale, with Cindy’s story taking a backseat to that of her stepsister Elvira’s spiralling downwards journey towards a less-than-happy, Prince Charming-less ending. Lea Myren’s performance is wonderful and fans of body horror will not be disappointed.

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