The 10 Best Horror Movies of 2025 (Ranked)

The quarter-century mark for horror can best be described as the return of the Hollywood prestige blockbuster. While 2024 was packed with smaller, indie-level projects, 2025 absolutely smashed box office records. That’s not to say 2025 lacked original concepts—there is definitely a fair share of that to be found on this list. However, you can't argue that studios invested heavily in the genre, raising both the stakes and the budgets across the board. Whether it truly tops the year prior remains up for debate. Here is our official TOP TEN, with a few honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

Companion

Look, I appreciate this film—it poses legitimate questions about artificial intelligence and delivers another strong performance from Sophie Thatcher. Both are great elements! Yet, the way the story develops left me rather unsatisfied. Once the friend group discovers our protagonist is an android, the narrative takes a dip into a bizarre cash-grab heist, accompanied by chase scenes that are downright laughable. Were it not for the contemplative ending, I'm not sure this would have even secured an honorable mention.

Fréwaka

Folklore horror is having a generational run right now, and Fréwaka is a decent addition to the genre. Notably, it holds the title of the first-ever Irish-language folk horror feature film. And boy, does it start with a bang—that opening sequence was creepy as hell. At the center of the story is some compelling mythology tied to deeply buried Catholic institutional trauma. By the time the credits roll, you'll be left with some serious questions.

Good Boy

Talk about a fresh concept. Good Boy delivers a wholly unique piece of storytelling, captured entirely from a canine eye-level perspective. Much like man's best friend, the film's closing message carries an immense amount of heart. It left me teary-eyed, and it will undoubtedly have the same emotional impact on you. Rest assured, there are also a few good scares packed into this ride to satisfy horror fans.

Top Ten

Together

Marred by pre-release controversy, Together certainly had its share of doubters. You shouldn’t listen to them, though, because the film delivers some truly next-level body horror. What really resonated with me was Michael Shanks’ brutally honest take on long-term relationships. Two completely different people are bound to encounter an endless amount of friction and disagreement, but the film beautifully reminds us that simply having someone in your corner through life's challenges makes every hardship worth it.

Frankenstein

Admittedly, I'm not a self-proclaimed Del Toro fan. I've seen several pieces of his work, and they're all ... fine. Just fine. So, when his rendition of the Frankenstein story was announced, my excitement was checked. Of course, the film would have that classic Del Toro sheen, complete with his soft, blended color palette and that whimsical, fantasy-like aesthetic. As a master of monsters, the director was always more than capable of creating a uniquely terrifying Frankenstein.

All of that holds true for his 2025 reimagining, but I felt the two leads were terribly miscast. For the life of me, I just could not see how Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac were the best choices for such key roles. Neither of them embodies their character's essence, and their performances feel incredibly forced. On top of that, Mia Goth is just completely low energy the entire film. While it looks pretty good, you can easily tell it was shot on digital. Most fans of the Frankenstein story should still be satisfied, but it didn't fully click for me.

The Rule of Jenny Penn

This precise spot in my list is where the ranking became problematic. From here on out, everything, in my opinion, could be considered good to great.

Which brings us to The Rule of Jenny Penn—a film containing mental (and some physical) abuse where you'd least expect to find it. I love the contained story and setting, and the overall life-sucking environment our characters are trapped in. Central to it all though were the powerhouse performances from Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow. This my friends, may be the best acting tandem of the year for horror.

Final Destination: Bloodlines

Returning to a behemoth franchise like Final Destination inevitably introduces a spectrum of concerns. When a story is revisited time and time again, it risks losing its luster. Would Bloodlines fall victim to this common trap? The answer is NO! Not even close. In fact, Bloodlines might be the biggest surprise of 2025. Chock-full of inventive deaths and committed performances, the film entertains at a high clip. There's a splendid connection made to the original film that feels natural and earned, and the slight twist to how Death works was a fun change-up.

Weapons

The anticipation for Zach Cregger's Weapons was so high that it was almost doomed to underperform. With an interconnected story that cycles through different character perspectives, you always risk losing the continuity. Even so, Cregger manages to blend each perspective laudably, building the story into a gripping crescendo. Aunt Gladys is extremely memorable, and the scares are fully realized. My only real quarrel that keeps it out of my top 5 is the silly nature of the plot and a few of the performances.

Strange Harvest

If you're searching for a disturbing watch, and you enjoy mockumentaries and found footage, then Strange Harvest is an absolute must-watch. I generally don't prefer this format in a film, but it moves at a very quick pace and delivers some really graphic images with pure shock value. Surprisingly, the story actually holds up with some interesting plot points and twists, and the ending will leave your mouth agape.

The Ugly Stepsister

How far would you go to become beautiful? The Ugly Stepsister begs that question and shines a horrifying light on the entire matter. Think of it as a Victorian version of The Substance, but with a more subtle body horror that somehow infuses a retro, 80s vibe into the aesthetic and sound. Jealousy, grief, resentment, and forgiveness are all on full display here, and I actually found the ending incredibly uplifting.

Presence

Now, now go easy on me here. I'll admit—it's not the scariest movie of the year like the marketing claimed, but Presence is a darling outlier in the genre. Director Steven Soderbergh tries something so different and manages it with such care that the end product can only be seen as a positive. The story is haunting and tragic. Living vicariously through the eyes of a ghost is an unforgettable experience, and the musical score is top-notch.

Bring Her Back

Danny and Michael Philippou used to be YouTubers, but now they are bona fide filmmakers. The Australian duo has given us another tense, unrelenting film with Bring Her Back. Grief is the core foundation the entire story builds around, and it is truly suffocating. There are young, unfamiliar faces completely giving it their all here, including Jonah Wren Phillips, Billy Barratt, and Sora Wong. They are electric at every turn and work so well together to bring a genuine authenticity to the film. Sally Hawkins also does her part, playing a quirky, broken mother to absolute perfection. Several of the shots captured are completely awe-inspiring, but the final one in particular is so, so good that it stayed with me for weeks.

Sinners

I think we all knew where this list was going—to a juke joint down South. Not only does Ryan Coogler deliver countless iconic moments, but he expertly lays out the complexities of Black culture and its transformation over the centuries. The visuals are stunning, and the wide lens provides a large depth of field, making every single scene feel deeply immersive. Michael B. Jordan is exceptional as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, and Jack O'Connell is convincing as the misunderstood villain. The flowers were well deserved on this one!

What were your thoughts on the year of 2025 for horror? How would you rank them?