Need a Scary Movie to Stream? Here Are 24 of Our Favorites

It's been four decades since audiences first saw Robert Englund don his signature hat, sweater and bladed glove, and Freddy's legacy endures. Between the creative kills, solid performances (featuring a debut role for Johnny Depp) and Englund's take on the nightmare killer, the first entry in the franchise was a gamechanger for the genre and to this day it's a wonderfully frightful watch.
—Aaron Pruner

Where to stream it: Max

This is a classic Stephen King creation, in that it feels like a bizarre waking nightmare where you don't know whether to laugh, scream or something in between. Plus, Kathy Bates is delightfully unhinged.
—Adam Auriemma

Where to stream it: Max

Scream is just as fun as it is scary, but that's part of what makes it such a classic. Wes Craven's 1996 comedy-horror flick manages to feature some of the most memorable kill scenes found in slashers of that era (the image of Drew Barrymore hanging from a tree is burned into my brain forever), while also poking fun at the genre itself. It works so well you don't even mind how predictable the ending is.
—Lisa Eadicicco 

Where to stream it: Max

Despite containing minimal profanity, blood or gore, The Conjuring is rated R "for sequences of disturbing violence and terror." When producers asked what they would have to take out to hit a PG-13 rating, they were reportedly told the movie was simply too terrifying and no scene removal would bring its rating down. And though there are some jump scares, most of that terror is the result of the film slowly, deliberately building up an atmosphere of dread, which feels all the more real because of the great performances from the entire cast.
—Adam Benjamin

Where to stream it: Max

There's an air of creepiness to this movie from the moment it opens with that ominous drive over a mountain pass to solemn horns playing in the background. Plus, The Shining literally invented the creepy horror movie child trope (or children in this case).
—Andy Altman

Where to stream it: Max

Who knew a little bit of zany comedy could make audiences want more Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman? Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are in top form, with horror icons Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. and Glenn Strange all reprising their roles as Dracula, the Wolfman and the Frankenstein monster. There's a fine balance between frights and laughs here — the Wolfman's storyline is surprisingly poignant. It's the first of Bud and Lou's movies with these monsters, and by far it's still the best.
—Aaron Pruner

Where to stream it: Prime Video

This is the third flick in the Evil Dead series, and for me it's the most fun (I like my horror with a sense of humor). Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams, the S-Mart store clerk turned evil-dead hunter, is the everyman hero who ends up back in the Middle Ages with a cocky attitude, a genuine cluelessness about what he's up against and of course his trusty chainsaw and shotgun. Campy for sure.
—Connie Guglielmo

Where to stream it: Prime Video

This black-and-white Marvel masterpiece is retro done right. A cleverly written, cheeky homage to those old Vincent Price horror movies, it's about a secret society of monster hunters brought together to catch a dangerous monster and compete for leadership. Gael Garcia Bernal and Laura Donnelly are engaging  antiheroes who form an unlikely alliance in a story that questions who the real monsters are. Disney also offers a colorized version that's just as charming.
—Connie Guglielmo

Where to stream it: Disney Plus

A true masterpiece. Try watching it in one sitting without feeling nauseous or uneasy. Though it's not the goriest horror movie out there, it's definitely ominous and unnerving. It focuses on themes of mysticism and the darker side of witchcraft. It's also been long rumored that this movie is based on actual events that took place in the Paris catacombs, which adds to the horror element of the film.
—Trisha Jandoc

Where to stream it: Netflix

It's clear Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost all have a deep love for horror. Aside from the consistent homages to the genre, Shaun of the Dead takes everything you love about zombie flicks and twists it into something new. It is absolutely a comedy, but this movie is so invested in story and character that, aside from the consistent laughs and gore, there's a surprisingly emotional payoff in the end.
—Aaron Pruner

Where to stream it: Peacock

What I'd give to watch The Cabin in the Woods for the first time again. Though the story does involve college kids getting together in a stereotypically spooky place, little about the film's wild plot can be predicted. Unsettling, twisty and monster-packed, this one will always have a place in my horror-loving heart. Plus, look out for Chris Hemsworth in the cast.
—Meara Isenberg

Where to stream it: Peacock

I simply have to mention this blood-soaked classic. The captivating Stephen King adaptation follows Sissy Spacek's Carrie, a girl plagued by school bullies and her controlling mother, until the inevitable time comes for her to release her pent-up rage.
—Meara Isenberg

Where to stream it: AMC Plus

For fans of filmmaking and Japanese horror, this one's got it all: big laughs, true fear, indie acclaim, meta-commentary, false endings, subtitles, charmingly cheap VFX and, of course, bloody, bloody zombies! I urge you to avoid reading anything else about this movie before you watch it. A great group-watch flick that you'll want to rewatch immediately afterward. Film nerds will particularly love the long takes; Wes Anderson, eat your heart out.
—Faith Chihil

Where to stream it: AMC Plus, Shudder, Hoopla

It sounds like a traveler's worst fear: You arrive at your Airbnb only to find someone else is already there. That's the basic premise of Barbarian, but the film's true plot involves something far more terrifying and sinister. Barbarian is the type of film that'll make you look over your shoulder after watching it — and it'll certainly make you think twice about opening any off-limits doors during your next Airbnb stay. Thankfully, there's some much-needed (and expertly executed) comedic relief from Justin Long.
—Lisa Eadicicco

Where to stream it: Prime Video, Hulu

Yes, you should also watch Evil Dead and Army of Darkness, but Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell has my heart for its camp silliness, gross-out FX, and genuine scares. Alison Lohman is Christine Brown, a low-level loan officer who denies an old Roma woman a mortgage extension in the hopes of earning a promotion, but is instead rewarded with a curse that'll send her to hell in three days. But honestly, who wouldn't risk a deadly curse for job security these days?
—Faith Chihil

Where to stream it: Prime Video, Peacock

Ginger Snaps is a unique horror flick ripe with dark comedy that leverages lycanthropy as a metaphor for going through puberty. Buoyed by strong performances from leads Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle, along with some of the most impressive werewolf transformation effects since An American Werewolf in London, this 2000 gem is a delectable romp. Its fall backdrop, which includes a Halloween bash, makes Ginger Snaps a quintessential spooky season watch.
—Moe Long

Where to stream it: Peacock (regular or the free version), Xumo Play, AMC Plus, Shudder

This faux documentary about a desperate late-night TV host (character actor David Dastmalchian) who books a girl possessed by a demon on Halloween night leans hard into the vibe and style of 1970s talk shows. It's a fantastic melange of horror, comedy and found footage that kept me laughing while terrified through its full 93 minutes.
—Peter Butler

Where to stream it: Hulu, AMC Plus, Shudder

A low-budget masterpiece, directed by George Romero. It's the original flesh-eating zombie movie, with none of the flash or gore of the many that followed its lead (not a few of them from Romero himself). The cast of no-name actors, the humble, ramshackle set and the black-and-white photography combine to terrifying, tragic effect. Absolutely haunting.
—Jon Skillings

Where to stream it: Lots of options, including Tubi, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Plex, Freevee, Xumo Play, Kanopy, Max and Peacock (regular or the free version)

I've become a horror buff in recent years, finally seeing genre staples like the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, My Bloody Valentine, Cube and more — but my heart lies with Tim Burton's more-spooky-than-scary 1999 film, Sleepy Hollow. It's a grimmer version of Washington Irving's classic short story, but Burton's quirky tone, campy blood spatters and small-town-with-secrets plot are a fun mix. A Danny Elfman score plays over a fog-strewn colonial American town as a kooky, young Johnny Depp solves murders. It's the lo-fi hip-hop of horror -- put it on and let the vibes carry you into the season.
—David Lumb

Where to stream it: Paramount Plus, AMC Plus

The Babadook is haunting in more ways than one. While it's technically a horror movie — and it's disturbing in a quietly dreadful type of way — the movie's core is so much more than scary. Babadook is a testament to primal fears and themes like motherhood, the childhood feeling of being scared of monsters, and also (maybe) what it's like to be afraid of yourself. You can watch CNET's 2014 interview with Babadook filmmaker Jennifer Kent for more.
—Jessica Rendall

Where to stream it: Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Plex, Kanopy, Netflix, AMC Plus, Shudder

Leatherface, the chainsaw-wielding brute who wears skin masks of his victims, opened the door to the modern-day slasher film. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre fundamentally changed how horror movies work, using the polarized culture of the time (distrust in the government and the reaction to the Vietnam War were big inspirations here) to disrupt the comfort of theatergoers. It boggles the mind to think there's barely any gore in this movie, but the visceral nature of the shoot was enough to make people faint and to get the movie banned in some places. Regardless, it's safe to say horror movies would look a lot different nowadays if the Texas Chainsaw Massacre were never made.
—Aaron Pruner

Where to stream it: Tubi, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Plex, Freevee, Xumo Play, Prime Video, Peacock (regular or the free version)

Isolation. Paranoia. A deadly shapeshifter. Legendary horror director John Carpenter puts a small band of people at an Antarctic research station in peril. An unexpected alien life form wants to survive, and to do that it needs a host whose form it takes. Or as it turns out, one host after another... after another. The cast is a strong one, featuring a well-bearded Kurt Russell and character actor stalwarts including Richard Masur, Donald Moffat and Wilford Brimley.
—Jon Skillings

Where to stream it: Peacock, Prime Video, AMC Plus

Teen coming-of-age story but with cannibalism. With a premise focused on body horror, alarmingly the most disturbing aspects have nothing to do with eating flesh.
—Numi Prasarn

Where to stream it: You can rent it for $4 at Fandango at Home

Though more of an action-thriller than a horror flick, The Guest comes to us by way of Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett, the writer-director duo behind genre flicks like You're Next and 2016's Blair Witch. The plot is simple: A recently discharged soldier is welcomed into the home of a grieving family after appearing on their doorstep, claiming he was a friend of their son who died in action. Soon, a series of "accidental" deaths make it apparent there's more to this guest than it seems. Despite the sometimes overly serious tone, The Guest is fully self-aware, and laughs are intended to be had at its expense. The film itself is a complete vibe, right down to the '50s style diner outfit worn by our heroine, Maika Monroe. What's more, it doesn't take much to realize the entire film is an homage to the Halloween franchise, especially Season of the Witch. With an absolutely killer soundtrack, The Guest is a stylish and entertaining throwback that should stay in your Halloween movie rotation.
—Blake Stimac

Where to stream it: You can rent it for $4 at Prime Video