Looking for the best new horror movies to queue up this Halloween season? Here’s the short answer: start with Obsession, Colony and Lee Cronin’s The Mummy from 2026. Then circle back to Sinners and Frankenstein, two standouts among the best horror movies 2025 delivered.
This editor-picked list leans heavily on the best horror movies 2026 has offered so far, from wish-gone-wrong chillers to blood-soaked returns to familiar nightmares. It also includes two slightly older gems, Exhuma and Godzilla Minus One, that still feel fresh and deserve a spot on any watchlist. Each pick comes with a quick, spoiler-free take on the mood, the premise and the kind of viewer it suits best.
1.Obsession (2026)
best cursed-wish chiller
Curry Barker's Obsession takes a simple, relatable longing and twists it into something deeply uneasy. A lovesick young man snaps the strange "One Wish Willow," hoping to win over the person he adores. The wish works, perhaps a little too well. What follows is a slow-tightening horror thriller about getting exactly what you asked for and then discovering the cost. Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette lead the cast across a lean 109 minutes. It's a strong fit for viewers who like their scares rooted in emotion and dark bargains rather than nonstop gore.
Horror · Thriller · 109 min Director: Curry Barker Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless
2.Colony (2026)
most relentless outbreak
Locked-building panic meets body horror in Colony, the latest from director Yeon Sang-ho. A fast-mutating virus gets loose at a biotech conference, and the authorities seal the entire facility. Professor Se-jeong and a handful of survivors are left to fend for themselves as the infected change in grotesque ways. Gianna Jun anchors an ensemble that includes Koo Kyo-hwan and Ji Chang-wook. Running 123 minutes, the film blends horror, action and science fiction into a punishing survival ride. It's ideal for anyone who loves contained outbreak stories with real momentum.
Horror · Action · Science Fiction · 123 min Director: Yeon Sang-ho Cast: Gianna Jun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Kim Shin-rock
3.Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026)
most unsettling reunion
Forget sandy adventure romps. Lee Cronin's The Mummy aims squarely for dread. A journalist's young daughter vanishes into the desert without a trace, and years later she is suddenly returned to her shattered family. The reunion should feel like a miracle. Instead, it curdles into something terrifying. Jack Reynor and Laia Costa lead a cast that also includes May Calamawy, and the 133-minute runtime gives the mystery room to breathe. Pick this one if family-in-crisis horror and creeping, unanswered questions tend to get under your skin.
Horror · Mystery · 133 min Director: Lee Cronin Cast: Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace
4.Insidious: Out of the Further (2026)
best haunted-house return
Insidious fans get a fresh entry point with Insidious: Out of the Further, directed by Jacob Chase. Gemma is a young mother raising her daughter in the very house where she grew up. She learns she can cross into The Further, and that she has the power to bring what dwells there back into the real world. That premise promises an eerie spin on a familiar realm of nightmares. Amelia Eve leads, with Lin Shaye and Brandon Perea also in the cast. It's a solid 106-minute choice for haunted-house loyalists and newcomers alike.
Horror · Thriller · 106 min Director: Jacob Chase Cast: Amelia Eve, Island Austin, Brandon Perea, Lin Shaye
5.Exhuma (2024)
must-see supernatural mystery
Released in 2024, Exhuma stands as one of the most gripping supernatural mysteries of recent years and is well worth catching up on. A team of paranormal experts traces a wealthy family's disturbing affliction back to an ancestral gravesite. They decide to move the remains, a choice that soon proves very dangerous. Choi Min-sik and Kim Go-eun headline under director Jang Jae-hyun. The 134-minute story weaves mystery, horror and thriller together with confident control. It's perfect for viewers who prefer atmospheric, slow-burn chills over cheap jump scares.
Mystery · Horror · Thriller · 134 min Director: Jang Jae-hyun Cast: Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hai-jin, Lee Do-hyun
Can a giant-monster movie truly count as horror? Godzilla Minus One makes a convincing case. Takashi Yamazaki's 2023 film is set in a scorched postwar Japan, where the creature brings fresh devastation to people who have already lost nearly everything. With no military or government rescue in sight, survivors must band together against overwhelming despair. Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe lead, and the 125-minute story balances spectacle with real human stakes. It suits monster fans, and it's an easy recommendation for anyone who wants horror with emotional weight.
Guillermo del Toro directs Frankenstein, a 2025 release that blends drama, fantasy and horror into one sweeping package. Oscar Isaac plays Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist whose monstrous experiment brings a creature to life. Jacob Elordi, Christoph Waltz and Mia Goth round out a striking cast. At 150 minutes, it's the longest film on this list. Save it for an evening when a lush, tragic creature story sounds more appealing than a quick scare. It's a natural pick for lovers of classic horror and character-driven filmmaking.
Drama · Fantasy · Horror · 150 min Director: Guillermo del Toro Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Christoph Waltz, Mia Goth
8.Evil Dead Burn (2026)
goriest family nightmare
Grief turns grisly in Evil Dead Burn. After her husband's sudden death, Alice turns to his relatives for comfort. What she doesn't fully grasp is that the family descends from a leading researcher on demonic possession. One by one, her in-laws become creatures that feed on fear, and Alice learns her wedding vows may bind her far longer than she ever imagined. Sébastien Vaniček directs, with Souheila Yacoub and Hunter Doohan in the cast. This 110-minute, pure-horror entry is made for gorehounds and anyone craving unfiltered, possession-fueled mayhem.
Grace's nightmare isn't over in Ready or Not: Here I Come. Moments after surviving the Le Domas family's murderous game, she learns there is a next level. This time, her estranged sister Faith is caught up in it too. Rival families are now hunting Grace, all chasing control of a shadowy council that rules the world. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett mix horror and comedy across 108 minutes. Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton and Sarah Michelle Gellar all appear in the cast. It's great for viewers who like their scares wickedly funny.
Horror · Comedy · 108 min Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett Cast: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy
10.Sinners (2025)
most ambitious genre blend
Closing the list is Sinners, Ryan Coogler's 2025 horror-action thriller and one of the most ambitious genre films in recent memory. Twin brothers hope to leave their troubled lives behind, so they head back to their hometown for a fresh start. There, they find a far greater evil waiting to welcome them. Michael B. Jordan leads a cast that includes Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton and Jack O'Connell. The 138-minute runtime leaves room for atmosphere as well as action. It's a rich choice for viewers who want horror with style and scale.
Horror · Action · Thriller · 138 min Director: Ryan Coogler Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell
Whether you’re in the mood for a cursed wish, a locked-down outbreak or a towering monster, this list has something for every kind of horror fan. For a quick start, Obsession and Colony capture this year’s energy. Exhuma and Godzilla Minus One prove that great horror doesn’t expire. Pick one, dim the lights and settle in for the dread.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best new horror movies of 2026?
Strong 2026 picks include Obsession, Colony, Lee Cronin's The Mummy, Insidious: Out of the Further, Evil Dead Burn and Ready or Not: Here I Come. Together they cover everything from cursed-wish dread to outbreak survival and horror-comedy.
What were the best horror movies of 2025?
Two 2025 standouts are Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, a blend of drama, fantasy and horror, and Ryan Coogler's Sinners, a horror-action thriller about twin brothers returning to their hometown.
Which movie on this list is the longest, and which is the shortest?
Frankenstein is the longest at 150 minutes. Insidious: Out of the Further is the shortest at 106 minutes, which makes it a good pick for a quicker scare.
Is there a horror comedy among these picks?
Yes. Ready or Not: Here I Come, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, mixes horror and comedy as Grace and her estranged sister Faith face rival families in a deadly game.
Why are Exhuma and Godzilla Minus One included if they aren't from 2026?
Exhuma (2024) and Godzilla Minus One (2023) are recent enough to feel fresh. They are worth catching up on for their gripping supernatural mystery and emotionally weighty monster horror, respectively.
Posters: TMDB. Posters belong to their respective rights holders and are shown for review purposes; availability data from JustWatch via TMDB.
