2025 will go down as one of, if not the greatest years ever for the horror genre when it comes to high-profile movies, with some considering it the apex of Hollywood’s new golden age of horror. In recent years, A-list actors and actresses and some of the most gifted filmmakers working today have fully embraced horror as a new avenue for engrossing, profound storytelling, and we’ve seen the results both at the box office and during awards season.
2025 produced several bona fide critical smashes, including the musically-captivating historical vampire tale Sinners, the grim yet beautiful sequel 28 Years Later, and Zach Cregger’s wholly original mind-bending horror mystery Weapons. Sinners will certainly draw Oscar buzz, following in the footsteps of 2024’s The Substance as a force to be reckoned with at Hollywood’s most distinguished awards stages.
The year was also marked by nigh-unimaginable box office success. Five of the top 2025 movies worldwide were horror movies, with the highly-anticipated series finale The Conjuring: Last Rites just missing the top 10 with over $492 million. While it seems almost impossible that 2026 could measure up, a new crop of high-profile horror movies will ensure the genre maintains its standing in Hollywood.
10
We Bury The Dead (January 2nd)
Daisy Ridley in We Bury the Dead
Zak Hilditch’s established itself as a festival darling during 2025, and it’s ready to finally hit theaters for a wide release. Starring Daisy Ridley as a desperate young woman searching for her husband, We Bury the Dead blends classic zombie tropes with genuinely surprising new territory for a grim but memorable new entry in the zombie subgenre.
Critics so far have praised Ridley’s performance and the movie’s staggering cinematography. Having seen this myself already, I can also confirm that it contains one of the most disconcerting monster sound effects ever that makes the “zombies” truly memorable. While this won’t be a box office juggernaut, positive word of mouth and Ridley’s star power could make it a true sleeper hit.
9
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (January 16th)
Ralph Fiennes in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
28 Years Later managed to bring the best elements of the foundational classic that begin the 28 Days Later franchise while ensuring the main narrative stepped in a bold and exciting direction. The immediate sequel will release roughly half a year after the first, highlighting the interconnected nature of the two movies’ plots—The Bone Temple is a true continuation of 28 Years Later.
28 Years Later brought back the franchise’s original creators (director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland), and the critic reviews and modest box office success indicate it was the right move. Garland still penned the script for The Bone Temple, but acclaimed director Nia DaCosta (Candyman, Hedda) will step in for Boyle, ensuring a new voice to keep the franchise feeling fresh.
8
Return to Silent Hill (January 23rd)
Return to Silent Hill Pyramid Head
Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) established itself as the gold standard in horror video game movies (despite lackluster reviews) and a sequel on the way, but there are a couple candidates coming in 2026 that could give it a run for its money. The first is Return to Silent Hill, which is intended to be a reboot for the movie franchise based on the popular psychological horror game.
Silent Hill may not have the same demographic clout as the more broadly-appealing Five Nights at Freddy’s games, but there is a passionate fanbase that is waiting with bated breath. Based on the game Silent Hill 2, Return to Silent Hill will be a good early benchmark of the power of existing video game IP in 2026.
7
Scream 7 (February 27th)
Ghostface in Scream 7
The Scream franchise is a near-guaranteed moneymaker, but Scream 7 could be 2026’s first horror box office smash given that it will feature the return of original franchise star Neve Campbell to the series after she skipped out on Scream VI due to a pay dispute.
The well-worn franchise has remained fresh thanks to new perspectives both behind and in front of the camera. Both Scream and Scream VI, the 5th and 6th entries in the franchise, are Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 76% and 77%, respectively. Even if Scream 7 doesn’t measure up in quality, this could be a box office hit on par with 2025’s surprise smash Final Destinations: Bloodlines.
6
The Bride! (March 6th)
Jessie Buckley in The Bride!
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s updated adaptation of The Bride of Frankenstein is already generating buzz months away from its release. It stars Jessie Buckley as the eponymous monster, and Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s Monster, her companion.
The first trailer for The Bride! indicates that the movie will have a unique visual style, and while plot details are still largely unavailable, the trailer almost frames the movie as a Bonnie and Clyde-style thriller. While she’s working with one of the oldest monsters in cinema, Gyllenhaal’s radical approach could make this a crowd favorite.
5
Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come (April 10th)
Samara Weaving in Ready or Not
Ready or Not is a dark yet morbidly funny horror comedy that has earned an enthusiastic cult following. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an 89%, Ready or Not is among the best horror movies to come out of the 2010s, and stars Samara Weaving as a beleaguered bride who is hunted by her husband’s family as part of a devil-worshipping ritual.
The sequel Ready or Not: Here I Come will see the creators behind the original return along with Weaving, and a fresh surrounding cast that includes Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, and Elijah Wood. With a fervid fan base driving the train, Ready or Not: Here I Come has sleeper hit horror sequel written all over it.
4
Evil Dead Burn (July 24th)
Alyssa Sutherland as the Ellie Deadite in Evil Dead Rise
The Evil Dead franchise has always been closer to a cult horror series than a high-profile hit parade, but that was part of the charm. Evil Dead Rise changed the game in 2023, as it was scary and inventive enough to not only satisfy fans of the original movies but to make an impact with a much wider audience than even its predecessor (2013’s Evil Dead) did.
Details are still scarce for Evil Dead Burn, but most expect it to pick up a new story surrounding the demonic Deadites given the new director and all-new cast. The strength that the brand now carries Evil Dead Rise all but guarantees that Evil Dead Burn is a hit at the box office, and up-and-coming director Sébastien Vaniček (Infested) is a great choice to bring a new angle to the Deadite proceedings.
3
Resident Evil (September 18th)
Resident Evil gameplay
Resident Evil has two major elements working for it long before a trailer or promotional images. The first is the IP; the Resident Evil horror video game series is massively popular, and there have already been a few movies released over the years. The second is that it’s directed by Zach Cregger, who has become one of horror’s hottest names after he followed up the truly excellent Barbarian with 2025’s megahit Weapons.
If I had to make a bet on the highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 knowing everything that we know now, it would be Resident Evil. Cregger’s vision combined with the ultra-popular source material should make this as close to a surefire hit both at the box office and with critics.
2
Terrifier 4 (October)
Art the Clown in Terrifier 3
The only thing keeping Terrifier 4 from being the top-grossing horror movie of 2026 is the fact that it will never achieve a big enough audience due to the unrelenting, stomach-churning gore at the franchise’s center. Art the Clown is a modern-day horror icon, and even the ridiculous amounts of gruesome violence in the Christmas-themed Terrifier 3 couldn’t keep the masses away, as it grossed over $90 million.
Terrifier 4 notably promises to be the conclusion to what will be a four-movie story arc surrounding the demonic Art the Clown and his equally immortal nemesis, Sienna Shaw. The promise of learning about Art’s origin story should be enough to push Terrifier 4 well beyond the box office limits of its predecessor, making it one of the most exciting horror movies on the way.
1
Werwulf (December 25th)
Willem Dafoe in Nosferatu
Robert Eggers’ follow-up to the masterpiece-level vampire remake Nosferatu will also land in theaters on Christmas Day, but it will follow an entirely new creature of the night. Eggers intends to bring back three of his stars from Nosferatu in Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, and Willem Dafoe for a werewolf story set in 13th-century England.
One of Eggers’ defining features as a filmmaker is his attention to detail and historical accuracy, and he’ll attempt to reach new heights in that regard with Werwulf given that he intends to have the entire script spoken in genuine Middle English, with captions and interpretation assistance where necessary.
It’s possible the outdated language acts as a turn-off for some would-be audience members, but those patient enough to immerse themselves in Eggers’ vision will undoubtedly be rewarded with a werewolf story that’s equal parts visually striking and blood-chillingly scary.