The horror style has undergone a exceptional transformation over the past ten years. From psychological nightmares to nerve-shredding thrillers, every year has delivered one thing distinctive—films that push the boundaries of worry, storytelling, and even inventive expression. And belief me—I’ve been paying consideration.
With a minimum of 168 horror films underneath my belt prior to now decade, I’ve rigorously chosen absolutely the greatest horror films from every year. Whereas we’re all the time searching for upcoming horror films to maintain us on edge, this listing celebrates the style’s best from 2014 to 2024. These aren’t simply your customary scary flicks—they’re those that linger lengthy after the credit roll, burrow into your thoughts, and, most significantly, elevate the bar for what horror could be.
So seize your collectible popcorn bucket, (have you ever seen AMC’s The Monkey bucket?), hold the lights on, and take a deep dive into probably the most unforgettable horror movies of the final ten years.
2014 – It Follows
David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows isn’t simply among the best horror movies of 2014—it’s probably the most creative of the last decade. Taking a seemingly easy premise (a supernatural curse that relentlessly pursues its victims) and turning it right into a nerve-wracking expertise, the movie performs with suspense in a approach few trendy horror films do. The synth-heavy rating, the unsettling cinematography, and the eerie sense of paranoia make It Follows really feel like an ’80s fever dream filtered via pure nightmare gasoline.
Whereas I usually recognize when good scary films stay one-off horror movies with out pointless sequels, I can’t deny how excited I’m that Neon has greenlit a sequel known as They Observe. Returning to this unsettling world with David Robert Mitchell on the helm seems like the right method to proceed one in every of horror’s most authentic nightmares and to touch upon probably the most controversial endings in latest reminiscence.
2015 – The Witch
Few horror movies have had the lasting cultural influence of Robert Eggers’ debut characteristic, The Witch. Dubbed “A New England Folktale,” this slow-burn psychological horror is drenched in environment, authenticity, and non secular dread. Anya Taylor-Pleasure’s breakout position, and maybe one in every of her greatest performances, mixed with meticulous period-accurate dialogue and gorgeous cinematography, makes this probably the most unsettling horror experiences of the twenty first century.
And let’s be sincere—Black Phillip deserves his personal award as one of many Scariest Trendy Horror Villains.
2016 – Don’t Breathe
If you happen to thought dwelling invasion films had run their course, Don’t Breathe proved in any other case. This claustrophobic thriller, directed by Fede Álvarez (Evil Useless 2013), flips the script by making the would-be burglars the hunted. The terrifying efficiency of Stephen Lang because the blind however lethal home-owner makes each second unbearably tense, and Don’t Breathe is one of many greatest horror films of 2016. With barely a wasted body, Don’t Breathe retains you on edge, proving that typically silence is way scarier than loud leap scares.
2017 – Get Out
Jordan Peele’s Get Out isn’t simply among the best horror movies of 2017—it’s probably the most culturally important horror movies of all time. Unsurprisingly, it’s one of many few horror films nominated for Greatest Image, a testomony to its influence on cinema and social discourse.
Mixing psychological horror with sharp social commentary, Peele masterfully weaves a terrifying story about race, privilege, and id, all wrapped inside an eerie, Stepford Wives-esque nightmare. From Daniel Kaluuya’s gripping efficiency to the haunting imagery of the “Sunken Place,” Get Out delivers rigidity that lingers lengthy after the credit roll. It’s a quintessential Black-led movie that redefined the style, proving that horror could be as thought-provoking as it’s terrifying. If you happen to haven’t seen it but, now’s the time to vary that.
2018 – Annihilation
Some may argue that Annihilation belongs within the greatest sci-fi film class, quite than horror, however should you’ve seen that bear scene, you recognize precisely why it belongs on this listing. Alex Garland churns out one in every of his greatest films with this cerebral and haunting book-to-screen adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer’s novel. It’s a hypnotic fever dream stuffed with physique horror, psychological dread, and existential terror. In one in every of her most iconic roles, Natalie Portman leads an outstanding solid via The Shimmer, a visually gorgeous and deeply unsettling zone the place biology mutates in terrifying methods.
2019 – Midsommar
Ari Aster’s Midsommar is the horror equal of watching a slow-motion automobile crash—you recognize one thing horrible is coming, however you may’t look away. Set nearly solely in broad daylight, the movie weaponizes its vivid, idyllic setting to masks its true horror.
Florence Pugh delivers a powerhouse efficiency as Dani, a lady dragged right into a Swedish cult’s sinister rituals by her boyfriend–one of many worst romantic companions in all cinema. The outcome? It is probably the most disturbing and simply one in every of A24’s greatest films.
2020 – The Invisible Man
Blumhouse and Leigh Whannell took Common’s basic monster film idea and turned it into probably the most unsettling thrillers in latest reminiscence. The Invisible Man (obtainable to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription) updates H.G. Wells’ basic with a contemporary, terrifying twist—a romantic relationship that ends in a very darkish place: home abuse and gaslighting. Elisabeth Moss carries the movie with a gripping, weak efficiency, making the horror really feel all too actual. The stress is relentless, and the best way Whannell performs with empty house can have you questioning each shadow within the room.
2021 – The Black Telephone
Horror and coming-of-age storytelling mix seamlessly in The Black Telephone, directed by Scott Derrickson (Sinister). Based mostly on Joe Hill’s work, a brief story, the movie follows a kidnapped boy speaking with the ghosts of his captor’s previous victims via an outdated rotary cellphone. Ethan Hawke is chilling because the masked villain generally known as “The Grabber,” making a nightmarish presence with out over-explaining his backstory. It’s atmospheric, unsettling, and packs an emotional punch.
2022 – One thing within the Dust
If you happen to’re unfamiliar with indie horror energy duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (The Limitless, Decision), One thing within the Dust, a horror flick that flew underneath the radar, is a wonderful introduction to their distinctive model of cosmic horror. This low-budget, mind-bending movie follows two Los Angeles neighbors who come across unusual supernatural occurrences of their residence advanced. What begins as a documentary challenge spirals into paranoia, obsession, and existential dread. It’s a sluggish burn, but it surely’s a must-watch for many who love thought-provoking horror.
2023 – Evil Useless Rise
The Evil Useless franchise has all the time been synonymous with relentless, blood-soaked carnage, and Evil Useless Rise retains that custom alive. Lee Cronin takes the sequence in a contemporary new course, transferring the setting from a distant cabin to a high-rise residence—with out sacrificing an oz of the horror. The movie delivers gore, possession, and a number of the most brutal moments within the franchise’s historical past. If you happen to love your horror chaotic, Evil Useless Rise delivers in buckets—of blood.
2024 – The First Omen
Prequels hardly ever handle to seize the essence of the unique, however The First Omen proves to be the exception. Set earlier than the occasions of the 1976 basic The Omen, this movie dives into the eerie origins of the Antichrist with a slow-burning dread that builds to a horrifying crescendo. This ignored gem was simply the greatest horror film of 2024 and had a number of the most stunning moments I nonetheless can’t get out of my head. Mixing non secular horror with unsettling psychological terror, The First Omen has already made a robust case for being among the best horror movies of the last decade—and you’ll test it out within the consolation of your individual dwelling with a Hulu subscription.
A Decade of Horror Excellence
The final ten years have been unbelievable for us worry freaks, who’re all the time searching for the following nice scary film. From slow-burning psychological terror to blood-soaked slashers and mind-bending cosmic horror, the style has developed in ways in which proceed to push storytelling, visible artistry, and emotional depth to new heights.
Most just lately, The Substance, a brutally unsettling physique horror movie starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, has taken the trade by storm. It has gained quite a few awards this season and obtained a number of 2025 Oscar nominations, and it’s a main instance of how horror is acknowledged on a bigger cinematic stage.
Whether or not you’re keen on your horror cerebral, brutal, or simply plain enjoyable, there’s one thing on this listing for everybody. And with one other decade of horror forward of us, one factor’s for positive—the style is just getting higher.