16 Best Horror Movies On HBO Max

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HBO Max boasts a large collection of movies, including a strong selection of horror films – from timeless classics to brand new releases. With so many streaming services available today – some subscription-based, others free – HBO Max has quickly become a favorite among viewers who choose to pay for access.

HBO Max offers a wide variety of movies and TV shows from Warner Bros. and HBO. While some content is available elsewhere, HBO Max boasts a large collection of both timeless classics and recent releases, including a diverse range of horror films – everything from traditional scary movies to intense gore and suspenseful psychological thrillers.

Cronos (1992)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Cronos is a horror film and the directorial debut of Guillermo del Toro. The movie centers on Jesús Gris, an aging antique dealer, who discovers a strange, ancient device created by an alchemist. Upon opening it, a needle punctures his skin, and a mechanical insect within begins to process his blood.

Gris unexpectedly regains his health and youthfulness, but this transformation comes with a dangerous craving for blood. Cronos, directed by Guillermo del Toro, is a unique and emotionally rich vampire story, featuring outstanding performances by Luppi and Ron Perlman.

House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

Directed by Rob Zombie

Rob Zombie’s first film as a director, House of 1000 Corpses, is a darkly comedic horror movie with a slasher style. The story centers around a group of young people traveling across the country, documenting unusual roadside attractions for a book they’re writing.

The group hears a local tale about a man known as Dr. Satan, and a creepy encounter with Captain Spaulding – who runs a gas station and horror museum – leads them into danger. After picking up a hitchhiker named Baby, they drive her to her family’s home, only to be kidnapped by her deranged relatives, the Firefly family.

Inspired by classic horror films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes, House of 1000 Corpses delivers plenty of gore and a strong 1970s horror feel. While it can be a bit excessive at times, it’s a fun watch for fans of slasher films and graphic horror.

Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

Directed by Halina Reijn

Bodies Bodies Bodies is a darkly funny horror film directed by Halina Reijn. The movie follows a group of friends having a party at a mansion during a hurricane. They decide to play a game similar to ‘murder in the dark’ called ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies,’ but the night quickly turns serious when someone turns up dead.

The movie follows a group of friends trying to survive a stormy night while also uncovering who among them murdered one of their own. Cut off from the outside world with no power, tensions rise as they investigate. Bodies Bodies Bodies is a suspenseful and humorous film filled with clever surprises and strong acting.

The Witch (2015)

Directed by Robert Eggers

Robert Eggers’ first feature film, The Witch, is a folk horror movie set in 1630s New England. The story follows a Puritan family who are terrorized by a sinister presence in the nearby woods, starting with the disappearance of their baby while being watched by their oldest daughter, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy).

After a terrible loss, a family begins to fall apart, and suspicion falls on their daughter, Thomasin, who is accused of witchcraft. The Witch isn’t a typical jump-scare horror film; it’s a slow, unsettling story that builds tension and makes you wonder if Thomasin is truly guilty or just a victim of circumstance. Its deliberate pace is crucial to creating this atmosphere of dread and uncertainty.

It (217)

Directed by Andy Muschietti

Directed by Andy Muschietti, It is a horror movie based on the 1986 Stephen King novel of the same name. The story unfolds in 1989 in the town of Derry, Maine, and centers around a group of kids who call themselves “The Losers Club.” They encounter a terrifying, shape-shifting creature that they nickname “It.”

This creature wakes up every 27 years and feeds on people’s deepest fears, manifesting as those fears themselves. It most often appears as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, played by Bill Skarsgård, and uses this form to terrorize a group of kids – known as the Losers – as they try to find a way to fight and destroy it.

This is the first of two movies. The sequel, It Chapter Two, also directed by Andy Muschietti, catches up with the now-grown-up Losers Club 27 years later as they get ready for one last battle with Pennywise.

The Devil’s Rejects (2005)

Directed by Rob Zombie

Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects is a darkly comedic horror film and a follow-up to his movie House of 1000 Corpses. The film revisits the story of the Firefly family – Baby, Otis (played by Bill Moseley), and Captain Spaulding – as they embark on a brutal and bloody road trip through the desert while trying to evade capture.

Like its first film, The Devil’s Rejects is extremely graphic and violent, but it’s a significant improvement in terms of writing, character development, and acting. Many consider it Rob Zombie’s strongest work, and while a sequel, 3 From Hell, was released in 2018, it didn’t achieve the same level of quality or popularity.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

Okay, so I just saw Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and it’s… something else. It’s a really unsettling psychological thriller, definitely leaning into the absurd. The story centers around Steven Murphy, played by Colin Farrell – he’s a heart surgeon. He ends up befriending this young teenager, Martin (Barry Keoghan), who has a connection to a patient Steven lost on the operating table. It’s a strange setup, and things quickly get very weird.

Shortly after these events, Steven’s family starts getting sick, and it becomes clear that Martin is somehow responsible—that their illnesses are tied to his idea of restoring “balance.” The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a complicated film, full of suspense and unsettling moments, and can be confusing at times. It’s packed with surprising turns, and the ending will likely leave audiences questioning whether the characters made the best choices.

Midsommar (2019)

Directed by Ari Aster

Ari Aster’s Midsommar is a horror film about a group of friends who travel to Sweden for a midsummer festival. Dani (played by Florence Pugh) joins them after experiencing a devastating family loss. What starts as a cultural experience quickly turns unsettling as the group encounters disturbing rituals and realizes they’ve become entangled with a dangerous cult.

Most horror films rely on darkness to create fear, but Midsommar takes place entirely in broad daylight, demonstrating that scary stories can happen anywhere. The film features some truly shocking and unsettling moments, but they all serve the story, making it one of the decade’s best horror releases. It’s comparable to another film by the same director, which we’ll discuss later.

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Directed by Lee Cronin

Evil Dead Rise is a new horror film from writer and director Lee Cronin, and it’s part of the Evil Dead franchise. However, it doesn’t continue the story from the original trilogy or TV series. The movie centers on Beth (Lily Sullivan) who goes to visit her sister, Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), and her family – teenagers Danny (Morgan Davies) and Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), and young Kassie (Nell Fisher).

When an earthquake strikes, Danny discovers a strange book and records hidden beneath his apartment building’s parking garage. This discovery unintentionally awakens terrifying creatures known as Deadites, turning people nearby into monsters. Evil Dead Rise creates a tense, scary, and visually intense experience, all while remaining faithful to the spirit of the original Evil Dead films.

Get Out (2017)

Directed by Jordan Peele

Jordan Peele’s first movie as a director, Get Out, is a scary and thought-provoking horror film. It tells the story of Chris, a Black photographer, who travels with his white girlfriend, Rose, to meet her family. While visiting, Chris begins to realize something is terribly wrong and that he’s in serious danger.

Jordan Peele’s Get Out is widely considered a landmark horror film, celebrated for its clever ideas, strong writing, skillful direction, compelling acting, and insightful social commentary. It tackles difficult topics like racism, modern politics, and the search for identity. Unlike many horror movies that rely on sudden scares and monsters, Get Out is truly frightening because its villains are disturbingly realistic people.

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2026-01-14 04:22