The 15 most anticipated horror movies of 2026

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2026 looks like a great year for horror movie fans! Several major franchises are returning to theaters, including new installments like “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” and the long-awaited return of the “Evil Dead” series with “Evil Dead Burn.” But which of these upcoming films are generating the most buzz?

2025 was a seriously great year for horror! I got totally hooked on a few movies – Ryan Coogler’s vampire film, Sinners, was awesome, and Zach Cregger’s Weapons was genuinely messed up in the best way. Then Danny Boyle dropped 28 Years Later, which was a fantastic follow-up. Honestly, a bunch of horror flicks ended up being some of my favorite movies of the whole year!

As a horror fan, I’m really excited about what 2026 has in store! It looks like we’re getting a little bit of everything – creepy monsters, terrifying serial killers, mind-bending psychological thrillers, some fun spoofs, the usual zombies, and even adaptations of comic books. It’s a great mix, and there’s something for everyone!

So here’s which horror movies we’re most excited about in 2026, ranked from 15-1.

15. Buddy

Directed by Casper Kelly, this film stars Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Shannon, and Patton Oswalt. It was released on January 22nd.

The story follows a girl and her friends as they try to escape a disturbing and warped version of a children’s television program.

We’re really looking forward to this movie because of the incredibly talented cast and the unique, unsettling story. While it shares some similarities with Five Nights at Freddy’s – featuring seemingly innocent characters turning scary – it feels like it could be even more ambitious. Plus, Cristin Milioti, who recently played a villain in The Penguin, would be a great fit for a horror role, and this movie could showcase a different side of her acting.

14. Insidious 6

Directed by Jacob Chase, the film stars Brandon Perea, Lin Shaye, Amelia Eve, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, and Sam Spruell. It will be released on August 21st.

Currently, Blumhouse isn’t sharing any details about the sixth Insidious film, not even the title.

We’re looking forward to seeing Brandon Perea join the Insidious franchise! He quickly became a popular actor in films like Nope and the upcoming Twisters, and now he’s taking on another exciting series. It will be interesting to see how his character interacts with the spirit of Elise (Lin Shaye) to battle a new supernatural threat – though we’ll have to wait and see how it all unfolds.

13. Return to Silent Hill

Directed by Christophe Gans and starring Jeremy Irvine, Hannah Emily Anderson, and Evie Templeton, this film was released on January 23rd.

Return to Silent Hill is a new take on the popular game Silent Hill 2. It centers around James Sunderland, who returns to the frightening town searching for his wife, Mary, while also battling his own inner demons and a deteriorating mental state.

We’re thrilled about ‘Return to Silent Hill’ because the original ‘Silent Hill 2’ is considered a masterpiece of horror, and seeing it adapted for the big screen is a huge event. It’s even more exciting that director Christophe Gans is back, creating a new, separate sequel that doesn’t follow the previous film, ‘Revelation,’ which wasn’t well-received.

12. Scary Movie 6

Directed by Michael Tiddes, this film stars Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Lochlyn Munro, Chris Elliot, and Dave Sheridan. It was released on June 12th.

Scary Movie 6 marks the return of the popular horror comedy series to the big screen after more than ten years. While the specific storyline is still under wraps, audiences can anticipate seeing Anna Faris as Cindy Campbell and Regina Hall as Brenda Meeks parodying recent hit horror films from the 2010s and later.

As a huge fan of the original Scary Movie films, I’m so excited for the new one! Horror has come a long way since then, and the Wayans family has a ton of new material to work with. Think about all the big franchises like Scream, Saw, The Conjuring, and A Quiet Place – plus those really smart, scary movies like It Follows, Hereditary, Get Out, and The Babadook! It’s going to be like a hilarious takedown of everything that’s been scaring us for the last ten years, and I can’t wait to see what they do with it.

11. Send Help

Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien
Release date: January 30

The movie follows Linda Liddle, played by Rachel McAdams, who finds herself shipwrecked on a desert island with her tough boss, Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien). They must learn to cooperate if they want to survive.

Okay, as a horror fan, I’m already hyped – it’s a new Sam Raimi movie! Seriously, anything from the guy who brought us Evil Dead is instantly exciting. The trailer for Send Help really grabbed me, and I’m loving the vibe – it feels like Rachel McAdams is showing a totally different side of herself. I’m not sure if it’ll be as over-the-top gory as his earlier work, but it looks like Dylan O’Brien is definitely going to have a really bad time on this island, and I’m here for it!

10. Scream 7

Directed by Kevin Williamson, the film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, and Mark Consuelos. It was released on February 27th.

The new Scream movie centers around Sidney Prescott, the original survivor of the Ghostface killings, as she’s once again forced to fight for her life. This time, the killer is targeting her daughter, Tatum, as well as those who survived the previous two Scream films.

Fans are buzzing about the next Scream movie! The original writer, Kevin Williamson, is directing, and it looks like Matthew Lillard – who played the iconic Ghostface killer Stu Macher – will be returning. The trailer hinted at his comeback with a chilling line of dialogue, which has excited those who always wondered if Stu actually survived the first film. Hopefully, this surprising return will deliver a satisfying story.

9. The Mummy

Directed by Nia DaCosta, this film stars Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry. It will be released on January 14th.

Picking up right after the events of 28 Years Later, The Bone Temple follows survivor Spike as he gets involved with the dangerous cult led by Sir Jimmy Crystal. Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson begins conducting experiments with the Rage Virus.

The recent “28 Years Later” film ended with the introduction of a chilling cult leader, played by Jack O’Connell. We’re eager to see how he attempts to control things in a country overrun by infected and struggling to survive.

Cillian Murphy is back as Jim from the first movie, and we’re excited to see how he interacts with the new characters – especially considering his character shares the same name as O’Connell’s villain! The trailers hint that Dr. Kelson may have discovered a cure, or at least a way to slow down the infection, which could drastically alter the future of this horror series.

2026 promises to be a great year for horror lovers! But if you’re looking for the very best movies and TV shows ever made, here are TopMob’s top picks.

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2025-12-27 11:20