Top 10 Horror Movies To Watch In 2026: A Spooky Preview

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2025 was a fantastic year for horror movies. The genre delivered critically acclaimed films like Sinners, major box office successes such as Weapons, and inventive independent projects like Bring Her Back and Together. We also saw strong sequels, including The Black Phone 2 and 28 Years Later.

It looks like 2026 will also be a strong year for horror fans, continuing a positive trend. With several sequels to popular franchises and new projects from well-respected directors already planned, 2026 could be just as good as 2025.

They Will Kill You

The first trailer for the upcoming horror movie, They Will Kill You, is out, and it looks like a lot of fun! The film features a great cast including Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, Heather Graham, Tom Felton, and Patricia Arquette.

The movie They Will Kill You centers around a woman (Beetz) who takes a housekeeping job in a New York high-rise, only to discover the residents plan to sacrifice her as part of a Satanic ritual. It’s a premise similar to the fun and thrilling horror film Ready or Not.

The trailer for They Will Kill You is what got people excited, because it promises a lot of intense action, blood, and violence. The main character appears skilled in combat and isn’t afraid to fight back, even in surprising situations.

Evil Dead Burn

The Evil Dead series isn’t just a standout in horror – it’s one of the best movie franchises ever made. Every film is strong, and even though recent installments haven’t been as focused on comedy as Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, the series continues to be successful.

The 2013 Evil Dead film was incredibly graphic, but 2023’s Evil Dead Rise is a surprisingly good horror movie that doesn’t get enough attention. A new installment, Evil Dead Burn, is in the works, although details are currently limited to just some of the people involved in making it.

The movie features rising stars like Hunter Doohan (known for Wednesday) and Souheila Yacoub (Dune: Part Two). It’s directed by Sébastien Vaniček, who made the well-received film Infested in 2023. And, judging by the rest of the series, Evil Dead Burn is likely to be another hit.

Resident Evil

While the Evil Dead movies have found success, the Resident Evil film series hasn’t fared as well. Despite the popularity of the Resident Evil games, the movies – including those directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and the 2021 reboot, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City – have generally been poorly received by audiences.

A new installment on its own wouldn’t be particularly interesting, but the creative team offers a lot of promise. Specifically, Zach Cregger, who directed the acclaimed horror films Barbarian and Weapons, is directing and co-writing. His talent for creating genuinely frightening moments is a major plus for this project.

I’m really excited about the new Resident Evil movie! It feels like a fresh start for the series, and the director, Cregger, has assembled an incredible cast. Seeing Austin Abrams (from Euphoria), Paul Walter Hauser (Cobra Kai), Zach Cherry (Severance), and Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country) all in one film alongside Cregger himself makes it a truly captivating prospect. I think it’s going to be something special.

Return To Silent Hill

Similar to Resident Evil, the Silent Hill video game series is a classic horror franchise that hasn’t quite succeeded as a movie. The first Silent Hill film from 2006 wasn’t well-received initially, though it’s gained a following over time. Unfortunately, the second movie didn’t fare much better.

The Silent Hill movie series has been on hold for years, but that’s changing in 2026 with the new film, Return to Silent Hill. Christopher Gans, who directed the first movie in 2006, is directing again, and the trailers suggest this installment will be heavily inspired by Silent Hill 2, a game widely considered a horror masterpiece.

James (Jeremy Irvine) travels to the town of Silent Hill after receiving a mysterious letter from his late wife, seemingly inviting him there. He soon discovers Silent Hill is far from ordinary, and a deeply emotional and compelling story begins to reveal itself. If the movie captures the spirit of the original game, it has the potential to be a truly memorable film.

Clayface

Credit: INSTARimages.com

I’m really excited about what James Gunn is doing with DC, and it’s cool to see him move beyond video game adaptations. I was surprised to hear about Clayface, though! It’s going to be so different from the other projects like Superman, Supergirl, and Peacemaker, which seem more like typical sci-fi action. Apparently, Clayface is going to be a full-on body horror movie, and honestly, that’s exactly the kind of fresh take we need!

We don’t often see truly disturbing body horror in superhero stories, which makes the upcoming Clayface project stand out. It also boasts a talented team, including director James Watkins, known for Speak No Evil, and writer Mike Flanagan, who created The Haunting of Hill House.

The movie centers on an up-and-coming actor who is horribly scarred by a gangster. Desperate for a solution, he turns to a scientist who transforms his body into living clay. While Clayface has often been depicted as a joke – like in the Harley Quinn series – this new version promises a darker, more dramatic take. Given James Gunn’s track record with superhero films, fans have high hopes.

Scream 7

Like the Evil Dead series, the Scream movies have all been pretty good. However, we’re a little worried about Scream 7 because of some problems happening behind the scenes, even though we’re excited for it.

The last two Scream movies centered around characters Sam and Tara Carpenter, but the actors who played them, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, are no longer involved. Barrera was let go due to her views on the conflict in Palestine, and Ortega departed shortly after because of the resulting changes and problems. Thankfully, Neve Campbell is returning as Sidney Prescott, a central figure in the series.

One reason to be excited about the new Scream movie is that it maintains the quality of previous films in the series. The cast includes both new faces like Isabel May, Joel McHale, and McKenna Grace, and returning favorites such as Stu Macher and Roman Bridger, promising a compelling story.

Werwulf

Faye’s Vision/Cover Images

Horror movies are launching some of Hollywood’s most promising new directors, and Robert Eggers is one of the best. He’s been making critically acclaimed films since his first feature, The Witch, came out in 2015. Because of his talent, the announcement that he’s directing Werwulf is already generating a lot of buzz.

He’s known for making movies about supernatural beings – witches, vampires, and now werewolves. His latest film, Werwulf, is set in 13th-century England (the director has stated he prefers historical settings) and follows a strange creature terrorizing a village in a misty rural area.

With Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily Rose-Depp, Ralph Ineson, and Willem Dafoe reuniting with director Robert Eggers for his new film, fans can expect a similar level of quality and artistry as seen in his previous work, Nosferatu. Eggers has consistently delivered compelling films, so his involvement alone guarantees a worthwhile viewing experience.

The Bride!

It’s notable that The Bride is coming out in 2026, especially considering how well Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein did in 2025. That film was clearly inspired by both the classic 1935 movie Bride of Frankenstein and Mary Shelley’s original 1818 novel.

Beyond being based on a well-known story, The Bride benefits from the talents of Maggie Gyllenhaal, who directs, writes, and produces. Her previous film, The Lost Daughter, was a critical success, and this new project also features a fantastic cast.

Okay, so I’m really excited about this new movie, The Bride! Jessie Buckley, who was nominated for an Oscar, is playing the bride, and get this – Christian Bale, an actual Academy Award winner, is going to be Frankenstein! The cast is absolutely stacked with amazing actors like Jake Gyllenhaal and Penélope Cruz too. Everyone’s predicting it’s going to be a huge hit with the critics, and honestly, I think they’re right!

Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come

Radio Silence, the filmmaking team of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, made a big splash in 2019 with Ready or Not. The movie was a genuinely funny horror comedy, but beneath the laughs was a surprisingly unsettling premise.

The movie Ready or Not followed Grace (Samara Weaving) as she married into a family with a deadly tradition: a game of hide-and-seek where she was the target. She managed to survive, but the sequel, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, brings her back for more, along with her sister, Faith, played by Kathryn Newton.

Considering their previous work, Weaving and Newton are a perfect fit for this type of movie. This time, they’re up against people who want to eliminate them because Grace lived through the initial events. Featuring a fun and unusual storyline, plus new cast members like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood, this sequel promises to be fantastic.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Image by Everett Collection

Released in 2003, 28 Days Later was a truly innovative and exciting horror movie. The sequel, 28 Weeks Later, followed a few years later and was also well-received. After more than ten years, the series returned with 28 Years Later, which many consider to be the strongest film in the trilogy.

Just under a year after the previous film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is here. While Alex Garland wrote it again, Nia DaCosta—who directed the well-received Candyman and The Marvels—takes on directing duties this time around, and she’s a fantastic choice.

Following directly after the last film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple shows young Spike joining a dangerous group of assassins. Meanwhile, Ralph Fiennes’ character, Dr. Kelson, develops a connection that could have global consequences. It appears this installment will continue the franchise’s successful run.

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2026-01-07 22:38