Best Horror Movies of 2025 (So Far)

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It seems artists – and us! – really love to scare people. There’s tons of great horror available in books, TV shows, and movies, and it keeps getting better every year. 2025 has been a particularly strong year for horror films, and we’ve put together a list of our favorites (so far).

What are the best horror movies of 2025?

Horror fans know the genre covers a lot of ground, so we picked movies that critics and audiences both liked. But we didn’t just focus on the most frightening ones – we wanted a good mix.

Weapons

Zach Cregger’s latest film, Weapons, is arguably his most disturbing yet, and while it might not be the year’s scariest, it excels at subtly exploring its themes. The film touches on ideas like the COVID-19 pandemic or school shootings, or more generally, how suspicion and grief impact a community, but Cregger avoids explicitly stating its meaning. Instead, he builds a complex and unsettling picture, leaving the audience to interpret the film’s message. This approach is rare in horror, offering a genuinely thought-provoking experience alongside the scares.

The film begins with seventeen parents putting their children to bed, unaware it’s the last time they’ll do so. Later that night, at 2:17 a.m., all the children get up and run into the woods, their arms outstretched in a disturbing and memorable scene. The next morning, teacher Justine Gandy (Julia Garner) finds her classroom nearly empty, with only one student (Cary Christopher) present. As the town tries to understand what happened, suspicion falls on Justine. ‘Weapons’ is a suspenseful story that keeps you guessing until the very end, blending mystery with horror.

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Sinners

The 2025 hit movie, Sinners, is more than just a scary vampire film – it really digs into issues of race. It’s a story about someone seeking forgiveness, filled with supernatural horror, thrilling revenge, and a distinct Southern atmosphere, all woven together with music that’s integral to the plot. Even if you weren’t a huge fan – though most people loved it – Sinners is the kind of movie that stays with you and sparks conversation long after it ends. I personally had more discussions about this film with friends and even strangers than I’ve had about any other movie in years. While opinions varied, the sheer amount of discussion it generated proves it’s a truly impactful film.

Ryan Coogler directs, writes, and produces ‘Sinners,’ a story set in 1932 Mississippi. The film follows twin brothers, Smoke and Stack (both Michael B. Jordan), who return home from Chicago and buy an old sawmill. They aim to turn it into a music and dance club for the local Black community. However, on the club’s opening night, the music—particularly the performance of a talented young blues musician named Sammie (Miles Canton)—attracts something dangerous.

Buy it on Amazon

28 Years Later

Okay, so “28 Years Later” – the long-awaited sequel to “28 Days Later” – throws us right back into that terrifying world, 28 years after the initial outbreak. Danny Boyle is back directing, with Alex Garland handling the script, and let me tell you, it doesn’t waste any time. The film opens in the Scottish Highlands, and it’s a really unsettling scene: a group of kids are innocently watching Teletubbies, but you can feel the dread building. It’s brilliantly done, and before you know it, the infected are upon them. It’s a chilling start, and immediately sets the stage for another intense ride.

The story then moves forward almost thirty years, focusing on a family trying to survive on a remote island. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays a scavenger, with Jodie Comer as his wife, Isla, and Alfie Williams as their twelve-year-old son, Spike. While the virus is largely gone and the UK has quarantine procedures, a sense of calm is shattered when Isla becomes seriously ill, prompting her and her family to seek medical assistance.

Buy it on Amazon

Together

I’m really fascinated by movies that play with what’s real and what’s not, and “Together” does that in a really interesting way. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie, who are actually married in real life, as a couple navigating the challenges of a long-term relationship. What’s cool is the movie doesn’t try to hide the fact that they are a couple – it actually leans into it. It makes you wonder where the ‘them’ ends and the characters begin, and that chemistry feels so genuine because of it. It’s a really unique approach I haven’t seen much in film.

This couple, already struggling in their relationship, hopes a move to the countryside will give them a fresh start. However, things quickly become strange and unsettling. The film explores their growing distance from each other, both emotionally and physically, with some truly disturbing and unsettling imagery. Despite its strong horror elements, the movie also blends in romance and dark humor, creating a surprisingly effective and compelling story.

Buy it on Amazon

Frankenstein

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, his newest film, is a gothic horror that, while not terrifying by today’s standards, is truly stunning. Many consider it one of his best works, alongside Pan’s Labyrinth. The film is a retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic story, and Del Toro stays remarkably faithful to the original with only minor adjustments.

The movie starts at the very end of Mary Shelley’s story, with the Creature chasing Victor Frankenstein across the frozen Arctic. While facing his own doom, Victor (played by Oscar Isaac) tells his life story to the captain of a ship stuck in the ice. It’s a tale of how his all-consuming ambition and desire to control life – to play God – led to disaster. The movie initially unfolds from Victor’s point of view, but then shifts to show the Creature’s side of the story, powerfully portrayed by Jacob Elordi.

Created and then rejected by his creator, this being cannot die. Though often seen as merely a reanimated body brought to life by electricity, he possesses a full range of thoughts and emotions. He grieves the pain of being hated while also being trapped in eternal life. Ultimately, Frankenstein’s story evokes a powerful combination of awe, sorrow, and a bittersweet appreciation for the preciousness of life.

How we picked the best horror movies of 2025

We chose the best horror movies of 2025 (up to this point) by looking at what audiences and critics thought, the unique ideas each film explored, and how well those ideas were brought to life on screen. Other movies we considered for our list were Woman in the Yard, Good Boy, Companion, and Bring Her Back.

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2025-11-13 03:38