2025 was a strong year for horror, delivering some of the decade’s best films. It was also notable for a surprising trend: many bloody horror movies featured versions of the original Mickey Mouse. Aside from a few misses like Wolf Man, Him, The Strangers: Chapter 2, M3GAN 2.0 (which strayed from true horror), and The Ritual, most films were at least decent. Movies like The Gorge, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Coyotes, Death of a Unicorn, and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle were enjoyable, though not groundbreaking. Several others – Opus, Heart Eyes, Ash, Drop, Clown in a Cornfield, Shelby Oaks, The Monkey, and Black Phone 2 – were solid but didn’t quite stand out as exceptional.
We focused strictly on true horror films, excluding thrillers and science fiction, which is why titles like The Long Walk, Predator: Badlands, Predator: Killer of Killers, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Companion, Borderline, and Bone Lake didn’t make the list. Now, let’s see where your top horror pick from 2025 ranked!
10) Dangerous Animals
Good shark movies are hard to come by lately. The last one most people enjoyed was The Shallows in 2016. Now, Dangerous Animals joins that short list, and what makes it stand out is that the real threat isn’t actually the sharks themselves.
The film’s standout is Tucker, a chilling serial killer brought to life by Jai Courtney. Courtney delivers a performance that is both amusingly strange and genuinely unsettling, proving once again that he’s a talented actor who deserves more opportunities to play unconventional characters.
Stream Dangerous Animals on Shudder.
9) Final Destination Bloodlines
After a 14-year gap and a relatively unsuccessful fifth film, many assumed the Final Destination series had run its course. However, the latest installment, Final Destination: Bloodlines, surprised everyone by becoming the highest-grossing film in the franchise, both in the US and globally. It also earned a rare “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, marking a first for the series.
As a big fan of the Final Destination movies, I always appreciate when they try something new, and Bloodlines really does that. What I loved is it doesn’t just give us the over-the-top, creative deaths we expect—though it definitely delivers on those!—but it actually plays with the core idea of the series. Before, it was always about a group escaping a disaster and then being hunted by fate. But Bloodlines suggests there’s more to it, that death’s plan can be passed down through generations, which is a really interesting twist.
Stream Final Destination Bloodlines on HBO Max.
8) 28 Years Later
Though 28 Years Later feels a little different in tone compared to the first two films, it’s still a gripping and thought-provoking return to this world overrun by infection. And it’s surprisingly fun to see Ralph Fiennes starring in a zombie movie!
As a huge fan of the 28 films, I think this one is the most impressive yet. It really grounds you in a believable world where different groups are just trying to survive after years of total collapse. What I especially loved is how it introduces a bunch of new characters, setting them up for what looks like a really promising continuation of the story. I’m already excited for the two sequels, especially 28 Years Later: Bone Temple coming out in January – the early buzz is incredibly positive!
Stream 28 Years Later on Netflix.
7) The Conjuring: Last Rites
The Conjuring: The Last Rites was a big success in theaters, providing a strong finish to the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. While the franchise might continue, this film effectively concludes the Warrens’ personal journey, and it does so particularly well in its final moments.
While the series has been around for nine films and some of its scares have become predictable, Last Rites still delivers a few genuine surprises and creates a creepy atmosphere. The filmmakers especially wanted to feature the Warrens more prominently, giving them a central role after they had smaller parts in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
Stream The Conjuring: Last Rites on HBO Max.
6) Silent Night, Deadly Night
It’s surprising, but the new version of the famously controversial 1980s film Silent Night, Deadly Night is getting great reviews. However, it’s likely to be a film people either love or hate. Like Terrifier 3, it features impressive and gruesome practical effects. But what really sets it apart is how it improves upon the original film’s disturbing premise: a child witnesses his mother being attacked and his father murdered, then suffers abuse from nuns, leading him to become a killer who punishes even minor misbehavior, like kids being unkind to each other while sledding.
This movie isn’t exactly easy to watch, like many films focused on a troubled and inconsistent character. While it keeps some elements from the original – such as what happened to Billy’s parents – it’s generally more lighthearted. The film also gives us a better understanding of what Billy is thinking, and importantly, he only goes after truly awful people, like a group of Nazis. It’s still a bit unsettling, but it’s a much more enjoyable experience than the original, which left a distinctly negative impression.
5) Good Boy
A common saying in filmmaking warns against working with children and animals. But just as actors Haley Joel Osment and Natalie Wood showed that the first part of that saying isn’t true, Indy, the adorable Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever starring in Good Boy, proves the second part is also a myth.
The story itself is a classic haunted house tale, but telling it from a dog’s perspective was a clever way to freshen it up. The success of the film really hinged on finding the right canine actor, and Ben Leonberg’s dog, Indy, was perfect. Indy delivers genuine emotions just like a human actor would. Someone should give Indy an award – or at least a lot of treats – because he’s not only a good boy, but a talented performer too.
Stream Good Boy on Shudder.
4) Bring Her Back
With a strong performance from Sally Hawkins and hints of mythology, Bring Her Back is a haunting film that focuses on atmosphere and believable characters dealing with difficult emotions. The story begins with two children discovering their father has died, and the film maintains a consistently somber tone throughout.
Similar to the children, Andy and Piper, the woman who takes them in, Laura, is also dealing with a deep loss – the death of her daughter. Laura is the most compelling character in the film. Without giving away too much of the story, her plan seems terrible at first. However, the movie consistently reminds us that her actions stem from profound grief. The best villains are those we struggle with – we condemn what they do, but also understand the pain that led them to it.
Stream Bring Her Back on HBO Max.
3) Together
The movie Together could be considered the peak of relationship horror. While the premise—a couple physically merging after drinking from a cave pool—sounds bizarre, it’s actually a way to explore what makes a relationship healthy or toxic.
The success of the film’s narration relies heavily on its two main actors. Alison Brie and Dave Franco are a perfect fit, as their eight years of marriage give them a natural chemistry that makes the relationship between their characters, Millie and Tim, feel authentic. This believable connection then heightens the impact of the film’s unsettling horror elements.
2) Weapons
Zach Cregger’s film Weapons is a 2025 horror movie built around a genuinely captivating mystery. Like his previous hit, Barbarian, it’s beautifully filmed and full of unexpected twists, the kind of movie that could launch a director’s career.
Similar to films like Final Destination: Bloodlines and The Conjuring: Last Rites, Weapons was a big financial success for Warner Bros. While writer-producer Cregger played a key role in the film’s success, Julia Garner deserves praise for her strong lead performance, as do Josh Brolin, Benedict Wong (who delivers a particularly memorable scene), and Amy Madigan.
Stream Weapons on HBO Max.
1) Sinners
Ryan Coogler continues to prove he’s a remarkably versatile director with his film, Sinners. He effortlessly moves between different genres—not just from movie to movie, but even within a single film. Sinners blends vampire horror, romance, action, historical drama, and even musical elements, and succeeds as a strong entry in all of them.
Eight months after its release, Sinners is still gaining fans. It’s widely considered the best film of 2025, across all genres. Evidence of its popularity includes its top rating on Letterboxd, a 97% approval score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and its inclusion in the American Film Institute’s Top 10 Films of the year. Many believe that if it isn’t nominated for Best Picture, it will highlight a potential bias against genre films within the Academy.
Stream Sinners on HBO Max.
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2025-12-13 01:14