8 Greatest Netflix Horror TV Shows, Ranked (4 of Them Were Made by the Same Person)

Netflix has quickly become a top choice for horror lovers. It offers a variety of compelling series featuring ghosts, monsters, and even mind-bending psychological thrillers. These shows aren’t just about jump scares – they draw you in with their engaging stories, well-developed characters, and immersive atmosphere. We’re focusing on Netflix originals that truly stay with you, leaving you feeling uneasy and thinking about specific moments long after you’ve finished watching. Many of these series are considered masterclasses in storytelling, frequently praised as examples of high-quality television. What sets them apart is their ability to surprise you with unexpected twists and turns, offering narratives that are anything but predictable. They deliver scares, build tension, and present clever storylines, but it’s the unexpected nature of the plots that truly captivates viewers. You can find more information here.

Here’s a ranking of 8 of the best horror TV shows created by Netflix, demonstrating how the streaming service has really elevated the horror genre.

8) Archive 81

Often overlooked, Archive 81 begins with a promising horror concept: archivist Dan (Mamoudou Athie) takes a job restoring old video tapes from a filmmaker who disappeared, Melody (Dina Shihabi), and subsequently discovers a cult practicing disturbing rituals. However, why isn’t it higher on this list? Sadly, the show gets bogged down trying to juggle both mystery and horror elements, and doesn’t truly excel in either when compared to other series here. While some episodes successfully build tension, they’re interspersed with plotlines and characters that aren’t developed enough for viewers to fully invest in.

Archive 81 definitely has some good qualities, and many would agree it’s a hidden gem on Netflix. However, it feels like the show didn’t quite live up to its full potential. While it offers some genuinely creepy scenes and a disturbing mood, it has trouble maintaining the suspense or making you truly care about the characters. Ultimately, it feels more like a unique and ambitious attempt to do something different with the horror genre. Even with its issues and the fact that it was cancelled, it’s still worth checking out if you’re into supernatural mysteries.

7) Stranger Things

It almost feels strange not to place Stranger Things higher on this list, given how incredibly popular it became. But when you consider it purely as a horror series, it’s a bit inconsistent. The story of children battling supernatural creatures in Hawkins, Indiana, mixes adventure, mystery, and horror well, but the truly frightening parts aren’t always frequent. Villains like Vecna, the Demogorgon, the Mind Flayer, and the Upside Down are genuinely scary when they’re present, but the show primarily centers on the bonds of friendship, comedic moments, and a love for the 1980s.

Stranger Things isn’t as frightening as it once was, now focusing more on general entertainment (though Season 4 did significantly increase the horror elements). What the show does exceptionally well is developing its characters and creating a believable world, which makes viewers invested in the story. However, it doesn’t consistently deliver the constant suspense or genuine frights it sometimes aims for. Even so, given its widespread popularity, it remains one of the top series Netflix offers in this genre.

6) The Fall of the House of Usher

Mike Flanagan is a true expert in TV horror. His series, The Fall of the House of Usher, brilliantly reimagines the works of Edgar Allan Poe for a contemporary audience. It’s visually stunning and creates a powerfully gothic mood. The show centers on a family falling apart, haunted by strange and supernatural occurrences, and delves into themes of insanity, family history, and remorse. Each episode is packed with dark imagery, a sense of deterioration, and intense psychological suspense, with the Usher family home feeling like a character in its own right.

As a horror fan, I found this to be a really intense and unsettling show, but you definitely need to be patient with it. The story unfolds at a pretty deliberate pace, and honestly, some of the supporting characters could have used a little more development. The Fall of the House of Usher isn’t about jump scares; it’s more of a thoughtful, atmospheric horror experience. If you’re expecting constant thrills and action, you might be disappointed – that’s just not really Mike Flanagan’s thing. However, I was really impressed by how deep the characters were and how well the world was built. It’s definitely sophisticated horror, though personally, I didn’t find it *quite* as powerful as some of Flanagan’s other projects. It’s good, but not his best.

5) Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities

While known as a film horror master, Guillermo del Toro also excelled in television with the anthology series Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. This series is a showcase for horror in many different forms, with each episode telling its own complete story. The tales vary widely, from disturbing and shocking to deeply psychological, and though some are stronger than others, they all share the director’s distinctive visual style. The show’s diversity is what holds the audience’s attention and demonstrates how daring, imaginative, and visually impressive horror can be.

It’s tough to make every episode of an anthology series consistently good, and so some installments of Cabinet of Curiosities aren’t as strong as others. However, the series as a whole really highlights new and interesting concepts within the horror genre. Viewers who like to see how far horror can push storytelling and visual style will find it very satisfying. Guillermo del Toro consistently delivers high-quality work.

4) Kingdom

Have you ever enjoyed a zombie series? Kingdom offers a fresh take compared to most in the genre. It’s set in Korea’s Joseon Dynasty and uniquely combines scary, supernatural elements with complex political scheming, raising the tension and adding layers beyond just trying to survive. The story centers on the crown prince as he investigates a strange illness that transforms people into zombies, but the fear isn’t solely about the monsters themselves; it also explores how choices impact people in this world.

In Kingdom, the zombies pose a real danger, but the story always focuses on the people. It avoids extremes, offering a mix of different elements. Every scary, supernatural event connects to relatable problems like deceit, striving for more, and the pursuit of control, which makes the horror feel more impactful and believable. It’s a fresh, gripping, and completely absorbing show. The action, suspense, and frightening moments are skillfully blended, making it a standout in the horror genre on Netflix (despite its cancellation).

3) The Haunting of Bly Manor

As part of The Haunting anthology, The Haunting of Bly Manor focuses less on jump scares and more on creating a strong emotional experience – it’s like a beautifully told story that happens to be within the horror genre. The story centers around Dani (Victoria Pedretti), a governess who takes a job caring for two children at a large estate, and quickly becomes entangled in secrets and ghostly encounters linked to past tragedies. The series relies on psychological horror, but what truly stands out are the well-developed characters. Before you realize it, you’ll find yourself feeling tense due to the atmosphere and emotionally connected, as each supernatural event feels significant and impactful.

Simply put, Bly Manor is a dramatic story with subtle horror elements, making it deserving of a place on this list. The show’s power comes from its well-developed characters and its exploration of themes like love, grief, and remorse, rather than relying on typical horror clichés. The ghosts, for instance, aren’t there just to scare you; they represent the inner feelings and choices of the characters. It’s a sophisticated, moving, and cleverly unsettling show.

2) The Haunting of Hill House

When discussing horror television, The Haunting of Hill House is significantly better than Bly Manor and remains a top example of the genre. While Flanagan still creates a deeply moving story filled with dramatic moments, this season focuses more on frightening the audience-and does so very successfully. The story centers around the Crain family and their struggles with past experiences after inhabiting a haunted house. It’s a complicated story, but the show keeps viewers on edge with each ghost, each room, and each memory revealed.

What you get is genuinely impactful – the thrilling moments aren’t just for scares; they evoke real fear and empathy. Achieving this balance without being excessive is a real challenge. The writing is clever, and the story is carefully constructed. The Haunting of Hill House is excellent and could easily be considered Netflix’s best horror series, but Flanagan has surpassed even that with an even grander project.

1) Midnight Mass

Simply put, Midnight Mass is Flanagan’s best work. The series is a horror story that’s more than just scares; it explores themes of faith, what’s right and wrong, and feeling remorseful. It centers on a new priest who arrives on a remote island and brings both amazing events and terrifying ones that challenge the people who live there. What truly sets it apart? Each episode feels carefully and thoughtfully made. There’s consistent suspense, but it’s developed slowly and builds up over time. Plus, the characters are so well-developed and complicated that the psychological horror is often more frightening than any monster or ghost.

Midnight Mass stands out as the best because it skillfully combines scares with profound emotional depth and philosophical themes. It’s an intense and unsettling show that truly draws you in, making you reflect on your own life, beliefs, and past decisions. Everything, from the conversations between characters to the way it’s filmed, works together to create a horror experience that’s gripping, thought-provoking, and leaves a lasting impression. It feels complete, incredibly ambitious, and is something you won’t easily forget.

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2025-09-30 01:45