5 Must-Watch Horror Movies Streaming Now For Halloween

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Halloween is almost here, and there’s a huge selection of scary movies you can stream right now! You’ll find plenty of options on popular platforms like Prime Video, Netflix, and HBO Max, plus even more on the streaming service Shudder, which focuses entirely on horror. There’s truly something for every fan of scary movies.

I’m a huge horror fan, and there are tons of options out there – everything from the classic monster movies with vampires, werewolves, and ghosts, to really creepy psychological thrillers. They’re even adding new stuff all the time, with some great horror films from just the last few years available to stream. Honestly, with so much to pick from, I’ve narrowed it down to what I think are five awesome horror movies you can watch right now.

The Howling (1981) – Prime Video

With over 15,000 movies, Prime Video has a huge selection, making it a top choice for film lovers. However, that large library can make it difficult to browse and find something to watch, and some truly great classic films can get lost in the shuffle. For those who enjoy horror, The Howling is a standout movie worth revisiting.

Released in 1981, The Howling and An American Werewolf in London both helped bring werewolf movies back to popularity after years of being overlooked. Wolfen also came out that year. While An American Werewolf in London blended horror with comedy, The Howling was a purely frightening horror film.

The film features a fantastic cast, led by the wonderful Dee Wallace (known from Cujo), with strong supporting performances from actors like Kevin McCarthy and John Carradine. This movie helped launch director Joe Dante’s career and eventually led to him directing Gremlins just three years afterward.

28 Days Later (2002) – Netflix

After the success of 28 Years Later in 2025, with another sequel planned for early 2026, now is a great time to revisit the original story. The first movie, 28 Days Later, is currently available on Netflix. It centers around a man (Cillian Murphy) who wakes up in a hospital and discovers that a devastating outbreak has swept through Great Britain.

The plot is reminiscent of The Walking Dead, but 28 Days Later actually premiered a year earlier than the comic book series. While it doesn’t have quite the same level of constant action, it still delivers truly frightening scenes, with both the infected and the human characters creating intense and disturbing moments.

While the recent sequel, 28 Months Later, wasn’t as good, the original film was a truly excellent zombie movie. Director Danny Boyle was highly praised for his work on it, and his return to the series with 28 Years Later helped restore the franchise’s reputation.

Barbarian (2022) – Hulu

Zach Cregger quickly gained attention in the horror genre with his first film, Barbarian, which came out in 2022. You can now watch the movie on Hulu. Before this, Cregger was known for his comedy work with the group The Whitest Kids U Know, but Barbarian showed he’s a talented director with a promising future.

Barbarian is a horror film that feels like a classic. It follows a woman who finds her Airbnb in Detroit is already occupied. Despite her reservations, she decides to stay, only to discover the real danger isn’t her temporary roommate, but a terrifying evil lurking in the tunnels beneath the house.

Cregger’s horror film was a big hit, and he followed it up with an even stronger one called Weapons in 2025. Despite that success, his first movie is still excellent and deserves more recognition, marking the promising beginning of a great career for this up-and-coming director.

Host (2020) – Shudder

The 2020 horror movie Host was a surprisingly effective and well-received film, especially considering it takes place entirely through a Zoom call. Available now on Shudder, it stood out from other similar movies – like the recent War of the Worlds – which weren’t as successful with critics.

I was seriously freaked out by this movie! It was filmed during the pandemic, and the whole thing takes place over a Zoom call. Basically, a group of friends decides to have a seance, and things quickly go wrong. They’re all stuck watching on their computers as a terrifying demonic force starts picking them off one by one. It’s genuinely scary because it feels so real, like something that could actually happen during a video call.

It was surprising to see Host receive such high praise – a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – considering it was filmed using simple, low-budget techniques. The movie proved that a truly terrifying and effective horror film doesn’t require a big budget, and it quickly became a standout modern horror classic.

Sinners (2025) – HBO Max

Directed by Ryan Coogler and scheduled for release in 2025, Sinners features Michael B. Jordan playing twin brothers, Smoke and Stack. After escaping Chicago where they worked for the mafia, the brothers return to Mississippi in 1932 to open a local music venue. The film portrays the dangers of the Ku Klux Klan, who find themselves in conflict with a newly arrived group of vampires.

Honestly, this movie is right up there with the best films of 2025, no matter what kind of movie you’re into. And great news – it’s currently streaming on HBO Max! What really blew me away was Jordan’s performance. He plays two brothers who are total opposites, and he absolutely nails both roles – it’s a truly spectacular performance.

This film is a fantastic horror movie that uses vampires to represent deeper ideas, while also celebrating the rich history of African American music. It’s a strong awards contender and is now available to stream for those who haven’t seen it yet.

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2025-10-24 22:30