No Arguments, No Notes: These 10 Horror Movies From the 21st Century Are All 10/10 Triumphs

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Lots of horror movies have been made since 2000, but these 10 stand out as truly exceptional. With so many different types of horror available, there’s something for every fan, and these films are widely considered among the best released in the last two decades.

Horror films as we know them today began in the 20th century. Early classics like Nosferatu, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Phantom of the Opera, Dracula, and Frankenstein laid the foundation for the genre’s huge popularity. Later, films like Night of the Living Dead, Psycho, Rosemary’s Baby, Jaws, Halloween, The Exorcist, Alien, The Thing, The Shining, Poltergeist, Scream, and The Blair Witch Project were released, building on that foundation and inspiring the horror films we enjoy now in the 21st century.

10) Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Horror comedies really took off in the 21st century, and a prime example – and one of the films that kicked off the trend – is the 2004 movie Shaun of the Dead. Directed by Edgar Wright and co-written with Simon Pegg, the film centers on a down-on-his-luck salesman in London who must rescue his friends, family, and girlfriend when a zombie outbreak occurs. Shaun decides the safest place to wait it out is at his local pub.

Shaun of the Dead is a genuinely funny and highly rewatchable movie, packed with memorable lines. It showcases Edgar Wright at his best, filled with the clever visual and editing techniques he’s famous for. But it’s not just funny – it’s also a great zombie film, paying loving tribute to the work of George A. Romero. With plenty of heart, humor, and gore, Shaun of the Dead is essential viewing for any horror fan.

9) The Host (2006)

Bong Joon Ho is a director known for working in many different genres, and his first horror film is 2006’s The Host. It’s a traditional monster movie about a creature in the Han River that attacks people. When the monster kidnaps the main character’s daughter, his family must come together to rescue her.

The Host is a visually stunning and well-acted film that truly captivates. But it’s more than just a monster movie – it’s a thoughtful response to the real-life events of the McFarland incident, adding a layer of social commentary that elevates the entire experience.

8) Let the Right One In (2008)

Love stories between humans and monsters have been around for a long time, but one of the best examples from recent years is the 2008 Swedish film, Let the Right One In. This horror movie, directed by Tomas Alfredson, centers on a 12-year-old boy who befriends the new girl next door, only to discover she’s a vampire.

This movie focuses on the inner life of its monster, surprisingly making the young vampire relatable and even prompting viewers to understand why she does what she does. Let the Right One In contains some genuinely unsettling scenes and has clearly influenced the horror genre.

7) Under the Skin (2013)

Jonathan Glazer is a filmmaker who doesn’t rush his projects. His 2013 film, Under the Skin, remains one of his more recent works. The movie features Scarlett Johansson as an alien who takes on the appearance of a woman to abduct men in Scotland.

This film stands out as a truly unique alien horror movie because it’s told from the alien’s point of view, offering a fascinating look at how an alien perceives humanity. What makes it even more remarkable is that it was filmed using hidden cameras and largely featured non-actors, creating a groundbreaking cinematic experience.

6) Train to Busan (2016)

I was so caught up in the zombie craze that came back in the late 2000s and continued into the early 2020s, and one film really stood out to me: Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan. It’s a thrilling story about what happens when a zombie outbreak starts on a train, and it follows the passengers as they desperately try to survive and reach the safety of Busan.

Instead of building tension slowly like many horror films, Train to Busan delivers non-stop action and thrills. Its inventive action sequences and the unusual setting help it rise above the many other zombie movies that came out around the same time.

5) Get Out (2017)

Jordan Peele made a stunning debut as a director with his 2017 film, Get Out, which many consider to be his best work. The movie follows Chris Washington, a Black man, as he visits his white girlfriend’s family and discovers a terrifying secret.

Jordan Peele’s Get Out was a groundbreaking horror film that helped define a new wave of the genre in the late 2010s, and continues to influence filmmakers today. Its clever social commentary, unsettling humor, and original concepts made it unlike anything audiences had seen before, and it remains uniquely captivating.

4) Hereditary (2018)

While many consider Midsommar a standout horror film, it likely wouldn’t have been made without Ari Aster’s earlier work, 2018’s Hereditary. Hereditary is essentially a family drama wrapped in a horror story, focusing on a family grappling with unsettling supernatural events following the death of their daughter.

If you’re looking for a modern horror film as unsettling as The Exorcist, Hereditary is it. It expertly explores themes of possession and haunting, with powerful writing and acting that create a constant feeling of dread. While it’s a difficult film to watch, that’s precisely what makes Hereditary so effective and terrifying.

3) The Lighthouse (2019)

Robert Eggers is a director known for horror, having created films like The Witch and Nosferatu. But many consider his 2019 film, The Lighthouse, to be his best work. It tells the story of a lighthouse keeper and his assistant as they experience increasingly bizarre events while isolated at sea.

Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe deliver what many consider to be the best performances of their careers. The film is beautifully shot, and its editing cleverly plants ideas in the viewer’s mind. The Lighthouse has drawn comparisons to The Shining, and is open to a wide range of interpretations.

2) The Substance (2024)

Body horror is a particularly disturbing subgenre of horror, gaining prominence in the 1980s through films by David Cronenberg, such as Videodrome and The Fly. Recently, director Coralie Fargeat’s 2024 film, The Substance, has brought this type of horror back into focus. The film centers on Elisabeth Sparkle, a fitness instructor worried about losing her job due to aging, who turns to a mysterious substance promising to restore her youthful appearance – with terrifying results.

“The Substance” is a highly stylized film that immediately grabs your attention with its striking visuals, over-the-top gore, and compelling performances. The acting is phenomenal, and the special effects—both practical and digital—are among the best seen in recent years.

1) 28 Years Later (2025)

Danny Boyle’s 2025 film, 28 Years Later, is the newest entry on this list. As a sequel to the 2002 hit 28 Days Later, it revisits the world decades after the initial outbreak of the Rage Virus. The story follows a young boy from the Scottish Highlands who ventures into infected areas to find a doctor to help his sick mother. Danny Boyle directed the film, and Alex Garland wrote the screenplay.

Many sequels that revisit older films are seen as uninspired copies, but 28 Years Later is a standout success, completely earning its place as a great film on its own. It’s visually stunning – arguably one of the best-looking movies in years – and features an amazing soundtrack by Young Fathers. The acting is superb across the board, with Alfie Williams, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes delivering particularly strong performances. Beyond the thrills, the movie thoughtfully explores powerful themes of what it means to be human, and offers moving reflections on love and loss.

What’s your pick for the best horror movie since the year 2000? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-16 18:14