30 Best Horror Films of the 2020s (So Far) You Absolutely Must Watch

The 2020s have been a wild ride for horror. Filmmakers are mixing classic scares with fresh ideas, pushing familiar monsters into new territory, and finding inventive ways to make our skin crawl. From nerve shredding thrillers to eerie slow burns, this decade keeps proving that horror is one of the most creative corners of cinema.

This list highlights standouts that shook audiences, sparked conversations, and delivered unforgettable frights. Queue a few for tonight and save the rest for later, because these picks cover every flavor of fear and keep the chills coming long after the credits roll.

‘The Invisible Man’ (2020)

‘The Invisible Man’ turns a classic concept into a modern nightmare about control and doubt. You feel the tension in every quiet room as the film toys with what you can and cannot see.

The scares work because the story keeps its focus tight on one woman’s fight to be believed. Clever staging and patient suspense make simple spaces feel dangerous and alive.

‘His House’ (2020)

‘His House’ blends supernatural terror with the reality of starting over in a new place. The haunted home is scary, but the grief and guilt at the center sting even more.

The film uses its ghosts to talk about memory and survival. It finds horror in the walls and in the heart, and both are equally chilling.

‘Host’ (2020)

‘Host’ takes a familiar video call and turns it into a nerve jangling séance. The format feels natural and the scares arrive fast, tight, and inventive.

It is a perfect snapshot of a moment and a reminder that smart ideas beat big budgets. Close your laptop and you may still feel like something stayed on the call.

‘Relic’ (2020)

‘Relic’ is a creeping family story that treats a loved one’s decline like a living maze. The house becomes a reflection of confusion and fear, and it closes in as the film goes on.

The emotion hits as hard as the horror. By the end, it finds a tender kind of terror that lingers long after the final image.

‘The Dark and the Wicked’ (2020)

‘The Dark and the Wicked’ drops you on a remote farm where despair feels physical. The dread builds scene by scene until it feels inescapable.

The film trusts silence, shadow, and suggestion. It is relentless and heavy, and that commitment makes it unforgettable.

‘Saint Maud’ (2021)

‘Saint Maud’ is an intimate character study that slowly tightens its grip. You watch devotion twist into something frightening, and the film never looks away.

It balances empathy with unease and ends on a shot you will not shake. It is small in scale and huge in impact.

‘The Night House’ (2021)

‘The Night House’ follows a grieving teacher who starts to sense a hidden life in her own home. The atmosphere is thick, and the mystery pulls you through each discovery.

The scares are earned through smart reveals and bold visuals. It makes absence feel like a presence, and that idea gets under your skin.

‘Malignant’ (2021)

‘Malignant’ swings for the fences with a wild premise and stylish set pieces. It starts like a familiar chiller and then flips into something gleefully unhinged.

That willingness to go big pays off in shocks and fun. It is the kind of horror that makes you gasp and grin at the same time.

‘A Quiet Place Part II’ (2021)

‘A Quiet Place Part II’ expands its world without losing the tight focus that made it work. Every footstep and whisper matters, and tension builds with every small choice.

The set pieces are clean and crisp. It proves that careful sound and patient pacing can turn simple moments into edge of your seat events.

‘Fear Street Trilogy’ (2021)

‘Fear Street Trilogy’ stitches together three slasher stories that talk to each other in smart ways. Each entry riffs on a different flavor of terror while building a single arc.

It is playful and bloody and full of energy. The characters stick with you, which makes the stabbings and sacrifices land harder.

‘Candyman’ (2021)

‘Candyman’ brings a legend into the present with style and purpose. Mirrors and reflections carry real weight, and every scare has a sharp point.

It looks beautiful and cuts deep. The film honors the myth while asking who gets to tell it, and that question is scary on its own.

‘The Medium’ (2021)

‘The Medium’ uses a mock documentary frame to follow a healer in a remote community. The story starts observational and then slides into full chaos.

The slow build pays off with raw, unsettling sequences. It feels real enough to crawl under your skin and stay there.

‘Last Night in Soho’ (2021)

‘Last Night in Soho’ is a time slip ghost story with a glam sheen. Bright lights and catchy tunes hide something rotten just out of view.

When the illusions crack, the film turns sharp and intense. It dances between fantasy and nightmare and leaves you with images you will not forget.

‘X’ (2022)

‘X’ follows a film crew chasing a dream on a rural property with secrets. Sun soaked scenes hide creeping danger, and the tension pops when day turns to night.

It is violent and vibrant and surprisingly tender. The characters feel human, which makes the terror sting a little more.

‘Pearl’ (2022)

‘Pearl’ turns a villain into a dreamer with a dangerous wish. Bright colors and big emotions collide with a growing darkness inside the lead.

It is a character piece with sharp edges. By the end, the smile you see is the scariest thing in the room.

‘Nope’ (2022)

‘Nope’ is a spectacle about spectacle that still delivers pure chills. Wide open skies turn into a threat, and every glance upward carries risk.

The set pieces are bold and clever. It invites you to look and then makes you question why you wanted to.

‘Barbarian’ (2022)

‘Barbarian’ leads you down a path you think you know and then veers into a nightmare. The surprises are smart and the tone shifts keep you off balance.

It plays the audience like an instrument. You laugh, you squirm, and then you cover your eyes as it goes for broke.

‘Smile’ (2022)

‘Smile’ takes a simple image and turns it into doom. Every grin feels wrong and the paranoia spreads from scene to scene.

The film is about trauma and the fear of passing it on. It makes that idea literal in ways that are creepy and sad.

‘The Black Phone’ (2022)

‘The Black Phone’ is a thriller about a kid fighting back with help from beyond. A single room becomes a whole world, and hope grows in the darkest place.

It balances menace with heart. The villain is scary, but the courage on display is what sticks with you.

‘Speak No Evil’ (2022)

‘Speak No Evil’ looks at politeness as a trap. Small compromises pile up until escape feels impossible.

It is a hard watch because it feels so true. The horror comes from ignoring instincts, and the final stretch is devastating.

‘The Menu’ (2022)

‘The Menu’ serves satire with a side of dread. A fancy dinner becomes a stage for control and cruelty.

It is wickedly funny and deeply tense. Each course raises the stakes, and you never know which bite will turn deadly.

‘Scream’ (2022)

‘Scream’ returns to a town that cannot shake its past. The film respects what came before while finding new ways to twist the knife.

It is brisk, bloody, and self aware without getting smug. The set pieces snap and the mystery stays lively.

‘Talk to Me’ (2023)

‘Talk to Me’ uses a party trick to open a door that should stay shut. The rush of being chosen becomes a curse that spreads through a friend group.

It feels modern without chasing trends. The scares are sharp, and the emotional fallout hurts.

‘Evil Dead Rise’ (2023)

‘Evil Dead Rise’ moves the carnage to a crumbling apartment and keeps the mayhem coming. It is loud, messy, and full of nasty surprises.

The energy never lets up. Practical gore and vicious jokes make it a crowd pleaser for the bravest crowds.

‘Scream VI’ (2023)

‘Scream VI’ takes the game to a bigger city with bigger set pieces. New locations turn everyday spaces into traps.

It keeps the whodunit engine humming while raising the threat level. It is slick, tense, and fun to watch with friends.

‘Skinamarink’ (2023)

‘Skinamarink’ is lo fi terror that feels like a half remembered dream. Dark rooms and distant whispers do most of the work.

You either sink into its mood or bounce off it. If it hits, it is one of the most unsettling experiences of the decade.

‘When Evil Lurks’ (2023)

‘When Evil Lurks’ shows possession as a spreading sickness. The rules feel new and cruel, and the danger grows with every mile.

It is bleak and fearless. The film refuses comfort and that makes it truly frightening.

‘Infinity Pool’ (2023)

‘Infinity Pool’ follows a couple who stumble into a world where consequences can be bought. Wealth and guilt twist into something monstrous.

It is stylish and disturbing in equal measure. You watch through your fingers and keep thinking about it after.

‘Late Night with the Devil’ (2024)

‘Late Night with the Devil’ stages a live broadcast that goes very wrong. The studio lights turn hot as the show slips into real fear.

It nails the feel of television and uses that setup for bold scares. It is clever, committed, and a blast to experience.

‘The First Omen’ (2024)

‘The First Omen’ returns to a cursed story with fresh intensity. The slow build turns everyday rituals into signs of something terrible.

It respects the legacy while finding its own voice. By the time it reveals its hand, you are already hooked and horrified.

Share your own picks and personal favorites from the decade so far in the comments.