Top Horror Hits: Here are Most-Watched Scary Movies This October According to Nielsen’s Latest Numbers

Between October 1 and 7, 2025, horror fans were on the hunt for chills and thrills, both on traditional TV and streaming platforms.

From classic scares to new releases, certain movies stood out as the most-watched during the first week of October, capturing the attention of audiences eager for a fright. Let’s see what fans watched.

10. ‘The Intruder’ (47M Minutes Watched)

The Intruder, a 2019 American psychological thriller directed by Deon Taylor and written by David Loughery, stars Michael Ealy and Meagan Good as a couple who move into a countryside home, only to discover that the former owner, played by Dennis Quaid, isn’t ready to let go. The film ranked number 10 on the list, racking up 47 million minutes watched.

9. Halloween (50M Minutes Watched)

Ranking at number 9 with 50 million minutes watched is Halloween (2018), a slasher film directed by David Gordon Green and co-written with Jeff Fradley and Danny McBride. The movie is the eleventh installment in the Halloween series and acts as a direct sequel to the 1978 original, ignoring all previous sequels.

Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie Strode, facing off against Michael Myers, played by James Jude Courtney, with Nick Castle making a cameo as the killer. The story follows a traumatized Laurie preparing for a final showdown with Myers on Halloween night, forty years after surviving his first killing spree.

8. Sinners (57M Minutes Watched)

Coming in at number 8 with 57 million minutes watched is Sinners, a 2025 American horror film produced, written, and directed by Ryan Coogler. Set in the Mississippi Delta in 1932, the movie stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as twin brothers who return to their hometown and face a supernatural threat. The film also features Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton in his film debut, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, and Delroy Lindo.

7. Tremors (58M Minutes Watched)

At number 7 with 58 million minutes watched is Tremors (1990), an American monster horror film directed by Ron Underwood. The movie stars Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, and Reba McEntire.

It follows handymen Val McKee (Bacon) and Earl Bassett (Ward), who plan to leave the small desert town of Perfection, Nevada, but get caught up in a series of mysterious deaths. With seismologist Rhonda (Carter) and survivalist couple Burt and Heather Gummer (Gross and McEntire), they must fight for their lives against giant, prehistoric, worm-like creatures that emerge from underground.

6. Slender Man (58M Minutes Watched)

Landing at number 6 with 58 million minutes watched is Slender Man (2018), a supernatural horror film directed by Sylvain White and written by David Birke.

Based on the infamous internet character, the movie stars Joey King, Julia Goldani Telles, Taylor Richardson, Jaz Sinclair, Annalise Basso, and Alex Fitzalan, with Javier Botet portraying the terrifying Slender Man.

5. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (58M Minutes Watched)

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) is a psychological horror thriller directed and produced by Robert Aldrich, starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, with Victor Buono in his film debut. Adapted by Lukas Heller from Henry Farrell’s novel, the story follows a former child star who torments her paraplegic sister in a decaying Hollywood mansion.

Filmed in Los Angeles on a $1 million budget, the movie sparked rumors of a feud between Davis and Crawford, though both denied it. Released by Warner Bros., it premiered on October 31, 1962, to critical praise and box office success.

The film earned five Academy Award nominations, with Davis receiving her final Best Actress nod and winning Best Costume Design. Known for its dark humor and psychological tension, it helped revive the careers of its stars and became a cult classic, even inspiring the psycho-biddy subgenre.

4. 28 Years Later (60M Minutes Watched)

At number 4 with 60 million minutes watched is 28 Years Later (2025), a post-apocalyptic horror film produced and directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. The third installment in the 28 Days Later series, it stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes.

3. Bring Her Back (93M Minutes Watched)

Taking the bronze spot with 93 million minutes watched is Bring Her Back (2025), an Australian horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou.

The movie stars Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, and Sally Hawkins. It follows two step-siblings who, after becoming orphans, are caught in the middle of an occult ritual orchestrated by their new foster mother.

2. Scream (1996) (113M Minutes Watched)

At number two with 113 million minutes watched is Scream (1996), a classic American slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. The movie stars Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, and Drew Barrymore. Set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, it follows high school student Sidney Prescott (Campbell) and her friends as they are targeted by a masked killer on the anniversary of her mother’s murder.

1. M3gan 2.0 (115M Minutes Watched)

Claiming the number one spot with 115 million minutes watched is M3GAN 2.0 (2025), an American science fiction action film written and directed by Gerard Johnstone, based on a story co-written with Akela Cooper.

The sequel to the 2022 film M3GAN, it stars Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ivanna Sakhno, and Jemaine Clement. Amie Donald physically portrays M3GAN, while Jenna Davis provides the character’s voice. Produced by Jason Blum and James Wan through Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster, the film follows M3GAN as she is rebuilt to take on a humanoid military robot using her own technology, which is attempting an AI takeover.

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