Looking for something that’ll make you sleep with the lights on? Netflix’s horror collection has gotten seriously impressive, and we’ve rounded up the absolute best films that’ll deliver genuine scares and keep you thinking long after the credits roll. Here are our top picks, ranked by viewer ratings.
1. His House (2020)
Ratings: 100% Critics | 72% Audience
This is one of the most critically praised horror films currently streaming, and it fully deserves the hype. The movie follows a refugee couple who finally escape the violence of their homeland and find refuge in a new home. What should be a safe haven quickly transforms into something sinister when they realize their past has followed them across the ocean.
What makes this film special isn’t just the creepy atmosphere—it’s the emotional depth. The horror comes from both supernatural sources and the couple’s lingering trauma, creating a haunting experience that hits on multiple levels. It’s the kind of movie that stays with you.
2. Host (2020)
Ratings: 98% Critics | 71% Audience
Shot entirely during lockdown and presented as a video call, this film proves that minimal budgets don’t limit maximum scares. A group of friends hosts a séance during quarantine, and what starts as fun and games quickly spirals into genuine terror when something actually responds to their summoning.
The single-screen format might sound limiting, but it actually enhances the tension. Watching the horror unfold through your computer screen creates a weirdly immersive experience that makes every jump scare feel more effective.
3. Deadstream (2022)
Ratings: 92% Critics | 75% Audience
This one’s for anyone who loves a good haunted house story with a modern twist. An online content creator decides to stream himself spending the night in a genuinely haunted mansion for views and ad revenue. Spoiler alert: the ghosts don’t appreciate being turned into entertainment.
It’s funny, it’s scary, and it never takes itself too seriously. The film balances humor with genuine scares in a way that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
4. Gerald’s Game (2017)
Ratings: 91% Critics | 70% Audience
This Stephen King adaptation centers on a woman who ends up handcuffed to a bed during a romantic getaway when her husband suddenly dies. Left alone, injured, and with no way to escape, she must survive the physical and psychological horror of her situation.
What impressed viewers most is how the film handles a claustrophobic setting without becoming boring. It’s tense, disturbing, and weirdly philosophical about trauma and survival. The main performance carries the entire movie, and it’s absolutely gripping.
5. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Ratings: 95% Critics | 87% Audience
It’s a classic for a reason. This groundbreaking zombie film redefined the entire horror genre and still holds up remarkably well decades later. The story is simple: survivors hole up in a farmhouse while the undead close in outside. But the genius lies in what the film says about society, racism, and human nature.
If you haven’t seen this one, it’s essential viewing. Even if you have, it’s worth revisiting to appreciate why it revolutionized horror filmmaking.
6. Upgrade (2018)
Ratings: 88% Critics | 88% Audience
This is science fiction meeting horror in the most satisfying way. After a brutal attack leaves him paralyzed, a man agrees to have an experimental AI implanted in his body that grants him superhuman abilities. He then goes on a quest for revenge, but the line between who’s controlling whom becomes increasingly blurred.
Audiences absolutely loved this one because it delivers action, horror, and mind-bending moments all wrapped together. It’s clever, violent, and genuinely entertaining.
7. Cargo (2018)
Ratings: 88% Critics | 67% Audience
Here’s a zombie film that actually has a heart. It follows a father desperately trying to protect his daughter in a post-apocalyptic world overrun with the infected. What sets this apart from typical zombie fare is its emotional core and genuinely touching narrative.
Instead of endless action sequences, the film builds tension through atmosphere and character development. It’s more contemplative than you’d expect from a zombie movie, and that’s exactly what makes it memorable.
8. #Alive (2020)
Ratings: 88% Critics | 63% Audience
A young man finds himself trapped in his apartment building as a mysterious plague transforms his neighbors into violent creatures. He attempts to survive and escape using his apartment and the internet as his only tools.
This South Korean film cleverly uses the confined setting to create mounting tension. The mystery of what’s happening outside, combined with the pressure of dwindling resources, keeps you invested in whether the protagonist will make it.
9. Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2021)
Ratings: 84% Critics | 63% Audience
This is slasher fun with style and substance. Set in the 1990s, it follows a group of teenagers who realize they’re being hunted by a masked killer. The film channels classic horror vibes while bringing its own fresh energy to the genre.
The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is part of its charm. It’s got solid scares, entertaining characters, and that satisfying 90s nostalgia that makes it extra fun to watch.
10. Cam (2018)
Ratings: 93% Critics | 54% Audience
This psychological horror explores the dark side of online streaming. A cam performer realizes that someone has stolen her identity and appearance to run her streams without her permission. As she tries to reclaim her online presence, reality and fiction begin to blur in disturbing ways.
While audiences were more divided on this one, critics praised it for tackling modern anxieties about privacy, identity, and the internet. It’s strange, unsettling, and definitely not for everyone, but if you appreciate cerebral horror, it’s worth your time.
11. Apostle (2018)
Ratings: 79% Critics | 53% Audience
A man infiltrates a secretive cult on an island to rescue his kidnapped sister. What he discovers is far more complex and terrifying than he bargained for. This is folk horror at its finest, with a deliberate pace that builds unbearable tension.
Director Gareth Evans (known for action thrillers) brings his visual style to this slow-burn horror, creating something that feels genuinely atmospheric and different from typical horror offerings. It’s not a movie full of jump scares—it’s one that gets under your skin and stays there.
Source: Netflix