Best Horror Movies on Hulu to Watch Right Now

Hulu is to horror what Netflix is to rom-coms, which is, in a word, revitalizing. Hulu has slowly cultivated a one-of-a-kind collection of both short and long-form horror, from TV shows to big-budget movies, paying extra care to the genre with numerous originals.

In recent years, Hulu has taken to revitalizing beloved horror IP, which further cemented a place for the originals to be more widely available while giving Hulu access to time-proven content for its subscribers. That, plus its plethora of add-on streaming options, allows viewers to sort between even more tantalizing delights rather than needing to pay for a more niche streaming service. With all of this to sort from, here are Hulu’s best of the best of all things spine-tingling and scary.

Updated on Feb. 16th, 2024, by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

29 Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Written and directed by S. Craig Zahler in his directorial debut, Bone Tomahawk is a Western horror set in the remote town of Bright Hope, which is dominated by a clan of cannibals who call themselves the “troglodytes.” When the wife of the sheriff and two others are abducted by the clan, he teams up with his deputy, a gunslinger, and a cowboy to rescue them. But soon, they’re outnumbered by the brutal killers, leading to a fight for their lives.

A Horrifying and Unique Western

We’ve seen gritty westerns and disturbing horrors separately, and they both have the most unsettling aspects that make them memorable. Bone Tomahawk infuses the classic tropes from both genres to create something terrifyingly beautiful. While the practical effects add ferocity to the cannibalistic clan, a more tender and tense pace enhances the nature of its compelling characters. With actors like Kurt Russell, Richard Jenkins, Patrick Wilson, and Matthew Fox lending their talents, the movie is a true gem.

28 Mandy (2018)

Set in the early 1980s, Mandy is an outstanding action horror film that follows Red Miller, living a peaceful secluded life in the woods with his artist girlfriend, Mandy. Their glorious world is shattered when a rogue cult leader is infatuated by Mandy and orders his henchmen to kidnap her. Things escalate violently when Red embarks on a harrowing mission to dismantle the cult and free Mandy.

A Cage-Dominated Revenge Flick

Even though the premise of Mandy sounds weary, its beautifully shot action, inventive allegory, and heavy metal sensibilities make it unconventional. Nicolas Cage is brilliant in this surreal epic as he bathes himself in grief and vengeance, his rage engulfing every scene. Under the stylish direction of Panos Cosmatos, the movie becomes arthouse fare that not only packs visceral scenes of horror but also redefines the genre for the cinephiles.

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26 The House That Jack Built (2018)

Split into five sections, The House That Jack Built follows the titular serial killer as he recounts all the gruesome and meticulous murders he committed in the past decade. The entire time, he’s referring to a faceless man called Verge. Apparently, Jack considered every act of violence as a work of art, and the way he describes them is jarring.

Gruesome and Visceral Murder Scenes

Knowing the film is written and directed by Lars von Trier, it is only natural that it would infuse highly shocking kills with a sufficient amount of social commentary. As far as serial killer movies go, The House That Jack Built is perhaps the most authentic in its depiction of intense murders. Matt Dillon certainly outdoes himself as the psychotic criminal who takes pride in admitting that he has murdered sixty people so far. Paired with the hauntingly beautiful score and unrushed cinematography, the film is a wild masterpiece,

25 Titane (2021)

Titane is a bizarre French body horror film centered around Agathe Rousselle’s main character who was in an accident as a child. As a result, a medical-grade titanium alloy was fitted inside her skull. Now an adult, she works as a model and kills anyone who crosses her. While on the run, she comes across fire chief Vincent, whose young boy has been missing for a decade now. Alexia poses as Adrien, and what follows is a series of uncomfortable scenarios.

Thematically Rich and Narratively Startling

Disturbing but visually stunning, Titane confuses you from the get-go. Despite not understanding her character, you’re drawn to Rousselle because of her magnetic presence and unusual appeal. The horror thriller setup makes the movie’s plot twists and fetishes seem shocking. Moreover, with Vincent Lindon’s chief, it also tries making subtle commentary on self-denial, body image, and sexuality, eventually drawing to a conclusion that will leave your mouth agape.

24 A Haunting in Venice (2023)

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The third Hercule Poirot story brought to the big screens by director and actor Kenneth Branagh, A Haunting in Venice is an ambitious effort that manages to be as intriguing and filled with mystery (if not moreso) as the first two films. It centers around Poirot, who may be living a solitary life, but he’s living in Venice. Upon attending a seance, he gets embroiled in a mystery where one of the guests is mysteriously murdered.

Branagh’s Poirot Is Endlessly Enjoyable

First things first, A Haunting in Venice boasts an incredibly talented cast that includes Branagh (obviously), Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey, and Jamie Dornan. The film is adapted from Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party, and even though the story’s location, timespan, and primary characters have been altered, the storytelling and the pacing really make it an interesting watch. It is smart, sensitive, surprisingly spooky, and somewhat refreshing.

23 Cobweb (2023)

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Samuel Bodin arrives with style and a splash of horror in his directorial debut, Cobweb. The supernatural horror film follows a young eight-year-old boy named Peter, who claims that he can hear the walls of his home knocking. The strange and constant sound never reaches anyone but him, and when his parents dismiss his concerns, he’s almost sure that they’re hiding something sinister from him.

Spooky, Atmospheric Horror

Few recent horror movies have held the potential for a sequel, and Cobweb is one of them. Bodin seems to have outdone himself when it comes to the spookiness because the movie is subtle yet so increasingly scary that you cannot help but get sucked into its very familiar and entertaining imagery. The sound effects and the overall music score, done by Drum & Lace, add to the horror and family dynamics. Moreover, the acting and the plot are also surprisingly amazing.

22 The Boogeyman (2023)

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Based on a Stephen King short story, The Boogeyman is another tale from the horror master that ramps up tension in truly frightening ways. Featuring a psychiatrist reeling from his own pain, he struggles to be there for his children who are mourning the death of their mother when a terrifying entity is unleashed in their home to prey on their grief. With some great performances driving it, this one makes for a unique blend of supernatural terror mixed with atmospheric tension and psychological horror.

Another Chilling Stephen King Adaptation

Given that its source material comes from one of the all-time greatest masters of horror, the film already has a great starting point. What makes Stephen King’s stories so effective and terrifying, and what was brilliantly carried through to the film, is the chilling atmosphere that haunts it throughout. From the beginning, the film is bathed in a kind of creepy tension that keeps you in a constant state of fear, rather than relying on jump scares thrown in here or there.

21 No One Will Save You (2023)

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Touted by everyone from Guillermo del Toro to Stephen King, Hulu’s No One Will Save You is another win for the streamer’s original film department. It’s also another win for director Brian Duffield whose 2020 debut, Spontaneous, was also very impressive.

Dever Commands the Screen

There are just five words of dialogue throughout the entire film, yet the viewer will never have any trouble following what’s going on. Thanks to tremendous work from Kaitlyn Dever (who has been impressive ever since her role on Justified), the viewer is also able to discern exactly what the lead character Brynn is feeling. This is the perfect display of her endless talent as she experiences such abject terror.

20 The Babadook (2014)

One of the best horror movies directed by women, The Babadook is an intimate, moody, atmospheric modern masterpiece. Some have deemed it an overrated entry in the modern-thinking person’s era of horror, but even if just going by the acting and cinematography, it’s a winner. It follows a single mother haunted by the death of her husband while her young son claims there’s a monster lurking about.

Allegorical Horror and Creeping Tension

There’s much to be said about the titular antagonist. Although he may not be seen much, there’s an intense creepiness the entire movie is imbued with, making it an unsettling watch even though there isn’t much in-your-face horror. These facts set it apart since it creeps under the skin rather than relying on cheap jump scares at every turn.

19 Willy’s Wonderland (2021)

One of the better movies from Nicolas Cage’s direct-to-streaming era, Willy’s Wonderland is the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie before 2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s. Cage is perfectly stoic as the unnamed main character, but the real star of the show is legendary character actor Beth Grant, whom Willy’s Wonderland (much to its benefit) gives a tremendous amount of material.

A Better Version of Five Nights at Freddy’s

The plot is basically nonexistent and fans might be disappointed by just how little Cage’s character speaks, but there’s more good than bad in the movie. Despite all this, the film is downright enjoyable and somehow manages to make Cage look cool as his unabashed violent self in the film. The animatronics, are legitimately creepy, and impressive for such a low-budget film, lending an air of fear around every corner.

18 Alien (1979)

Filled with unforgettable scene after unforgettable scene, Ridley Scott’s iconic Alien is a haunted house attraction in space. Even if no screams can be heard in space, they can definitely be heard on Earth, and unsuspecting viewers should expect to do so a few times. Featuring a commercial spaceship that unwittingly allows a terrifying alien on board, the film is a classic and turned Sigourney Weaver into an icon.

A Truly Perfect Horror Film

There are scenes like the claustrophobic death of Tom Skerritt’s Captain Dallas and others that just make this film so different from others of its era. Brilliant, ahead of its time, bloody, well acted, well directed, and bolstered by a perfectly designed but seldom seen antagonist, Ridley Scott’s Alien is an all-time classic of cinema. It birthed a franchise that’s still going strong today, so, buckle up and relive why that was with this legendary film.

17 Appendage (2023)

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Body horror at its best, Appendage sees a young woman’s battle with herself taken to extremes. When Hannah keeps allowing her inner voice to consume her with insecurities, the power she gives it soon results in her fears growing into an actual appendage that starts to push its way out of her. What she initially believes to be stomach cramps, turns out to be monstrous growth and a manifestation of her inner voice.

Body Horror In the Name of Self Esteem

Weird and twisted in the best of ways, fans of body horror will love this one. It may not be to everyone’s tastes, but for those who enjoy morbid stories, it contains a pretty poignant one beneath all the gruesome scenes. Carrying a terrifying message, the film will have you paying attention to your self-talk a lot closer.

16 Werewolves Within (2021)

A wonderfully entertaining comedy mystery film, the well-cast Werewolves Within should check most horror and comedy fans’ boxes. Its greatest asset is the leading duo of Milana Vayntrub and Sam Richardson, both of whom are captivating and entirely on the film’s wavelength. A werewolf story at its heart, it also incorporates great elements of comedy and mystery effortlessly into its plot.

A Delicious Blend of Horror and Comedy

At its core, Werewolves Within actually provides a solid mystery. It stands to reason maybe one in five will be able to guess the werewolf’s identity. Factor in the film’s occasionally effective scares and always-effective comedy, and it’s one of 2020’s best genre-blenders thus far. It may not be terrifying for those who prefer hardcore horror, but it’s plenty of fun and features an iconic horror villain as its main antagonist.

15 Day of the Dead (1985)

Because it followed the masterful one-two punch of Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead was practically universally deemed a major disappointment. Is it as remarkable as those two preceding films? Not quite, but it’s incredibly effective and has only improved with age. Featuring the same classic zombie tropes in a saturated subgenre, the film is more than effective as a horror featuring the undead.

Not For Those Scared of Small Spaces

The film’s underground setting is incredibly claustrophobic, and the tunnels of the base are so well-shot that the viewer always has at least a general sense of where the characters (and the zombies) are. But where the movie shines is in the interactions between the still-living cast members. There aren’t many ’80s horror films better at the gradual build, and there’s no ’80s horror film with a better human antagonist than Cpt. Rhodes, brought to life by the late, great Joseph Pilato in one of horror cinema’s all-time performances.

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For a relatively small film, Searchlight’s The Menu made quite a splash both critically and commercially. With a wildly inventive concept and mostly smarmy yet intriguing characters, it’s an unpredictably nightmarish dinner. Ralph Fiennes is terrifying as an exacting chef who accepts nothing short of perfection. Toss in a magnetic lead performance from Anya Taylor-Joy and a great new utilization of Nicholas Hoult and, yes, chef, The Menu is a winner.

Satirical Horror at Its Finest

Aside from its brilliant cast who all performed electrically, the film was a scathing indictment of our collective social rot. Taking stabs at everything from influencing to the bastardization of the culinary arts by Instagram chefs, the film takes foodie wannabees and exposes them for wanting to stand on the shoulders of giants without having to put the work in to get there the hard way. Brilliant and uncomfortably true at times, the film was a masterstroke in satire.

13 Skinamarink (2022)

This film has a pretty awesome backstory since it was shot as an experimental film by a YouTuber. It has since gained a huge following and is considered to be an amazing directorial debut. Skinamarink follows two young children who awake at their home during the night. Not only is their father missing, but strange things begin to happen as windows and other objects in the house start to mysteriously disappear.

A Truly Nightmarish Experience

Kyle Edward Ball was a Canadian filmmaker who used to make videos based on nightmares that other people described. Shooting this film at his own home in Edmonton, copies of it were leaked, and it soon gained cult popularity on social media. This led to the film securing a theatrical release from IFC Midnight and it being released on Shudder. Despite the film’s budgetary constraints, Ball was able to create a brilliantly creepy atmosphere and a great horror film overall. Prepare to feel unsettled as this immersive journey grabs you and wrenches you into the film. Once there, the outside world melts away as the terrifying atmosphere slowly engulfs viewers.

12 The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

With Emile Hirsch and Brian Cox in the lead, The Autopsy of Jane Doe is an atmospheric horror film that packs a punch. The film immerses you in its tense environment as it follows the actors as a father and son duo who run a private mortuary from their home. It’s late at night when a murder victim is brought in. The woman’s identity is unknown, and she appears to have no visible cause of death. However, once her autopsy begins, with the men alone with her body as a storm rages outside, it soon becomes apparent that this is no ordinary case.

Phenomenal Performances and an Engrossing Plot

As they begin to examine the body, signs of unimaginable torture are found internally. Making things worse, some of these injuries appear to be impossible since there’s no way she could have suffered them without any visible scarring on the outside of her body. Things soon take a horrific turn. With the men trapped inside, the body begins to unravel its terrifying secrets. If you need any more convincing, consider the fact that this one even made Stephen King’s list of favorite horror movies.

11 The Offering (2022)

The Offering was one of the creepiest horror films to come out of 2022. In a similar vein to The Autopsy of Jane Doe, it follows the haunting caused by a body sent to a Jewish funeral house run out of the home of a family from a Hasidic community. What the family doesn’t know is that the person whose body has recently arrived died shortly after performing a ritual that unleashes an evil force. A failed binding spell results in the entity being carried into the funeral home, and it soon begins haunting everyone in it.

Effective Scares and an Interesting Premise

A great film with plenty of scares, this one has some loose realism to it as it’s based on the Jewish folktale of Abyzou. Coming in a year dominated by horror films like Barbarian, this one might not have been as well known or celebrated, but triumphs along these lines since it completely exceeds expectations. A mixture of tension-building, supernatural horror, and jump scares, it effectively scares you without ever trying to punch above its weight.

10 Prey (2022)

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2022’s Prey cemented itself as an instant classic the second it became the highest-watched premiere on Hulu at the time. The film is a continuation of the Predator series, though this iteration looked to the past for inspiration. It takes place in 1719 and follows the Comanche tribe in North America. The main hero is a warrior in training who struggles to prove her worth to her comrades and herself amidst encroaching colonization… and now alien warfare, of course.

A Triumphant Reboot

Easily one of the most successful Hulu franchise reboots to date, this film took great pains for the sake of authenticity. This historically accurate film was shot in both English and Comanche to avoid the “Hunt for Red October” effect of a harsh transition in language. The Predator itself got in on the action, sporting a bone-like suit and weapons more fitting of the ‘prey’ of the time. The film also made several references to the originals, from the revamping of direct Arnold lines to the advantageous use of swamp muck.