The Best Horror Movies of 2026 (So Far)

We’re in June 2026, and I have to say, the movie industry this year has felt strangely underwhelming. Very few of the big blockbuster releases have caught my attention, and the ones that have managed to catch my eye did so for all the wrong reasons – looking at you, Super Mario Galaxy Movie. However, no matter how cold and desolate the movie space gets, I can always rely on my favourite genre to pump out some content that restores my faith in cinema, even if they fly under the radar for everyone else.

So today, we’re talking about all of the best horror movies of 2026, as of June 2026. I’m sure there’s plenty of great horror releases to come – I’m super excited to see Backrooms, though it won’t be included on this list as I haven’t yet, and Clayface and Ice Cream Man are both looking like they could be a lot of fun to watch in the near future. However, there’s plenty of great horror movies that I have seen this year, so let’s get to it! Time to dive into our list of the best horror movies of 2026 as of June 2026!

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Obsession

Image by Focus Features

It’s really only fair to talk about this viral sensation first, though its reputation really speaks for itself. Obsession has become a global smash hit since its release in May, and it’s not hard to see why. An intriguing plot, a break-out success story behind its director, and an absolutely incredible performance by Inde Navarrette as the unforgettable Nikki Freeman. All of this comes together to create something very special for the horror genre – a movie that lands so well with the general public that its theatrical run is extended far beyond the original plan. Now, just because a piece of media lands well on TikTok doesn’t always speak well to its artistic merit, but in the case of Obsession, the hype is well deserved.

Unlike most of the other entries on this list, which I would recommend to any horror fan looking for a fun movie night, Obsession is a movie I would recommend to anybody out there who’s even semi-curious about its contents, and a film I would call a must-see for horror fans everywhere. The story is simple – a young man turns to the supernatural to make his friend fall in love with him. However, it’s truly impossible to predict where this movie ends up in its final moments. An absolutely masterfully-crafted thrill ride of a horror film. Even if this is the only movie on this list that you check out, make sure to watch it for yourself. One of the best horror movies of 2026 for sure, and arguably, one of the best movies of 2026 in general.

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Primate

Image by Paramount Pictures

Where Obsession is an incredibly well-crafted, thought-provoking horror movie that’ll terrify you with its mood and tone, Primate is, perhaps, the exact opposite. Are you a slasher movie fan? Have you ever wanted to watch a slasher movie where the villain isn’t some skulking, monstrously-sized man with a machete, but is, instead, a rabid chimpanzee? If your answer to that question is no, then maybe Primate isn’t for you. However, I know for a fact that there’s enough of you out there who are intrigued by this premise, and to be fair to Primate, it delivers exactly what it promises.

Primate doesn’t break much new ground for the slasher genre, but what it sets out to do, it does very well. The jumpscares work, the chimpanzee is portrayed scarily authentically by Miguel Torres Umba, and the kills are plentiful. There are certainly some silly plot points going on here, and I was less than impressed by the amount of times that Primate cuts away from the action during its kill scenes, but there’s a lot of fun to be had here, especially if you choose to watch this one with friends. Horror fans, check this one out! As far as old-fashioned, slasher fun goes, this is definitely one of the best horror movies of 2026 so far.

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Faces of Death

Image by Independent Film Company

It was a very ambitious undertaking to tackle a remake of 1978’s Faces of Death. The original Faces of Death is a film where the mythology surrounding it arguably overshadows the actual contents of the movie itself. However, with this 2026 reboot, it feels like the concept behind the 1978 original is taken and turned into something much more palatable for a modern audience, rather than trying to replicate the conversation around the original, because let’s be honest – the discussion surrounding the original is really something that could only happen in the 70s.

Out of all of the entries on this list, I think Faces of Death is the one I would recommend most exclusively to horror fans, but feel free to check it out for yourself if your morbid curiosity has spiked. The film follows a TikTok content moderator who stumbles across a series of very authentic-looking murder videos, and tries to track down the killer to reveal the truth behind his social media spree. For its original take on a cult classic film, nearly 50 years later, this one earns a spot on our best horror movies of 2026 list, but it’s certainly one of the least universally-appealing entries here.

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Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Image by Searchlight Pictures

Here we have a sequel to one of my favourite horror movies of 2019, and if you enjoyed the original, I’m glad to report that you’re bound to enjoy this follow-up. It’s been a long time since the first Ready or Not movie came out, which led to a lot of worries in how well this would land. Combine this lengthy time-gap with the fact that the plot of Ready or Not 2 isn’t all that different from the original, and you get a potential recipe for a repetitive disaster. Thankfully, instead of worthlessly treading old ground, Ready or Not 2 proves that when a horror movie has a formula that works very well, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.

Ready or Not 2 takes place immediately following the events of the first film, and sees Grace, who has just freshly escaped a hellish family game night, as she is once again captured and forced to participate in yet another demonic ritual. While Grace initially refuses to comply with the rules of the game, the introduction of her sister to the madness pulls her in. Ready or Not 2 is a movie that capitalises on everything that fans loved about the original, and is well worth a watch if you’re a fan of horror’s more ‘fun’ side. Do be warned though, the film is still as bloody as ever.

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Hokum

Image by Neon

Of all of the movies on this list, I think Hokum is probably the scariest, at least in a traditional, haunted-house sense. While the horror genre has been moving towards a more campy, fun identity, which I actually quite appreciate, Hokum speaks to those mid-2010’s horror movies filled with jumpscares and depressing plot points. Now, that may not be my exact taste when it comes to this genre, but I think that Hokum is an excellent 2026 horror pick for fans of The Conjuring, Insidious, and any other ‘haunting’-style horror movies. It’s a suffocating film, terrifying its viewer until the very end, so for the hardcore horror fans out there, this one is for you.

Hokum follows a disgruntled author who travels to a hotel in the Irish countryside to spread his parents’ ashes. Unbeknownst to him, there’s a lot more than meets the eye going on in this hotel, as the darkest parts of the natural and supernatural world collide all around him. I will say, while I really enjoyed Hokum, it does bite off a little more than it can chew in terms of its plot. However, there’s certainly a lot of thrills to be had as Adam Scott explores the haunted grounds of the hotel, and for any fans of darker, more sombre horror stories, Hokum is certainly one of the best horror movies of 2026 so far.

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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Image by Sony Pictures

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple was a very, very pleasant surprise. While I absolutely love 28 Days Later, and really enjoy 28 Weeks Later, I actually thought that 28 Years Later was a real let-down, a film with a completely obscured tone, experimenting with filmmaking techniques that didn’t really land. Now, pair this underwhelming world up with the directorial overview of Nia DaCosta, who’s last horror outing with Candyman was less than impressive, and you have a movie in The Bone Temple that I really expected to dislike. Against all odds, this was a very enjoyable movie, capturing the grittiness that made the 28 Days Later franchise what it is, while also keeping the plot moving in a healthy way.

The Bone Temple is a movie split into two halves – we watch as Spike, the protagonist of 28 Years Later, joins up with Jimmy Crystal’s satanic cult on mainland Britain, while Dr. Kelson continues his work in making contact with the infected. The Bone Temple is consistently entertaining, while also tying together the film’s two plots neatly by the time the finale comes around. If you’re a fan of this franchise, and you were feeling a little alienated by the original 28 Years Later, then trust me. This sequel is definitely worth your time, and proves that one less than enjoyable entry isn’t enough to spoil the whole franchise. For how much it pleasantly surprised me, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple more than deserves a spot on our list of the best horror movies of 2026.

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They Will Kill You

Image by Warner Bros. Pictures

Looking back on this list, I think that They Will Kill You is likely the most divisive movie on here. I’m not sure I can really call this movie ‘good’, because it has a lot of flaws. The story is all over the place, the acting is solid but overwhelmingly campy, and the tone is pretty incomprehensibly mixed between comedy and horror. So, why is it here? Well, as a horror fan, sometimes the stories with the most flaws are the ones that hit the hardest, and for me, They Will Kill You hit very hard.

They Will Kill You follows an ex-convict who gets a job at a mysterious high-rise in the middle of New York, not realising the extent of the madness inside. What follows is a healthy 90-minute thrill ride, as we watch Zazie Beetz hack and slash her way through hordes and hordes of masked cultists. Again, the story is a little rough around the edges, but if you want a gory thrill ride that feels like horror’s answer to the action of Kill Bill, albeit without any of that film’s great storytelling, then this is the movie for you. Like Primate, this is a film best experienced with friends, and with the right group, this is easily one of the best horror movies of 2026, at least as far as unadulterated fun goes.

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Send Help

Image by 20th Century Studios

Send Help is my personal favourite horror movie of the year so far, and that’s thanks to a number of things. First of all, the plot here is extremely unpredictable. With Sam Raimi at the helm, it’s hardly surprising that this movie thrives on madness, but believe me when I say, you will be shocked by this movie at least a handful of times. Secondly, Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien play off of each other so well here, both playing very complex characters, both undoubtedly leaving you feeling conflicted about them by the time the credits roll.

Send Help is Sam Raimi at his absolute best – yes, the Spider-Man movies are incredible, but to me, Raimi thrives when he can work within the horror genre, and Send Help allows him to do that, while retaining his signature sense of fun. The plot starts in a simple spot, as Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien find themselves stranded on a remote island and must try to survive together. What it devolves into, however, is far from simple. It’s certainly not the scariest movie on this list, but I think that Send Help hits all the right spots as a horror-thriller-comedy film, masterfully balancing all of its themes and genres thanks to the incredible team behind it. Check this one out for sure.

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Conclusion

The horror genre has already delivered quite a few treats to horror fans, and we’re only halfway through the year! What do you think are the best horror movies of 2026 so far? Which of the films from our list have you watched for yourself? Be sure to let us know in the comment section of this article, and thanks for reading!

See also: Summer Game Fest 2026 – The Top 10 Highlights

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