It was a banner year for horror, which not only dominated commercial markets but also broke through the awards barrier. The Oscars shortlist highlighted the genre’s critical success by recognizing four films. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners was the clear leader with eight category nominations, while Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein followed strongly with six.
Additional recognition went to Zach Cregger’s Weapons (nominated for Casting) and Emilie Blichfeldt’s The Ugly Stepsister (nominated for Makeup and Hairstyling). The Best Film and remaining categories will be announced January 22.
The 2024 awards season became a watershed moment for horror, showcasing the genre’s viability. Leading the charge was Coralie Fargeat’s revolutionary body horror film The Substance. The Demi Moore-led shocker secured a massive five Oscar nominations, shattering previous genre ceilings with nods for both Best Picture and a well-deserved Best Actress nomination for Moore.
While it dominated the headlines, other horror titles also found success, with Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu earning four nominations, Alien: Romulus recognized for its Visual Effects, and The Girl with the Needle in the International Feature category. Although none of them secured wins, it’s a significant achievement for the genre.
Horror films in 2025 proved a reliable driver of global ticket sales, with multiple titles soaring past the quarter-billion-dollar mark. Leading the pack was The Conjuring: Last Rites, which grossed $494 million at the box office, followed by Sinners, which grossed a massive $367 million worldwide. Franchise returns like Final Destination Bloodlines grossed $315 million, and Weapons also secured major global bank with $268 million. Notably, all four top-grossing films were released under the Warner Bros banner, marking a dominant year for the studio.
With 2025 having set another great year for horror, the coming year is poised to be an even more intriguing with regard to the genre’s critical and commercial standing. Several high-profile projects from acclaimed auteurs could generate Oscar buzz.
Julia Ducournau will release the body horror film ALPHA, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. While her previous film Titane (2021) was selected as France’s submission for the 94th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature category, it did not make the final shortlist or receive a nomination.
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s sophomore film The Bride! will bring a fresh perspective to the Frankenstein myth, starring Jessie Buckley in the titular role of the Bride and Christian Bale as Frankenstein.
The coming year also includes Eggers’ period horror Werwulf, set in 13th century England, set to be a historical take on the werewolf mythos. The film is projected for release on December 25 2026 and may bring him back to the Oscar race after his success with Nosferatu.
The following titles are primed to become sleeper hits with the potential to disrupt the awards season race in the year to come.
The Plague – In Theaters January 2
At an all-boys water polo camp, a socially anxious 12 year old is pulled into a cruel tradition targeting an outcast with an illness they call “The Plague.” But as the lines between game and reality blur, he fears the joke might be hiding something real.
We Bury The Dead – In Theaters January 2, 2026
The ravaged landscapes of post-apocalyptic Tasmania, Australia, provide the haunting setting for Zak Hilditch’s gripping zombie thriller. Daisy Ridley portrays Ava, a woman driven by hope to find her husband. Her work with a body retrieval unit takes a horrific turn when the dead begin to rise.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – In Theaters January 16
Expanding upon the world created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland in 28 Years Later — but turning that world on its head — Nia DaCosta directs 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. In a continuation of the story, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship (with consequences that could change the world as they know it) and Spike’s (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) becomes a nightmare he can’t escape. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival; the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.
Return To Silent Hill – In Theaters January 23
Return to Silent Hill brings the iconic horror franchise back to the screen. When James receives a mysterious letter from his lost love Mary, he is drawn to Silent Hill — a once-familiar town now consumed by darkness. As he searches for her, James faces monstrous creatures and unravels a terrifying truth that will push him to the edge of his sanity.
Psycho Killer – In Theaters February 20
Following the brutal murder of her husband, a Kansas highway patrol officer (Georgina Campbell) sets out on a journey to track down the perpetrator. As the hunt progresses, she comes to realize the man responsible (James Preston Rogers) is a sadistic serial killer, and the depth of his mental depravity and sinister agenda is more twisted than anyone could have imagined.
Redux Redux – February 20
Kevin and Matthew McManus’ film, which debuted at SXSW 2025, explores a mother’s descent into relentless vengeance. Irene Kelly, seeking justice for her daughter’s murder, traverses parallel universes, executing the killer time and again. As her thirst for revenge deepens, she faces a profound moral dilemma, risking the loss of her own humanity.
Scream 7 – In Theaters February 27
The next chapter of the Scream franchise marks the anticipated return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. When a new Ghostface killer targets the quiet life Sidney has built, her deepest fears are realized as her daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), becomes the next victim. Now a mother determined to protect her family, Sidney must confront the horrors of her past once more in a desperate attempt to end the bloodshed for good, with franchise veteran Courteney Cox returning alongside her.
The Bride! – In Theaters March 6
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s sophomore film brings a fresh perspective to the Frankenstein myth, starring Jessie Buckley in the titular role of the Bride and Christian Bale as Frankenstein. The film explores the creation of a companion by Frankenstein and Dr. Euphronius, a resurrected woman whose existence sparks not only romance but also a police investigation and radical social change. Annette Bening, Penélope Cruz and Peter Sarsgaard round out the ensemble.
The Undertone – In Theaters March 13
‘The Undertone’
A24
The upcoming film from writer-director Ian Tuason is set to be released by A24. It features a cast including Nina Kiri, Adam DiMarco, Michèle Duquet, Keana Lyn Bastidas and Jeff Yung. The plot centers on the host of a popular paranormal podcast who finds herself relentlessly haunted by a series of terrifying, mysterious recordings sent directly to her.
ALPHA – In Theaters March 27
Julia Ducournau’s Cannes-premiering film, set in the 1980s and ’90s against the backdrop of a mysterious, fatal, and contagious blood-borne disease that causes its victims to slowly turn into marble, follows Alpha, a rebellious 13-year-old girl. Her world and her single mother’s life are thrown into chaos when Alpha returns home with a fresh tattoo acquired with a potentially dirty needle.
Hunting Matthew Nichols – In Theaters March 27
Markian Tarasiuk’s indie directorial debut will be released by Dropshock Pictures and Moon7 Films after a successful festival run where it earned awards for its seamless blend of true-crime realism and cinematic craftsmanship. The release is strategically supported by former National Association of Theatre Owners president John Fithian through The Fithian Group and the Attend platform, positioning this indie breakout for a significant commercial footprint alongside its critical momentum.
Set in the atmospheric, fog-shrouded forests of Vancouver Island, the story follows Tara Nichols (Miranda MacDougall) as she searches for her brother, Matthew, who vanished in 2001 while filming a Blair Witch Project-inspired investigation into a local cult legend. Guided by her brother’s recovered VHS tapes and supported by documentary filmmaker Markian (played by Tarasiuk), Tara uncovers a chilling connection between the past and the present.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come – In Theaters April 10
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come sees the blood-soaked bride, Grace (Samara Weaving), catapulted into the next terrifying round of the occult-fueled game immediately following the Le Domas massacre. Now a player in a grander, global power struggle, Grace finds herself allied with her estranged sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), as they are hunted by four rival families vying for the High Seat of the Council that secretly controls the world. With survival hinging on her ability to keep Faith alive and claim the ultimate throne, Grace’s desperate fight for her life expands into a twisted, high-stakes battle where the winner inherits all.
Hokum – In Theaters May 1
Adam Scott in ‘Hokum’
Neon
The film follows reclusive novelist Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott), who retreats to a remote Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, but the staff’s tales of an ancient witch haunting the honeymoon suite take hold of his mind. Soon, disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance draw him into a nightmarish confrontation with the darkest corners of his past.
Obsession – In Theaters May 15
‘Obsession’
Focus Features
Curry Barker’s TIFF Midnight Madness title made a major splash, becoming the festival’s first big sale after being snapped up by Focus Features for more than $15 million. Starring Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter, the horror film follows a hopeless romantic who, in a desperate bid to win his crush’s heart, breaks the mysterious “One Wish Willow.” He gets exactly what he wished for, but soon discovers that some desires carry a dark, sinister price.
Evil Dead Burn – In Theaters July 24
Evil Dead Burn is the upcoming, stand-alone sixth installment in the Evil Dead film series, following the successful formula of 2023’s Evil Dead Rise.
Directed and co-written by Sébastien Vaniček (Infested), the plot is still under wraps, the film features an entirely new story and cast (including Souheila Yacoub, Hunter Doohan and Luciane Buchanan), disconnecting from the characters of the previous movies while remaining within the demonic universe established by the Necronomicon.
Insidious: The Bleeding World – In Theaters August 21
Insidious: The Bleeding World is the upcoming sixth installment in the Insidious horror franchise. While official plot details are limited, the film is expected to serve as a continuation of the narrative established in Insidious: The Red Door (2023).
Resident Evil – In Theaters September 18
Zach Cregger returns to horror with a fresh take on the Resident Evil universe as a stand-alone reboot set against the backdrop of the Raccoon City outbreak. Rather than revisiting characters like Chris, Jill or Leon, the narrative introduces an all-new ensemble trying to survive the chaos. At the center is Bryan (Austin Abrams), an ordinary medical courier whose routine delivery job turns into a nightmare when he gets caught in the epidemic.
Remain – In Theaters October 23
M. Night Shyamalan’s forthcoming supernatural romantic-thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor follows a grieving architect who moves to Cape Cod for work after leaving a psychiatric facility. While staying at a historic B&B, he meets a mysterious woman who makes him question his rational beliefs about life and loss.
Terrifier 4 – In Theaters October
Art the Clown is set to return in this fourth, and potentially final, installment of the ultra-gory slasher franchise, which promises to be a climactic showdown with major revelations about the series’ mythology. Picking up directly after the horrifying events of Terrifier 3, the film will follow Sienna Shaw as she embarks on a desperate mission to rescue her younger brother, Gabbie, who was dragged into a demonic rift to Hell.
Werwulf – In Theaters December 25
Werwulf is the upcoming period horror film written and directed by Robert Eggers. The title itself is a spelling variant referencing the original Old English word for “werewolf.” Set in 13th century England, the story focuses on local villagers who are stalked by a mysterious creature. As the attacks continue, ancient folklore and superstition bleed into a terrifying reality. While official plot details are scarce, the film will be a historical take on the werewolf mythos.
The Face of Horror – TBA
Directed by Anna Biller (The Love Witch), this gothic horror-romance is a loosely adapted retelling of the classic Japanese ghost story, Yotsuya Kaidan.
‘The Face of Horror’
Bluebeard Pictures
The story follows the handsome knight Edward Carnifex (Jonah Hauer-King), who quickly grows bored after marrying his longtime love, Eleanor (Kristine Froseth). Edward cruelly abandons his wife to pursue a wealthy and high-status noblewoman (Bella Heathcote). However, Eleanor is not a woman to be scorned. Consumed by rage and betrayal, Eleanor is driven to take a bloody, supernatural revenge upon her faithless husband. The ensemble cast includes Ellie Bamber as Eleanor’s sister, Beatrice, and Ed Suter as Edward’s loyal squire Richard, who courts Beatrice amid the escalating tragedy.
The Backrooms – TBA
‘The Backrooms’
A24
This is A24’s feature film adaptation of the viral internet creepypasta and hit YouTube horror series created by filmmaker Kane Parsons (known online as Kane Pixels). Parsons, who became the studio’s youngest director at 19, is expanding his unsettling vision of the titular, infinite, maze-like dimension beyond reality — a space defined by unsettlingly generic, yellow-tinged walls and buzzing fluorescent lights, a classic example of a liminal space. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, the sci-fi horror film centers on a therapist who must brave the unknown dimension to retrieve a patient who has mysteriously “no-clipped” out of reality.