20 Best Horror Movies on HBO Max Right Now

Getting scared is one of the primary emotions of the human experience. The horror, the thrill, the shock- all of them combine to give us an organic sense of dread that is not prone to our likeness, but we enjoy all the same. This custom has been going on for ages, and filmmakers have used our taste to their advantage, giving us movies that send shivers down our spines. Here, we bring you the best horror movies on HBO Max that range from folk to supernatural to psychological, all at the expense of our shrieks and screams.

20. Equinox (1970)

Directed by Jack Woods, ‘Equinox’ is a cult supernatural horror flick that bends more towards the entertaining part of horror. It is reputed for its groundbreaking stop-motion special effects and cel animation, including praises by filmmaker George Lucas (‘Star Wars’). The film follows a group of four friends, David (Edward Connell), Susan (Barbara Hewitt), Jim (Frank Bonner), and Vicki (Robin Christopher), who get their hands on an ancient book of evil. Unbeknownst to them, a demonic entity is looking for it and sends monsters to kill them and retrieve it. Whether and how the group survives the hunt is what we see in this influential drama. You can watch ‘Equinox’ here.

19. We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (2021)

Jane Schoenbrun’s psychological horror flick takes us on a mind-bending exploration of the dark fringes that exist between the real and virtual worlds, which have almost become conjoined. The film centers on a teenager named Casey (Anna Cobb) who takes part in an online role-playing horror game called “The World’s Fair Challenge” and starts documenting all the peculiar changes in reality. Unbeknownst to her, the game takes a toll on her, barring her from distinguishing between the real and the virtual. If you are into films that offer a psychedelic take on the current world, ‘We’re All Going to the World’s Fair’ is a must-watch. You can watch it here.

18. I Saw the TV Glow (2024)

Jane Schoenbrun’s ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ moves from past to future and focuses on two teenagers, Owen and Maddy. They bond over an adult television show in which a villainous entity has time and reality-warping powers. As months turn to years, Maddy mysteriously passes away only to return 8 years later and tell Owen that she was inside the show, which is the “real” reality. As Owen grapples with the show and what Maddy told him, we see him lose his mind until a shocking revelation reveals a bizarre truth that has been “within” him all along. Starring Justice Smith and Jack Haven, ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ is a visually stunning mind-bending horror flick that plays with what’s real and what’s not by incorporating a motif that is a part of our daily lives now, i.e., TV shows and that is where its effectiveness lies. You can watch the movie here.

Read More: Best Horror Movies on Netflix

17. MaXXXine (2024)

In Ti West’s horror drama ‘MaXXXine,’ the sequel to ‘Pearl,’ Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) tries to make her way up the ladder of success by switching to Hollywood from porn. However, standing in her way is the serial killer the media has named the Night Stalker, whose latest victims are connected to the actress. While being followed by a couple of LAPD detectives, a mysterious private investigator, and the killer, Maxine has to navigate through a bloody way to Hollywood glamor. Is she up to the task? ‘MaXXXine’ co-stars Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, and Kevin Bacon. It is an enthralling neon-lit drama that casts its spell in blood and manages to hit the spot just fine. You can watch it here.

16. Salem’s Lot (2024)

Based on Stephen King’s eponymous horror novel, ‘Salem’s Lot’ follows author Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman), whose search for inspiration for his next novel brings him to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot, AKA Salem’s Lot. It’s been a long time since he was last here, around 25 years, and things have changed in ways unimaginable, as the town’s newest residents are blood-sucking vampires. Ben thus decides to save his human townsfolk from this unexpected threat. Apt for Stephen King fanatics, ‘Salem’s Lot’ is directed by Gary Dauberman and does a pretty good job incorporating the novel’s aspects without making things over-the-top. You can watch the film here.

15. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

‘Night of the Living Dead’ is a cult classic independent horror film directed by the legendary George A. Romero who can be called the father of zombie movies. The film is the first in the ‘Living Dead’ franchise and follows a group of people who are stuck in a farmhouse that is being besieged by hordes of zombies. With only a handful of ways to kill the undead, the group struggles to stay alive, waiting for armed squads to arrive and save them. The question is: how long will their arrival take, and will the group be alive till then? The film established a new genre of horror, earning a spot in the National Film Registry as a culturally significant drama. While the actors, including Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Marilyn Eastman, and Bill Hinzman, weren’t well-known then, the film helped propel their careers. You can watch ‘Night of the Living Dead’ here.

14. Onibaba (1964)

A Japanese historical horror drama, ‘Onibaba’ is directed by Kaneto Shindō. Starring Nobuko Otowa and Jitsuko Yoshimura, the film follows an older woman (Otowa) and her daughter-in-law (Yoshimura) who make a living in medieval Japan by killing samurai and selling the valuables they find on them. When a war survivor named Hachi (Kei Satō) reveals that the older woman’s son is dead, she is devastated. Adding to her pain soon is her daughter-in-law, who begins an affair with Hachi. The old one tries to scare the young one into staying away from the guy by scaring her with a Samurai mask, not knowing that the mask has a cursed past. Inspired by the Shin Buddhist parable of ‘yome-odoshi-no men,’ ‘Onibaba’ is a nuanced collaboration of numerous Japanese horror folk stories underscored by war and its outcomes. You can watch the film here.

13. Scanners (1981)

How powerful is Professor Charles Xavier (X-Men)? In other words, how powerful can humans with telepathy really be? ‘Scanners,’ directed by David Cronenberg, answers this question in a most graphic manner. The sci-fi horror, years if not decades ahead of its time, shows a sinister scanner named Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside) recruiting other scanners to wage a revolt against humans and take over the planet as the dominant species. Sounds like Magneto, doesn’t he? To stop him, Dr. Paul Ruth (Patrick McGoohan) sends Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack), also a scanner, to infiltrate Revok’s malevolent ring. Well known for its visceral special effects, this Canadian film won the Best International Film award at the 1981 Saturn Awards. It also got eight Genie Award nominations in 1982. You can watch ‘Scanners’ here.

12. Carnival of Souls (1962)

Regarded by film schools as a classic art drama, ‘Carnival of Souls’ is a psychological horror film that centers on a woman named Mary Henry (Candace Hilligoss) who miraculously survives a car accident and starts seeing ghoulish people and experiences periods wherein she becomes invisible to the world around her. As she starts seeing more and more of the ghouls, she becomes hysterical, unable to differentiate between reality and nightmare. The only way for her to figure out the truth is to go back to the place where it all began. Acclaimed for its cinematography and how it treats the genre, ‘Carnival of Souls’ is a necessary addition to this list and any other list of horror movies. You can watch the film here.

11. Eyes Without a Face (1959)

Considered a masterpiece of poetic horror, ‘Eyes Without a Face’ is a French drama directed by Georges Franju. It centers on a surgeon, Doctor Génessier (Pierre Brasseur), who steals the facial skins of young women intending to graft the right one onto her daughter Christiane’s (Édith Scob) scarred face. While Génessier continues his experiment, Christiane’s trauma, including her inability to meet her fiancé Jacques (François Guérin), who thinks she is dead, starts taking a toll on her. ‘Eyes Without a Face’ was retitled ‘The Horror Chamber of Dr. Faustus’ for its release in America in 1962. You can watch this immortal horror flick right here.

10. The Curse of La Llorona (2019)

Directed by Michael Chaves, ‘The Curse of La Llorona’ is based on the Mexican legend of the “weeping woman.” Her spirit is believed to be trapped on Earth, searching for her children, whom she drowned after seeing her husband with another woman. The film centers on Anna Tate-Garcia and her kids, who become the new targets of a malevolent entity that is bent on killing the children. Before it’s too late, Anna must find a way to stop La Llorona. She thus reaches out to Rafael Olvera, a shaman, to put an end to her attacks. Starring Linda Cardellini, Marisol Ramirez, and Raymond Cruz, ‘The Curse of La Llorona’ is a bingeworthy horror flick dealing with a mother’s love and pain. You can watch it here.

9. The Nun II (2023)

A sequel to ‘The Nun’ (2018), Michael Chaves’ ‘The Nun II’ follows the titular demonic entity that is after the eyes of St. Lucie, the patron saint of sight. Its search for the relic is what sent it on a murderous spree of the saint’s lineage across Europe, having latched itself onto Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet), AKA Maurice. In the film, we see Maurice working at a boarding school in France, where Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) is brought by her fate. She has to face Valak again and stop it before it can claim the relic and wreak more havoc, but ensure that Maurice isn’t killed. Is that possible? ‘The Nun II’ is a worthy sequel and an entertaining one at that. If you are a fan of the ‘Conjuring’ universe, this one is a must-watch, both for thrill and continuity. It can be streamed here.

8. Carrie (2013)

A remake of Brian De Palma’s eponymous film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name, ‘Carrie’ is directed by Kimberly Peirce. The film centers on high school teenager Carrie White who has become the butt of all jokes at school and a disgrace to her mother, who believes she is a product of sin. However, Carrie soon starts “taking control” after gaining telekinetic abilities, going about exacting revenge on all those who mocked her. With Chloë Grace Moretz as Carrie White, the film may not be as good as the original, but it offers bingeworthy entertainment due to the gory visuals and Moretz’s compelling performance. You can watch the movie here.

7. Evil Dead Rise (2023)

A standalone entry in the cult classic ‘Evil Dead’ franchise, ‘Evil Dead Rise’ is a straightforward, bloody supernatural horror drama. Directed by Lee Cronin, the film revolves around Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), a single mother, her children Danny (Morgan Davies), Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), Kassie (Nell Fisher), and Ellie’s sister Beth (Lily Sullivan). The discovery of the Book of the Dead and phonograph records with weird recordings in the aftermath of an earthquake send Ellie down the undead road.

She is subsequently possessed by a demonic entity and is bent on killing everyone, including her children. Can Beth keep the kids safe and find a way to kill her own sister? Moreover, how can she kill something already dead? ‘Evil Dead Rise’ received two nominations at the 51st Saturn Awards, was a runner-up for Best Horror at the 6th Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards, and got a Best Horror Movie nomination at the 4th Critics’ Choice Super Awards. You can watch it here.

6. Annabelle: Creation (2017)

‘Annabelle: Creation’ tells the story of the Annabelle doll, which is central to the ‘Conjuring’ universe. Directed by David F. Sandberg, the movie shows what led the doll to become a conduit for the devil. It revolves around a group of homeless girls who arrive at their new shelter, which belongs to a couple who lost their little daughter in an accident. As days pass, an evil force starts tormenting the girls one by one, and it is upto Sister Charlotte, who arrived with the girls, to find the truth behind the evil. Maybe then, it can be defeated or gotten rid of. Starring Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman, Anthony LaPaglia, Miranda Otto, and Lulu Wilson, ‘Annabelle: Creation’ is very important to the fans of the franchise. It can be streamed here.

5. The Lighthouse (2019)

A multiple-award-winning film starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, ‘The Lighthouse’ is a harsh psychological horror drama. Set in the 1890s, it centers on two men, lighthouse keeper Ephraim Winslow (Pattinson) and his supervising sailor Thomas Wake (Dafoe), stationed at a lighthouse on an isolated island. As the days pass, Winslow hallucinates stuff, including a mermaid and other sea monsters. As his isolation takes a toll on him, the communication between him and Wake, who has his own sense of things that occur at the lighthouse, is adversely affected. This takes the shape of a string of bizarre incidents that make ‘The Lighthouse’ no less than an art film (shot in black-and-white), worthy of study and analysis. Perhaps this resulted from the makers incorporating the 1801 Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy and Edgar Allan Poe’s unfinished short story ‘The Light-House’ into the plot. You can watch the film here.

4. Scream (1996)

One of the greatest slasher horror films of all time, ‘Scream’ is directed by Wes Craven. It centers on teenager Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), who receives a mysterious call from a stranger and is attacked by someone wearing a Ghostface costume. This Ghostface person then sets off on a killing spree, brutally ending the lives of many of Sidney’s friends all around the town of Woodsboro (California). However, the same person also seems to be connected to the murder of Sidney’s mother. A horror film that celebrates self-parody underscored by senseless violence, as shown in films like ‘Halloween’ (1978) and ‘Friday the 13th’ (1980), ‘Scream’ is a must-watch. You can stream it here.

3. The Conjuring 2 (2016)

The second film is the titular franchise, ‘The Conjuring 2’ shows Ed and Lorraine Warren going up against a poltergeist that has targeted a family in Enfield, London. Set in the 1970s, the film takes inspiration from the 1970s Enfield poltergeist case. As the case proceeds, our two paranormal activists find out that the ghost haunting the family is connected to a powerful demonic entity that Lorraine has seen in her dreams. Only when they find the demon’s weakness can they rid the family of the horrors. Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Frances O’Connor, and Madison Wolfe, ‘The Conjuring 2’ is directed by James Wan and certainly qualifies as a worthy sequel to ‘The Conjuring,’ be it in the essence or in the chills and thrills. You can stream the movie here.

2. The Conjuring (2013)

The first film in the ‘Conjuring’ universe, James Wan’s ‘The Conjuring’ has made its way into the list of the scariest movies ever. It is based on the alleged paranormal events the Perron family experienced after moving into their new home in Rhode Island in 1971. When Carolyn Perron reaches out to demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren for help, the latter start their investigation. Research soon reveals the house’s dark past, including its connection to a Satanist woman named Bathsheba Sherman, who lived in the house during the mid-19th century. Ed and Lorraine must thus do all in their power to protect the family, i.e., husband, wife, and their five daughters, from the malevolent spirit before it causes any more harm. Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor, and Ron Livingston, ‘The Conjuring’ upped the ante of horror movies upon release. You can watch it here.

1. It (2017)

Based on Stephen King’s eponymous novel, ‘It’ is a supernatural horror film that centers on an evil clown named Pennywise who feeds on fear, preferably of children. Its home is Derry, Maine, and it shows up every 27 years from hibernation to satisfy its hunger. This time, its target is a group of seven outcast kids whose personal demons become the clown’s latest “happy meals.” The only way for the kids to defeat the monstrous clown is to face their demons. Can they do it? ‘It’ is directed by Andy Muschietti and stars Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Wyatt Oleff. The film broke several records at the box office, and it is considered one of the best R-rated horror films ever. You can watch it here.

20 Best Horror Movies on HBO Max (May 2025)