12 Best Horror Movies Of 2025 To Watch This Halloween Weekend

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Looking for the perfect scare this Halloween? We’ve rounded up 12 of the most talked-about horror films of the season — from sequels that deepen the chills to indie gems that will haunt you long after the credits roll.

Start with “Black Phone 2,” where supernatural forces return to torment the living, and “Weapons,” a masterful tapestry of grief and precision terror. Then dive into psychological horrors like “Companion,” or supernatural thrillers like “Bring Her Back” and “Good Boy.”

Prefer something more cerebral? Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” reimagines the gothic classic with emotional depth and visual grandeur — a dark fantasy that lingers more than it lunges.

For fans of classic paranormal chills, “The Conjuring: Last Rites” brings Ed and Lorraine Warren back for one final case — a spine-tingling farewell that blends haunted objects, family legacy, and spiritual warfare.

Cap it off with “Sinners,” “Together,” and “The Long Walk” — each a bold, unsettling journey into fear, identity and survival.

These films are available either for streaming or in theaters — so whether you’re staying in or heading out, this list has something to keep your lights on all weekend.

12 Best Horror Movies Of 2025 To Watch

“Black Phone 2”

Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames; directed by Scott Derrickson

“Black Phone 2” deepens the supernatural horror of its predecessor with a chilling new mystery and emotional stakes. Mason Thames returns as Finney, now 17, still haunted by his past captivity. When his sister Gwen begins receiving dreamlike calls from the black phone — and visions of boys stalked at a winter camp — the siblings are pulled into a terrifying new cycle. Ethan Hawke reprises his role as The Grabber in flashbacks that expand the mythology. Director Scott Derrickson crafts a moody, non-linear sequel with eerie visuals and psychological depth, exploring trauma, connection and the lingering grip of evil.

“Frankenstein”

Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth; directed by Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” is a visually arresting, emotionally resonant adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel. Told in two acts — “Victor’s Tale” and “The Creature’s Tale” — the film explores grief, obsession, and the longing for connection. Isaac plays Victor with haunted intensity, while Elordi’s Creature is soulful and tragic. Goth adds warmth and depth as Elizabeth. Del Toro trades horror tropes for gothic elegance, crafting a meditation on monstrosity and empathy. The film “finds soul beneath scars,” revealing that the true terror lies not in creation, but in rejection.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites”

Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Mia Tomlinson; directed by Michael Chaves

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” closes the franchise with eerie restraint and emotional depth. Set during the real-life Smurl haunting of the 1980s, Ed and Lorraine Warren investigate a cursed mirror tied to their daughter Judy’s emerging psychic abilities. Michael Chaves directs with quiet elegance, favoring grief and legacy over jump scares. Wilson and Farmiga deliver grounded, soulful performances, anchoring a story that explores generational trauma and spiritual closure. With moody cinematography and a contemplative tone, “Last Rites” is a whispered farewell — haunting, heartfelt, and human.

“Sinners”

Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld; directed by Ryan Coogler

Set in 1932 Mississippi, “Sinners” is a haunting blend of horror and historical drama. Michael B. Jordan delivers a riveting dual performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore — one a preacher, the other a bootlegger — whose return to their hometown awakens a buried evil. Hailee Steinfeld brings quiet strength as Mary, a schoolteacher caught between faith and fear. Ryan Coogler helms a Southern Gothic tale steeped in atmosphere, with themes of redemption, legacy and blood. With striking cinematography and a soulful score, “Sinners” is both a chilling genre piece and a powerful meditation on generational trauma.

“The Ugly Stepsister”

Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Naess; directed by Emilie Blichfeldt

“The Ugly Stepsister” is a twisted, satirical take on the Cinderella myth — set in a fairy-tale kingdom where beauty is brutal business. Lea Myren stars as Elvira, a fiercely ambitious stepsister determined to outshine her flawless sibling and win the prince’s heart. Thea Sofie Loch Naess plays Askepott, the radiant rival whose perfection drives Elvira to extremes. Directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, the film blends dark comedy and horror with lavish visuals and biting social commentary. With blood, grit and glitter, the film reimagines the classic tale as a savage competition for love, status and survival in a world obsessed with appearances.

“Together”

Alison Brie, Dave Franco; directed by Michael Shanks

“Together” is a surreal, slow-burning horror film about intimacy, identity and emotional decay. Alison Brie and Dave Franco play Millie and Tim, a couple retreating to the countryside to repair their fractured relationship — only to discover a cave that begins to physically and psychologically fuse them. Director Michael Shanks crafts a minimalist chamber piece with eerie visuals and sparse dialogue, drawing comparisons to Cronenberg’s body horror and Bergman’s emotional isolation. The film explores co-dependence and transformation with haunting precision, anchored by Brie and Franco’s raw performances. It’s a chilling meditation on love, loss and the terror of becoming one.

“Companion”

Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid; directed by Drew Hancock

“Companion” is a lean, unsettling sci-fi thriller that blends emotional isolation with bursts of brutal horror. Sophie Thatcher stars as Iris, a woman navigating a post-apocalyptic world where survival depends on forming a bond with a mysterious stranger — played by Jack Quaid — whose intentions may not be what they seem. Drew Hancock’s directorial debut is taut and atmospheric, with sharp pacing and eerie visuals that evoke dread without excess. The film explores grief, trust and human connection in a fractured world, delivering a genre-bending experience that’s as intimate as it is terrifying. A standout among early 2025 releases.

“Weapons”

Julia Garner, Josh Brolin; directed by Zach Cregger

“Weapons” is a chilling, fragmented mystery horror that blends psychological trauma with supernatural dread. Julia Garner stars as Justine Gandy, a teacher haunted by the disappearance of 17 children in a small town — a tragedy that unravels through shifting perspectives and eerie clues. Josh Brolin plays Archer Graff, a grief-stricken father whose obsession deepens the mystery. Zach Cregger directs a non-linear narrative that echoes “Magnolia” in structure, weaving together characters scarred by loss and guilt. With haunting visuals, moody editing and a hypnotic tone, “Weapons” is a masterclass in atmospheric terror — bold, unsettling and emotionally precise.

“Good Boy”

Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman; directed by Ben Leonberg

“Good Boy” is a lean, eerie supernatural horror film that blends psychological tension with canine terror. Shane Jensen stars as Todd, a reclusive man whose emotional unraveling begins when he inherits a dog with a disturbing connection to a string of local deaths. Arielle Friedman plays Vera, a neighbor drawn into the mystery. Ben Leonberg — who directed, co-wrote, shot and edited the film — crafts a stripped-down, 73-minute descent into paranoia and grief. With a haunting score by Sam Boase-Miller and a standout performance by Leonberg’s real-life dog Indy, “Good Boy” is a low-budget gem with bite.

“Bring Her Back”

Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt; directed by Danny and Michael Philippou

“Bring Her Back” is a chilling Australian horror film that blends supernatural dread with emotional trauma. Sally Hawkins stars as a foster mother whose home becomes the center of a terrifying mystery involving two orphaned siblings — played by Billy Barratt and newcomer Sora Wong — haunted by grief and something far darker. Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou (“Talk to Me”), the film unfolds with slow-burning tension, eerie sound design and fragmented storytelling. With haunting performances and a sense of creeping unease, “Bring Her Back” explores gaslighting, memory and the fragile boundaries between care and control.

“28 Years Later”

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson; directed by Danny Boyle

“28 Years Later” is a harrowing return to the rage virus universe — a post-apocalyptic horror epic that expands the mythology with emotional depth and visual scale. Jodie Comer stars as Isla, a survivor on a quarantined island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily guarded causeway. When Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s character ventures into the mainland, he uncovers mutated horrors and fractured humanity. Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, the film blends visceral terror with haunting atmosphere. With a cast that includes Jack O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes, this third installment is bold, bleak and deeply unsettling.

“The Long Walk”

Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson; directed by Francis Lawrence

“The Long Walk” is a dystopian survival thriller adapted from Stephen King’s 1979 novel. Cooper Hoffman stars as Raymond Garraty, one of 100 teenage boys forced to compete in a deadly walking contest — where stopping means death and only one can survive. David Jonsson plays Peter McVries, a fellow walker whose defiance challenges the system. Directed by Francis Lawrence (“The Hunger Games”), the film blends psychological tension with brutal spectacle, unfolding across desolate highways and fractured friendships. With a cast that includes Garrett Wareing, Charlie Plummer and Mark Hamill, “The Long Walk” is a chilling meditation on endurance, obedience and rebellion.