The Best Horror Movies From 2000-2025

WBUR

Editor: Zara Griffen-Sullivan

Want your winter to be a bit more spooky than cheerful? Curl up on the couch, close the blinds, and treat yourself to a horror movie this holiday season! We amassed the top horror movies of the last 25 years to get you through to next Halloween. We hope you enjoy!

“Hereditary”
“Hereditary” is a 2018 American supernatural psychological horror drama film directed by Ari Aster. It is considered one of the most unsettling horror films of the 21st century. The story follows the Graham family — a mother, father, and two children — in the wake of the death of the mother’s secretive mother. — Zara Griffen-Sullivan ’26

“The Conjuring”
Based on a true story, this thrilling horror movie was released in 2013 and directed by James Wan. “The Conjuring” tells the story of the Perron family moving to a new house in Rhode Island. Strange things start happening, like clocks stopping, random bruises on their bodies, and their dog dying. The family hires Ed and Lorraine Warren to investigate and soon discovers the house is haunted by a dark, demonic spirit, Bathsheba, who has cursed the land. This movie is a classic and the first in the “Annabelle” series. With its tension and jump-scares, this film stays at the top. — Jena Haggerty

“Sinners”
Directed by first-time horror director Ryan Coogler, this film follows the director’s move from the “Black Panther” and “Creed” franchises to the Mississippi Delta in the 1930s. The story follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both played by Michael B. Jordan, as they navigate life in the Jim Crow South. Part vampire movie and part social commentary, it is a think piece on race in our society and the country’s history. It is one of the best films of 2025 and a favorite to win several Academy Awards. — Madina Faizi ’26

“The Ring”
Directed by Gore Verbinski and released in 2002, “The Ring” is a supernatural thriller that popularized Japanese horror in the West. The story revolves around a cursed VHS tape; if you watch it, you will die a horrific, unexplained death within seven days. The film's ending reveals a grim reality: You can only end the cycle if you make a copy of the tape and show it to someone else. — Zara Griffen-Sullivan ’26

---

“The Cabin in the Woods”
Released in 2011, “The Cabin in the Woods” is a cult-classic horror comedy directed by Drew Goddard. It starts as a standard slasher film before progressing into a clever, meta-fictional deconstruction of the entire horror genre. The movie revolves around five college students headed to a remote cabin for the weekend. The film then cuts to a high-tech underground facility where two technicians manipulate the environment. — Zara Griffen-Sullivan ’26

“Smile”
“Smile,” released in 2022, is a psychological thriller about a therapist named Rose Cotter who becomes cursed and tortured by “The Smile.” After a patient kills herself in front of Rose with a horrific smile, Rose begins experiencing strange events that lean into her childhood trauma. Rose discovers the curse comes from a “smiling suicide,” and she is forced to confront her past to rid herself of the entity. This film is one of the most terrifying recommendations on our list. — Jena Haggerty

“Talk to Me”
A group of teenagers discovers they can contact spirits using a mysterious, severed, and embalmed hand. Released in 2022 and directed by Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou, “Talk to Me” is a great choice if you enjoy scares and gore. — Zara Griffen-Sullivan ’26

“Get Out”
“Get Out” was released in 2017 and directed by Jordan Peele. The film is about a young Black man named Chris who goes to meet his white girlfriend's family for the first time. At first, the family is welcoming, but their behavior becomes odd and hyper-focused on race. As the weekend goes on, Chris realizes their polite behavior is a front for the awful things lying ahead. This movie is full of suspense and will leave you at the edge of your seat. — Jennifer Ramsey ’01 (Mother of Ava Ramsey)

“The Babadook”
“The Babadook” is a chilling psychological horror film made in 2014 by Jennifer Kent. This movie is about a mother and her 6-year-old son being haunted in their home after reading a children's pop-up book. The film explores grief and trauma through the mother's experience. It is a popular film today, but it is not for those who hate intense scares. — Kennedi White’26

“Under the Skin”
An extraterrestrial disguised as a woman, played by Scarlett Johansson, seduces men to lure them into another dimension. However, she begins to gain human feelings, unlike her alien counterpart. This movie makes you question humanity and is very ambiguous; many questions are left unanswered, leaving the viewer to think. It tells a powerful story almost entirely without dialogue. — Olivia Kablik ’26