Within the vast expanse of cinematic horror, we enter a world teeming with bone-chilling classics, like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and hair-raising extraterrestrial encounters, such as Alien.
From classic monster movies that haunt our dreams to psychological horrors that delve into the depths of the human psyche, the horror genre offers an unparalleled experience for those brave enough to journey into its dark recesses.
As you dive into our jam-packed guide, prepare to be captivated by the most gut-wrenching horror films of all time, where suspense intertwines with irresistible terror. Discover how to watch each film and what streaming services have free trials for you to take advantage of.
What’s in This Guide?
20 Best Horror Movies of All Time
Delving into the darkest corners of human existence, unearthing brutal murders, and unleashing horrors beyond imagination, the scariest films of all time are not for the fainthearted.
From the iconic spine-chilling classics to unnerving modern horror releases, these cinematic masterpieces have left the bravest of horror fans trembling in fear and craving more for decades. Brace yourself for a spine-tingling exploration of the greatest horror movies in all of cinema history as we unveil our top 20 suggestions that you can stream online with a free trial.
#1 The House That Jack Built
With horrifyingly realistic depictions of murder, The House That Jack Built is by far Lars von Trier’s scariest film.
Following a deeply disturbed serial killer and failed architect named Jack (Matt Dillon), this movie unfolds a series of orchestrated murders spanning over five artistically composed segments.
Each chapter gives an insight into Jack’s absurd delusions, which are reminiscent of classical art and music. As the story transcends beyond Jack’s series of murders, which he defines as his life’s work, we see the character’s poetic deliberation of his murderous ‘art’.
#2 Annihilation
Annihilation unfolds the story of biologist and former soldier Lena (Natalie Portman), who embarks on a mission to find out what happened to her missing husband inside a government-classified location called Area X, where a mysterious and otherworldly phenomenon is gradually expanding across a coastline.
Accompanied by a team of research experts and military professionals, the expedition unveils a bizarre world of mutated animals and plants.
#3 Hereditary
Hereditary, the supernatural psychological horror film that left audiences trembling in 2018. Directed by Ari Aster in his feature directorial debut, this chilling masterpiece delves into the lives of a grieving family haunted by a mysterious presence that emerges following the death of their enigmatic grandmother.
Immerse yourself in a world where secrets lurk in the shadows, and the line between the real and the supernatural becomes disturbingly blurred.
#4 Mandy
With mesmerising neon visuals juxtaposed with a dark and disturbing plot, Mandy is a vibrantly horrifying tale that focuses on a peaceful couple, Red Miller (Nicolas Cage) and Mandy Bloom (Andrea Riseborough), whose lives are violently turned upside down by a sadistic cult.
In the pursuit of vengeance, Red is launched into a power trip fueled by his trauma and laced with psychedelic rage, which leads to gory retributive justice.
#5 The Witch
Directed by the legendary Robert Eggers, The Witch transports us to New England during the 17th Century, where a banished Puritan family builds a new life beside a haunting forest where no other families reside.
During a regular day on the family farm, fear and paranoia strike as the parents’ baby boy vanishes under the care of his older sister Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy). One by one, the family begins to turn on Thomasin, accusing the young girl of witchcraft, which puts their religious faith, loyalty, and love for each other to the ultimate test.
#6 The Alien Series
The ongoing Alien franchise currently has six epic sci-fi horrors, which collectively follow shuddering encounters with the iconically petrifying Xenomorph and its related extraterrestrial lifeforms. From an alien-infested spaceship to exploring an unsettling spectral planet, the Alien films will launch you into the darkest corners of deep space, where blood-thirsty entities reside.
Each film boasts all-star casts that feature many of Hollywood’s most respected talents, including Sigourney Weaver, Pete Postlethwaite, Winona Ryder, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, and many more!
#7 28 Days Later
Deemed one of the greatest films within the zombie genre, 28 Days Later follows Jim (Cillian Murphy, a young London bike courier who awakens from a 28-day-long coma to find the world around him deserted. As he explores the city, Jim soon realises he isn’t entirely alone and finds himself fleeing to safety from petrifying enraged zombies.
As Jim tries to survive, he meets various survivors, including a valiant young woman called Selena (Naomie Harris) and a kindhearted cab driver called Frank (Brendan Gleeson).
#8 Colour Out of Space
Set in a picturesque family farm, Color Out of Space follows proud father Nathan Gardner (Nicolas Cage) and his family enjoying a peaceful rural life until a meteorite lands in their front yard. Shortly after the cosmic rock lands, the family soon find themselves trapped by an extraterrestrial organism that fuses all matter with colour, creating a prismatic fever dream that cannot be escaped.
#9 The Menu
In this tasteful horror, a group of elitists are invited to a secluded island for a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience that’s artfully curated and hosted by world-famous Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). However, as the plot simmers, Chef Slowik’s facade melts away, and his true intentions begin to show, leaving his guests with a plate full of fear.
Filled with irresistible suspense, deliciously dark comedy, and an all-star cast, this original film is a true culinary masterpiece, with every plot twist leaving you hungry for more.
#10 The Hellraiser Series
With 11 films to date, the Hellraiser film franchise is among the biggest supernatural horror film series of all time. The entire saga revolves around a paranormal puzzle box called the ‘Lament Configuration’, which acts as a gateway to hell.
When the Lament Configuration is used, it unleashes terrifyingly disfigured demons, known as Cenobites, who have purposely mutilated themselves to achieve ultimate pain. These otherworldly beasts are part of an order that harvests and tortures human souls with twisted experiments.
#11 Midsommar
Midsommar is a kaleidoscopic thriller where a young dysfunctional American couple and their friend journey to a rural idyllic retreat in Sweden to attend a local midsummer festival. However, as the plot transpires, things begin to take a disturbing turn as the couple soon realises they have succumbed to a baleful cult that has devoted their life to Scandinavian paganism.
#12 The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Consistently off-beat and disconcerting, Killing of a Sacred Deer is an indie psychological thriller that follows family man and surgeon Steven Murphy (Collin Farrell) who, out of pity, takes a strange and awkward teenage boy under his wing.
With corrupt power dynamics, endless uncertainty, twisted revenge, and emotionless dialogue, this endlessly unsettling film will leave you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
#13 Nightmare On Elm Street
Nightmare On Elm Street is a true 80s horror classic that falls within the slasher genre. The movie focuses on teenage girl Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) and her friends, who must stay awake to ensure they aren’t killed in their dreams by horror icon Freddy Kreuger (Robert Englund). And if you die in your dreams, you die for real…
#14 Halloween
At the heart of Halloween, an iconic slasher-style film that sent shivers down our spines in 1978, lies Michael Myers, a disturbed mental patient who was institutionalised after committing a horrifying act: the murder of his teenage sister while she was babysitting on Halloween night when he was just six years old.
Fast forward fifteen years, and Myers escapes the confines of the sanitarium, returning to his hometown with a sinister agenda. As he stalks a female babysitter and her friends, his psychiatrist relentlessly pursues him, unravelling the twisted tapestry of his disturbed psyche.
#15 Vivarium
Upon searching for their new home, a happy couple, Tom (Jesse Eisenberg) and Gemma (Imogen Poots), find themselves lost in a tract housing neighbourhood or a human vivarium.
As the pair cannot figure out how to leave the suburban labyrinth, they receive a mysterious package containing a baby and instructions asking them to raise it. As the child begins to grow older, Tom and Gemma begin to realise it’s anything but human.
#16 American Psycho
Living in the superficial world of investment banking, a charming and handsome businessman named Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) has illogical fantasies of murder and success.
As his ideologies continue to cultivate and his reality blurs with his disturbing delusions, Patrick submits to his compulsive thoughts and embarks on a sociopathic spree filled with drugs, lust, and violence.
This dark yet comedic cinematic spectacle draws upon themes of greed, self-image, misogyny, and materialism. American Psycho showcases how narcissism and toxic masculinity can turn a man into a monster, while addressing how the urge to obtain perfection in a world infatuated with wealth can pave the way for insanity.
#17 Get Out
Get Out is a contemporary horror by the masterful Jordan Peele. It unfolds the story of Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) as he visits his girlfriend Rose’s (Allison Williams) family for a weekend getaway. Although Rose’s family is slightly awkward and a little odd, Chris dismisses their behaviour as nervous attempts to cope with their daughter’s interracial relationship.
However, as the weekend moves on, Chris soon realises things are a lot stranger and darker than he could have ever imagined. A series of increasingly perturbing discoveries lead Chris to an inexplicable truth that threatens his existence.
#18 Creep
Creep is Patrick Brice’s chilling directorial debut, which he also stars in. This exceptionally off-putting found-footage movie focuses on freelance videographer Aaron (Patrick Brice), who responds to an online ad where he is hired to document a man’s life for his unborn child.
When Aaron arrives at his client Josef’s (Mark Duplass) remote cabin, he is asked to film a bizarre series of confessions and actions, enabling him to unveil Josef’s true sinister intentions, which are masked by a facade of kind hospitality.
#19 Black Swan
The Black Swan depicts the life of Nina (Natalie Portman), an innocent and naïve girl in her 20s with ambitions to become a prima ballerina. One day, Nina has her big break as she’s selected to play the White Swan.
However, when artistic director Thomas (Vincent Cassel) considers someone else for the role, Nina begins to spiral down a dark rabbit hole of rage, vicious rivalry, and twisted lust.
#20 It
The 2017 supernatural horror film “It” is based on Stephen King’s novel. This film marks the first horror movie of a two-part adaptation, covering the initial half of the book’s chronological events.
As the first instalment in the It film series, it follows in the footsteps of the 1990 miniseries directed by Tommy Lee Wallace. Follow a group of young outcasts known as the Losers’ Club as they confront their deepest fears embodied by an ancient and malevolent entity that takes the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown.
New Horror Movies To Watch Online
Amongst the plethora of genres, horror stands tall, offering a chilling experience like no other. Whether you seek a psychological horror that will play with your mind or a contemporary comedy horror that will make you jump and giggle, online platforms are brimming with new releases to satisfy your craving for terror.
Sink your teeth into a vampire movie that will leave you mesmerised, or relive the raw fear of The Blair Witch Project, a groundbreaking film that redefined the found-footage genre.
Discover the scariest movie of the moment, where horror tropes are reinvented, and the boundaries of fear are shattered.
With an abundance of Stephen King adaptations gracing the screens, prepare to be enthralled by the master of horror’s chilling narratives brought to life. Brace yourself for the best scary films the online world has to offer as they transport you to a realm where nightmares become reality and your deepest fears come alive on the screen before you.
Horror Movie Classics To Watch Online
Whether you’re in the mood for a shark-infested fright, like the iconic Jaws by Steven Spielberg, or if you’re seeking an eerie supernatural found-footage horror film, like The Blair Witch Project, there’s an endless assortment of classic horror movies that are timelessly terrifying!
Looking to revisit some of cinema’s most treasured horrors? We’ve made this easy-to-browse selection below. Even better, some of these are available to stream online instantly for free.
FeaturedFamily-Friendly Horror Films
Although most horror’s are for grown-ups, there are many light-hearted, spooky movies out there that are suited to youngsters. From haunted houses to eerie ghouls, your kids will love our spooky family film suggestions:
How To Watch Horror Movies Free Online
Streaming services like Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, BINGE, Netflix, and many others provide a great deal of content in the horror genre. You can even watch complete franchises in one place, like how you can stream all The Conjuring movies on Foxtel Now.
If you love streaming movies online or on your big-screen TV, then it only makes sense to sign up for one or two streaming plans or even more if you’re feeling luxurious. Besides, most streaming services offer free trials, so you can always cancel afterwards. Check out some of the best streaming plans in Australia below:
Streaming TV Plans
![]()
7-day free trial- Monthly
- No Lock-in Contract
- Stream on up to 4 devices
- Watch hundreds of shows and movies ad-free
- $9.99/mth
7-day free trial
![]()
7-day free trial- Standard Monthly
- No Lock-in Contract
- Exclusive content
- Stream in HD on up to two devices
- $9.99/mth
![]()
New customers: 7-day free trial![]()
3 months free when you buy an eligible Apple device- Monthly
- No Lock-in Contract
- 4K HDR included
- Up to 6 simultaneous streams
- $12.99/mth
![]()
7-Day Free Trial - Basic with Ads
- No Lock-in Contract
- Stream in HD on a single device
- 25,000+ hours of the world's best shows & movies
- $10/mth
![]()
10-Day FREE Trial- Essentials
- No Lock-in Contract
- 30+ channels: Entertainment, Drama, Lifestyle, Comedy and News
- $25/mth
- Standard Monthly
- No Lock-in Contract
- Stream in full HD & up to 5.1 audio
- Downloads on up to 10 devices
- $13.99/mth
![]()
14-day free trial- Monthly Subscription
- No Lock-in Contract
- New docos added weekly
- Unlimited streaming on any device with a DocPlay Premium subscription
- $7.99/mth
![]()
30-day free trial- Monthly Subscription
- No Lock-in Contract
- Titles available in 4K
- Use 3 screens at the same time
- $9.99/mth
Best Internet Streaming Plan
We believe that top internet gives you the best streaming experience. Don’t settle for underwhelming broadband or frustrating buffering, make sure you find an NBN plan that can guarantee you great download speeds.
Horror Movies Streaming With Free Trials
Many streaming services offer free trials, making it easy to find your favourite films for free. These can range from 7 days to a more generous 30 days. Here are some of the free trials you can take advantage of right now:
Streaming TV Plans
![]()
7-day free trial- Monthly
- No Lock-in Contract
- Stream on up to 4 devices
- Watch hundreds of shows and movies ad-free
- $9.99/mth
![]()
7-day free trial- Standard Monthly
- No Lock-in Contract
- Exclusive content
- Stream in HD on up to two devices
- $9.99/mth
![]()
New customers: 7-day free trial![]()
3 months free when you buy an eligible Apple device- Monthly
- No Lock-in Contract
- 4K HDR included
- Up to 6 simultaneous streams
- $12.99/mth
![]()
7-Day Free Trial - Basic with Ads
- No Lock-in Contract
- Stream in HD on a single device
- 25,000+ hours of the world's best shows & movies
- $10/mth
![]()
14-day free trial- Monthly Subscription
- No Lock-in Contract
- New docos added weekly
- Unlimited streaming on any device with a DocPlay Premium subscription
- $7.99/mth
![]()
30-day free trial- Monthly Subscription
- No Lock-in Contract
- Titles available in 4K
- Use 3 screens at the same time
- $9.99/mth
Explore More Horror Movies
There are hundreds of horror movies that you can instantly stream on your TV and smart devices. If you’re looking for more options on the top horror movies to watch instantly, you’ll find something that can entertain you. With varied selections at your disposal, you can really indulge in heaps of terrifying horror films whenever you want.
OR
Providers
Genre
Type
Sort By
Other Movie Lists You Might Like
If you’re in the mood for something else, check out other movie lists featuring more top genres.
FAQs
Netflix is home to many scary films. You’ll find a variety of terrifyingly good original Netflix films, including Gerald’s Game (2017), which is based on Stephen King’s legendary book. Netflix also has many of the scariest blockbuster horrors, including the endlessly chilling horror Vivarium (2019) and the reimagined all-time classic Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022).
John Carpenter is among the most famous horror directors. He created blockbusters like Halloween and The Thing, which revolutionised the genre of horror. Other classic horror pioneers include Guillermo Del Toro, David Cronenberg, and George A. Romero. There are also many acclaimed modern directors, including Jordan Peele, who created iconic original horrors, including Get Out, Us, and Nope.
