The Ultimate Guide to Horror Movies Coming Out in 2026

Back for Seconds: Sequels and Franchises

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) - Scheduled release date: 10th April

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett bring twisted childhood games to the big screen once again with the sequel to their career-defining hit 'Ready or Not' (2019) with 'Ready or Not 2: Here I Come'. Returning with the directing duo are writers Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy, alongside lead actress/sought-after scream queen, Samara Weaving, who is joined by newcomers to the series, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood, Kevin Durand, Shawn Hatosy, Varun Saranga and the one and only, David Cronenberg. This time round, Grace MacCaullay (Weaving) learns that she must compete in one last game to save herself and her sister, Faith (Newton), against the most influential family dynasties on earth. In what appears to be a ruthless tableau of 'The Purge' (2013) meets 'The Hunt' (2020), with a splash of John-Wick-esque scrimmages, Ready or Not 2 is set to be one of 2026's biggest releases. 

Terrifier 4 (Directed by Damien Leone) - Scheduled release date: TBC

The final instalment in the 'Terrifier' universe is nigh upon us, with director and Art the Clown creator Damien Leone confirming that the upcoming fourth film is set to reveal the disturbing origin story of how Art came to be the most devilishly wicked clown possible. The finale is promised to be the most unhinged string of events to come from the Terrifier series, which is quite a bold promise considering the ordinary chaos emanating from Art's previous antics, with Leone hinting that 'Terrifier 4' intends to take the surrealist route, almost Lynchian style, as the film dares to tiptoe into the absurd mind of Art himself. 

Scary Movie 6 (Directed by Michael Tiddes) - Scheduled release date: 12th June

The Wayans brothers created the 'Scary Movie' franchise back in 2000, which is still the most absurd, risky and hilarious horror parody out there, with the series continually ripping into the horror genre as the Wayans' dismantle and make a complete farce out of beloved horror characters, tropes and cliches. Whilst the franchise's previous two entries, 'Scary Movie 4' (2006) and 'Scary Movie 5' (2013) did not fare as well as its standout first film, fans are hopeful that the upcoming sixth feature is set to bring back the crude hilarity that gave the original Scary Movie its hallmark reputation. Fans will also be excited to read that Anna Farris and Regina Hall are reprising their roles as Cindy Campbell and Brenda Meeks, with the film seeing the pair join forces whilst they battle parodies amongst the likes of 'Get Out' (2017), 'Us' (2019), 'Nope' (2022), 

'Longlegs' (2024), 'Heretic' (2024) and 'Sinners' (2025). 

Evil Dead Burn (Directed by Sébastien Vaniček) - Scheduled release date: 24th July

Upon watching Sébastien Vaniček's arachnid horror 'Infested' (2023), 'The Evil Dead' creator and all-around horror legend Sam Raimi knew that he found the filmmaker to direct the next 'Evil Dead' feature. The story outline has been kept tightly under wraps, but in recalling his meeting with Raimi, Vaniček has gone on to continually refer to the upcoming sixth entry in the franchise as being rooted in French culture, possibly hinting at the inclusion of the gory and very much in theme, 'new French extremity' movement throughout the film. The visceral violence of French horror combined with the mayhem unleashed by the 'Necronomicon' sounds like an intriguing concept; luckily enough, fans will only have to wait until summer to feast upon the hopeful 'Evil Dead Burn'.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Directed by Nia DaCosta) - Scheduled release date: 14th January

Carrying on from where its long-awaited predecessor '28 Years Later' (2024) left off, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple', sees Spike (Alfie Williams) join the cult 'the Jimmy's', led by Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell). Elsewhere, the empathetic Dr Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) makes a world-changing discovery as the Rage Virus continues to ravage life as we know it. Filmed just three weeks after the previous film wrapped up production, The Bone Temple acts as a crucial stepping stone in what '28' franchise creators Danny Boyle and Alex Garland aim to be a trilogy, with the third film already entering initial stages of development. However, before fans get too ahead of themselves, The Bone Temple is said to have an alternative vibe compared to the previous entries, with Nia DaCosta ('Candyman' [2021]) in the director's chair. Both exciting and intriguing, DaCosta has been open about her vision for The Bone Temple, with the filmmaker outright stating that this film will adopt her own creative spin on the zombie-esque horror, as she refuses to copy and paste Boyle's signature style, instead lending her inaugural experience as an indie filmmaker to keep the film raw and authentic to its gritty, harsh stylisation. 

Scream 7 (Directed by Kevin Williamson) - Scheduled release date: 27th February

After numerous developmental setbacks, 'Scream 7' is nearly here, bringing back the beloved Ghostface to the big screen once again. Joining the return of 'The Woodsboro Killer' is the ultimate final girl, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), who must fight for survival as her daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), becomes the target of a new Ghostface who has once again been slicing and dicing their way into her world. Fans will further rejoice as Scream 7 sees Courtney Cox, aka Gale Weathers, alongside newer fan favourites, including on-screen twins Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding), all return to the never-ending horror of Scream. However, the real excitement resides in the speculated return of Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard), arguably one-half of the franchise's best Ghostface duo. 

Wolf Creek: Legacy (Directed by Sean Lahiff) - Scheduled release date: TBC 

When the Aussie-exploitation film 'Wolf Creek' (2005) was initially released, celebrated film critic Roger Ebert gave the film zero stars, commenting that "there is a line and this movie crosses it" — undoubtedly referring to antagonist 'Mick Taylor' (John Jarratt) and his twisted, sadistic antics. Whilst the film clearly did not win any points with Ebert, the sickness that Taylor exhibited within Wolf Creek is precisely how the film won the hearts of many horror fans. Now, 25 years later, Wolf Creek returns, with Jarratt reprising his "line-crossing" role. The film is set to follow a group of American tourists who make the deadly mistake of crossing 'The Outback Killer', aka Mick Taylor's violent path. 

Back From the Grave: Reboots and Remakes 

The Bride! (Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal) - Scheduled release date: 6th March

In what appears to be an unabashed love letter to the original 'The Bride of Frankenstein' (1935), is Maggie Gyllenhaal's 'The Bride!', with the Academy Award nominee actress writing, directing and co-producing the feature. The Bride! follows Jessie Buckley as the titular character, who, after being made a companion for Frankenstein's Monster (Christian Bale), ignites a Bonnie and Clyde romance all wrapped up in a 1930s-set Chicago where gangster culture thrives. Audiences will have to wait until March to witness the hubbub of it all, but rest assured, in The Bride! anything goes, including rumoured massive dance numbers and arthouse-inspired dramatics. 

Lee Cronin's The Mummy (Directed by Lee Cronin) - Scheduled release date: 17th April

Sprung from the classic 'The Mummy' (1932) is 'Lee Cronin's The Mummy', a retelling of the pivotal horror film that spawned countless renditions throughout the years. However, in a dauntless move, Cronin promises that this take will be unlike anything audiences have ever seen before. Although the gutsy statement may turn an eyebrow or two, considering how treasured the original Universal Pictures feature is, the upcoming horror is in more than capable hands, with Cronin being the filmmaker behind 'The Hole in the Ground' (2019) and 'Evil Dead Rise' (2023). 

Resident Evil (Directed by Zach Cregger) — Scheduled release date: 18th September 

Over the course of the 24 years that the cinematic franchise, 'Resident Evil', has been terrifying audiences, the series has seen various sagas and expansions across its seven films. Now, Zach Cregger ('Weapons' [2025]) introduces his take on rebooting the film series, introducing a new original story starring Austin Abrams, Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry and Kali Reis. Whilst fans of the biopunk zombie series are excited for Cregger to take a stab at the fast-paced action, an air of apprehension remains, particularly concerning the mixed messaging from the creative teams behind the scenes. Viewers have been told that the story would be entirely original and would not feature any characters from the iconic video games, opting to present a narrative inspired by the thematics of the 'T-Virus'. However, it was then told that the film would be a remake of the games — 'Resident Evil 2' (1998), 'Resident Evil 3: Nemesis' (1999) and 'Resident Evil 4' (2005). Nonetheless, fans only have to wait until early autumn to catch the curiously cryptic Resident Evil. 

Re-cut: Video game, Books and Stage Play Adaptations 

Return to Silent Hill (Directed by Christophe Gans) - Scheduled release date: 23rd January

2026 may mark twenty years since the first cinematic adaptation of the Japanese horror video game came to screens, but the anticipation (and for many apprehension) for the upcoming third chapter in the 'Silent Hill' trilogy has never been eager. The previous filmic recreations of this beloved survival game series received mixed reviews, with the films seemingly being unable to capture the lingering dread and liminal spaces that the games so intricately conjured. In a bold move from the director of the first Silent Hill film and the upcoming 'Return to Silent Hill', Christophe Gans has openly commented on the rocky road that the films sit on, admitting that he plans to tackle Return to Silent Hill as a "faithful adaptation" of the second video game (2001), keeping the misty and eerie spirit of the games alive throughout the film. In doing so, Return to Silent Hill follows James (Jeremy Irvine), who receives a mysterious letter drawing him back to the ominous town of Silent Hill. 

Iron Lung (Directed by Mark Fischbach) - Scheduled release date: 30th January

Mark Fischbach, also known as YouTuber Markiplier, is nearly a one-man band in his debut feature, with the online personality having written, directed, edited, executive-produced and starring in 'Iron Lung'. The film is based on the 2022 submarine-themed video game in which a convict investigates a battered submarine named the 'Iron Lung'. Fischbach was inspired to adapt the successful game after frequently playing it on his channel for his audience of nearly 40 million subscribers. 

Cold Storage (Directed by Jonny Campbell) Scheduled release date: 13th February

'Cold Storage' sees 'Stranger Things' (2016-2026) star Joe Keery back in a world brimming with military bioterror and parasitic creatures as he co-stars alongside Georgina Campbell and Liam Neeson in the cinematic adaptation of the 2019 David Koepp novel of the same name. The creature feature is adapted to the screen by Koepp himself, ensuring an intimate filmic reimagining of an epic novel that traverses an array of monsters, lore and epic battles. Koepp's legendary scripts have rarely failed, e.g. 'Death Becomes Her' (1992), 'Jurassic Park' (1993), 'Mission: Impossible' (1996), and more recently, 'You Should Have Left' (2020) and one of 2025's best horror film's 'Presence' (2024) - the point being, Cold Storage is certainly an exciting film to mark in the calendar.

The Mortuary Assistant (Directed by Jeremiah Kipp) - Scheduled release date: 13th February

The supernatural horror based on the 2022 video game of the same name, 'The Mortuary Assistant', sees mortuary assistant, Rebecca Owens (Willa Holland), navigate a haunted parlour brimming with demonic possessions, all whilst performing exorcisms and embalming dead bodies along the way. The tone of the game is eerie, twisted and gruesome, but with a hint of comedy peppered throughout at the hands of well-timed and dead-on jumpscares, making the cinematic adaptation a promising release.

 Other Mommy (Directed by Rob Savage) - Scheduled release date: 9th October

Rob Savage, director of 'Host' (2020), 'Dashcam' (2021) and 'The Boogeyman' (2023), brings Josh Malerman's smash-hit novel 'Incidents Around the House' (2024) to life, with the film scheduled for a Halloween release. As anyone who has read the book can attest, the story is best left almost completely unknown before watching; as such, the film's plot has been kept tightly under wraps, the only accessible titbit is that the film takes the classic haunted house narrative and completely flips it. Starring in the upcoming 'Other Mommy' are Jessica Chastain, Jay Duplass, Dichen Lachman, Arabella Olivia Clark and Sean Kaufman. 

Forbidden Fruit (Directed by Meredith Alloway) - Scheduled release date: TBC 

Based on the stage play written by Lily Houghton, 'Of the Women Came the Beginning of Sin, and Through Her We All Die' (2019) is 'Forbidden Fruit', a women-focused comedy horror film starring Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Chamberlain and Gabrielle Union. The film leads with Apple (Reinhart), who, along with Cherry (Pedretti) and Fig (Shipp), runs a witchy femme cult; however, when a new hire, Pumpkin (Tung), enters the group, the women are forced to confront their ways or else surrender to a gruesome end. 

 This is Not a Test (Directed by Adam MacDonald) - Scheduled release date: TBC 

In what has been described as a typical teen high school 'dramedy' meets classic zombie mayhem, is 'This is Not a Test', a promising new horror film that sees angsty teen, Sloane (Olivia Holt), along with four other students, seeking shelter at their high school after a vicious zombie outbreak unleashes bloodied havoc. Based on the 2012 award-winning book of the same name, penned by young-adult novelist Courtney Summers, is a horror that has been marketed as uber bloody and darkly hilarious.

Victorian Psycho (Directed by Zachary Wigon) - Scheduled release date: TBC

Virginia Feito's novel 'Victorian Psycho' (2025) follows Winifred Notty, an unstable woman who arrives for a tutor job at Ensor House, only for her psychopathic tendencies to seep through the cracks of her demeanour, leading to a darkly humorous and murderously hellish series of events. The cinematic adaptation, which is aimed for a theatrical release later this year, stars Maika Monroe as the titular 'psycho', alongside Thomasin McKenzie and Jason Issac. 

Fresh Blood: Original Screenplays

Primate (Directed by Johannes Roberts) - Scheduled release date: 9th January 

'Primate' brutally details what happens when domesticating animals goes a step too far, as we follow a tropical holiday gone wrong when a family's adopted chimpanzee, Ben, is bitten by a rabies-infected animal and reverts to his feral, primal state. Primate seems to be every bit the visceral experience that it sets out to be, with the film not only being extremely violent and manic, but also rather emotionally foreboding at times as we see the distressing situation that was almost forced upon Ben. As such, Primate is a creature-feature with food for thought, whilst remaining nail-bitingly exciting. 

Sleepwalker (Directed by Brandon Auman) - Scheduled release date: 9th January 

Based on director Brandon Auman's 2024 short film of the same name, 'Sleepwalker' is a psychological horror that sees Sarah (Hayden Panettiere), a grieving mother, whose tragic passing of her daughter in a car accident that also left her abusive husband in a coma, must grapple with haunting sleepwalking episodes that blur the borders between nightmares and reality. Combining the chilling threat that dreams have over the psyche, along with an emotively stirring thematics, is what makes Sleepwalker a hopeful start for horror this year.

Send Help (Directed by Sam Raimi) Scheduled release date: 6th February 

After a devastating plane crash, the only two survivors, Linda (Rachel McAdams) and her misogynistic boss, Bradley (Dylan O'Brien), are left stranded on an island, leading to the ultimate fight for survival. 'Send Help' is brimming with Sam Raimi's signature dark humour, as the film toys with the interesting character dynamics, revealing what happens when stark power shifts are employed in deadly situations. 

Whistle (Directed by Corin Hardy) - Scheduled release date: 6th February

Starring Dafne Keen, Sophie Nélisse, Sky Yang, Percy Hynes White, Nick Frost, Jhaleil Swaby and Ali Skovbye is 'Whistle', a quintessential teen horror with a haunted, ancient-curse twist. The film follows a motley crew of adolescent misfits who happen upon an Aztec death whistle whose use summons their eventual future deaths to come after them. As the untimely deaths commence, they seek out the whistle's history in a desperate bid to put an end to their horrid fates. 

Honey Bunch (Directed by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli) - Scheduled release date: 13th February 

Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli previously directed the film 'Violation' (2020), which was every bit the wretched tale of deceit and revenge, offering a deadly, sinister story of betrayal. Now, the pair introduce 'Honey Bunch', a similarly toned horror that follows a secretly fractured marriage. The film sees Diana (Grace Glowicki) awaken from a coma with a disjointed memory, leading her husband, Homer (Ben Petrie), to take her to an experimental trauma centre. As Diana begins to recollect her memory, disturbed secrets within her relationship are revealed. 

Psycho Killer (Directed by Gavin Polone) - Scheduled release date: 20th February

Renowned writer, Andrew Kevin Walker, known for his scripts 'Seven' (1995) and '8mm' (1999), joins debut director Gavin Polone for 'Psycho Killer', a cat-and-mouse horror starring Georgina Campbell, Logan Miller and Malcolm McDowell. Psycho Killer follows Campbell as a Kansas highway officer who, after the macabre murder of her husband, goes forth on a fierce venture to find his killer. As she goes deeper into the rabbit hole, she learns that the man behind her beloved's death is an evil serial killer whose agenda is more sadistic than anyone could have ever conceived. 

Mother Mary (Directed by David Lowery) - Scheduled release date: 24th April

Marketed more as a psychological-thriller, but with clear horror-inspired undertones and subtext, is 'Mother Mary', a unique musical film that captures a psychosexual affair between famed pop singer, Mary (Anne Hathaway), and fashion designer Sam (Michaela Coel), which soon spirals into a maddening series of events. Mother Mary's hopeful success is rooted in its dedication to the bit, with Lowery implementing music as much as possible as a cinematic tool, with the film being composed by Daniel Hart, with original songs provided by the likes of FKA Twigs, Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX. 

Hokum (Directed by Damian McCarthy) - Scheduled release date: 1st May

Damian McCarthy has managed to do something that every horror filmmaker dreams of doing, but only a few sincerely achieve - make one of the most frightening horror films imaginable, stirring the type of fear that does not just spark nightmares, but the kind that will have even the sternest of viewers sleeping with the lights on. Evident admiration aside, McCarthy's features 'Caveat' (2020) and 'Oddity' (2024), are set to be joined by a third film, 'Hokum', a horror following author and orphan Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott), who travels to rural Ireland to spread his parents' ashes, only to discover that his accommodation may be haunted. 

Obsession (Directed by Curry Barker) - Scheduled release date: 15th May 

Content creator and aspiring filmmaker Curry Barker published on YouTube his debut film 'Milk & Serial' (2024), an entirely independent production (financed with only $800) that is part screen-life, part found-footage horror film following a serial killer hidden in plain sight. The film amassed over two million views, earning him feature pieces in broadsheet publishing houses and critical acclaim. Now, Barker's latest film 'Obsession' proves that he is not a one-trick pony, with the horror film following a man (Michael Johnston) desperate for love, being an absolute hit during last year's film festival run. Obsession is promised to be a bold and twisted hit that is sure to be raking in five-star reviews. 

Passenger (Directed by André Øvredal) - Scheduled release date: 29th May 

'Passenger' follows a young couple who, after venturing out into 'van life', witness a terrible vehicle accident that kills the driver, leading to an inescapable demonic presence stalking them every step they take. Having filmmaker André Øvredal ('The Autopsy of Jane Doe' [2016] and 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' [2019]), behind the camera immediately bodes well for the upcoming Passenger, especially when he is joined by composer Christopher Young, whose immense scorings include 'Hellraiser' (1987), 'The Grudge' (2004) and 'Sinister' (2012). 

Werwulf (Directed by Robert Eggers) - Scheduled release date: 25th December 

Lending its hand to the classic monster films this year is Robert Eggers 'Werwulf', a folkloric-themed horror set in 13th-century England, chronicling how a lycanthropic creature stalks the land of the moody British countryside, leaving villagers in terror. Eggers has rightfully earned the title as one of contemporary horror's most apt filmmakers when it comes to anything gothic, innate and darkly antiquated. Starring in this period horror are Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe and Ralph Ineson. 

Buddy (Directed by Casper Kelly) - Scheduled release date: TBC 

'Buddy' sees a young girl and her friends go on a valiant mission to escape a surreal version of a previously popular kids' television show. Leading this presumably uncanny and curious film is a host of talent, including Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Michael Shannon, Keegan-Michael Key and Patton Oswalt. Whilst the basic premise is exciting and unique, but narratively similar to the first season of 'Channel Zero - Candle Cove' (2016), the most intriguing part of the upcoming Buddy is the mind behind the film. Casper Kelly has sat on the writing team of the infamous 'CatDog' (1998-2005), and for those who recall early 2000s Nickelodeon, this children's show was eerie and quite dreamlike for its young audience. Kelly later went on to create episodes for Adult Swim's truly creepy 'Infomercials', including the famed 'Too Many Cooks' (2014). From the outset, Kelly's previous creations seem rather whimsical for a horror film, but for audiences in the know, these credits pave the way for Buddy to be an epic entry for horror. 

The Young People (Directed by Osgood Perkins) - Scheduled release date: TBC 

It has become routine for the name 'Osgood Perkins' to accompany an exciting shriek when horror aficionados see his signature attached to a project, particularly when said film is distributed by the independent film production company, Neon. As such, fans will be pleased to know that the next collaborative project by Perkins and Neon, 'The Young People', is set to be one of 2026's best releases. Starring Nicole Kidman, Tatiana Maslany, Johnny Knoxville, Heather Graham, Lola Tung, Nico Parker and Brendan Hines is a thrilling horror following two friends who start to drift apart when one begins to show signs of extremely disturbing behaviour.

The Shepherd (Directed by John Hyams) - Scheduled release date: TBC 

'Barbarian' (2022) actress Georgina Campbell (Cold Storage, Psycho Killer) has popped up a whopping three times in this list, with the Yorkshire-born performer leading the way in John Hyams upcoming horror 'The Shepherd'. Campbell is joined by fellow familiar horror actor David Dastmalchian, as they lead the way in this frightening hitchhiking-themed story that follows a pregnant young woman (Campbell) who escapes her abusive partner by catching a ride with a mysterious man (Dastmalchian) who happens to be intent on destroying the obscure cargo in his backseat. 

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (Directed by Jane Schoenbrun) — Scheduled release date: TBC

For many, creator Jane Schoenbrun has certainly become a filmmaker to watch with their eclectic 'We're All Going to the World's Fair' (2021) and truly phenomenal 'I Saw the TV Glow' (2024), conjuring such affective and memorable experiences. The upcoming (and quite meta-esque-titled) 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' is set to be released at some point later this year. The Brad Pitt produced horror follows a queer director (Hannah Einbinder) who is hired to create a new entry into a beloved and long-running slasher franchise. During casting, the director goes on a mission to cast the actress (Gillian Anderson) who played the final girl in the original series, leading to an alluring obsession between the two.

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