The 2020s have already given fans some of the best horror movies in the past 25 years. It’s a new era for the genre, following a time when horror movies released in the 2000s and 2010s had been subject to fairly harsh critique from fans and critics alike.
Many complaints about this generation of horror focused on there being too many remakes and jumpscares. The 2000s, in particular, saw nearly every popular 80s film like Friday the 13th and Prom Night getting remade in some way, but with lesser degrees of success.
Meanwhile, the 2010s turned more jumpscare-dependent following the success of The Conjuring. Nearly every major horror film put more effort into making the audience jump, rather than building up the atmosphere. There were certainly exceptions, mostly films from A24 like The Witch and Hereditary, but they were overshadowed by mainstream horror offerings.
However, this past decade has seen a major turning point. There have been far more great scary movies than bad, with even critics taking notice. Horror films by stellar new voices like Zach Cregger and Coralie Fargeat, as well as returning directors like Jordan Peele, have been getting more positive press this past decade, and even some Oscar wins.
The 2020s has been a major renaissance for the genre, and it’s already produced some incredible new films, even though the decade isn’t over yet.
10
Nope
The third film from Oscar-winning screenwriter Jordan Peele had the whole world talking with its unique look at aliens. The “alien” in particular, named Jean Jacket, became a beloved creation for its design, being influenced by old-school UFOs from the 1950s and biblically accurate angels. The final act in particular is a thrilling sequence as the Haywoods attempt to catch Jean Jacket on camera.
The horror sequences have stood out for many horror fans. When Jean Jacket swallows an entire crowd of people, they get a glimpse inside her digestive tract. The imagery of these people squishing against each other as they’re pushed up what looks to be an esophagus is horrifying to see.
Peele has proven he’s a master of horror with Get Out and Us, but Nope shows that he can work with any genre and still make it both insightful and scary.
9
The Invisible Man (2020)
Leigh Whannel’s modern take on the classic sci-fi/horror novel by H.G. Wells had the unfortunate honor of being one of the last films to premiere in theaters before the pandemic. However, it still made a major impression on audiences.
The decision to swap perspectives for someone hunted by the Invisible Man adds new layers to the story it’s trying to tell. Cecilia’s fear of her abusive ex-boyfriend plays a major role in the themes for the film. Adrian Griffin’s invisible presence allows him to take on the form of her trauma, fueling the tension as Cecilia constantly worries that he’s still around, despite him not being visible.
The film also doubles as an effective horror movie. The camera movements and sound design keep the audience on pins and needles as they try to look for any clues that the Invisible Man is in the room. It’s a suspenseful nightmare that still holds up now, and it’s easily one of the best horror remakes of all time.
8
When Evil Lurks
This Argentinean film is a remarkable work of horror that turns the possession subgenre on its head. The idea that possession works the same as infection is such a unique angle. The way the audience never knows when someone will strike next makes this a horrifying film to watch as its nightmarish tension permeates the air.
One sequence in particular is played entirely straight with no sign of anything bad on the horizon. Suddenly, a dog attacks a little girl, and it kicks off an intense chase sequence. It’s a perfect scene that shows there’s no moment the viewer should feel safe. When Evil Lurks is a game-changing horror film as it refuses to hold the audience’s hand, and shows just how intense possession horror can be.
7
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Danny Boyle’s long-awaited return to the 28 Days Later franchise was one of the most anticipated events of 2025. While fans have been mixed about how 28 Years Later turned out, it was still a great film that built upon the iconic world of the infected.
Less than a year later, Nia DaCosta’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple improved on everything to make a stellar follow-up. Ralph Fiennes’ role as Doctor Kelson in particular stands out as one of the most interesting characters in the franchise to date. His constant impulse about preserving the beauty of humanity in a world gone mad is fascinating.
This is made even better when he forms a friendship with an infected Alpha named Samson. The dynamic between the two shows a powerful glimpse into the infected’s hidden humanity, which has become a core storytelling point for this new 28 Years Later trilogy.
6
Heretic
The complexities of Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ Heretic are fascinating. On one hand, it’s a film that criticizes religious institutions and how control is used to manipulate others. On the other hand though, the film also provides a good-faith message about how religion can be helpful to followers by giving them hope when it’s needed.
This film’s success hinges on its antagonist, Mr. Reed, and Hugh Grant delivers a magnificent performance to bring him to life. This is a man that seems comforting, but his motives are sinister. The way he guides the main characters and gaslights them into trying to believe his own “miracles” plays into the core themes of the film beautifully.
5
Pearl
Ti West’s X trilogy features three films surrounding stardom that are all great in their own ways. However, Pearl stands above the rest as a masterful horror drama.
Mia Goth’s performance as Pearl in this prequel to X is a perfect balance between horror and heartbreak. There’s not nearly as much gore as the previous film, but the psychological terror is something that can’t be overlooked. Her look of pure horror when she realizes that she’ll never escape her family home is bloodcurdling.
Plus, the technicolor inspirations for Pearl give it a beautiful sense of identity. It feels like a twisted take on The Wizard of Oz as Pearl longs to become an actress. The more the film goes on, the more reality begins to set in, and it’s a suspenseful wait for the other shoe to drop that makes it a phenomenal horror film.
4
Bring Her Back
The Phillippou brothers made a huge impression with their first film, Talk to Me, becoming the talk of the horror community. However, their follow-up managed to improve on it in every way to create one of the most haunting horror films in recent memory.
The way Bring Her Back navigates grief and the impact it has on people’s actions is fascinating. Sally Hawkins’ role as Laura is the true star of the show as she demonstrates how her grief over her lost daughter has turned her to the occult, and even murder.
This film also features some of the most tense and disturbing shots in modern horror to date. The shot of Oliver chewing on a butcher knife, breaking his teeth and gums is a scene that’s burned into the minds of everyone who’s seen it, and it’s just one of many that showcase how horrific the story can be.
3
Sinners
Ryan Coogler’s Oscar-winning horror film was one of the most talked-about movies of 2025, and for good reason. The way it subverts vampires is unlike anything fans of the movie monsters have seen before, playing perfectly into the film’s themes of assimilation and destruction of cultural voices.
Sinners‘ music is also a defining part of the movie’s identity. There’s a plethora of varying styles that make the film as much a concert as it is a horror film, with every song fitting into what’s shown on-screen to give it extra dimension. The “I Lied To You” scene in particular easily made Sinners an incredible horror movie that doubles as one of the greatest films of the 2020s as well.
2
Weapons
2025 was undeniably one of the best years for horror in a decade that’s seen plenty of incredible films. However, Zach Cregger’s Weapons stood out as the best horror release that year.
What makes this film so unforgettable is its emphasis on mystery. The premise alone of a class of students wandering off one night at the same time, never to be seen again, is a tremendous hook. The film only makes solving what happened better with its non-linear storytelling that allows audiences to piece things together.
Of course, the standout performance was Amy Madigan. Her Oscar-winning role as Aunt Gladys gave horror fans a new iconic villain to adore. She tied the whole film together into a perfect bow that made Weapons an incredible horror movie.
1
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat’s satire of beauty standards held against women in the entertainment industry has become a defining piece of art for horror fans, as well as movie fans in general.
Demi Moore delivers a career-best performance as an actress slipping into obscurity after years of adoration. Margaret Qualley’s role as her double ties the performances together. This is a story that hinges on both versions of the characters’ growing distaste for each other, and they pull it off in spades.
It all leads up to one of the most grotesque and glorious third acts that makes The Substance a sight to behold. It’s more than just an analysis of women in the entertainment industry. It’s an off-the-walls body horror that pays off every single second, making it the best horror film of the 2020s so far.
Source link
