With streaming services such as HBO Max and Netflix, putting together a weekend (or month) of screams and laughs has never been simpler. Hulu also has its subscribers’ backs with a varied library of horror movies, including older B-movie favorites and critically acclaimed modern indie darlings.
Looking for an intense psychological thriller? Or an over-the-top slasher fest? Hulu has both areas and everything in between covered. In order to get the frights going, let’s look at the scariest horror movies on Hulu.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
There are a lot of great 90s Horror films scattered across Hulu and those that haven’t seen The Sixth Sense are in for a cinematic treat. Although the film starts and progresses as somewhat of a slow burn, there are still a lot of great moments to frighten viewers. Featuring one of the best twists ever put to film, along with stellar performances from both Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment, The Sixth Sense is a beautifully crafted Horror film that will stick with viewers long after the credits have rolled.
Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
Those looking for something a bit more comedic should check out the satirical blast, Shaun of the Dead. This riotous Horror-Comedy follows the every Shaun as he finds himself smack dab in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Filled with many of the tropes found in traditional zombie films, Shaun of the Dead turns the rhetoric on its head, following along with a seemingly oblivious main character that must come to terms with the chaos that’s going on around him. It’s funny, exciting, and a bit scary during some rather tense moments. It’s the perfect film for those that are craving something horrific that will also make them laugh out loud.
Hellraiser (2022)
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser is a horror classic with far more terrible than passable sequels. Following a string of particularly underwhelming entries, 2022’s movie manages to stand out positively despite being little more than above-average. Do not be confused by the name, Hellraiser is just the next chapter in this bizarre tale rather than a remake or reboot.
While not lacking in chilling Cenobite-themed scares, this Hulu exclusive is a surprisingly effective character study that tackles addiction and co-dependency. At times, Hellraiser feels like two movies smashed together that only periodically complement each other. Barker fans should check this one out.
Oculus (2013)
Mike Flanagan is a name worth remembering when it comes to horror. Since directing his first feature in 2011, Flanagan has made Hush, Ouija: Origin of Evil, Absentia, Gerald’s Game, and Doctor Sleep, which are all good to great. Don’t be fooled by the WWE Studios logo – Oculus stands toe-to-toe with any of those movies.
Oculus chronicles the Russell family’s misfortune due to a strange mirror. The story is split into two time periods, one focusing on the onset of the tragedy and another set in the future as the family’s grown-up children try to figure out the mystery behind the mirror. A somber and slow-burning piece, Oculus has a foreboding atmosphere that rarely subsides for even a second.
Evil Dead (2013)
Living up to Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy is always going to be a tall order, and while this 2013 movie does not quite reach those heights, it is an entertaining horror movie in its own right. Like the classic film, this version follows a group of friends who go to a cabin, find a demonic book, and then start meeting gruesome ends.
Rather than try to recreate Raimi’s unique comedic voice, Evil Dead opts to double down on the gore and violence. Permitting viewers are not queasy, this movie should be a fun pick for parties.
Thelma (2017)
While only horror adjacent, Thelma’s creepy moments are bone-chilling. When not trying to freak audiences out, Joachim Trier’s movie dissects its eponymous character’s repressed upbringing and oppressive parental relationships while she attempts to find her true self. At college, Thelma begins to encounter emotions that she was not permitted to experience during childhood, a process that fragments her psyche as she comes of age.
Thelma is an ambitious film that cannot be slotted into any one genre. It has horror, thriller, gothic, and even romance elements. While maybe not a great choice for Halloween, Thelma is still one of the best horror films on Hulu.
Fright Night (2011)
The original Fright Night aired in 1985, making this 2011 offering a remake. Featuring a great cast of actors (including Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, and David Tennant), this updated take on the Horror classic is actually well-designed and offers up some solid scares for those that are creeped out by vampires and bloodthirsty creatures of the night. The premise follows a young boy who suspects that his new next-door neighbor is actually a vampire, with the teen doing everything in his power to protect his loved ones from the possible threat. Fright Night features some great twists and turns and the 2011 version is a solid remake overall.
The Hitcher (1986)
The Hitcher takes a simple premise and creates blood-soaked gold out of it. A serial killer roams the highway in search of targets, and he becomes obsessed with one particular victim after he manages to escape.
Bolstered by Rutger Hauer’s stellar turn as the titular killer, The Hitcher is a violent and suspenseful thriller that never threatens to outstay its welcome. As far as cult classic horror movies on Hulu go, this 1986 release is among the best.
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
A horror movie suitable for Halloween night and a different type of Christmas day, Rare Exports is all about discovering the truth behind the Santa Claus myth. As it so happens, it involves quite a few dead reindeer.
Creative, funny, and featuring genuinely startling moments and effects, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale takes its eccentric premise and uses it to its full effect. The result is a movie that is equally likely to cause laughter and terror, perhaps at the same time.
Fresh (2022)
Modern dating can be unpredictable, frustrating, and fruitless; Noa knows all these things well as she has had her fill of terrible dinners with bachelors picked from apps. So, when she stumbles upon the charming and handsome Steve, Noa goes against type and decides to jump headfirst into this romance by accepting an invitation for a weekend trip.
Fresh is a satirical horror film that combines some decent laughs and social commentary with more than its share of genuine frights. Try to go into this movie as blind as possible since spoilers can seriously hurt the experience.
Nightmare Alley (2021)
Del Toro’s Nightmare Alley is more of a psychological thriller than a full-blown horror film, but it has just enough unsettling imagery and ideas to earn a recommendation. Guillermo del Toro is a visionary; he is a filmmaker with a well-defined style that typically ventures into surreal or fantasy territory while simultaneously weaving in relevant themes.
Nightmare Alley boasts an all-star cast featuring the likes of Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett, along with a unique narrative that goes in some unexpected directions. Although not the director’s best movie, this 2021 release is nevertheless impressive.
Titane (2021)
Julia Ducournau’s follow-up movie to 2016’s Raw, Titane cements the French director as one of the must-watch horror creators working in the industry. Sharing similar themes to the 2016 body horror flick, this 2021 project is an uncomfortable sit that deals with insatiable lust and destructive primal urges, all told through the eyes of a murderous woman named Alexia.
Soaked in blood as it may be, Titane is not a celebration of gore with no point, and the film gradually shifts from body horror to something resembling a family drama. Although it might be too much to stomach for some people, which is perfectly understandable, Titane should be the first movie on any horror fan’s watchlist if they have Hulu.
No Exit (2022)
When Darby escaped rehab to go visit her mother, she did not envision spending her night trapped in a small building with a group of strangers, one of which is confirmed to be a kidnapper. A low-budget tense thriller packed to the brim with twists and turns, No Exit is right at home on Hulu. This feels like a horror film that should be watched on a Tuesday night from the comfort of a couch.
Flawed as the story is in some ways, No Exit builds up steam quite nicely as it goes along, particularly during its second half.
Possessor (2020)
Possessor is a psychological horror film in the most literal sense – the story is about a killer who can take over someone else’s body to perform hits. Directed by Brandon Cronenberg, Possessor’s main assassin, Vos, finds herself struggling to return to her normal life following each job, which leads to her losing control during a mission.
Possessor is a disturbing piece that matches its graphic bursts of violence with character nuance and an unpredictable narrative. Well-acted and directed, Possessor is a unique horror film.
Lights Out (2016)
Sometimes, all it takes to strike gold is one great idea: a terrifying entity that can only be seen in darkness. Lights Out enhances this captivating concept with brilliant acting, a gripping storyline with an emotional heartbeat, and a powerful final act.
Lights Out’s main antagonist is the definition of creepy; a being largely limited to the shadow, effectively using horror’s tendency to make the hidden far more frightening than the seen. The horror movie also doesn’t overstay its welcome, making Lights Out the perfect option for a marathon.
Let The Right One In (2008)
Let the Right One In is a “vampire” movie in the sense that it features a bloodsucker as a character, however, the film is not cut from the same cloth as most of the genre’s recent offerings. At its heart, this Swedish movie is about two isolated and lonely children who find each other in a suffocatingly harsh world, and that’s not just a side effect of the cold weather.
Let the Right One In is violent, bitter, funny, devastating, and chilling. This is one of the best horror movies on Hulu, and it has aged very well. Some people might be familiar with Matt Reeves’ American remake, 2010’s Let Me In, which is also great and on Hulu. However, that version is not a replacement for the original.
