The Best and Most Terrifying Horror Movies of 2021 (2024)

After nine films, it's hard to believe that the Saw franchise still hasn't met its own fateful end, but we have reason to believe the next era of Jigsaw is worth watching: Chris Rock is starring in the new reboot alongside Samuel L. Jackson. And based on the trailer, the film will bring back some memorable games. Who says a reboot has to reinvent the wheel?

Spiral is out in theaters now.

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A Quiet Place Part II picks up where its predecessor left off. Following Lee's death (John Krasinski) and the knowledge that sound is both their weakness and weapon, the family of three forges on, only to encounter foes of the human kind. Also starring Cillian Murphy.

A Quiet Place Part II is out in theaters now.

The Conjuring universe has produced so many of its own franchises and films, from Annabelle to The Nun, it's hard to name them all. The beauty of The Conjuring films themselves is that they are perfect stand-alones. The third film explores yet another terrifying case by Ed and Lorraine Warren, and we'll be hiding under the covers in anticipation.

The Conjuring 3 is in theaters now and on HBOMax.

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We get it: The Purge franchise is polarizing, and for good reason; the first film was a stinker, but the movies have gotten progressively better when the series' creators realized the appeal of the series was, in fact, the relentless, decriminalized violence. We want the next Purge and we want it now.

Release date: July 2, 2021

The first Escape Room received mixed reviews from critics, but its sequel hopes to be a winner. The two winning contestants of the original are sucked back in, and have to help a new group survive the game's simple rule: Escape, or die. Along the way, the contestants look to put a stop to the Saw-like horror competition.

Release Date: July 16, 2021

M. Night Shyamalan's newest film is a horror flick made for summer. A family goes to the beach for a day of fun in the sun. The getaway devolves into terror when they realize they're aging at a rapid pace. How rapid? Each family member only has one day to live. You may want to reschedule your beach vacation after this one.

Release Date: July 23, 2021

A few years back, Don't Breathe quietly entered theaters. It was a stellar movie with an even more stellar premise. Still, it seemed like the buzz around the film didn't really pan out in the way that it should have. Fortunately, audiences will get reacquainted with the villain at the center of the film with its long-awaited sequel. Again, we don't know much, but we do know we're in for another wild ride. (No trailer yet either, but relish in the original flick's teaser.)

Release date: August 13, 2021

A year after its premiere at Sundance, The Night House is coming to Netflix. Director David Bruckner, of V/H/S and The Ritual helms the film about a widow experiencing haunting at the lake house her late husband built for her. Expect twists and turns and jump scares.

Release Date: August 20, 2021

MH cover star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars in this quasi-sequel to the 1992 original about a mythical killer with a hook for a hand, summoned by name by those willing to face him in the mirror. Directed by Nia Dacosta (recently hired to direct The Marvels for the MCU), and with Get Out and Us' Jordan Peele as a co-writer and producer, Candyman seems sure to become another classic.

Premiere date: August 27, 2021

Director James Wan, who co-created Insidious and Saw, has a brand new horror film called Malignant. There's not much information on what the film is about, and all we have so far is a promo from HBOMax's release roundup in January and a picture on Wan's Instagram. But if Wan's track record says anything, it could be the start of a new horror franchise when it drops later this year.

Premiere Date: September 10, 2021

The Halloween franchise has gone through its own revival after the success of the 2018 reboot. Now, we have not one, but two Halloween movies to look forward to. In 2021, we'll have the first of the duo of flicks, Halloween Kills, with the original scream queen, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) returning once more to fight Michael Myers.

Premiere date: October 15, 2021

We don't know much about Edgar Wright's Last Night in Soho. But we do know Wright's teaming up with actress Anya Taylor-Joy, who previously worked on one of the best horror films of the decade, The Witch. Frankly, we're already sold.

Premiere date: October 22, 2021

Keri Russell (The Americans) and Jesse Plemons (Judas and the Black Messiah, Black Mirror) star in this supernatural horror film about a young boy whose family is hiding...something. Also it's produced by Oscar-winner Guillermo Del Toro, so as far as movies we're excited about this year, it's a no-brainer.

Premiere Date: October 29, 2021