The article lists the 75+ best horror movies released in the 21st century. It covers a wide range of horror subgenres, including psychological thrillers, supernatural horrors, and zombie films. The selection includes critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies, showcasing the diverse and evolving nature of the genre. Notable films mentioned are Get Out, Hereditary, The Conjuring, It Follows, and The Babadook. The list aims to serve as a comprehensive guide for horror enthusiasts looking for recommendations and provides a mix of well-known favorites and lesser-known gems that have made their mark in the genre..
If anyone tries to tell you that the best modern horror movies aren’t as good as the “golden years” of the genre, you have my permission to graze their face with your open palm in a quick and painful manner. Slap them, basically, because without the rose-tinted glasses on, we might be in the greatest period for horror movies in history.
Part of that comes down to just how broad the spectrum is for horror these days, as well as how well-supported the genre is — there’s no shortage of movies available on VOD services and other platforms if they don’t “make the grade” for box office release.
With more possibilities comes more room for experimentation; you don’t often see sequel after sequel like you used to, and if you do they are usually not all that bad. Sometimes they’re even better: who could have predicted that the Annabelle prequel/sequel would be an all-round superior effort to the first movie?
If you’re still on the anti-horror bandwagon, let the box office figures set you straight. Movies like IT and Get Out have made their budget back many times over, and that’s not just because they were hyped to the moon and back. No, those two –and countless others– have been good return on investments because, well, they’re good movies with fresh takes.
To celebrate the new golden era of the genre, we’re looking through nothing but the best horror movies of the 21st century from across all spans of subgenre and commercial success.
A couple of qualifiers before we start: the below list isn’t in a ranked or definitive order, just alphabetical; it’s just numbered so you can keep track of it. In addition, we’re only including one movie per franchise. This is also a living list, so we’re adding new horror movies as they release and impress.
The Best Modern Horror Movies
1. 28 Days Later (2002)
Director: Danny Boyle
28 Days Later is a remarkable movie for many different reasons. It’s one of the first big films to be shot almost entirely digitally, but it also managed the unenviable task of closing down London as well as helping to bring about the new craze of fast-moving zombie-like creatures.
Oh, and it helps that it’s one of the best modern horror movies around, inferior final third and all.
Watch if: you want to see what a quiet London is like.
Avoid if: you love monkeys.
2. 30 Days of Night (2007)
Director: David Slade
A year before vampires sparkled and ruined any fear of them for the next decade, 30 Days of Night came along and showed just how visceral and heartless they could be.
Based off of the cult graphic novels, 30 Days of Night has buckets of grim violence, grim characters, grim vamp–it’s just a very grim movie, basically. Also, “God? No God.” is one of the best lines in any horror movie.
Watch if: you want a hard-boiled vampire movie.
Avoid if: Josh Hartnett’s disappearance makes you sad.
3. Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Director: David F. Sandberg
Annabelle: Creation is that rare thing when it comes to horror: a sequel that far outstrips the underwhelming original.
The only thing the original Annabelle had going for it was that really damn effective door scare, but Creation brings a whole cast of capable child actors, including the revelatory Lulu Wilson. Creation uses sound and the lack thereof to create some masterful scares and a knowing nod to its old-school inspirations.
Watch if: you can deal with creepy children.
Avoid if: you can’t deal with creepy children.
4. Antichrist (2009)
WATCH: Rent
Director: Lars von Trier
Lars Von Trier lives to mess with people, something that is evidenced perfectly by the downright disconcerting Antichrist.
When a couple elopes after tragedy strikes, they look to rekindle the romance in their lives, but not before everything quickly goes insane. It’s packed with some bewildering and, at times, disgusting imagery, so maybe don’t watch it with your partner on your anniversary.
Watch if: you love some fucked up visuals.
Avoid if: you enjoy sex.
5. A Quiet Place (2018)
Director: John Krasinski
John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place isn’t effective because of what’s said, but because of what isn’t. A deathly silence hangs over the majority of the film, the keyword here being deathly.
If you have the chance, this post-apocalyptic tale of a family trying to stay alive in a world in which they’re being hunted simply has to be watched at the cinema, or preferably with surround sound.
Who knew silence could be so unnerving?
Watch if: you can shut up.
Avoid if: you can’t shut up.
6. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Families, eh? A lot of horror movies use familial conflict to great effect, but A Tale of Two Sisters capitalises on the troubled lineage of two sisters to unravel a slow and methodical tragedy.
With one of the sisters recently being released from a mental institution, the movie is a drama wrapped up in the conventions of a ghost story that was so successful that Hollywood remade it. Badly. Anyone else sensing a pattern here?
Watch if: you adore Korean horror.
Avoid if: you adore your sister.
7. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Director: André Øvredal
If, like us, you had completely ruled out watching The Autopsy of Jane Doe because of its fairly humdrum trailer, you should probably change your mind. When a mysterious corpse lands on the gurney of a father and son’s gurney at their morgue, they have to try and find a cause of death. But there’s more to this body than meets the eye.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe is at its best in its initial two thirds, when the intrigue surrounding the corpse is at its most potent — you will be gripping your thighs like rigor mortis has set in.
Watch if: you love a slow horror mystery.
Avoid if: you don’t want to see what your insides look like.
8. The Babadook (2014)
Director: Jennifer Kent
The Babadook is, first and foremost, a metaphor about motherhood and the stresses it brings. It’s expertly handled, subtly drawing parallels to the disintegration of a struggling mother and normality. But is also has a few great scares.
If you don’t like kids, don’t watch The Babadook — the young boy will definitely burrow under your skin, which kind of feels like the point.
Watch if: you can deal with annoying kids.
Avoid if: you can’t deal with annoying kids.
9. The Battery (2012)
Director: Jeremy Gardner
A different kind of zombie movie, The Battery isn’t all about the guts and spectacle. It’s about its two main characters, who couldn’t be more different from each other if they tried. The Battery is a low-budget effort that is high on character development and a gripping script with a killer soundtrack to match.
You might not be familiar with it, so it’s probably about time you acquainted yourself with The Battery and let yourself be very pleasantly surprised.
Watch if: you’re tired of the same old zombie movies.
Avoid if: you need your horror films to have A+ production quality.
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10. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Director: Drew Goddard
Speaking of horror conventions, The Cabin in the Woods is a love letter to the horror genre, including its faults.
A wild concept that I still can’t believe was greenlit, Cabin follows a group of attractive young people on vacation. You may think you know where it’s going, but you really don’t. It’s a hilarious and often utterly daft ride that will make you afraid of mermen.
Watch if: you want to watch a love letter to the genre.
Avoid if: you want serious horror.
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11. Climax (2018)
Director: Gaspar Noé
Climax is perhaps the most digestible movie in Gaspar Noé’s heady filmography. What’s funny about that is that you may struggle to digest anything after surviving this utter nightmare trip.
When a dance troupe get together the night before a big performance, it quickly becomes clear that something has been slipped into their punch — and the punches aren’t far behind. Prepare to be shocked.
Watch if: you need something that you cannot take your eyes off.
Avoid if: you get really bad anxiety over long shots.
12. The Conjuring (2013)
Director: James Wan
As much as some horror movie fans may fight against the big hitters, it’s hard to deny just how effective The Conjuring was in taking something totally tired and making it feel new again.
Rather disingenuously “inspired by true events”, The Conjuring showed that sometimes old formulas can be turned into something contemporary and, most importantly, terrifyingly. I am still not over that clapping.
Watch if: you want classic horror repackaged for modern day.
Avoid if: you need your horror movies to be based in more than half-truths.
13. The Crazies (2010)
Director: Breck Eisner
As something of a Romero zealot, it pains me to say that the original The Crazies isn’t all that great. Luckily, then, its 2010 remake more than does it justice and exceeds it in more ways than one. When a town’s inhabitant contact a virus, their tiny pocket of civilisation collapses and all hell breaks loose.
It’s not perfect, but it is certainly thrilling and often disquieting. Just don’t mention that ending, though.
Watch if: you loved 28 Days Later.
Avoid if: Romero is gospel.
14. Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Director: Zack Snyder
A movie so inherently dumb and watchable (zombie baby, anyone?) that it may well be the best guilty pleasure watch on this list. Zack Snyder’s remake of Romero’s iconic movie may lack the nuance or important commentary, but it makes up for it a relentless pace and plenty of mindless and fun action.
There are plenty of stupid people in Dawn of the Dead, though, so be warned if illogical horror movie characters annoy you. It’s still probably the best movie Zack Snyder has ever made.
Watch if: you need some high-octane, dumb fun.
Avoid if: Romero is gospel to you.
15. Dead Man’s Shoes (2004)
Director: Shane Meadows
The best thing about Shane Meadows’ Dead Man’s Shoes is that you’re rooting for the villain the whole time, someone who becomes so twisted by his quest for vengeance that he himself turns into the biggest monster of them all.
Featuring a couple of iconic and unforgettable lines, this British cult classic is completely grounded and totally harrowing to the core. Remind me never to meet Paddy Considine down the local.
Watch if: you want to root for the bad guy.
Avoid if: you’re a drug dealer.
16. Dead Snow (2009)
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Eurotrash down to its very knowing DNA, Dead Snow is a b-movie zombie escapade that shouldn’t be viewed seriously for even a second.
When a group of hikers come across a Nazi coin in a snowy expanse, they are targets for a brigade of Nazi zombies who hunt them down in this fun, camp, and energetic horror movie.
Don’t expect a masterpiece and you will leave Dead Snow with a dumb smile on your face.
Watch if: you love camp horror.
Avoid if: you are a Nazi.
17. The Descent (2005)
Director: Neil Marshall
If you get claustrophobic while in an elevator, maybe don’t watch The Descent.
The movie that put people off spelunking features an almost all-female cast of friends who don’t stay that way for long.
Neil Marshall’s oft-heralded horror deals in some important themes, but what you’re really here for are the creepy creatures who must go down as some of the most disgusting abominations in horror movie history.
Watch if: you want some classic British horror.
Avoid if: you’re Gollum.
18. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Before Hollywood came calling, Guillermo del Toro created The Devil’s Backbone: a ghost story with so many dissonant parts that it had no right to work, but it did.
It’s thematically quite similar to The Others, though del Toro’s vision for the macabre and the unusual means that this Spanish horror movie is as good as any other this century.
Heck, some people might say it is the best. More people agree on this over The Shape of Water, at least.
Watch if: you can deal with annoying kids.
Avoid if: you can’t deal with annoying kids.
19. Dog Soldiers (2002)
Director: Neil Marshall
I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that the effects in Dog Soldiers don’t look downright terrible in this decade — they weren’t that hot back in 2002, either.
Look past the outdated suits, though, and you have a funny but still discomforting horror movie that feels like the lycanthropic cousin to Aliens.
As a bonus, Sean Pertwee has a major role in the movie, and Sean Pertwee enriches everything.
Watch if: you enjoy shlocky horror.
Avoid if: outdated practical effects are a no for you.
20. Don’t Breathe (2016)
Director: Fede Álvarez
If there’s anything you take away from Don’t Breathe, it’s that you absolutely shouldn’t mess with a blind guy, particularly if that guy happens to be Stephen Lang: professional badass.
When a trio of friends break into a seemingly unassuming old man’s house, they discover far more than they bargained for.
It’s an exhilarating and, funnily enough, breathless movie that gives Jane Levy another chance to shine as the new queen of horror. Shame about the (very unnecessary) sequel, but it doesn’t diminish just how good this movie is.
Watch if: you want to root for the “bad guys”.
Avoid if: your neighbours creep you out.
21. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Director: Sam Raimi
Drag Me To Hell isn’t scary, but it for damn sure is a lot of gross fun.
Sam Raimi returned to his shlock horror roots in a bombastic, OTT horror movie that features goats, b-movie mayhem, and one very pissed off gypsy. Raimi may never return to direct another Evil Dead movie, but Drag Me To Hell is absolutely the next best thing.
As a bonus, it was one of the last times we saw Justin Long before he mysteriously disappeared into the ether.
Watch if: you love campy horror.
Avoid if: cheese isn’t your thing.
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22. Eden Lake (2008)
Director: James Watkins
The most Brexit thing before Brexit was even a thing, Eden Lake follows a beautiful couple after they are stalked and harassed by a gang of hoodies.
It capitalised on the very British fear at the time of a disillusioned and violent youth to create something that will make you think twice before discrediting Ellesse.
A pre-fame Michael Fassbender also stars in Eden Lake, but you may not be able to hang around for the credits to double-check after its brutal ending.
Watch if: you grip your keys between your fingers when you’re walking down the street.
Avoid if: you’re wearing Slazenger right now.
23. Evil Dead (2013)
Director: Fede Álvarez
The 2013 “re-positioning” of one of the most beloved cult franchises was better than it had any right to be and must go down as one of the best horror movie reboots/remakes ever, and a movie that keeps getting more beloved the older it gets.
By toning down on the camp factor and ramping up the violence, Fede Alvarez’s demented mind was on full show here, creating some of the grossest moments ever committed to film.
Carved chicken, anyone?
Watch if: you’re a gorehound.
Avoid if: you’re sick of remakes.
24. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
Director: Scott Derrickson
Long before exorcism movies became all the rage again, The Exorcism of Emily Rose delivered something equal parts court drama and horror movie. Time has made people forget about Emily Rose, but they really shouldn’t.
It’s low on scares and even gore, which may disappoint those of a more gruesome disposition, but Scott Derrickson’s unique spin on things made him one of the hottest properties in horror for the next decade.
Watch if: you want The Exorcist meets Suits.
Avoid if: you need gore in your horror movies.
25. Funny Games (2007)
Director: Michael Haneke
Both versions of Michael Haneke’s subtle brand of horror are more or less identical, so it’s really down to viewer preference; the one you prefer will probably be the one you watch first. As this list is just for the 21st century, however, we’re going with the American version.
The true horror of Funny Games lies in not what is shown, but what isn’t. Michael Pitt’s eerily blue eyes and his preppy demeanour make him a chilling villain for this slow-burn of a horror movie that builds and builds a sense of dread until it’s unbearable.
Watch if: you haven’t already seen the original.
Avoid if: you’re impatient.
26. Get Out (2017)
Director: Jordan Peele
Is it a horror movie or is it more of a social thriller? Frankly, I don’t care what Get Out is classified as, all I know is that it was one of the most unnerving movies I’ve ever seen.
Acted perfectly by everyone involved, Get Out is a waking nightmare dealing in themes of class, racism, and why you should definitely use flash photography on anyone who seems a bit weird.
Watch if: you want a smart, subtly satirical horror.
Avoid if: you enjoy drinking tea.
27. Ginger Snaps (2000)
WATCH: Rent
Director: John Fawcett
Making this list by the skin of its (very pointy) teeth, Ginger Snaps was released right at the start of the century when the Columbine hysteria was still in full swing.
Though it may seem somewhat tame almost two decades on, Ginger Snaps tells an unsettling story about a wild girl’s transformation into a werewolf. It tries too hard to be edgy sometimes, though that might just be a part of its early noughties charm.
Watch if: you want to see one of the only decent werewolf movies in recent times.
Avoid if: you prefer the biscuit.
28. Goodnight Mommy (2014)
Directors: Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala
This Austrian horror has, what JJ Abrams would love to call (while actually eventually showing what’s inside the box), a mystery box or two up its sleeve.
When two boys’ mother returns from cosmetic surgery, they become convinced that she isn’t the same person, setting up some of the most suspenseful and deftly-handled intrigue you will see in a movie.
Goodnight Mommy is certainly a sparing movie and somewhat slow to get going, but stick with it and appreciate its details and you will walk away from the end credits with your mouth agape. Don’t bother with the remake.
Watch if: creeping dread does it for you.
Avoid if: you need your questions answering immediately.
29. Green Room (2015)
Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Green Room is a horror movie where the victims fight back just as viciously as their attackers. When a band becomes embroiled in a murder at a Nazi club, they desperately fight to see morning.
Green Room is completely uncompromising in its depiction of brutality, evidenced by Patrick Stewart’s rare turn as the irredeemable asshole.
Although it isn’t horror, director Jeremy Saulnier’s previous movie, Blue Ruin, is very much worth watching, too.
Watch if: you hate Nazis.
Avoid if: you think Patrick Stewart is an angel.
30. Halloween (2018)
Director: David Gordon Green
Halloween really was overdue for an update after so many years away. Excluding the polarising Rob Zombie remakes, there hadn’t been anything new (and worthwhile) in many year.
Enter 2018’s Halloween, a resurgent return for the series that did away with the wild canon that followed the first movie.
Jamie Lee Curtis returns to face down Michael one last time while suffering from PTSD in what is one of the best horror remakes of all time. The soundtrack by original director John Carpenter is indeed a bop, too.
From our Halloween review:
“2018’s Halloween is an impressive entry and rightfully ranks higher than some of the other sequels in the franchise’s controversial history.”
Watch if: you want some old school scares with a modern twist.
Avoid if: you’re pretty precious about Halloween II and everything after.
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The article argues that the current era is the greatest period for horror movies in history. It attributes this to the broad spectrum of horror films available today and the support the genre receives. The article discusses the success of recent horror films like “IT” and “Get Out” at the box office and praises their fresh takes on the genre. The article provides a list of the best modern horror movies of the 21st century, including films like “28 Days Later,” “A Quiet Place,” and “The Babadook.” It emphasizes that the list is not ranked and will be updated with new releases.
Hashtags: #Horror #Movies #21st #Century
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