The 2025 Halloween season is delivering a feast of new horror, spanning cinematic sequels and high-concept streaming series. Never too late to start a Halloween horror marathon, fans can hack into their fear with a deep lineup of psychological and supernatural thrills ahead of the festivities this week.
Leading the charge is the return of two major franchises: the prequel series It: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max) explores Pennywise’s grim origins in the 1960s, while The Black Phone 2 (Theatrical) brings back The Grabber for a terrifying continuation.
For original scares, prepare for high-concept genre blends with the likes of Vicious (Paramount+), which is a tense psychological horror and Sinners returns to the big screens to show off Michael B. Jordan in a Southern Gothic vampire thriller. Netflix and Ryan Murphy bring Monster: The Ed Gein Story to your homes, as it continues the true crime anthology, dissecting the real-life inspiration behind cinema’s most terrifying villains.
Get ready to check these off your list for a perfectly spooky October and take a look below at the full recommendation of films and series for this horror-filled Halloween season.
It: Welcome to Derry – Series (HBO Max, Available Now)
This HBO Max limited series serves as a chilling prequel to the recent It films, transporting viewers back to the 1960s to explore the town of Derry’s dark history. It will delve into the origins of the curse and the earliest encounters with the evil entity that manifests as Pennywise. The series promises to build out the mythology of Stephen King’s epic novel in an episodic format.
Weapons – Film (HBO Max, Available Now)
From director Zach Cregger (Barbarian), this Weapons follows a mysterious event where all but one child from the same classroom vanish on the same night. The story centers on a relentless detective who investigates the cause, unraveling a terrifying supernatural mystery. The movie is generating significant buzz for its original, high-concept horror premise.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story – Series (Netflix, Available Now)
This is the third installment in Ryan Murphy’s true crime anthology series on Netflix, focusing on the notorious killer Ed Gein. Gein’s macabre crimes in the 1950s made him the real-life inspiration for fictional villains like Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill. The series explores his disturbing life and how his legacy became the blueprint for modern horror.
Vicious – Film (Paramount+, Available Now)
Directed by Bryan Bertino (The Strangers), Vicious is a supernatural thriller stars Dakota Fanning as a woman who inherits a strange, multi-story house. She soon finds herself trapped in a waking nightmare, battling an ancient, malevolent force. The film reportedly delivers a tense, suffocating atmosphere, building on Bertino’s reputation for raw, psychological horror.
The Long Walk – Film (Available Now in Select Theaters)
Another cinematic adaptation of the famous Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) novel, The Long Walk plunges into a dystopian America where 100 teenage boys compete in a grueling annual contest. The rules are simple: keep walking at all costs, or you will be executed.
The Black Phone 2 – Film (Available Now in Select Theaters)
The Black Phone 2 is a sequel to the 2021 horror hit brings back the original cast, including Ethan Hawke as “The Grabber.” The story continues with Finney and his sister, whose dreams are now haunted by calls on the black phone. The film is expected to escalate the supernatural elements as the characters face the continued threat of the masked killer.
Good Boy – Film (Available Now in Select Theaters)
This unique supernatural horror film is told from the perspective of the family dog, Indy, after he moves with his owner to a new home. When ominous, unexplainable events begin to unfold, the loyal pup suspects something dark is lurking in the shadows. Indy must take a stand to protect his human companion from the sinister forces at play.
Shelby Oaks – Film (Available Now in Select Theaters)
Shelby Oaks is a supernatural mystery follows a determined woman as she becomes obsessed with finding her younger sister, who vanished under mysterious circumstances. The film, directed by critic-turned-filmmaker Chris Stuckmann, promises a haunting blend of found footage and traditional horror filmmaking.
Sinners – Film (Theatrical Re-Release, October 30)
Following its success the Michael B. Jordan-starring Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), returns to the theaters just in time for Halloween. This Southern Gothic horror thriller stars Jordan as twin brothers trying to save their hometown from an onslaught of vampires. The film fuses the horror genre with Coogler’s signature focus on identity, community, and social commentary. It is being praised for its original vision and bold genre blend.
Frankenstein – Film (Select Theatrical Release, Netflix – November 7)
Directed by Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro, this new gothic horror adaptation of the classic Frankenstein boasts an all-star cast, including Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein. Del Toro’s version is expected to delve into the 19th-century source material, delivering a visually lush and emotional take on the classic monster story. The film is now available in select theaters and extends horror season into early November with its release on Netflix.
