My 13 Most Anticipated Horror Movies for 2026!
Happy New Year!
The holiday season is wrapping up and 2026 is underway, which, of course, means it’s time for me to look at my most anticipated horror movies of 2026!
As always, there are likely to be changes as the year rolls on. Some movies will shift release dates or possibly be shelved altogether.
For now, here are my thirteen most anticipated horror movies for the upcoming year. My list includes six original works, five sequels/spinoffs, and two adaptations.
The movies are listed in order of when they’re expected to release.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Release: January 16th
The fourth installment of the 28 Days Later franchise was filmed back to back with 28 Years Later (2025). I’ve enjoyed all the films in this series so far, and I have high hopes for this one.
The last installment ended on a cliffhanger, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds. There is a potential third installment planned as well.
Night Patrol
Release: January 16th
Night Patrol is about an L.A. cop, played by Justin Long, who discovers a monstrous secret about a local police task force. He must form an uneasy alliance with Los Angeles street gangs to defeat this mysterious evil.
It’s unclear what type of villains are being used here. The trailer humorously has characters suggesting vampires, werewolves, demons, and even lizard people as possibilities. I’m curious to find out!
Send Help
Release: January 30th
Director Sam Raimi returns to horror for the first time since Drag Me to Hell (2009) with an intriguing premise. A nerdy employee (Rachel McAdams) and her young, arrogant boss (Dylan O’ Brien) are stranded on a deserted island together after surviving a plane crash.
I could actually see this is as the premise of a romcom, but what happens between these two is going to be anything but romantic. Glad to see Raimi back and eager to find out if he’s still got another great movie in him.
Psycho Killer
Release: February 20
Georgina Campbell stars as a cop trying to track down the serial killer who brutally murdered her husband. It’s Campbell’s first horror protagonist role since Barbarian. She also appeared recently in Influencers.
The reversal of the traditional gender roles in this type of storyline is an interesting twist. Campbell seems well on her way to becoming a new scream queen.
Scream 7
Release: February 27th
Neve Campbell’s return and Melissa Barrera’s departure have dominated the headlines for this movie, which will feature Sydney Prescott trying to protect her teen daughter from the latest Ghostface killer.
I’m hoping this installment will be able to wring some fresh material out of this story. Sydney as a parent is something novel, and her daughter could be setup as a protagonist for future films.
The Bride!
Release: March 6th
The Bride! is based on the classic horror film The Bride of Frankenstein (1935). It stars Jessie Buckley as the title character and Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s monster. I like the original movie and I’m hoping this will be a successful update like the recent Frankenstein and Nosferatu movies.
Are people going to think this is a sequel to Frankenstein (2025)? It isn’t, although both obviously take inspiration from the original Mary Shelly novel. This movie is directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. It’ll be interesting to see how her interpretation of Frankenstein differs from Del Toro’s.
Ready or Not 2: Here I come
Release: April 10th
Ready or Not 2 is set to take its story to an even more over the top level than the original. I’m rooting for this one to be successful, especially with Kathryn Newton involved.
Judging by the trailer, we’re in for batshit crazy sequel! It’s Grace vs. the world this time.
Hokum
Release: May 1st
Hokum stars Adam Scott (Severance) as an author who travels to rural Ireland to spread his parents’ ashes. He discovers that his rental home is haunted by a sinister presence.
I’m excited to see Scott in a horror film. The fact that this is directed by Damian McCarthy (Oddity) also helps land this film on my most anticipated horror movies list. If Hokum lives up to the hype, it will establish McCarthy as a rising star in the genre.
Obsession
Release: May 15th
Okay, so this is easily one of the most interesting premises of the year. Bear (Michael Johnston), a lonely, lovestruck music store employee, uses a mysterious wish-granting toy to make the girl he’s been obsessed with since childhood fall in love with him.
Obsession reminds me of Companion, one of my 2025 favorites, although the girl in this one is a human being, not a robot. It’s likely to cover the same themes about free will, abusive relationships, “real” vs. “fake” emotions, and the monetization of human connection. It’s racked up impressive reviews so far.
Evil Dead Burn
Release: July 24th
Remarkably little is known about the upcoming sixth installment in the Evil Dead franchise. It makes my list solely for being part of this popular franchise. It’s another spinoff, like Evil Dead Rise, but it’s unclear if any characters from other movies will appear.
Evil Dead Burn is directed by Sebestien Vanicek, a French filmmaker who helmed the acclaimed spider horror flick Infested. Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell are among the producers.
Terrifier 4
Release: October 2026
Damien Leone claims this will be the final installment of his series. I’m very skeptical that will be the case, but this one will likely wrap up the Sienna vs. Art storyline and finally give some concrete answers about Art’s backstory.
The Terrifier franchise has slowly built up its mythology and this chapter will likely prove or debunk many fan theories.
Werwulf
Release: December 25th, 2026
A Christmas release worked wonders for Robert Egger’s Nosferatu, so why not try it again? After tackling vampires last time, Eggers sinks his claws into a medieval werewolf tale about an England country town terrorized by a hairy beast.
He’s bringing back many of the cast members from Nosferatu, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Ineson, Lily Rose-Depp, and William Defoe. It’s a long wait for this one, but I’m expecting it to be worth it!
Victorian Psycho
I reviewed the novel recently and I’m interested to see how the movie will compare. Scream queen Maika Monroe, after playing a villainous nanny in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, takes on a similar role here as the demented governess Winifred Nottie.
This one is by no means certain to release this year, but hopefully we’ll receive more info on it soon.
Release: TBA 2026
