If you’re the type of viewer who appreciates a good scare, a good shock, or just the plain thrill of seeing someone make a series of poor decisions in a haunted mansion, Amazon Prime Video is basically your playground. With a catalog of horror so deep and so wide—think from indie cult classics to splatter masterpieces—Prime is where genre enthusiasts need to be. Whether you’re a horror hound or just want to get scared out of your seat, below are the 15 most excellent horror movies available to stream on Prime Video today, from 15 down to the straight-up must-see at number 1.
15. Frozen (2010)
The most frightening monsters are the ones you can’t get away from. In this frozen survival horror, three friends are trapped on a ski lift with no pickup in the works. It’s a straightforward setup, but the tension never lets up, and you’ll be second-guessing every ski trip you ever went on. The writing and acting make this one a winner in the survival horror category, according to the people at Creepy Catalog.
14. Dead Birds (2004)
Whoever argues westerns and horror don’t go? Dead Birds puts a crew of bank robbers in a haunted plantation, and the outcome is as frightening as it is entertaining. The special effects are a bit rough, but the atmosphere and Michael Shannon’s acting more than compensate for it.
13. Dog Soldiers (2002)
Werewolf, British soldiers, and a desolate Scottish woodland—what could possibly go wrong? This horror-action movie is a cult classic for a reason. It’s nasty, it’s bloody, and it contains some of the best practical werewolf make-up you’ll see short of the 1980s.
12. Uzumaki (2000)
If you enjoy your horror bizarre, otherworldly, and weirdly Japanese, then Uzumaki is a must-watch. Adapted from the classic manga by Junji Ito, this film makes spirals—yes, spirals—into an existential horror show. It sounds as daft as it is, and that is precisely why it works.
11. Return of the Living Dead 3 (1993)
Zombie movies are a dime a dozen, but this one is worth seeing due to its dark romance and surprisingly emotional storyline. The zombie girlfriend, Julie, is the most memorable undead to ever walk the big screen. It’s gory, it’s sad, and it’s cult-approved for a reason.
10. Subspecies (1991)
Meet Radu, the dark hero of vampire fans. This film with a small cost shows you the beautiful land of Romania, where three learners are caught in an old vampire war. The feel is old and dark, the stories are deep, and Anders Hove shines in his role.
9. Hellraiser (1987)
Pinhead and his scary crew have been in bad dreams for a long time, and rightly so. Clive Barker’s work mixes fear of the body and the unknown. If you have not met the puzzle box yet, now is your time.
8. Nosferatu, The Vampyre (1979)
Werner Herzog retells the tale of Dracula darker and better than the old 1922 quiet film. With Klaus Kinski, this movie is full of dark fear and deep sadness.
7. Black Christmas (1974)
Before Halloween and Scream, there was Black Christmas. This scary story about a group house mixes fear with laughs, with a mystery killer named “Billy” aiming at learners during Christmas. A must-watch for the holiday fear.
6. Totally Killer (2023)
Mix Scream, Back to the Future, and lots of love for the ’80s, and you get Totally Killer. This funny slasher film stars Kiernan Shipka as a clever teen who can move through time and is trying to stop a masked killer.
5. Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
Mixing horror and fun is hard, but Lisa Frankenstein does it right with a mix of old romance, zombie fixing, and ’80s vibe. Kathryn Newton plays Lisa, a clumsy girl who makes friends with a dead body and tries to put him back together.
4. Abigail (2024)
Vampires, crime, and a locked-up house—Abigail is fun from start to end. Some robbers think they’ve struck gold by taking a crime boss’s child, but find out she’s a small but deadly killer. The cast is vast, the kills are smart, and it’s all a good watch. As Brian Tallerico says, “It’s not perfect, but it’s fun on Prime Video.”
3. Smile 2 (2024)
Second parts seldom top the first, but Smile 2 does it with style. Naomi Scott is great as a star haunted by a cruel smiling demon, making for a top horror end. Director Parker Finn makes this follow-up a hit.
2. Nosferatu (2024)
Robert Eggers’ new take on the vampire story is a hit. Starring stars like Lily-Rose Depp and Bill Skarsgård, the film got Oscar nods and made lots of money. Dark and bold, it was a quick hit on Prime Video. As Brian Tallerico notes, “One of the most loved horror films of its time, it also made more than $180 million at the box office.”
1. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Number one on this list is a movie that is at the same time a deconstruction of and love letter to the entire horror genre. The Cabin in the Woods is a thousand times more watchable thanks to its witty script, its twists, and its cast that includes pre-Thor Chris Hemsworth. It’s scary, it’s funny, and it’s the kind of movie that makes you remember why you liked horror in the first place. As Brian Tallerico puts it, “Drew Goddard’s deconstruction of the entire horror genre is so great because it’s also a great scary movie in its own right”.
And that’s it—fifteen of the best horror movies you can stream right now on Amazon Prime Video. Need some vampires, some zombies, some witches, or just a plain ol’ fashioned slasher? It’s all here to make your bad dreams worse. Enjoy the stream, horrorphiles.