Amazon Prime Video has the benefit of having some of the best horror movies available to stream. The Amazon platform has a packed library of films running the gamut of the genre and its many subgenres, ranging from small-budget features to blockbuster productions. Prime Video has fans covered with the flavors of horror they might want, from cheesy creature features to character-driven psychological horror.
Fans might need to take some time sifting through Prime Video’s offerings considering the streamer’s depth in content. Thankfully, this guide does the work for you in that department. This monthly guide shines a light on widely praised and more niche horror movies that audiences can find on Amazon Prime Video right now.
Here are some of the best horror movies on Prime Video you can look forward to streaming.
Want more Prime Video content? Check out the best movies on Prime Video right now. If you don’t see anything of note on Amazon Prime, we’ve also rounded up the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
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10 Cloverfield Lane2016 -
Train to Busan2016
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American Psycho2000
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Nosferatu1922
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
A spinoff of Matt Reeves’ 2008 film Cloverfield, Dan Trachtenberg’s 10 Cloverfield Lane puts a psychological-horror spin on the franchise’s alien invasion premise. The movie opens with a young woman named Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) suddenly waking up in an underground bunker. He’s joined by two other men (John Goodman and John Gallagher Jr.), both swearing that some mysterious catastrophe aboveground has rendered the planet inhospitable.
While it goes lighter on the sci-fi than its predecessor, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a riveting psychological horror story. It offers a claustrophobic new perspective of this world compared to the original movie, with John Goodman putting on a menacing performance as its unhinged antagonist.
Train to Busan (2016)
For horror fans wanting to delve into films outside Hollywood, Train to Busan is a must. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, this movie sees a group of passengers on a train from Seoul to Busan suddenly forced to deal with a zombie outbreak. Workaholic and cynic Seok-woo is joined by other bystanders as they fight off death and growing suspicions in hopes of reaching the Safe Zone.
Zombie outbreaks aren’t new concepts, but Train to Busan makes the subgenre its own and demonstrates why it endures in horror today. By using the zombies for thrills and its characters for compelling social commentary, Train to Busan becomes one of the best modern zombie movies.
American Psycho (2000)
Before taking on the role of the Caped Crusader for Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, Christian Bale starred in the slasher-horror American Psycho. Directed by Mary Harron and adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’ novel, Bale plays investment banker Patrick Bateman. The character leads a gruesome double life, moonlighting as a serial killer when he’s not obsessing over climbing the corporate ladder.
Harron’s adaptation of American Psycho was well-received for effectively balancing the gory slasher-horror elements with dark comedy. Bale’s performance is as unsettling and convincing. By critiquing obsessive corporate culture and relentless consumerism through Bateman, this gruesome feature has some thematic depth.
Nosferatu (1922)
Director Robert Eggers’ recent Nosferatu remake has garnered critical acclaim, but the 1920s original is still worth a watch. Director F. W. Murnau’s silent film classic sees an estate agent named Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) go to Transylvania to visit his new client Count Orlok (Max Schreck). Unfortunately, Count Orlok is not merely a noble—he’s also a vampire, and the night creature has taken a disturbing interest in Hutter’s wife Ellen (Greta Shröder).
Vampire fiction is one of the most timeless vehicles for the horror genre, and Murnau’s Nosferatu holds up as a time capsule and a terrifying story in its own right. Schreck’s performance is more than chilling enough even by today’s standards, and there’s plenty to appreciate in its gothic atmosphere.
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
A Quiet Place became a surprise hit in 2018, and last year’s A Quiet Place: Day One continued to expand on its creative premise. Directed by Michael Sarnoski, this prequel follows a terminal cancer patient named Samira (Lupita Nyong’o) and British law student Eric (Joseph Quinn). The two befriend each other under the most shocking circumstances, as Sam and Eric must suddenly navigate the fallout of sound-based aliens invading Earth.
A Quiet Place: Day One earned positive reviews for telling an emotional new story with plenty of scares and shedding light on the origins of this alien invasion. Since the original movie, this series has grown into one of the best sci-fi horror franchises alongside the classic Alien franchise.
Blink Twice (2024)
2024’s Blink Twice delves more into its psychological elements than horror, but it’s an exciting watch for fans of both genres. In her directorial debut, Zoë Kravitz (Big Little Lies, The Batman) tells the story of people invited to a seemingly innocent party on tech billionaire Slater King’s (Channing Tatum) island.
However, as the party drags on, Frida (Naomie Ackie) begins to notice something disturbingly wrong with the island’s guests. Blink Twice earned a positive critical reception for its consistent tension, marking a triumphant debut for Kravitz in the director’s chair. Alongside Ackie’s compelling point of view, it also gives Tatum the chance to show off his acting chops as an antagonist.
Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (2024)
Based on author Manel Loureiro, Apocalypse Z is a great new zombie thriller worth checking out on Amazon Prime Video. Director Carles Torrens’ adaptation sees Francisco Ortiz as Manel, a lawyer desperate to rejoin his family after a rabies-like disease ravages Europe.
With the virus turning people into aggressive zombies, Manel embarks on a brutal mission for survival. While apocalyptic premises like this are a dime a dozen, Apocalypse Z is a wildly entertaining horror-thriller. The action set pieces are well-executed, and the plot offers plenty of tension, making this one of the best foreign-language horror films on Prime.
Frozen (2010)
While a certain Disney animated musical-comedy has become synonymous with the term, 2010’s Frozen is a superb survival-horror movie. Directed by Adam Green, the Frozen follows the harrowing experiences of three friends who see their ski trip turn into a fight for their lives.
The trio is accidentally left stranded on a chairlift in freezing temperatures high above the ground, compelling them to make the hardest choices they’ll ever make if they want to live. Frozen deserves more recognition as a terrific horror movie of its decade, easily becoming one of the most memorable of the survival-horror subgenre. Backed by a simple, effective premise and an intimate sense of scale, Frozen delves deep into psychological terror as well.
A Haunting in Venice (2023)
Though director Kenneth Branagh leaned more on supernatural-thriller elements than straight horror, A Haunting in Venice has enough eeriness to qualify. A sequel to Branagh’s 2022 Agatha Christie adaptation Death on the Nile, this film sees retired detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh) reluctantly attend a Halloween party and séance at mystery author Ariadne Oliver’s (Tina Fey) request.
Joyce Reynolds (Michele Yeoh) — an alleged medium — conducts the séance, but when a guest is murdered, the night takes a far more sinister turn. A Haunting in Venice is an ominous thriller backed by an enticing mystery and supernatural scares. The ensemble cast puts on a convincing performance, giving Agatha Christie’s source material a darker spin.
Green Room (2016)
Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room was one of the most unsettling horror-thrillers of the 2010s. The plot follows a punk rock band that gets more than they could ever bargain for when they travel to an isolated club run by neo-Nazis outside Portland.
When the band witnesses a murder, they’re thrust into a gruesome fight for survival after the owner, Darcy (Patrick Stewart), decides to leave no witnesses. Horror fans are in for a visceral ride with Green Room, a film praised for its relentless tension and violence. Likewise, Patrick Stewart delivers a terrifying performance as the skinhead gang’s leader.
Child's Play (1988)
While the 2019 reboot was serviceable, the 1988 Child’s Play is more than worth revisiting in the 2020s. Directed by Tom Holland, the story revolves around a widowed mother named Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) who gifts a doll to her 6-year-old son, Andy (Alex Vincent).
However, Karen inadvertently gives him a toy possessed by the soul of a serial killer, wreaking havoc on the family. Child’s Play has been critically praised for its inventive villain, who has since become an icon of the slasher-horror subgenre. The movie takes an absurd concept and turns it into a genuinely terrifying and frenetic movie.
Abigail (2024)
Abigail is one of the most memorable horror films of 2024, mashing up subgenres for its story. Co-directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, it tells the story of a group of kidnappers who abduct a powerful crime figure’s daughter.
The kidnappers demand a $50 million ransom, but they’re unaware the young ballet dancer is actually a centuries-old vampire. Abigail earned praise for its campy premise while playing with vampire tropes and dark comedy in clever ways. The movie has plenty of fear factor while tastefully sprinkling in some surprisingly laugh-out-loud moments.
Carrie (1976)
85%
7.4/10Director Brian De Palma’s Carrie is regarded as one of the most important films in the horror genre. The harrowing plot follows the titular teenage girl (Sissy Spacek), a lonely and ruthlessly bullied high school student. In the lead-up to the school’s prom, Carrie White becomes a horrifying force of vengeance when her tormentors take things too far.
Based on Stephen King’s novel, Carrie is one of the most compelling adaptations of the author’s work to date. On top of balancing terror with genuine social commentary on teenage cruelty, the famous prom scene popularized some teen-themed horror tropes.
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
While there are plenty of terrifying horror movies in the decades that followed, 1968’s Rosemary’s Baby lives up to its infamy. A religious-themed psychological horror movie, the story sees Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes play a newlywed couple expecting a baby.
However, the mood darkens when Rosemary suspects her neighbors are grooming her and her baby for nefarious purposes. Rosemary’s Baby earns its classic status, holding up as an essential film for fans of horror with grim occult elements. Mia Farrow’s performance is a standout, conveying the air of dread and uncertainty.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Director Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs is an Oscar-winning milestone of the ’90s. It remains one of the most acclaimed psychological horror movies to date, telling the harrowing story of FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) tracking “Buffalo Bill” (Ted Levine), a gruesome serial killer who skins his victims.
However, as the hunt grows more desperate, Clarice is compelled to seek the advice of an imprisoned cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). The Silence of the Lambs earns its praise in part for balancing crime-thriller elements with outright psychological horror. Even with minimal screen time, Hopkins brings to life one of the medium’s most unsettling villains, and his dynamic with the excellent Foster is magnetic.
Doctor Sleep (2019)
A sequel decades in the making, Doctor Sleep is among the most underrated horror movies of the 2010s. Horror auteur Mike Flanagan directs this Stephen King adaptation, revolving around Dan Torrance (Ewan McGregor), Jack’s son from The Shining. After struggling with alcoholism and taking a job as an orderly, Dan now soothes dying patients with his “shine” powers.
However, after meeting young psychic Abra Stone (Kyliegh Curran), the two face the threat of True Knot — a supernatural cult led by Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson). Underwhelming box office stint aside, Doctor Sleep is a worthwhile spiritual sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s take on The Shining. With Ferguson’s chilling performance, Doctor Sleep expertly balances its fear factor with a resonating theme of healing from trauma.
The Thing (1982)
For an ’80s throwback this Halloween season, John Carpenter’s The Thing is an essential watch. Based on John W. Campbell Jr.’s 1938 novella, the story takes audiences to Antarctica as a group of researchers study a mysterious extraterrestrial organism capable of imitating other living beings.
The plot becomes increasingly tense as the researchers grow more paranoid, losing trust in each other and fearing anyone is a threat. While it wasn’t fully appreciated in its time, The Thing was acclaimed upon reappraisal. On top of being a terrific movie, it’s a must-watch for sci-fi horror fans. A terrific ensemble backed by Carpenter’s eye for visuals makes The Thing as gripping as it is grotesque.
The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
66%
7.3/10Scares are inherent to the horror genre, but movies like The Return of the Living Dead show off the genre’s versatility. Another ’80s classic, director Dan O’Bannon’s movie tells the tale of an unlikely bunch dealing with a zombie outbreak.
The group — including a warehouse owner, two employees, a mortician, and some teenagers — are wrapped up in the accidental release of insatiable brain-eating undead. The Return of the Living Dead was well-received for its zany mix of comedy and zombie horror. It even popularized some undead tropes horror fans are familiar with today. Add in a dose of punk rock, and O’Bannon’s zombie flick becomes a great candidate for Halloween rewatches.
New Life (2024)
For fans wanting something recent and unexpected, New Life is a must-watch. Helmed by debut director John Rosman, this story revolves around a mysterious young woman named Jessica Murdock (Hayley Erin) spattered in blood, desperate to run from her past. She’s aiming to cross the Canadian border, but not without an agent named Elsa Gray (Sonya Walger) keen to track her down.
New Life was well-received and something of a sleeper success, praised for the intimate scale of its story. Everything from Jessica’s motives to Elsa’s reasons for tracking her are mysteries, and well-earned ones at that. Combining revelations with blood and scares, New Life is a movie that benefits from audiences knowing only the barest details going in.
Totally Killer (2023)
For fans who appreciate zaniness and comedy in horror, last year’s Amazon Prime original Totally Killer is an entertaining watch. Directed by Nahnatchka Khan, teenager Jamie Hughes (Kiernan Shipka) attempts to stop the Sweet 16 Killer, who murdered her mother years earlier.
With the help of a time machine she helped her friend Amelia Creston (Kelcey Mawema) build; she travels back to 1987 and teams up with the younger version of her mother (Olivia Holt) to stop the killer during his original spree. Totally Killer is a fun and even darkly comedic horror movie that cleverly mashes up the slasher-horror subgenre with sci-fi. By mixing serial killers, time travel, and comedy, Totally Killer succeeds in not taking itself too seriously.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
65%
7.3/10Loosely adapted from Washington Irving’s 1820 short story, Sleepy Hollow is great for audiences wanting some gothic flavor to their horror. Fittingly directed by Tim Burton, the film stars Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane, a man sent to investigate a string of grisly murders in the eponymous village. Three victims were murdered via decapitation by the mythical Headless Horseman.
Tim Burton is one of the best auteur directors for watching eccentric movies laced with a gothic atmosphere. Sleepy Hollow is no exception, as it’s praised for its moody, imaginative world and stylized visuals. It’s not without a grim sense of humor for some levity, and Depp throws himself into the role for it all.
Psycho (1960)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, one of the most influential directors in any genre, Psycho is a must-watch for horror enthusiasts. Based on Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel, this small-scale plot begins with the meeting between on-the-run embezzler Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) and motel proprietor Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Later, Marion’s sister Lila (Vera Miles) and private investigator Milton Arbogast (Martin Balsam) arrive to investigate her disappearance.
Psycho is still widely acclaimed for laying the groundwork for the modern horror genre, including the slasher subgenre that’s popular today. Hitchcock’s direction demonstrated what the genre could achieve as an art form, from establishing atmosphere to subverting expectations.
Nanny (2022)
A Prime Video original, 2022’s Nanny is an engrossing psychological horror movie. The film was directed by Nikyatu Jusu — her first feature-length production — and follows a Senegalese immigrant named Aisha (Anna Diop) who takes a nanny job for a wealthy New York City family.
She’s guilt-ridden by the son still living in Senegal, but pressures mount further when she’s haunted by a violent presence. Nanny received a strong critical reception for the movie’s increasingly unsettling atmosphere. The dream-like elements make the psychological terror feel genuine, and the story blends the fear with poignant social commentary on immigrant life.
The Nightmare (2015)
49%
5.7/10The Breach (2022)
4.9/10Bones and All (2022)
74%
6.8/10The latest effort from masterful filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Bones and All reunites the director with Call Me By Your Name star Timothée Chalamet. Set in a modern world not too different from our own, the story follows Maren (played by Taylor Russell) and Lee (Chalamet). Star-crossed lovers, both youths are doing what they can to stay afloat on the road. Oh, and it just so happens that they both enjoy consuming human flesh. On its face, this bizarre blend of horror, drama, and romance may not seem like it would work, but thanks to some committed performances from its two leads, Bones and All is hard to look away from.
Play Dead (2022)
4.0/10Absentia (2011)
59%
5.8/10Renfield (2023)
53%
6.4/10According to the doomsday crew, if the family doesn’t sacrifice one of their own, a series of global tragedies will consume the world. It’s your typical nail-biting siege pic, with a bunch of characters stuck under one roof for a majority of the runtime, but Knock at the Cabin gets a big boost from its excellent cast, with Dave Bautista being an empathetic standout. Yes, he could kill you by looking at you for too long, but Mr. Brocht could also make you a shed a tear or two.[/dt_media]
There's Something Wrong with the Children (2023)
53%
4.9/10Directed by Roxanne Benjamin from a script by T.J. Cimfel and David White, There’s Something Wrong with the Children stars Alisha Wainwright and Zach Gilford as Margaret and Ben, a couple who take a trip into the wilderness with fellow adults Ellie and Thomas (Amanda Crew and Carlos Santos) and their two kids, Lucy (Briella Guiza) and Spencer (David Mattle). Everything is going peachy-keen until the dawn of a new day. After disappearing into the forest, Lucy and Spencer are acting quite strange upon their return.
Is something supernatural afoot, or did the kids just have too many marshmallows? Cut from the same cloth as films like A24’s horror movie A Hole in the Ground and Amazon’s remake of Goodnight Mommy (swap the weird kids for a weird parent), There’s Something Wrong … isn’t bringing the most original premise to the table, but where this Blumhouse-produced entry truly succeeds is with its foreboding camera work, editing, and haunting score.
The Battery (2012)
6.3/10Written, directed, produced, and starring Jeremy Gardner, The Battery follows the postapocalyptic day-to-day lives of two former baseball players, Ben (Gardner) and Mickey (Adam Cronheim). Constantly at each other’s throats, these two survivors of the undead takeover are forced to wander the desolate remains of New England. While searching an abandoned property, Ben and Mickey discover two walkie-talkies.
While testing the radios, they stumble upon a transmission from a nearby group of survivors. Mickey wants to join the marauders, but Ben seems to have his doubts. Shot in just 15 days in Connecticut for only $6,000, The Battery is proof that you don’t need flashy CGI to tell a captivating, horrific, and inspiring story.
The Oak Room (2020)
Based on the Peter Genoway play of the same name, director Cody Calahan’s The Oak Room stars Breaking Bad alum RJ Mitte and Peter Outerbridge as Steve and Paul. Hoping to settle a long-ago score, a homecoming Steve (Mitte) returns to a bar he once frequented, where he decides to trade harrowing stories with the miserly barkeep. It’s these chilling words that possess a greater part of the film, with the various vignettes delivering countless twists and turns throughout the runtime.
My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022)
58%
5.3/10Goodnight Mommy (2022)
45%
5.6/10The Collector (2009)
29%
6.3/10Candyman (2021)
72%
5.9/10My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To (2021)
Madres (2021)
43%
4.8/10Black as Night (2021)
53%
4.4/10Nocturne (2020)
58%
5.7/10Nocturne stars Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, White Lotus) and Madison Iseman (I Know What You Did Last Summer) as twin sisters Juliet and Vivian. Accomplished pianists attending a prestigious music school, Vivian’s abilities are near-virtuoso and always a step above Juliet’s hands. That is until Juliet comes into the possession of a music theory book from a student that had jumped to her death. As the tome begins granting Juliet newfound confidence and dedication to the piano, her inflated ego meshes with a series of supernatural events that threaten her own life and the safety of those around her.
The Manor (2021)
59%
5.3/10We Are Still Here (2015)
65%
5.7/10Bingo Hell (2021)
55%
4.3/10Black Box (2020)
62%
6.2/10The Reef (2010)
5.8/10Suspiria (2018)
64%
6.7/10
