Halloween is coming, and you have two options: go out dressed as a pumpkin, or stay warm under a blanket with a bowl of popcorn and the remote. If you picked the second option (good choice), here are 15 horror movies to watch on Prime Video, from classics that traumatized generations to hidden gems that are more likely to make you laugh. There’s something for every level of bravery, from the faint-hearted to the seasoned horror fan 👻😱
Horror movies on Prime Video: five classics to (re)watch this Halloween
Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, Carrie, Candyman, and Child’s Play are five horror classics to (re)watch on Prime Video. They’ve inspired generations of movies (and Halloween costumes).
Psycho (1960): the thriller that changed horror cinema
Marion Crane runs away with $40,000 from her boss and stops at an isolated motel run by Norman Bates. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh, Psycho is in black and white and remains a masterclass in suspense.
Watch it if you love tension without gore!
The Silence of the Lambs (1991): the battle between Clarice and Hannibal Lecter
Clarice Starling, a young FBI trainee, must question cannibal psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter to find a serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. Directed by Jonathan Demme, starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, The Silence of the Lambs is a psychological thriller that’s more chilling than bloody.
Carrie (1976): the teenager with terrifying powers
Shy teenager Carrie White, bullied by her mother and classmates, discovers that she has telekinetic powers. Adapted from Stephen King and directed by Brian De Palma, starring Sissy Spacek, Carrie is a true genre classic.
Watch it if you want to follow up with Mike Flanagan’s Carrie series, available on Prime Video since October 7!
Candyman (1992): the mirror legend
According to legend, Candyman, a supernatural killer with a hook in place of a hand, appears when you say his name five times in front of a mirror. Directed by Bernard Rose, starring Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd, based on a short story by Clive Barker, Candyman follows a student investigating this urban legend.
Child’s Play (1988): the doll who says more than just nice things
For his sixth birthday, Andy Barclay gets a talking doll named Chucky, which hides a terrible secret. Directed by Tom Holland (the director, not the Spider-Man actor), Child’s Play blends chills and dark humor.
Watch it if you’re looking for a movie for a night with friends that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
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Modern horror movies: four films that leave a lasting impression
Hereditary, Midsommar, Us, and Get Out are four recent horror movies that have refreshed the genre, with family angst, horror in broad daylight, and social thrills. They don’t all scare you in the same way, and that’s what makes them interesting.
Hereditary (2018): Ari Aster’s family nightmare
After Ellen, the Graham family matriarch, dies, her daughter moves back into the house with her family and gradually uncovers their ancestor’s terrifying secret. Directed by Ari Aster, starring Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, and Alex Wolff, Hereditary is a slow-burning, deeply disturbing horror film.
⚠️ Not recommended for the faint-hearted!
Midsommar (2019): horror in broad daylight
Still reeling from a family bereavement, Dani joins her boyfriend Christian and his friends in a Swedish community, where they celebrate festivals under a sun that barely sets. Directed by Ari Aster, starring Florence Pugh, Midsommar grows increasingly unsettling behind its peaceful landscapes.
Watch it if you prefer slow-building unease to jump scares. The movie is over 2 hours long!
Us (2019): when a family meets their doubles
A family goes to unwind at their beach house, until nightfall brings strangers who look exactly like them. Directed by Jordan Peele, starring Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, Us blends suspense, chills, and social commentary.
Get Out (2017): the weekend with the in-laws that goes wrong
Chris, a photographer, meets his girlfriend Rose’s parents during a weekend at their estate. Before long, a series of increasingly unsettling incidents leads him to discover the unimaginable. Directed by Jordan Peele, starring Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out is a horror thriller and social satire that won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay!
Suspense and films from around the world
The Invisible Man, Saw X, 28 Days Later, and Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum rely on tension and survival horror, and two of them come from further afield: the UK and South Korea. The real question is: how far do you want to go?
The Invisible Man (2020): the enemy you can’t see
Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) has fled an abusive partner who is officially dead, but she still feels hunted by a presence only she can sense. Directed by Leigh Whannell for Blumhouse, The Invisible Man is a horror blockbuster that’s brutal and effective.
Saw X (2023): Jigsaw’s trap
Suffering from a serious illness, John Kramer (Tobin Bell) travels to Mexico for an experimental treatment, discovers a scam there, then sets his traps for those responsible. Directed by Kevin Greutert, Saw X arrived on Prime Video on October 25.
Watch it if you like gore and the Saw franchise. Very violent; not recommended for the faint-hearted.
28 Days Later (2002): the infected who run fast
A virus that escaped from a lab spreads across the country, and Jim wakes from a deep coma in a London that has become a ghost town. Directed by Danny Boyle, starring Cillian Murphy, 28 Days Later gave zombie movies a fresh lease of life, with ultra-fast infected who never get tired.
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018): live-streamed fear in South Korea
A horror web series crew heads to an abandoned psychiatric hospital to livestream, and the place exceeds their expectations. Directed by Jung Bum-shik, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a 1-hour-34-minute found-footage film that takes its time before really scaring you.
Watch it if you like South Korean cinema and shaky-cam movies like The Blair Witch Project!
Funny horror movies: two picks for laughs and chills
Watch Out and You Might Be the Killer are two horror movies on Prime Video that lean into dark humor and surprises. We promise, no one will have nightmares (or almost no one).
Watch Out (2016): the babysitter, the burglary, and the surprise
Young Ashley is babysitting, but the night turns into a nightmare when a break-in takes place. Directed by Chris Peckover, Watch Out isn’t the home-invasion movie you might expect : between the fun, violence, and clever plot twists, it has a twist you’re better off discovering without knowing anything about it.
You Might Be the Killer (2018): the slasher that pokes fun at slashers
Sam, a camp counselor, discovers that a killer is on the loose at camp, while suffering from memory lapses. He calls his friend Chuck, a horror movie fan, and asks himself a terrifying question: what if he’s the killer? Directed by Brett Simpson, starring Fran Kranz and Alyson Hannigan, You Might Be the Killer is packed with references to genre classics.
Watch it if you’ve seen a lot of slashers and want to spot the references!
Are these horror movies available on Prime Video in every country?
Not always! Prime Video’s catalog varies from country to country, and the same movie may be included with your subscription, available to rent, or only offered through a paid channel. Prime Video productions, like the Carrie series, are available in most countries, however.
To check in seconds, search for the title in Prime Video from your country and look for the “included with Prime” label.
FAQ about horror movies on Prime Video
What are the best horror movies to watch on Prime Video?
From this selection, Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, Carrie, Candyman, and Child’s Play are the great classics, while Hereditary, Midsommar, Us, and Get Out are the most memorable modern picks.
For a more intense movie night, add The Invisible Man or 28 Days Later. The right choice depends on what you’re looking for: slow-building fear, jump scares, or a little humor!
What horror movie should I watch if I scare easily?
Start with movies that lean into dark humor, like Child’s Play or You Might Be the Killer. Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs rely more on tension than blood, so they’re easier to watch. Avoid Saw X, Hereditary, and Midsommar if you’re sensitive to intense content.
What’s the scariest movie in this selection?
Hereditary and Midsommar are often singled out for their sense of dread, and Saw X is the most violent. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum scares you with its found-footage atmosphere and possession scenes. It all depends on what you’re sensitive to: what chills you might not scare the person on the sofa next to you…
What horror movie should I watch with teenagers?
Child’s Play and You Might Be the Killer are the most accessible for teens, thanks to their dark humor. None of the movies in this selection are for children, and several contain violent scenes: always check the age rating shown on Prime Video.
For younger viewers, the platform offers lighter Halloween movies, like the Scooby-Doo! films