10 Scariest Horror Movies Of 2025

Over the last 12 months, we've seen the horror genre push boundaries with unconventional storytelling, psychological unease, and gallons of blood. Looking back on 2025, there were visceral slashers and skin-crawling indies that are likely to become cult-classics.

But this list isn't to establish the best horrors of the year, but the scariest. 

Strange as it is to hear, the two don't always go hand-in-hand. The Ugly Stepsister, Companion, and Frankenstein were well-received, but they weren't conventionally petrifying. Sure, they were unsettling, but not the kind of features that result in sleepless nights.

Rest assured, though, there've been plenty of recent films that incentivised that kind of behaviour. Certain entries on this list took an experimental approach, turning trope-filled horror into pure nightmare fuel. Some films appeared to be grounded at first but eventually veered into paranormal territory, which is likely to sideswipe the masses. Then there are those soul-stirring horrors that serve no purpose except to traumatise a whole generation.

Even though last year gave us some great horror, the following ten films knew how to really get under our skin.

Adapted from Joe Hill's book, The Black Phone focuses on a teen, Finn, who's kidnapped by a child murderer called The Grabber and locked inside a basement. By speaking to the spirits of The Grabber's previous victims through the basement's phone, Finn frees himself and kills his abductor. With the story wrapped up neatly, there didn't seem to be any reason for a sequel.

But as the first film established, death isn't necessarily the end. In Black Phone 2, Finn finds himself being targeted by The Grabber's spirit when he picks up the phone. Flipping the original premise is smart, since the source of Finn's salvation is now being used to torment him. This time, the ringing of a phone fills the scene with fear instead of hope. Worse still, The Grabber is no longer limited by the rules of reality, since he can appear anywhere, including in his victims' dreams.

With that in mind, Black Phone 2 understands the most frightening monsters don't exist physically but in memories. Having The Grabber return from the dead demonstrates how trauma evolves to stay alive. Despite Finn's best efforts to move on with his life, he can't run away from his past.