In the mood to watch a scary movie? You probably won’t find a better horror selection than HBO Max right now. From all-time greats like The Shining to recently released hits like The Menu, there’s no shortage of great titles to enjoy on your streaming device.
Here’s what you should make time for HBO Max. All of these films have received generally favorable reviews or better, according to Metacritic. This list is updated as of May 3.
This is one you shouldn’t watch alone. Ari Aster’s directorial debut about what a family discovers after their mother dies may be the scariest entry on this list. If you want a suspenseful flick with great performances, tread carefully on the movie Hereditary.
A young woman travels to Detroit for a job interview and discovers her Airbnb has been double booked. This may be how this thriller horror movie begins, but it quickly turns into a complete mess. With twists in the story and great acting throughout, Barbarian is five-star outrageous horror fare.
Anya Taylor-Joy stars in this horror satire about elaborate dinners with a dark twist. Serves a variety of guests who congregate at the exclusive Hawthorne restaurant on the island. Celebrity chef Julian Slowik, played by magnetic actor Ralph Fiennes, planned every detail of the evening except for the inclusion of Taylor Joy Margot. Filling with excitement and social commentary, the list will have you begging for seconds.
If you’re still looking for a horror movie, you can’t go wrong with The Shining, the excellent film directed by Stanley Kubrick starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. In this adaptation of a Stephen King novel, a writer (Nicholson) staying at a remote hotel with his family exhibits some disturbing changes in behavior. This will satisfy your cravings for horror.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Jodie Foster meets Anthony Hopkins villain Hannibal Lecter in this classic psychological thriller. Foster plays FBI agent Clarice Starling, who is determined to bring down a killer. It is the only horror film ever to win a Best Picture OscarHe won the Best Director, Screenplay, Dialogue and Actor (Hopkins) and Actress (Foster) awards in 1992.
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
For surprises and plenty of fuel nightmare, The Cabin in the Woods is the way to go. This twisted and terrifying horror comedy features a group of unsuspecting college students, including Chris Hemsworth, who head to a remote cabin for a fun weekend getaway. The first half hour or so is relatively quiet, but when the horror show begins, it doesn’t stop.
When this adaptation of Stephen King’s classic novel hit theaters in 2017, moviegoers like me looked twice at the eerie storm drains and red balloons. With a cast of gritty kids and a lot of hearts, it makes a compelling case for more supernatural coming-of-age stories. And a strong case against clowns.
This historical horror movie pretty much guarantees nightmares. The disturbing film centers on a family in 1630s New England and marks the film debut of Anya Taylor-Joy. Over the course of 90 minutes, strange and shocking things happen to a farmer, his wife and their five children who have moved to a remote area at the edge of a forest.
Do you like psychological horror movies? Wait until that flick comes knocking. The Night House is about a woman (Rebecca Hall) who is grieving after the death of her husband. When she uncovers a dark mystery, she begins to wonder what she thought she knew about her marriage. This haunting movie is one of the highlights of HBO Max’s horror movie lineup.
Now that Universal is working on not one, but three brand-new exorcism films, it’s time to jog your memory about the terrifying events in the original film. Ellen Burstyn plays the mother of a haunted 12-year-old daughter who enlists the help of a priest. The totally scary movie also won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George Romero’s first horror film is an easy recommendation. A group of survivors take refuge in a house while the dead swarm outside. The poignant film is often seen as the first modern zombie movie, and while it may not offer Freddy Krueger-level scares, you’ll be drawn to the characters at the heart of its story. You’ll want to leave the door open for this one (but in the event of an actual disaster, keep it very closed).
David Lynch’s first feature-length film will make you feel like you’re in an eerie nightmare. The 90-minute black-and-white horror flick is filled with eerie sounds and images, and the result is incredibly creepy. Don’t get me started on the weird-looking, weird-looking “baby” of the other character (that’s still weirdly cute?). There are messages about men and parenting here, but regardless of the bigger picture, the surreal world of Eraserhead is definitely worth a visit.
New movies coming in 2023 from Marvel, Netflix, DC, and more
View all photos