Between now and June, here are the must-see 2026 horror movies hitting streaming and theaters. Prepare to be scared.
I’m not really a spring guy. March, April, and May are just layovers until the endless nights of summer. Spring has its fans, sure, but I’d much rather be basking in the infinite warmth and possibilities of a June beach day or July jaunt around the city. I live a very full life, and the spring horror slate seems to be matching that energy. Spring isn’t always great, but there’s always horror in the banana stand. The next two months prove that. There are so many incredible titles on the horizon that you might feel overwhelmed. No worries, because I’ve rounded up the best of the next two months’ worth of horror for you to keep an eye on.
Exit 8 – April 10
Courtesy of Neon
In our 5-star review, we wrote, “Exit 8 expertly draws on a liminal horror, character study, and realist drama to craft the best video game adaptation of all time.” Genki Kawamura’s adaptation about a man trapped in an endless, looping subway platform looks to expertly adapt the liminal, unpredictable nature of the source material’s scares. Even if you’re not a video game fan, Exit 8 absolutely looks worth getting lost in. arrives in theaters April 10 courtesy of Neon.
Exit 8
Hunting Matthew Nichols – April 10
Courtesy of DeVuono Releasing
Markian Tarasiuk’s directorial debut, Hunting Matthew Nichols, looks to be a return to the kind of found-footage horror that defined the early 2010s genre scene. The plot is simple enough. A young woman looks to uncover what’s happened to her younger brother 23 years after his disappearance. If the trailer is any indication, Tarasiuk has juiced his debut up with unforgettable scares and a palpable, almost oppressive atmosphere. Keep an eye on Hunting Matthew Nichols when it releases April 10 courtesy of DeVuono Releasing.
Faces of Death – April 10
Courtesy of Independent Film Company
Daniel Goldhaber’s long-awaited remake of John Alan Schwartz’s controversial cult classic, Faces of Death, is finally arriving. Filming wrapped in 2023, and details were sparse until earlier this year. Charli XCX, Barbie Ferreira, and Dacre Montgomery lead this new, confrontational take on our infatuation with exploitation and violence. It’s assuredly not for everyone, but you can decide whether to witness it for yourself when Independent Film Company unleashes Faces of Death in theaters April 10.
Thrash – April 10
Courtesy of Netflix
Despite being thrashed in critical reviews, Netflix’s Under Paris (helmed by genre maestro Xavier Gans) was the most fun I’ve had with a streaming movie in years. So, naturally, I’m thrilled to see what kind of blood is spilled with Tommy Wirkola’s (Dead Snow) Thrash. It’s basically Alexandre Aja’s Crawl but with sharks. A Category-5 hurricane brings not just destruction, but hordes of hungry sharks ready to feast on the residents of a coastal community. Does it need to be good? No, not really. As long as there are sharks, it’s probably worth biting into. Netflix will premiere Thrash on its platform on April 10.
The Mummy – April 17
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Lee Cronin’s (Evil Dead Rise) The Mummy is, curiously enough, a response to Evil Dead Rise. Cronin reportedly wanted to challenge himself, and from what we’ve seen of his Universal Monsters remake thus far, he’s certainly up to the task. With a subversive take on the undead coming back to life, linen and all, Cronin’s approach looks to balance classic monster movie thrills with the parental anxiety of Stephen King’s classic Pet Sematary. That’s my favorite of King’s work, so I’ll be seated day one to unwrap Cronin’s new imagining when Warner Bros. Pictures sets The Mummy free April 17. I mean, it has to be better than the 2017 remake, right?
Hokum – May 1
Courtesy of Neon
Our own Josh Korngut called Hokum “gratuitously frightening,” praising its “classical gothic scares” and “images that will haunt you long after viewing.” Damien McCarthy has quietly been one of the strongest genre voices of this century. Caveat and Oddity (our favorite horror movie of 2024) were unrelentingly scary. His first theatrical outing is my most-anticipated of the year, and I can’t wait to be scared silly when Neon (on a certified winning streak this year) opens Hokum’s reservations May 1.
Obsession – May 15
Courtesy of Focus Features
Josh Korngut is the envy of us all. He’s seen Obsession, and in his 5-star review, he wrote, “Obsession is the next-gen horror masterpiece I wasn’t prepared for.” Curry Barker’s (YouTube sensation Milk & Serial) sophomore feature has the strongest reviews of any of this year’s theatrical offerings. Wisely, the trailers have withheld the nastiest of what we might expect, but Obsession is certainly not for the faint of heart (if the MPA reports are to be believed). I can’t wait to fall in love with it myself when Focus Features releases Obsession May 15.
Passenger – May 22
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
There’s very little we know about André Øvredal’s (The Autopsy of Jane Doe) Passenger. I’ll admit, I wasn’t thrilled when previews started cropping up theatrically last month. I’ve never been keen on the “here’s a clip from the movie” marketing gimmick, but what I’ve seen is certainly intriguing. Øvredal knows his way around genre, and in his hands, the slight hook—a demon stalks a couple through the woods—might just work. Sure enough, I’ll be along for the ride when Paramount Pictures loads Passenger up in theaters May 22.
Backrooms – May 29
Courtesy of A24
Kane Parsons has done the impossible. At just 20 years old, he’s helming an A24 horror tentpole adapting a YouTube series he created as a teenager. If you’ve ever been on the internet, you probably know what the Backrooms are (and if you don’t, here’s a primer). Parsons’ lo-fi series adapted a viral creepypasta on Reddit, and now, the infamous space is getting the theatrical treatment. We know very little, and with Backrooms, that’s kind of the point. Get lost in it yourself when A24 releases the film May 29.
Scary Movie 6 – June 6
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Weapons, The Substance, Scream, Sinners, on and on. Yes, the Wayans Brothers are back to skewer an entirely new generation of horror with the long-anticipated sequel in their Scary Movie series. Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans, and Rick Alvarez scripted with Michael Tiddes (spoof film A Haunted House) directing. It’s more Scary Movie. Hopefully up to the task after Scary Movie 5 derailed the franchise, but with the original team (and cast members) in tow, it’s almost assuredly going to win over a new generation. And there’s a Terrifier 3 gag. That’s gnarly.
What are you most looking forward to these next few months? Chime in on socials @DreadCentral, and stay tuned to DreadCentral.com for more!
