10 Best Horror Movies From The First Half of 2025
Welcome to Ranking Horror. Today we are taking a look back at the 10 Best Horror Movies From The First Half of 2025.
Table of Contents
We already covered 10 Horror Movies from The First Quarter of 2025 a few months back. We have even more movies to add this time. 2025 is shaping up to be another special year for horror, which is just amazing. I think it is absolutely incredible that we may have another horror movie with some serious Oscar buzz this year, as well. That’s two years on the trot thanks to 2024’s The Substance.
All of the movies here were released before July of this year. Where there is some variation, I tend to go with the US release for argument’s sake, as they are the biggest market. That means there is going to be a major omission here in the form of Bring Her Back, which released in July. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 10 Best Horror Movies From The First Half of 2025. Remember, this is my opinion and yours may differ.
| Rank | Movie Title (Year) | The 2025 Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Companion (2025) | Smart, Demented Domestic Bliss |
| 2 | Sinners (2025) | Period-Horror Musical Masterpiece |
| 3 | 28 Years Later (2025) | Manic, High-Octane Apocalyptic Rage |
| 4 | Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025) | Triumphant Return of Rube Goldberg Deaths |
| 5 | The Ugly Stepsister (2025) | Brutal & Visceral Fairytale Body-Horror |
10. The Gorge (2025) – A Creature Feature with Heart
- Director: Scott Derrickson
- Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Miles Teller, Sigourney Weaver
- Runtime: 112 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Why it Ranked: I am a huge fan of Anya Taylor-Joy, and she is excellent in this genre-bending romance. The Gorge brings together a high-action love story with strong survival horror elements. Where it stands out is in having characters that you actually care about while also keeping the horror compelling. Even as later releases pushed it down the list, it’s still a worthy entry for the top ten.
Synopsis: Two special teams agents are assigned to guard a massive, mysterious gorge. Forced to team up when a terrifying creature living inside the abyss emerges, they must balance their burgeoning attraction with a desperate fight for survival against a threat neither was prepared for.
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
9. The Monkey (2025) – Stephen King Style Splatstick
- Director: Osgood Perkins
- Cast: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
Why it Ranked: This is a gruesome and surprisingly funny take on Stephen King’s short story. It fully embraces a chaotic, cartoonish morbidity that sits perfectly between splatter horror and dark comedy. While it isn’t perfect, it’s a massively enjoyable popcorn option that shows Oz Perkins has a much wider range than the slow-burn dread of Longlegs.
Synopsis: Twin brothers discover a cursed, cymbal-banging monkey toy in their attic. Every time the monkey strikes its drums, someone close to them dies in a freak accident. After trying to bury their past, the brothers find the toy has returned years later to finish what it started.
Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
8. The Rule of Jenny Penn (2025) – Senior Home Sabotage
- Director: James Ashcroft
- Cast: Geoffrey Rush, John Lithgow
- Runtime: 104 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
Why it Ranked: I have mixed feelings about this one, but it’s hard to ignore a horror film with Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow. While the plot has its fair share of holes and some moments feel unbelievable, the performances are powerhouse. It’s a unique take on “senior horror” that manages to be deeply unsettling during its best moments, even if it doesn’t always stick the landing.
Synopsis: After suffering a stroke, an arrogant judge is admitted to a remote nursing home. He soon discovers the facility is ruled by a sadistic resident who uses a creepy puppet, Jenny Penn, to enforce a series of cruel and deadly “games” on the other patients.
Where to Watch: Shudder, AMC+
7. Dangerous Animals (2025) – Sharks and Serial Killers
- Director: Sean Byrne
- Cast: Jai Courtney, Luke Bracey
- Runtime: 93 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Why it Ranked: I was excited for this one because I adore Sean Byrne’s previous movie The Loved Ones. While Dangerous Animals is a much more formulaic cat-and-mouse horror than his previous splatter work, it’s still a hell of a lot of fun. It’s a shark movie with a difference, relying on a deranged human antagonist to drive the terror as much as the predators in the water.
Synopsis: A young surfer is abducted by a charismatic but deadly serial killer who operates a shark diving tour. She discovers she is part of a bizarre ritual where victims are fed to the great whites, forcing her into a desperate fight for survival both above and below the surface.
Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
6. Heart Eyes (2025) – Date Night Slasher Charm
- Director: Josh Ruben
- Cast: Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding
- Runtime: 91 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Why it Ranked: It’s another rom-com horror but, unlike The Gorge, Heart Eyes doesn’t take itself seriously at all. It’s a comedy slasher packed with charm, great acting, and brilliant chemistry between the leads. You definitely don’t need to be a fan of all things romantic to enjoy this. The slasher elements work surprisingly well, and while you might not be fooled by the killer reveal, the light vibe and sharp dialogue make it one of the most enjoyable watches of the year.
Synopsis: Two co-workers are forced into a fight for their lives on Valentine’s night. Targeted by the infamous “Heart Eyes Killer” – who only murders couples – in a case of mistaken identity. The pair have to learn to work together to overcome the threat.
Where to Watch: Peacock, Amazon (Rent/Buy)
5. The Ugly Stepsister (2025) – High-Femme Body Horror
- Director: Emilie Blichfeldt
- Cast: Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss
- Runtime: 102 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Why it Ranked: Hot off the heels of The Substance, Emilie Blichfeldt delivers a gruesome body-horror take on Cinderella. This is body horror in the most visceral sense too, featuring wince-inducing surgical procedures and a lot of vulgarity. It’s a brilliantly directed, shocking, and great-looking period piece that came out of nowhere to become a total hit. A fantastic introduction to a new horror mind.
Synopsis: Elvira lives in the shadow of her beautiful stepsister. Desperate to win the attention of the handsome prince, she undergoes a series of experimental and excruciating “beauty” procedures that transform her body into a grotesque testament to vanity and obsession.
Where to Watch: Mubi
4. Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025) – Death’s Masterpiece
- Director: Zach Lipovsky, Adam B. Stein
- Cast: Brec Bassinger, Teo Briones, Tony Todd
- Runtime: 105 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Why it Ranked: Who would have thought a sixth Final Destination would be this good? Bloodlines takes everything that made the splatter series enjoyable and refines it. The kills are better, the comedy is funnier, the story is tighter, and the characters are actually likeable. It’s a massive return to form for a franchise that many had written off, providing some of the best kills in the entire series.
Synopsis: Final Destination: Bloodlines follows the story of a university student who has been haunted by dreams of a terrible accident that took place years ago. As her relatives are picked off in increasingly elaborate and gruesome accidents, she must uncover a family secret to break the cycle before it’s too late.
Where to Watch: HBO Max
3. 28 Years Later (2025) – Manic Viral Evolution
- Director: Danny Boyle
- Cast: Cillian Murphy, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Runtime: 128 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Why it Ranked: The biggest question with 28 Years Later was whether or not Boyle could retain the quality of the first movie. The answer is yes, he can – but he is also going to throw in a dash of absolute insanity, as well. This movie is completely nuts! It’s filled with gore, maintaining the quality of the original while throwing in a dash of modern chaos. It might be divisive for older fans, but this is the 28 Days Later series for a generation that demands unrelenting energy. Awesome stuff.
Synopsis: Decades after the initial outbreak, the Rage Virus has evolved. A group of survivors travels from the quarantined UK to mainland Europe, where they discover that the infected have established a terrifying new world order that challenges everything they knew about survival.
Where to Watch: Hulu
2. Sinners (2025) – A Period-Horror Sensation
- Director: Ryan Coogler
- Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell
- Runtime: 132 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Why it Ranked: This movie came completely out of nowhere to become a legitimate Oscar contender. Ryan Coogler’s period horror musical is an incredible addition to a genre seeing a massive bounce-back. It is ambitious in scale, beautifully shot, and features some of the best musical set-pieces ever seen in horror. It’s one of the best horror films in years – even if it isn’t quite my personal number one.
Synopsis: In 1930s Jim Crow South, twin brothers return to their hometown to start over. They soon discover that a great evil is waiting for them – an evil that can be summoned through music. They must face their past and the supernatural forces haunting their community in an epic, blood-soaked musical conflict.
Where to Watch: Amazon Rental
1. Companion (2025) – Psychological Perfection
- Director: Drew Hancock
- Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage
- Runtime: 106 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Why it Ranked: I know it’s controversial to put this above Sinners, but I just can’t move it. Companion is my favourite movie of 2025. It trends towards psychological thriller, but it’s so damn enjoyable and Sophie Thatcher is so sensational that it has to stay at the top. It has excellent comedy, witty dialogue, brilliant cat-and-mouse scenes, and fantastic characters. It’s pure, high-stakes fun.
Synopsis: A young woman spends a weekend at a secluded mansion with her partner’s friends. She soon realises that her companion has a dark, hidden agenda, leading to a harrowing encounter that reveals a dangerous side of herself she never knew existed.
Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
A Special Year for the Genre
There we have it – the 10 best horror films from a first half of 2025 that managed to turn a slow start into a historic run. Whether you’re obsessed with the period-musical flair of Sinners or the sharp, psychological twists of Companion, this year has proven that horror is the most exciting genre in cinema right now.
With massive returns for franchises like 28 Years Later and Final Destination, and bold new visions like The Ugly Stepsister, there is something for every kind of gore-hound and thrill-seeker. Hopefully, the second half of the year can maintain this incredible momentum. For the flip side, why not check out our list of the most disappointing horror movies of 2025 so far? Stay spooky.
🏆 Quick Picks: 2025 Best So Far
- 💎 The Personal Favourite: Companion (2025)
- 🎭 The Critical Daring: Sinners (2025)
- 🏃 The Most Intense: 28 Years Later (2025)
- 🩸 The Body-Horror Hit: The Ugly Stepsister (2025)
- 🤡 The Funniest Mess: Heart Eyes (2025)
