10 Scary Slasher Movies from the 2020s – Ranked

Welcome to Ranking Horror where we do nothing but rank horror movies. If you like listicles and are looking for your next great horror movie, stick around. Today we are looking at, and ranking, 10 Scary Slasher Movies from the 2020s.

We all know the 80s and 90s were slasher central. Alright, so there was a little dip there for a while. But the late 90s slasher boom ushered in a completely new approach to the genre, with clever whodunits like Scream and, the less stellar, I Know What You Did Last Summer dominating the horror box office.

As we hit the midway point of the 2020s, we are seeing something of a slasher revival. Be it remakes of old classics, lower budget affairs or well established directors starting brand new franchises, there is plenty to choose from for fans of knife-wielding maniacs. In this list, we are checking out 10 slasher movies from the 2020s that you may just want to get your teeth into. Get your sprinting shoes on and let’s go!

10. Natty Knocks (2023) – A Missed Opportunity

Why it Ranked: The 2023 reunion between Halloween 4 director Dwight H. Little and Halloween 4 actor Danielle Harris should have been a marquee event, especially after all these years. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t hit the mark. Sadly, it just doesn’t amount to much. It is boring, poorly written, features underwhelming kills and, above all else, simply isn’t scary. A real disappointment in the grand scheme of things but may entertain slasher fans who are a little less demanding than most.

Synopsis: Following the story of a group of kids, and their babysitter, attempting to survive a serial killer on Halloween, Natty Knocks had a lot of the ingredients you look for in a good slasher but fails to cook them into something tasty.

Where to Watch: Tubi, Prime Video, Freevee

9. Fear Street Trilogy (2021) – Streaming Nostalgia

Why it Ranked: These films were supposed to see cinema releases but the 2020 pandemic made sure that didn’t happen. Netflix stepped in and scooped them up, releasing them as Netflix Originals. The cinema’s loss was streaming’s gain as these movies are legitimately decent. The first, Fear Street: 1994, does a brilliant job of tapping into that 90s nostalgia people love while keeping the slasher stuff tremendously fun. While the second iteration takes us back to the 70s for more retro slasher excitement.

Synopsis: Fear Street is a Netflix trilogy of supernatural slasher films based on the R. L. Stine books of the same name. The series follows a group of friends attempting to lift the curse that is placed over their home town of Shadyside. The first two entries into the trilogy are supernatural slashers, with the third being more of a period horror that explores the origin of the curse.

Where to Watch: Netflix

8. Terrifier 3 (2024) – Festive Carnage

Why it Ranked: Damien Leone’s slasher series is, to be perfectly honest, a bit on the cheesy side of life. He goes out of his way to shock and it doesn’t always land. Still, plenty of people really enjoyed Terrifier 3 and it is hard to deny the charisma of Art the Clown. It’s pretty tasteless so be warned, but some of the kills are fun and there is a bit of a retro slasher vibe to this one.

Synopsis: Following on from the very popular Terrifier 2, Terrifier 3 picks up on the antics of Art the Clown as he attempts to find, and get revenge on, Sienna. Brutally murdering everyone in his path on the way, this time during the Christmas season.

Where to Watch: Screambox, Rent/Buy

7. Scream VI (2023) – Ghostface Takes Manhattan

Why it Ranked: It’s pretty damn cool to still see the Scream franchise getting love in 2025. Wes Craven handed over the mantle to Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Ready or Not‘s Tyler Gillett who turned Scream VI into a modern horror slasher favourite. Though the movie is noteworthy for the lack of an appearance from Neve Campbell’s Sidney due to a pay dispute, it is still very much worth checking out. Scream 7 is coming out this year and, frankly, we can’t wait.

Synopsis: Ghostface is back and up to his old tricks, this time following the survivors of the Woodsboro legacy killings to New York City. Along with him comes many of the previous film’s cast, as well as some all-star additions like Samara Weaving.

Where to Watch: Paramount+, MGM+

6. Freaky (2020) – Body Swap Bloodshed

Why it Ranked: Written and directed by modern horror veteran Christopher Landon who also brought us the brilliant Happy Death Day, Freaky is one of a few black comedy slasher movies on this list. I’m a big Kathryn Newton fan and it’s really nice to see the Paranormal Activity 4 star still pumping out horror like there is no tomorrow. She is great here and works perfectly with the towering Vince Vaughn playing the Blissfield Butcher. It always surprises me that only a few directors have actually realised that Vaughn is perfect for playing horror bad guys. Don’t take this one too seriously and you will have a great time.

Synopsis: As you may have guessed from the name, Freaky puts a slasher twist on the Freaky Friday formula as a young girl switches bodies with a serial killer, only to find out that she has only 24 hours to put things right or get stuck like that forever.

Where to Watch: Peacock, Rent/Buy

5. X (2022) – The Texas Farm Massacre

Why it Ranked: I am slapping Ti West’s X right in the middle of this list because everyone else seems to like it a lot more than I do. I am, actually, a much bigger fan of the prequel, Pearl. But that’s not really a slasher so here we are. Mia Goth is fantastic in a double role as both the protagonist Maxine Minx and the antagonist Pearl. But it is the way X harkens back to a golden era of slasher movies that so many people love. This takes a ton of cues from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and feels like a genuine movie of that time period.

Synopsis: X follows a group of adult filmmakers as they rent out a cabin from a murderous couple who won’t be best pleased when they find out what they are doing in there.

Where to Watch: Showtime, Paramount+, Kanopy

4. Thanksgiving (2023) – The Carver’s Feast

Why it Ranked: Thanksgiving is Hostel director Eli Roth’s return to the world of slasher romps and it is a pretty damn successful one, to boot. Thanksgiving is one of those movies that gets the slasher genre so damn right. It is funny, features some brilliant kills, has a ton of gore and cultivates a genuinely interesting whodunit plot that will have you pointing fingers at practically everyone. Patrick Dempsey is great and fans of influencer Addison Rae will be pleased to see her having a pretty big role. A great return to form for Roth.

Synopsis: It follows the story of a town being stalked by a serial killer after a horrible accident claims a number of lives on Black Friday. The killer is dressed in Thanksgiving garb and it appears there is more than simple coincidence when it comes to his choice of victims.

Where to Watch: Netflix

3. Totally Killer (2023) – Back to the Slasher Future

Why it Ranked: We have another black comedy slasher at 3 and it is another trip back to the past. Nahnatchka Khan brings us a slasher that is both original and hilarious with Totally Killer. Khan does an excellent job capturing the vibe of the 80s while also keeping the movie feeling modern. People who grew up in the era are going to love it while fans of everything “big hair and ridiculous, glam, makeup” will have plenty to chew on, too. Awesome stuff and a massive slasher surprise that seems to have gone under a few people’s radars.

Synopsis: The “Sweet 16 Killer” is back after a 30-year hiatus and it is up to teenager Jamie (Kiernan Shipka) to head back to 1987 and stop him in his tracks before he can claim his original victims.

Where to Watch: Prime Video

2. Heart Eyes (2025) – Date Night Death

Why it Ranked: We have yet another black comedy horror at number two. Josh Ruben’s Heart Eyes isn’t exactly breaking any new slasher ground but it is just so damn enjoyable. The leads here have fantastic chemistry, with a pair of familiar slasher faces, Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding, bouncing off of each other tremendously well. With some of the writing coming by way of Freaky‘s Christopher Landon, it is funny, entertaining, features likable characters and some great acting chemistry. A brilliant option for date night or, simply, just to enjoy some comedy slasher fun.

Synopsis: Released on Valentine’s Day, Heart Eyes follows a pair of workmates who are forced to spend Valentine’s evening together to finish a project, only to find themselves targeted by the couple-murdering “Heart Eyes” killer.

Where to Watch: Cinemas, Amazon (Rent/Buy Soon)

1. In a Violent Nature (2024) – A Slasher Deconstructed

Why it Ranked: Chris Nash’s In a Violent Nature takes the entire slasher genre and flips it on its head. Subverting the typical expectations that come with it by placing the viewer alongside the killer himself. Nash brought his special effects expertise along to absolutely disgust the viewer, with In a Violent Nature having some of the most brutal slasher kills I have ever seen. The log splitter scene alone is enough to send shivers down your spine. Slasher fans who are looking for something different absolutely need to check this movie out.

Synopsis: No longer are you running away from the masked maniac with the group of victims in waiting. In this film, you stomp across fields and through forests, side by side with our vicious, undead antagonist as he tries to retrieve the precious locket stolen from his resting place by a group of campers.

Where to Watch: Shudder, AMC+

Slasher Renaissance

There we have it, 10 slasher movies from the 2020s that prove the genre is alive, kicking, and bloodier than ever. From the experimental brilliance of In a Violent Nature to the crowd-pleasing fun of Thanksgiving, this decade is shaping up to be a new golden age for stalk-and-slash cinema. Whether you prefer retro throwbacks or modern deconstructions, there is something here for every horror fan.

I’ll be back soon with more lists to keep your watchlist growing. In the meantime, why not check out some more of our slasher rankings? Stay spooky.

🔪 Quick Picks: 2020s Slasher Essentials

• 🏆 The Innovative Choice: In a Violent Nature (2024)
• 🦃 The Holiday Hit: Thanksgiving (2023)
• 🎸 The 80s Throwback: Totally Killer (2023)
• 💘 The Date Night Pick: Heart Eyes (2025)
• 🤡 The Extreme Gore: Terrifier 3 (2024)