The best way to give yourself the chills is to watch a good horror movie late at night — and not just any horror movie, but one that makes you feel like something is definitely going to crawl out from under your bed the second you close your eyes.
Over the past 20 years, horror filmmakers have gone to great lengths to keep us up at night, and there’s no shortage of options to choose from. If you’re a fan of the genre, AdmiGram.com has curated a selection of the best horror films from recent years — the kind that will have you sleeping with the lights on.
The 10 Best Horror Movies of Recent Years
It Follows
Director: David Robert Mitchell
Starring: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi
The film’s biggest strength is its fresh premise — exactly what the genre needs to stay alive. Is it scary? Absolutely, especially if you like your fear to build slowly and press down on you rather than jump out at you. That dread comes from a killer combination: a genuinely original idea, an unsettling score, and masterful camerawork.
The Ring
Director: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox
This film set a new standard for the genre. Worth noting: it’s a remake of the Japanese original, which is every bit as terrifying as the American version — both are true gems of horror cinema. The plot is genuinely gripping, and the film’s dark, unsettling atmosphere lingers long after the credits roll. A certified cult classic.
The Babadook
Director: Jennifer Kent
Starring: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney
This is an auteur horror film first and foremost, not built for mass appeal — which makes it all the more rewarding for genre purists. It breaks sharply from horror’s usual playbook, offering instead a strange, layered exploration of the human subconscious: a film about how our fears, nightmares, and trauma give birth to real monsters.
Sinister
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Fred Thompson
This is one of those rare films that feels familiar on paper but still keeps you glued to your seat from start to finish, never giving you a moment to relax. Its biggest draws are an old-school ’90s horror vibe and an ending so well-built that even seasoned horror fans won’t see it coming.
Train to Busan
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Starring: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok
A masterclass in taking a tired premise and making it feel new again. The zombie-outbreak story builds dread steadily, even if it starts out looking like familiar territory to jaded genre fans. The filmmakers blend classic horror with real questions about what it means to be human. What’s scarier than zombies? Facing death itself.
Final Destination
Director: James Wong
Starring: Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Kerr Smith
A 2000s horror classic from the era when movies were just discovering how to scare audiences with clever, high-concept premises and a creeping sense of inevitability. Many consider it a cult classic, and it’s easy to see why — the film nails the balance between tension and suspense. Its core idea is simple and brilliant: you’re never as safe as you think, even in the most mundane situation. After watching it, you’ll think twice before turning on your coffee maker or toaster for a few days.
The Conjuring
Director: James Wan
Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston
What sets this film apart? Clean, confident storytelling. Step by step, the audience is pulled into the story right alongside the characters, who feel genuinely real and relatable. So on top of the scares — and there are plenty — you also get a story that actually grips you. That is, if you make it to the end.
28 Days Later
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston
A genre classic, full stop. Arguably the most believable post-apocalyptic world ever put on screen. The film is packed with real emotion and moral complexity, while its tight pacing and gripping action keep you locked in until the final frame. It’s not just a movie — it’s an unforgettable descent into apocalypse, one that leaves audiences shaken by its bleakness, intensity, and depth.
Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford
It’s refreshing to see the horror genre still has plenty of fresh ideas left. A bold script tackling real social issues, compelling characters, and a gut-punch twist make Get Out more than a movie — it’s a genuine cinematic statement that leaves you stunned by its depth and cunning. It toys with your emotions and doesn’t let go.
The Orphanage (El Orfanato)
Director: J. A. Bayona
Starring: Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep
This film is genuinely frightening — and not just because of its gut-punch ending. Look closer and you’ll see the fear is built into the details: clues and hints for the attentive viewer who wants to piece together the truth rather than have it handed to them. A rare, true masterpiece of the horror genre.
image on top: 28 Days Later / DNA Films, Train to Busan / RedPeter Film, The Ring / MacDonald/Parkes Productions
