20 must-see horror movies for 2024

From sequels for the Smile and Saw franchises to new titles from Robert Eggers and M. Night Shyamalan, these are the scary films we just can't wait to watch

By Matthew Jackson | January 3, 2024 | 1:00pm

Film Features M. Night Shyamalan

Top to bottom: Kerry Condon in Night Swim (courtesy Universal Pictures), Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse in Lisa Frankenstein (courtesy Focus Features), Imaginary (courtesy Lionsgate) Graphic: The A.V. Club

After wrapping up a great year of horror cinema in 2023, the genre shows no signs of resting on its laurels in 2024. A promising new crop of scary movies is preparing to unleash fresh visions of terror this year, ranging from high-concept slashers to classic titles with new twists to, of course, sequels for some of the most beloved franchises in the game.

There will be new entries in the Smile, Saw, and A Quiet Place franchises, original projects from the likes of Robert Eggers and M. Night Shyamalan, and buzzy titles from several up-and-coming filmmakers. While 2024 will see plenty of horror titles, to get the year started we’ve focused on the 20 most anticipated movies, and listed them here by release date.

Night Swim (January 5)

Starring: Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amélie HoeferleDirector: Bryce McGuireThe backstory: The horror year kicks off with a high-concept chiller from first-time feature director Bryce McGuire. is based on a short film of the same name, and it tells the story of a family who move into a new house that just happens to have a pool with a very dark history. The new owners are about to face everything from dark shapes moving beneath the water to a terrifying game of Marco Polo.

Founders Day (January 19)

Founders Day | Official Trailer HD (2024 Slasher Movie)

Starring: Devin Druid, Emilia McCarthy, Amy HargreavesDirector: Erik BloomquistBackstory: Horror viewers love a good holiday-themed slasher, which makes an automatic watch for genre fans. Already earning early critical acclaim at advance screenings, the film follows the chaos in a small town on the verge of its tricentennial. As an impending election throws the populace into an uproar, a masked killer in a powdered wig starts stalking young people.

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Baghead (February 8)

BAGHEAD | Official Trailer | STUDIOCANAL

Starring: Freya Allan, Saffron Burrows, Peter MullanDirector: Alberto CorredorBackstory: Night Swim director Bryce McGuire also has a hand in , co-writing the screenplay and lending his name to a film with the potential to provide real nightmares. Starring The Witcher’s Freya Allan, the film follows a young woman as she learns a dark family secret hidden in a crumbling pub she inherits from her father. The title creature, a shapeshifter who can contact the dead, lurks within the pub’s walls. It’s a nice asset if you can keep her in check, but Baghead’s not about to do what she’s told forever.

Lisa Frankenstein (February 9)

LISA FRANKENSTEIN - Official Teaser Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters February 9

Starring: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza SoberanoDirector: Zelda WilliamsBackstory: A horror-comedy from Diablo Cody, the writer of Juno and Jennifer’s Body, has all the makings of a movie that will get people talking. As the title suggests, the film riffs on Frankenstein, following a weird girl in the 1980s (Kathryn Newton) who sets out to reanimate a corpse and turn him into her ultimate dream boyfriend. What could possibly go wrong? The trailers have, of course, played up the throwback fun, but what’s going to be especially interesting is how first-time director Zelda Williams (daughter of Robin Williams) handles the delicate tonal balance of Cody’s screenplay. If it all works, this could be the perfect Valentine’s Day present for horror fans.

Out Of Darkness (February 9)

Out of Darkness Trailer #1 (2024)

Starring: Safia Oakley-Green, Chuku Modu, Kit YoungDirector: Andrew CummingBackstory: has been making the rounds at festivals since the fall of 2022, consistently earning acclaim at each stop. Now the film finally has a wide release date. The story of a community of prehistoric humans who must do battle with a mysterious force, the film offers a refreshing change of pace and setting from modern horror movie rhythms.

Imaginary (March 8)

Imaginary (2024) Official Trailer – DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, Taegen Burns

Starring: DeWanda Wise, Pyper Braun, Tom PayneDirector: Jeff WadlowBackstory: The filmmaker behind Blumhouse’s Truth Or Dare and Fantasy Island returns with another high-concept chiller, this one based on a classic childhood conceit. As the title suggests, follows a woman (DeWanda Wise) who returns to the home where she grew up and finds her old favorite toy, a stuffed bear that had very special meaning for her as a kid. Now, though, as her own stepdaughter starts to develop a relationship with the bear, she realizes that all those things she imagined when she was young were perhaps all too dangerously real. Jeff Wadlow’s previous Blumhouse efforts were lots of fun, so fans are excited to see what kind of thrill ride he delivers this time.

The First Omen (April 5)

Starring: Nell Tiger Free, Tawfeek Barhom, Sonia BragaDirector: Arkasha StevensonBackstory: It’s been almost 20 years since The Omen franchise graced the big screen, and it returns with a first for the long-running horror series: A prequel. As the title suggests, will follow the events leading up to the birth of Damien, the Antichrist of Biblical prophecy, which places the film before the events of the 1976 original. Nell Tiger Free stars as a young woman who unearths the dark conspiracy that will bring about Damien’s birth. Given how great Free was in the Apple TV+ horror hit Servant, expectations are high for her performance in this project.

Untitled Universal Monsters Film (April 19)

Starring: Melissa Barrera, Alisha Weir, Dan StevensDirector: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler GillettBackstory: Radio Silence, the filmmakers who gave us Scream (2022) and Scream VI, are turning their attention to another beloved horror franchise in 2024 with their take on the classic Universal Monsters. As the lack of an official title suggests, there’s not much information to be had yet about the upcoming film, but it will apparently follow a group of kidnappers who unwittingly get involved with Dracula’s daughter. Sounds like a great high-concept horror launcher, backed by solid talent on the screen and behind the scenes.

Horrorscope (May 10)

Starring: Harriet Slater, Jacob Batalon, Humberly GonzalezDirector: Spenser Cohen and Anna HalbergBackstory: Sometimes the concept alone is enough to get fans hooked on a horror movie, and seems to have that kind of buzz. The plot is pretty much exactly what you’d imagine: A group of friends find begin dying in ways that match their horoscopes, and the remaining friends have to find a way to stop the carnage. Basically it’s Final Destination by way of fortune-telling, and with a young cast led by Harriet Slater (Pennyworth) and Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man: Homecoming), there’s reason to believe this will be a good time at the movies.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 (May 17)

The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024) Official Clip ‘Knock, Knock’ - Madelaine Petsch

Starring: Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Rachel ShentonDirector: Renny HarlinBackstory: The Strangers are returning to terrorize us all, starting with a trilogy of new films helmed by Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, A Nightmare On Elm Street 4) that will tell an all-new story set in the world of Bryan Bertino’s original home-invasion frightfest. This time around, the action will follow a couple (Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez) who end up in a secluded rental home for the night, only to find that they’re very much not alone. You know the drill with The Strangers films by this point, but what’s interesting about is its intention to set off a three-part story following the masked killers and their prey, which means there could be a a very different arc and a different ending this time around.

The Watchers (June 7)

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen FouéréDirector: Ishana Night ShyamalanBackstory: After launching her directorial career with episodes of her father’s creepy TV series Servant, Ishana Night Shyamalan will make her feature directorial debut with , an adaptation of A.M. Shine’s horror novel of the same name. The premise is both satisfyingly simple and quite chilling: A woman finds herself in the middle of an Irish forest, where she meets strangers who must spend each night avoiding creatures who watch them from the trees.

A Quiet Place: Day One (June 28)

Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex WolffDirector: Michael SarnoskiBackstory: After two films following the same family as they fight to survive in a world overrun by sound-sensitive monsters, the Quiet Place franchise heads back to the beginning in 2024 for the aptly subtitled . Not much is known yet about the characters, but the film figures to give more details on exactly how the creatures overran the world, what it looks like to survive from the beginning, and how certain humans manage to find some kind of stability in the wake of such an event. The cast, led by Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o, is enticing, as is the promise of watching Pig director Michael Sarnoski try his hand in this world.

Trap (August 2)

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Hayley Mills, Vanessa SmythDirector: M. Night ShyamalanBackstory: As is usually the case with a new M. Night Shyamalan flick, we don’t know much about yet, but what we do know is enticing. A new thriller written and directed by the genre master, Trap will take place at a musical festival. The cast, led by Josh Hartnett and Hayley Mills. is intriguing, as is the promise of a film set in such a volatile, seemingly unpredictable location. It’ll be exciting to see what Shyamalan does here, particularly after his recent success with high-concept thrillers like Old and Knock At The Cabin.

Speak No Evil (August 9)

Starring: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairyDirector: James WatkinsBackstory: Danish film was one of the most shocking, unsettling, and brilliant pieces of horror cinema to arrive in 2022. Here’s hoping the English-language remake has the same impact in 2024. Written and directed by James Watkins (The Woman In Black), the new version of Speak No Evil will star James McAvoy in an eerie, psychological thriller.

Alien: Romulus (August 16)

Starring: Cailee Spaney, Isabela Merced, David JonssonDirector: Fede AlvarezBackstory: For the first time in seven years, there’s a new Alien film, and this time around it’ll be helmed by modern horror star Fede Alvarez, who directed both the Evil Dead remake and the frightening Don’t Breathe. Set between Alien and Aliens, the story for is still somewhat mysterious, but the film has a cast of promising young stars and one of horror’s most visceral filmmakers in its corner.

Saw XI (September 27)

Starring: TBADirector: TBABackstory: After Saw X breathed new life into the franchise with one of its best installments in years, another sequel seemed inevitable. And in late 2023 confirmation arrived that Saw XI would hit theaters in 2024. Beyond that, we know almost nothing about the upcoming film. Saw X left plenty of potential plot on the table for another story set between Saw and Saw 2, and star Tobin Bell still clearly has a lot of Jigsaw menace left in him. Beyond that, there’s just a title and a release date at this point, but if you love Saw films, that’s enough.

Smile 2 (October 18)

Starring: Naomi Scott, TBADirector: Parker FinnBackstory: Parker Finn’s creepy Smile was one of the biggest horror success stories of 2022, a feature that won over festival crowds and regular ticket buyers alike with its tale of a mysterious curse that spreads through trauma, and manifests itself in wide, unsettling grins. A sequel was almost guaranteed after the first film’s box office success, and will arrive just in time for Halloween 2024. We still don’t know what to expect from the next chapter in this saga, but if you like unnerving grins, you’ll definitely want to take this ride.

The Wolf Man (October 25)

Starring: Christopher Abbott, TBADirector: Leigh WhannellBackstory: In 2020, Leigh Whannell revitalized one of Universal Pictures’ longest-serving movie monsters with The Invisible Man, a truly terrifying journey into one woman’s battle against a malevolent ex. In 2024, he’ll try to reinvigorate yet another Universal monster with , a new take on the classic creature of the same name. There aren’t many details about the story just yet, but the film will star Christopher Abbott (Possessor, Sanctuary) as a man who must get to the bottom of a savage mystery plaguing his family. With Whannell in the director’s chair, this is a film horror fans can’t miss.

Terrifier 3 (October 25)

TERRIFIER 3 Teaser 4K | Only In Theaters October 25, 2024

Starring: Lauren LaVera, Elliot Fullam, David Howard ThorntonDirector: Damien LeoneBackstory: For years, Terrifier was a cult classic propelled by practical gore effects and a distinctive villain design. Then came Terrifier 2, and the phenomenon of Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) exploded onto the wider genre cinema landscape. Thanks to a notorious box office run that featured audience members reportedly vomiting in the aisles, Terrifier 2 proved to be one of the biggest genre hits of 2022, paving the way for a highly anticipated sequel. Featuring the return of stars Lauren LaVera and Elliot Fullman as the Shaw siblings, who seemingly triumphed over Art in the last film, promises to be the most ambitious entry in the series yet, and it’ll show up just in time for Halloween 2024. Plus, it’s a Christmas movie, so fans will be rewatching this one all the way through December.