2025 might be the year of horror — whether a video game franchise adaptation, a horror movie starring Cillian Murphy, or a vampire period piece, the 2025 horror movie lineup has something for all tastes. Although 2024’s horror movie releases brought many great scares with works by M. Night Shamalayan, Ti West, and Tim Burton, next year promises to be one of a kind. With the return of popular horror writers and directors, among them Insidious and Saw creator Leigh Whannell, fans of the genre will have a chance to explore some terrifying stories every month.

2025 comes H๏τ with the continuation of Renny Harlin’s The Strangers trilogy, a Stephen King adaptation by Longlegs‘ director, the revival of the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise, as well as many new тιтles that offer a twist to their genre and promise a thrilling theatrical experience. Not only that, but next year brings seven Blumhouse productions, including the final installment of The Conjuring and M3GAN 2.0. With upcoming movie releases from hit studios like NEON, legacy sequels to fan-favorite franchises, and long-awaited classic monster adaptations, the 2025 horror movie slate is to scream for.

22

Presence — January 27, 2025

Directed By Steven Soderbergh

While the movie’s premise may not be original, its narrative promises a twist to the haunted house. Joining Steven Soderbergh’s list of movies, which includes тιтles such as Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Presence is a thriller that employs the ghost’s POV to create a truly unsettling experience. As the audience adopts the specter’s shoes, they ache for its clueless and unseeing victims.

The film was written by David Koepp, screenwriter of Jurᴀssic Park and Spider-Man. Upon its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Presence received a wave of positive reviews, praising Soderbergh’s eerie atmosphere and innovative style. This is an interesting release for Soderbergh, who has worked in various genres over his career, but this is his main entry into the realm of horror, although, in no surprise, he turns the genre on its head. Lucy Liu, Julia Fox, Chris Sullivan, and Callina Liang star.

21

Screamboat — January 24, 2025

Directed By Steven LaMorte

Based on Steamboat Willie by Walt Disney, Screamboat offers a bloody take on the Mickey Mouse character. From the producers of Terrifier 2 and The Mean One, Screamboat features actor David Howard Thorton as the killer Steamboat Willie. Thorton is known for portraying Art the Clown in the Terrifier franchise. The Iconic Events horror movie follows people onboard a nightly New York cruise as a murderous creature hunts them down.

The unfortunate characters must hide, run, or prepare to fight if they want to survive. The cast includes actors Charles Edwin Powell, Jesse Kove, Jarod Lindsey, and Jesse Posey. This movie follows in the footsteps of Pooh: Blood and Honey, which took the Winnie the Pooh characters and placed them in a horror movie after they hit the public domain. Steamboat Willie hit the public domain on January 1, 2024, and this is the first theatrical movie based on his likeness since then.

20

The Monkey — February 21, 2025

Directed By Osgood Perkins

Based on Stephen King’s eponymous short story, The Monkey is a supernatural horror movie written and directed by Longlegs’ Osgood Perkins. The film features a simple yet thrilling story and is set for release on February 21, 2025. The Monkey’s stellar cast certainly sets up the Stephen King adaptation for success, starring Theo James in the role of both Hal and Bill, the twins that must stop the murderous monkey’s murder spree.

Infused with Perkins’ characteristic style, The Monkey promises an enthralling, gory, and euphoric experience. Additional actors include Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth), Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Ronan Campbell, and Sarah Levy. While Perkins’s last movie, Longlegs, was a polarizing horror movie, this one seems different, with the trailer offering an almost tongue-in-cheek story that shows a lot of gore and dark humor and a wickedly iconic little toy monkey at the source of it all.

19

Sinners — March 7, 2025

Directed By Ryan Coogler

Sinners is written and directed by Ryan Coogler, known for Black Panther, Creed, and Fruitvale Station. Notably, Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan have previously worked together, making Sinners a promising addition to their list of shared projects. The movie is set to be released on March 7, 2025. The film follows two brothers trying to leave their hometown so they can start anew but a great evil remains in the town for their return.

While the Sinners trailer spoils its twist, the advance casts light on the movie’s popular cast. On top of Jordan coming to play identical twins, he is joined by actresses Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, and Jack O’Connell. At its basis, Sinners focuses on a town community targeted by an evil force, and with Jordan and Coogler behind the horror movie, it is sure to be a social story as well for the filmmakers.

18

The Woman In The Yard — March 28, 2025

Directed By Jaume Collet-Serra

The director of Orphan, The Shallows, and Black Adam is working on a Blumhouse production for Universal Pictures. Jaume Collet-Serra’s film stars actress Danielle ᴅᴇᴀᴅwyler, who received a BAFTA nomination for her role as Mamie Till-Mobley in the 2022 movie Till. According to the synopsis, the movie features a woman in black who appears on a family’s front lawn and delivers a frightening warning, “Today’s the Day.” No one knows who she is, where she came from, or what she wants.

The Woman in the Yard was originally set to be released on January 10, 2025.

Jaume Collet-Serra and ᴅᴇᴀᴅwyler previously worked together on Netflix’s 2024 movie Carry On. The Woman in the Yard wrapped filming on May 2024 and is set to release on March 28, 2025. The cast also includes Okwui Okpokwasili, Russell Hornsby, Peyton Jackson, and Estella Kahiha. With a variety of horror films in Collet-Serra’s past, from the good (Orphan) to the bad (House of Wax), it is unclear what kind of movie this will end up being.

17

Drop — April 11, 2025

Directed By Christopher Landon

A Blumhouse and Platinum Dunes collaboration, Drop is directed by Freaky and Happy Death Day’s Christopher Landon. Screenplay writers are Jilian Jacobs and Christopher Roach, who previously worked on Fantasy Island and Truth or Dare. Drop’s release date is set to April 11, 2025. The one-location thriller follows a widowed mother on a first date with a charming man. After receiving anonymous messages telling her to do as told or else her son will be killed.

When the tormentor’s final directive is to kill her date, she begins to doubt everything, including who this man really is that she is on a date with. Drop’s leading cast includes Meghan Fahy (The White Lotus) and Brandon Sklenar (It Ends With Us). Landon, whose father is the legendary Michael Landon (Little House on the Prairie), had a large hand in the Paranormal Activity franchise as the writer of the second through the fifth chapters, but he came into his own as a director with Happy Death Day.

16

The Strangers: Chapter 2 — April 2025

Directed By Renny Harlin

The first chapter of Liongsgate’s The Strangers trilogy sequel received mixed reviews for being a close remake to Bertino’s horror classic. However, director Renny Harlin hyped the coming chapters by revealing that they go further and deeper into exploring the masked killers’ origins in the town of Venus. The movie follows up on Maya, played by actress Madelaine Petsch, recovering from the attack in the first installment.

Petsch is the only cast member listed as returning and starring in the new movie. The Strangers: Chapter 2 cast has made key additions to the trilogy and hinted at them to be the faces behind the masks, strongly determined to terrorize the final girl. This means the movie might keep the rest of the cast close to its chest until the film is released to make their idenтιтies a surprise. At the moment, there are rumors the film will hit sometime in April 2025.

15

Final Destination: Bloodlines — May 16, 2025

Directed By Zach Lipovsky And Adam B. Stein

Produced by Spider-Man: No Way Home director, Jon Watts, the next installment of Final Destination will change the rules of the franchise. Final Destination: Bloodlines started production in March 2024. It was directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein and co-written by Guy Busick from Ready Or Not, Scream, and Scream VI.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is released in 2025 as the franchise’s 25th anniversary.

Final Destination 6’s cast brings back the late Tony Todd as Bludworth the mortician and puts stars Brec Bessinger, Teo Briones, and Kaitlyn Santa Juana in the lead. It has been revealed the movie’s concept gives center focus to first responders and features EMTs, firefighters, and police officers, as these characters go against death every day. While the movie is set to be a reboot, and it will change the rules of death, the producers also said that the film will still be a Final Destination installment at heart.

14

28 Years Later — June 20, 2025

Directed By Danny Boyle

28 Years Later is the first of a new trilogy based on the famous post-apocalyptic horror movie 28 Days Later. Danny Boyle returns to direct the third movie in this franchise after relinquishing the director’s role in the second movie, and he has brought in new stars, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, and Edvin Ryding.

Boyle and Garland’s 2002 movie, 28 Days Later, has been praised as having redefined the zombie horror genre.

Fiennes told Indie Wire the film focuses on a boy trying to get his dying mother to a doctor in Britain, which zombies have overrun. 28 Years Later wrapped filming in August 2024, and will be released on June 20, 2025. The second installment has also wrapped production. There were rumors that Cillian Murphy was returning to reprise his role from the first movie, but it has since been revealed that Murphy will not be in the film, which, as the тιтle indicates, takes place 28 years after his first appearance.

13

Megan 2.0 — June 27, 2025

Directed By Gerard Johnstone

The sequel to the box office success started production in July this year and is set to release in theaters on June 27, 2025. M3GAN’s 2.0 story has been kept тιԍнтly under wraps. However, it will likely feature the murderous AI doll’s return and follow-up on Gemma and Cady.

In November 2023, James Wan hinted that M3GAN 2.0 would explore society’s growing AI concerns in a bigger and deeper way than the first installment.

Besides the return of the original actresses, supporting characters Cole and Tess will return, played by actors Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Epps, respectively. New cast additions for James Wan’s production include Ivanna Sakhno (Ahsoka) in a leading role and Timm Sharp, Aristotle Athari, and Jemaine Clement in supporting roles. With Gerard Johnstone returning as the director, there are high hopes that he can recreate the magic that he brought to the first movie in the franchise.

12

I’l Never Forget What You Did Last Summer — July 18, 2025

Directed By Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

Do Revenge’s director, Jennifer Kaytin Robison, is working with her best friend, Sarah Michelle Gellar, to revive the franchise. Although Gellar is not part of the I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel cast, she has been helping the crew and actors replicate the original’s unique charm. Building from the first two movies, the legacy sequel will pair up original actor Freddie Prinze Jr. with a brand-new cast of teens being terrorized by the fisherman.

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer‘s actress Karla Wilson has also expressed her interest in reprising her role of Brandy in the upcoming legacy sequel.

I Never Forget What You Did Last Summer was filmed in Australia and will be released on July 28, 2025. Jennifer Love Hewitt also signed on to join Prinze Jr. to reprise her role as Julie James, the final girl from the previous movies. Robinson doesn’t have a horror movie in her past as a director, but she has directed a romantic comedy and a dark teen comedy, so this might have some dark humor in addition to the horror elements.

11

The Conjuring: Last Rites — September 5, 2025

Directed By Michael Chavez

The Conjuring: Last Rites features the return of actors Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The fourth and last installment of The Conjuring main series will likely explore the couple’s biggest case yet, and began filming in 2024.

Part of the highest-grossing horror franchise, the Michael Chaves-directed film is slated to be released to early fall success on September 5, 2025. Specific details surrounding The Conjuring: Last Rites’ story have been kept under wraps. However, actor Ben Hardy and actress Mia Tomlinson are part of the cast. Chavez has plenty of experience in this franchise, working on The Nun II, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and The Curse of La Llorona.

10

Him — September 19, 2025

Directed By Justin Tipping

Monkeypaw Productions, the Jordan Peele company that made horror hits Nope, Us and Get Out, is producing Him, an anti-sports psychological horror. The movie is directed by award-winning Justin Tipping (Kicks), and is set for release on September 19, 2025.

Jordan Peele’s Him was previously тιтled GOAT.

Peele’s horror movie has Marlon Wayans as the lead and follows a rising young athlete with high ambitions who is given the opportunity to train with an old sports star who is about to retire. From the Monkeypaw Productions site, Him will take its protagonist (Tyriq Withers) on “a blood-chilling journey into the inner sanctum of fame, power and pursuit of excellence at any cost.” While the synopsis makes the horror aspects questionable, with Jordan Peele behind the scenes, it is sure to provide smart and scary horror.

9

The Bride! — September 26, 2025

Directed By Maggie Gyllenhaal

Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal writes and directs her second movie, one of the two Frankenstein adaptations coming out in 2025. The Bride! started filming in late April 2024 on Staten Island, and actors Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley were seen on set playing The Monster and The Bride, respectively. Other cast members include Penélope Cruz, Annette Bening, and Peter Sarsgaard. Maggie Gyllenhall’s brother, Jake Gyllenhaal, has also signed on to appear in the movie.

Actress Jessie Buckley has already worked with Maggie Gyllenhaal. She played Young Leda on Gyllenhaal’s 2021 acclaimed movie, The Lost Daughter.

The Bride!’s story will be set in 1930s Chicago and follows Frankenstein’s monster and Dr. Euphronius as they reanimate the corpse of a murdered woman — apparently provoking social change, romance, and a whole city’s fearful curiosity. Maggie Gyllenhaal has said she was given creative freedom, and it is expected that this will be a very strong feminist look at horror movies and the role of women in these stories.

8

Saw XI — September 26, 2025

Directed By Kevin Greutert

Another popular franchise from the 2000s, Saw XI ceases the latest installment’s success. Although writers Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger are not part of the project, there is hope that M3GAN writer James Wan and Insidious creator Leigh Whannell will return as the original story creators. Wan directed the first movie and helped write the third, while Whannell wrote the first three films in the series.

However, at the moment, only Marcus Dunstan (who wrote the fourth through seventh movies is back as the writer. Kevin Greutert, who directed the sixth, seventh, and 10th movies in the series, is back to direct this one. After a big delay, Saw XI shares a release date with The Bride!, on September 26, 2025. The only confirmed cast member is actor Tobin Bell returning as John Kramer. The 11th installment of the franchise will likely be a sequel to Saw X, featuring Costas Mandylor as Hoffman and Jorge Briseño as Carlos.

7

The Black Phone 2 — October 17, 2025

Directed By Scott Derrickson

Four years after Scott Derrickson’s adaptation of the Joe Hill novella became a box office success, The Black Phone 2 is slated for release on October 17, 2025. Returning cast members include Ethan Hawke as the infamous Grabber, and the pair of siblings, Mason Thames as Finney and Madeleine McGraw as Gwen. Actors Jeremy Davies and Miguel Mora are also returning, setting the sequel as a direct follow-up to the first.

The Black Phone 2 was originally set to be released on June 27, 2025, but was delayed due to unknown circumstances. Filming was said to start in November 2024 and finish mid-January 2025.

Actor Demián Bichir is the latest addition to the cast, although his role remains unknown. Although a synopsis has yet to be released, Joe Hill, the author of The Black Phone 2 created the story. For those unaware, Hill is Stephen King’s son, and he wrote the books that were made into movies like Horns and TV shows like NOS4A2, Locke & Key, and In the Tall Grᴀss. The second Black Phone movie continues King’s success on the big and small screens.

6

Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 — December 5, 2025

Directed By Emma Tammi

One of many Blumhouse 2025 releases, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will come out on December 5 and will be available in theaters and for streaming on Peacock. The sequel will expand the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie world by pulling inspiration from the video game franchise and adding a number of scarier and ᴅᴇᴀᴅlier animatronics.

Actors Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, and Matthew Lillard are expected to return. Lillard confirmed Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will film starting November 2024. No synopsis has been released, but the movie will likely follow up where the first ended, thanks to the post-credit teaser in the first movie that makes it look like the spirit of Mike’s brother still needs his big brother to save him in the second chapter.

5

Flowervale Street — 2026

Directed By David Robert Mitchell

Flowervale Street was written and directed by It Follows’ David Robert Mitchell. Set in the 80s, the movie is said to focus on a family dealing with strange happenings in their neighborhood. Young star Christian Convery is appearing in two 2025 horror movies (The Monkey and Frankenstein), but this third one ended up being moved to 2026 after initially getting a 2025 release date. Flowervale Street’s poster reveals dinosaurs play a role in the story.

Flowervale Street’s filming took place in Georgia and wrapped early in June 2024.

Flowevale Street’s talented cast includes Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella (My Old ᴀss), and Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth). Although the director’s history with horror follows the movie, Flowervale Street has been presented mostly as sci-fi. However, with no synopsis disclosed yet, anything is possible. There is no word on the official release date, though, as it was moved to 2026 with no explanation.

4

Vicious — TBD

Directed By Bryan Bertino

From the director and writer of The Strangers and The Strangers: Prey at Night comes Vicious, an upcoming horror movie starring Dakota Fanning. Bryan Bertino’s story follows a woman who falls down a rabbit hole, provoked by a gift she received from a visitor. Fanning’s character will seemingly encounter other strange characters as she fights for her life.

Vicious had previously been slated for release on August 8, 2025, but was moved to February 28, 2025.

Vicious’ cast includes actresses Kathryn Hunter, Mary McCormack, Rachel Blanchard, Devyn Nekoda, Klea Scott, and Emily Mitchell. Further details on the Paramount Studios movie have been kept under wraps, but it has been said the film has already wrapped filming. Howeve,r while it was srt for a February 28, 2025, release date, it is since been removed from Paramount’s release schedule (via ᴅᴇᴀᴅline).

3

Insidious 6 — TBD

No Director Has Been Disclosed

Since Blumhouse producer, Jason Blum, had previously stated Insidious: The Red Door was to be the indefinite end of the franchise, the confirmation of the sixth installment of the story by Saw’s Leigh Whannell came as a surprise. However, Insidious 5’s box office success likely prompted Sony Pictures to order a new movie.

In 2023, James Wan and Jason Blum confirmed an Insidious spin-off was in the works. Since then, no update has been given on Thread: An Insidious Tale, which was originally said to star Mandy Moore and Kumail Nanjiani as a couple who temper with greater forces in an attempt to prevent their child’s premature death.

Little is known other than the Insidious 6 release date, slated for August 29, 2025. A cast or synopsis has not been revealed, although it is likely the sequel will follow the Lambert family, played by actors Patrick Wilson, Ty Simpkins, Rose Byrne, and Andrew Astor. It is unclear if Patrick Wilson will be back as the director, as the actor helped the fifth movie in the franchise.