Weapons has quickly become one of the H๏τtest movies in recent memory, at least according to critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Writer-director Zach Cregger’s new film presents an unusual tale of a group of children from the same classroom who leave their homes and disappear at 2:17 in the morning. It stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, and Benedict Wong, among others.
Following up on the success of Barbarian, which was also quite acclaimed, Weapons debuted with a perfect 100% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. However, at the time of this writing, the film’s score has gone down to 97% from 73 critics. Nevertheless, that still makes it one of the best-reviewed horror movies of the year; it’s the same score as Ryan Coogler’s smash hit Sinners.
Though it has lost its perfect score, 97% is still an amazing feat that has cemented Weapons as a must-see scary blockbuster in 2025. At this point, there are only a handful of horror movies that still retain a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, and only a few have been declared “Certified Fresh,” a designation that is given only when movies hit a certain number of reviews.
10
Double Blind (2023)
Directed by Ian Hunt-Duffy and written by Darach McGarrigle, this Irish horror film follows a group of drug testers who undergo an experiment straight out of A Nightmare on Elm Street. After they take a new drug that will kill them if they fall asleep, the protagonists race against the clock to reverse the drug’s effects and escape their isolated test facility.
Having been nominated in several categories at the Irish Academy Awards, including Best Film, Double Blind is a unique but underrated horror film that won over audiences and critics with its distinctive, heart-pounding premise, and compelling cast performances.
9
Ghost Killer (2024)
Brought to life by Bad City and Hydra mastermind Kensuke Sonomura, this Japanese film depicts a college student who finds a bullet that killed an ᴀssᴀssin, only for the latter’s spirit to possess her and use her body to exact vengeance on those who ended his life.
This all sounds like something Blumhouse would come up with if they ever chose to make a John Wick movie. Ghost Killer features a unique setup for a scary movie, but the way it integrates martial arts fighting into the story makes it an especially exciting film for fans of horror and action.
8
Creep 2 (2017)
As the movie’s тιтle implies, Creep 2 is the sequel to writer-director Patrick Brice’s acclaimed found footage horror movie from 2014. With actor Mark Duplᴀss reprising his role as the franchise’s main killer, this frightening follow-up shows the latter hunting and tormenting another unsuspecting filmmaker (Desiree Akhavan) with a new, manipulative approach.
Having received a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, Brice’s Creep 2 usurped its predecessor’s critical score on the website. It also won over the majority of audiences and critics, so Creep 2 has gone down as one of the rare movie sequels that improves and surpᴀsses what came before it.
7
The Housemaid (1960)
Fans of filmmaker Bong Joon Ho will want to check out this classic South Korean horror film, as he cited it as an inspiration for his hit movie Parasite. Writer-director Kim Ki-young’s The Housemaid follows a wealthy man who hires a woman to help around the house and care for his pregnant wife, only for her to develop a dangerous romantic obsession with her new boss.
Widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, The Housemaid continues to captivate and influence filmmakers with its intense and terrifying story of an ordinary family destroyed by desire. The premise may feel familiar these days, but this movie helped define the popular trope.
6
#ChadGetsTheAxe (2022)
Director Travis Bible’s found-footage horror movie follows a group of influencers who film their journey to a murder site on social media, where they are hunted by a Satanic cult. Similar to the indie horror hit ᴅᴇᴀᴅstream, #ChatGetsTheAxe is a horror movie for the age of social media.
It explores the terrifying lengths some people will go to in order to get attention online, only to find themselves paying the price for it in true Blair Witch fashion. With people sharing a variety of comments throughout the film, #ChadGetsTheAxe presents an immersive experience that also comments on the Internet’s toxic culture.
5
The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
Directed by Irving Pichel and King Kong filmmaker Ernest B. Schoedsack, this classic horror movie follows a hunter (Joel McCrea) and two siblings who end up on an island inhabited by a wealthy man (Leslie Banks) who hunts humans for sport, making them his next targets.
The Most Dangerous Game pushed the boundaries of cinematic storytelling upon its release with how it explored the wicked psyche of Banks’ serial killer character. Even audiences who haven’t seen this particular horror film have likely seen it referenced somewhere or have watched one of the many different adaptations of the film’s source novel.
4
The Phantom Carriage (1921)
Based on Selma Lagerlöf’s novel Körkarlen, this Swedish film by writer-director Victor Sjöström follows a drunken man on New Year’s Eve who is forced to confront his regretful past after he encounters the driver of Death’s carriage, who collects all the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ souls at the end of each year.
Featuring a sorrowful, genre-bending story reminiscent of A Christmas Carol with hallucinatory visuals remarkable for its time, The Phantom Carriage remains a standout slice of cinema from the silent era. The film’s impact can still be seen today, with it featuring a striking parallel to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining.
3
Night Of The Demon (1957)
Directed by Jacques Tourneur (Cat People), this black-and-white horror film follows an American professor (Dana Andrews) who investigates the death of a colleague at the hands of a Satanic cult in England, which pᴀsses a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly curse onto the former. This sets the stage for a classic, cinematic clash of science and supersтιтion.
Though the film’s effects certainly haven’t aged well, Night of the Demon remains a tense, unsettling motion picture that’s highly revered by critics. Even legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese described Night of the Demon as one of the scariest horror movies of all time.
2
One Cut Of The ᴅᴇᴀᴅ (2017)
Written and directed by Shin’ichirô Ueda, this “Certified Fresh” Japanese horror comedy follows a movie crew trying to film a low-budget zombie movie in one take, only to find themselves attacked by real members of the unᴅᴇᴀᴅ. Such a clever and unique satirical story puts a mind-blowing spin on the overdone found footage subgenre.
As a result, One Cut of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ received several accolades and became the only found footage movie to have a perfect 100% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, putting it at the top of the website’s list of the best found footage movies ever made.
1
His House (2020)
Written and directed by Remi Weekes, this timely Netflix horror film follows a refugee couple who escape the war in South Sudan and move to England. However, they still find themselves facing off against the ghosts of their past when a sinister force haunts them in their new house.
Featuring an impressive cast, including Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (Slow Horses), and Matt Smith (House of the Dragon), His House made for a terrifying and spectacular directorial debut for Weekes, especially as the film retains its “Certified Fresh” status on Rotten Tomatoes following the praise from several audiences and critics.
