Horror movie recommendations for Halloween 2026

There’s nothing quite like a scary movie to set the mood for a spooky season. Luckily for horror movie fans, the streaming age means the next good jump scare is never more than a few clicks away.

We’ve compiled a list of some great horror movies, many of which are streaming for free on Tubi. Read on…. if you dare. 

Horror movies streaming for free on Tubi

The Descent (2006)

Directed by Neil Marshall ("Game of Thrones," "Hellboy"), "The Descent" is often lauded as one of the best horror films of the last 20 years. It deserves that reputation. Certainly, it is a masterclass in escalating tension that dishes out dread long before the magnitude of the desperate scenario is fully realized. So, what is the premise? Six women who love nothing more than adrenaline-pumping outdoor activities head into the Appalachian Mountains for a thrill-seeking spelunking adventure. Soon, old wounds are reopened along the very dark way of the cave system, and it isn’t long before matters take a deadly turn. Rated R. 98 minutes. Dir: Neil Marshall. Featuring: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, MyAnna Buring, Nora-Jane Noone, Oliver Milburn.

Season of the Witch (1972)

Groundbreaking horror auteur George A. Romero turns his gaze from the zombies of "Night of the Living Dead" to a friendly neighborhood coven. A bored housewife begins to explore both extramarital sex and witchcraft as an escape from life’s tedium. Thought lost for years, "Season of the Witch" was restored for this release. Rated R. 89 minutes. Dir: George A. Romero. Featuring: Jan White, Ray Laine.

Shivers (1975)

"One of the first films from groundbreaking body horror auteur David Cronenberg, "Shivers" (also called "They Came From Within," among other titles) includes an unusually direct warning at the end of its trailer: "If this film doesn’t make you scream and squirm, you’d better see a psychiatrist — quick." And honestly, that’s not bad advice. A scientist in a fancy apartment kills a young woman and then himself, a terrifying occurrence that’s only the beginning of the nightmare "Shivers" conjures. It turns out the not-so-good doctor was experimenting with a lethal parasite, one that turns its host into a bloodthirsty, sexually crazed human wrecking ball. Rated R. 87 minutes. Dir: David Cronenberg. Featuring: Paul Hampton, Joe Silver, Lynn Lowry, Allan Kolman, Susan Petrie.

The House of the Devil (2009)

The economy of storytelling in Ti West’s tribute to horror films of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s is downright elegant, giving the film (and the audience) a chance to breathe in between moments of disturbing violence. Its style is reminiscent of one of the classier proto-slashers, the original "Black Christmas" — another film that manages to be both hushed and shocking. "The House of the Devil" stars Jocelin Donahue as a college student who answers the wrong wanted ad, along with an early role for a pre-fame Greta Gerwig as the BFF with fantastic ‘70s hair and a brutal onscreen death. Rated R. 95 minutes. Dir: Ti West. Also featuring: Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov.

The Stepford Wives (1975)

Even if you’ve never seen this 1970s horror cult classic (or the much-maligned 2004 Nicole Kidman remake), you’re probably familiar with the central premise of "The Stepford Wives": A picture-perfect suburban community where all the wives are docile and subservient. New-to-town photographer Joanna Eberhart (Katharine Ross) is our entry point to the mysterious town of Stepford and its titular wives. And what she finds there offers a pointed message about the pitfalls of patriarchy. (And yes, skip the remake.) Rated PG. 114 minutes. Dir: Bryan Forbes. Featuring: Katharine Ross, Paula Prentiss, Peter Masterson, Tina Louise, Franklin Cover.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Tobe Hooper’s hugely influential horror classic "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" introduced the world to Leatherface and set a new standard for goriness in cinema. The kind of movie you don’t want to watch alone (or on a full stomach). Plus: Cannibals! Rated R. 83 minutes. Dir: Tobe Hooper. Featuring: Marilyn Burns, Teri McMinn, Gunnar Hansen, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain.

The Toxic Avenger (1984)

This cult classic from the genre titans at Troma Entertainment follows a mild-mannered janitor ("98 lbs. of solid nerd") who becomes his city’s superpowered defender after he falls into a vat of toxic waste. "The Toxic Avenger" is a must-see for horror fans, movie fans and toxic waste fans. Rated R. 82 minutes. Dir: Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman. Featuring: Andree Maranda, Mitch Cohen, Jennifer Babtist, Cindy Manion, Robert Prichard.

More free horror movies for Halloween

Heretic (2024)
The X Trilogy (2022-24): X, its prequel Pearl, and its sequel, MaXXXine
Ready or Not (2019)
The Love Witch (2016)
Suspiria (1977)
Re-Animator (1985)
Midsommar (2019)
House (1977)
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
Peeping Tom (1962)
Hereditary (2018)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Hellraiser (1987)
The Wicker Man (1973)
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Christine (1983)

More horror classics

Jaws (1975)

The first blockbuster is still one of the best of its kind, a triumph of storytelling and ingenuity that truly has it all. "Jaws" might be the Swiss Army knife of movies — it works for everything. Looking for a creature feature? A comedy? An action movie? A dramatic character study? A "just three guys on an impossible mission" kind of story? Or are you, perhaps, in the mood for one of the most iconic movie scores of all time, a giant shark named Bruce and a boatload (pun intended) of great performances? Try this Steven Spielberg classic. It’s a film for all seasons (not just the summer). Rated PG. 123 minutes. Dir: Steven Spielberg. Featuring: Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton.

"Jaws" is streaming on Netflix.

Jennifer’s Body (2009)

Wrongly maligned in its time, Karyn Kusama’s inspired horror-comedy has undergone a bit of a cultural re-evaluation in recent years — or, put more plainly, everyone seems to finally be catching onto the fact that "Jennifer’s Body" rules. Megan Fox plays Jennifer, a cheerleader who finds herself in a classic high-school pickle: She’s possessed by a demon and fueled by a drive to feast upon her classmates’ flesh. Amanda Seyfried is her best friend Needy (yes, Needy) who senses that something’s not quite right. It’s a riot. Rated R. 102 minutes. Dir: Karyn Kusama. Also featuring Adam Brody, Johnny Simmons, Chris Pratt, J.K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris.

"Jennifer’s Body" is streaming on Peacock Premium, Hulu, and Starz. 

Slither (2006)

James Gunn’s 2006 dark horror comedy has become a cult classic in the years since its premiere — not bad for a guy making his directorial debut. As you might expect from a movie about sentient alien larvae, it gets pretty gross, but that’s all part of the fun. "The Suicide Squad" cast members Michael Rooker, Nathan Fillion and Sean Gunn (the director’s brother and frequent collaborator) star alongside Elizabeth Banks and Gregg Henry. Read more about what makes "Slither" so good. Rated R. 95 minutes. Dir: James Gunn. Also featuring Tania Saulnier, Jenna Fischer.

"Slither" is available to rent from YouTube and Apple. 

The Evil Dead (1981)

Sam Raimi kicked off what’s arguably the greatest cult franchise of all time (and a decades-long collaboration with actor Bruce Campbell) with this raucous supernatural horror flick, which despite its undeniable influence on the genre and the many copycats it spawned still feels original all these years later. Rated NC-17. 85 minutes. Dir: Sam Raimi. Also featuring Ellen Sandweiss, Richard Demanicor, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly, Ted Raimi.

"The Evil Dead" is available to rent from YouTube and Apple. 

The Guest (2014)

A creepy Dan Stevens stars in this bloody 2014 thriller, in which a family welcomes "an army vet claiming to have served with their dead son" into their home, only to find they’ve opened the door for an absolute bloodbath. Rated R. 100 minutes. Dir: Adam Wingard. Also featuring Sheila Kelley, Maika Monroe, Leland Orser, Lance Reddick, Ethan Embry.

"The Guest" is streaming on Shudder.

Videodrome (1983)

James Woods, Sonja Smit and Blondie’s Debbie Harry star in this lauded David Cronenberg film, which is widely considered a masterpiece of sci-fi body horror. Woods plays the head of a small television station who becomes obsessed with a mysterious broadcast called "Videodrome" — essentially a feed of people being murdered, maimed and tortured. And that’s just the set-up! "Videodrome" isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s essential viewing for anyone interested in horror and Cronenberg’s squicky canon. Rated R. 87 minutes. Dir: David Cronenberg. Also featuring Peter Dvorsky, Leslie Carlson, Jack Creley, Lynne Gorman.

"Videodrome" is streaming on Prime Video. 

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