7 scary movies on Netflix to make your Halloween unforgettable in 2025

Halloween is creeping up faster than a ghost in a dark hallway, and if you’re anything like me, that means one thing. It’s officially time to stockpile scary movies! But not just any scary movies. I'm talking about the ones that really make your heart race and your palms sweat.

Luckily, Netflix has got you covered. From creepy psychological horrors to jump-scare-packed slashers, the streamer is brimming with films that will keep you glued to the screen and make this Halloween one you won’t soon forget.

In this article, we've done the hard work for you and put together a list of seven terrifyingly good horror movies on Netflix that are guaranteed to make your Halloween 2025 truly unforgettable!

Fear Street trilogy (2021)

Even if you skip all the other scary movies on this list, the Fear Street trilogy is an absolute must-watch. You know there's usually one film in a series that falls flat. But every single Fear Street movie in the original trilogy delivers. That's pretty impressive!

The trilogy consists of the films: Fear Street Part One: 1994, Fear Street Part Two: 1978 and Fear Street Part Three: 1666. Each one builds on the story, the scares, and the suspense in its own unique way. But please disregard the most recent movie in the film series, Fear Street: Prom Queen. Now that movie was a complete dud, and it pales in comparison to the original trilogy. You'll be greatly disappointed watching that film.

The Fear Street trilogy is a Netflix horror series based on R.L. Stine’s popular Fear Street books. Set in the fictional town of Shadyside, a town plagued by a centuries-old curse, the films follow a mix of teens, locals, and supernatural forces as they confront the town’s dark and twisted past. Each movie is set in a different time period, yet all three stories are tightly connected, building a chilling narrative across the decades.

In Fear Street Part One: 1994, a group of teenagers finds themselves at the center of a deadly mystery when a series of brutal murders shakes their town, leading them to uncover a dark curse that has haunted Shadyside for generations. The second film, Fear Street Part Two: 1978, takes place at Camp Nightwing during a summer filled with terrifying events, where teens and counselors face deadly threats. In this film, we learn more about the origins of Shadyside’s sinister curse.

Last but not least is Fear Street Part Three: 1666, which takes the story back even further to the 17th century, revealing the beginnings of the town’s horrific curse and the dark forces that have plagued Shadyside for centuries. It ties together the events of the first two films in a chilling finale.

The cast included talented actors such as Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Maya Hawke, Sadie Sink, Emily Rudd, Gillian Jacobs, and many others.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)

Up next is I Know What You Did Last Summer. This movie is not to be mistaken for the 1998 classic. It's a legacy sequel. While it might not have necessarily been a horror film loved by critics, most regular moviegoers found it to be entertaining and a pretty solid slasher.

Fans of the franchise will be glad to know that this sequel brought back three OG characters. Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. reprised their iconic roles as Julie James and Ray Bronson. I'm not going to spoil who the third original character is because it's revealed at the end of the film. You'll have to watch it yourself to find out!

I Know What You Did Last Summer is set up the same way as the original movie. It takes viewers back to the small town of Southport, where a group of friends becomes haunted by a deadly secret after a tragic accident, forcing them to confront their past as a mysterious figure begins stalking them one year later. Besides Hewitt and Prinze Jr., the cast includes Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, and others.

Smile (2022)

When you're talking about some of the most disturbing horror films of recent years, Smile should immediately come to mind. I mean, this movie is just plain ole creepy, with its unnerving imagery and slow-building tension. It had every horror fan talking when it was released in theaters in 2022, and it's easy to see why. That freaky smile curse!

Smile revolves around Dr. Rose Cotter, a therapist who becomes haunted by a malevolent force after witnessing a patient’s terrifying death. As the sinister presence begins to follow her, Rose must confront her own fears and unravel the curse before it claims her sanity and her life. Sosie Bacon takes on the role of Rose. The rest of the cast is made up of Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Kal Penn, Rob Morgan, Robin Weigert, Caitlin Stasey, Judy Reyes, Gillian Zinser, and others.

Until Dawn (2025)

Until Dawn might not be a direct adaptation of the popular video game, but I'd argue it captures the same tense, horror-filled atmosphere and branching storylines that made the game such a hit.

Directed by David F. Sandberg from a screenplay co-written by Gary Dauberman and Blair Butler, the film adaptation follows a group of friends who venture into a remote valley to search for a missing sibling, only to become trapped in a terrifying time loop where supernatural forces and their own darkest fears relentlessly test their courage, trust, and will to survive.

Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Odessa A'zion, Ji-young Yoo, Belmont Cameli, and Maia Mitchell make up the cast. Peter Stormare, who voiced Dr. Alan Hill in the original video game, reprises this iconic role in the film. Like all the other movies on this list besides the Fear Street trilogy, Until Dawn will eventually depart Netflix. So, make sure you watch it as soon as possible!

Heart Eyes (2025)

Another great slasher to watch on Netflix this Halloween is Heart Eyes. But be warned! This movie is pretty gory with plenty of blood-soaked scenes. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. But for those looking for a thrill, this movie will provide just that. I'd save it for last to really end your Halloween night off with a bang!

Heart Eyes takes place on Valentine’s Day, following Ally McCabe and her colleague Jay Simmonds as they are mistaken for a couple by the masked Heart Eyes Killer, forcing them to survive a night of escalating terror and brutal attacks.

Olivia Holt stars as Ally, while Mason Gooding plays Jay. Both deliver strong performances, which shouldn't be surprising given that they are both known for their work in the horror field. Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa, Jordana Brewster, and many others are also in the cast.