Variety Names 14 Top Horror Films of 2025, Plus Five Honorable Mentions
Variety’s 2025 horror list features bold storytelling, striking visuals, and surprises, led by Sinners and The Shrouds, with five honorable mentions to note.
Variety has published its annual ranking of the best horror films for 2025, highlighting a standout year for the genre. The list blends big releases with intimate, artistically driven titles, and it counts films by their 2025 US release date even if they premiered earlier in other regions.
- Sinners (2025) — Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film features Michael B. Jordan in a dual role. Critics call it Coogler’s strongest work to date, praising its stylish visuals and precise craftsmanship.
- Weapons (2025) — A large-scale horror from Zak Crager about the nature of evil in a small town. The cast includes Josh Brolin and Julia Garner, with tense direction and a shocking ending.
- The Shrouds (2024) — From David Cronenberg, a story about a man who installs cameras in tombs so relatives can watch decomposition in real time. It blends philosophy with body horror and explores death, technology, and corporate scheming.
- Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025) — A fresh entry in the famous franchise that delivers familiar thrills with new twists and high-stakes suspense.
- Companion (2025) — A moody, atmospheric thriller that centers on an enigmatic figure whose presence unsettles a tight-knit community.
- 28 Years Later (2025) — The return of the zombie saga by Danny Boyle, partially filmed on an iPhone, bringing a contemporary look to a familiar premise.
- Together (2025) — A tightly wound thriller that pairs claustrophobic tension with a strong cast and sharp pacing.
- I Love You Forever (2024) — A dramatic horror that delves into love, memory, and the cost of obsession.
- The Monkey (2025) — A darkly comic horror from Osbourne (Osgood) Perkins about misused technology and unchecked ambition.
- Dead Mail (2024) — A mysterious thriller built around forgotten letters that spiral into danger and secrets.
- Happiness for Everyone (Mina ni sachi are, 2023) — A Japanese-language drama with horror elements; the title translates to “Happiness for Everyone,” offering a thoughtful, compassionate perspective within the genre.
- Heart Eyes (2025) — A stylish romance-horror hybrid that examines desire, perception, and the darker side of affection.
- Presence (2024) — A tense, atmospheric piece about what lingers after a frightening event and how memory can haunt the living.
- The Toxic Avenger (2023) — A modern reboot of the cult classic, blending dark humor with brutal, over-the-top horror.
In addition to the main top 14, Variety highlights five “honorable mentions” that didn’t make the list but are still noteworthy for 2025 audiences. These include a dramatic horror about revival, a clever slasher, a fast-paced thriller, an animated project, and a short that reimagines a classic villain.
- Bring Her Back from the Dead (drama horror)
- Bloody Harvest (slasher)
- Drop (thriller)
- Predator: Killer of Killers (animated)
- Sweet Revenge (short about Jason Voorheez)
Earlier, Variety also named top TV shows and films of 2025, with other outlets such as Empire, IndieWire, Esquire, Rolling Stone, and Cahiers du cinéma releasing their own lists.
Expert commentary
Expert comment: “This year’s horror lineup shows a shift toward more distinctive ideas and stronger production design,” says Dr. Lena Chen, film critic at CineGuide. “Audiences are hungry for originality and emotional range, not just scares.”
Summary
Variety’s 2025 horror list covers a wide range of styles, from psychological thrillers to body horror and inventive thrillers. The selections emphasize performances, visual craft, and fresh storytelling, including international titles that broaden the genre’s appeal. The five honorable mentions point to a year rich with ideas and bold directions that nearly made the main list.
Key insight: 2025 proves that horror thrives when filmmakers combine originality with bold, cinematic visuals.
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