10 Best Horror Films to Watch on Amazon Prime

Looking for a thrilling night in with a great horror flick? These 10 outstanding genre gems are streaming now for free on Amazon Prime.

In the mood for some creepy crawlies? Whether you’re a fan of gore, ghost stories, found footage, psychological horror, or just the good ol’ jump scares, Amazon Prime’s horror catalog has hundreds of creepy movies to keep you entertained. Even though we can’t experience the thrill of a horror movie in cinemas anytime soon, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy them from the comfort of the living room, and Amazon Prime happens to be one of the best streaming platforms for horror. New titles are added regularly, and even those who have seen their fair share of hair-raising content can find something to impress them.

For even more convenience, you can use the Amazon Fire TV stick, which allows you to stream many channels on TV. If you find that the range of options in your region is a bit lackluster due to geo-blocking, fortunately, there are ways to work around that. For example, you can use a firestick VPN to bypass restrictions and enjoy all the awesome horror content that Amazon has to offer wherever you are.

So, without further ado, let’s have a look at the top 10 horror flicks you can stream on Amazon Prime.

1. Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)

For fans of supernatural horror 

Ju-On: The Grudge is a Japanese horror film that inspired several Western remakes, as well as a Netflix prequel series. It also went on to cement its place in horror history as one of the most iconic haunted house stories.

Set in the Tokyo suburbs, Ju-On tells the spine-chilling stories of the characters who enter a cursed house. It has some of the most unsettling and tense scenes out there. If you’ve seen the American remake, The Grudge (2004, remade again in 2020) but haven’t seen the original film which inspired it, I urge you to check this one out. If you’re not familiar with Japanese horror, this movie will stick with you. But, be warned, many have found it very uncomfortable to watch.

2. Crawl (2019)

For those who love tension and disaster movies

Although it flew a bit under the radar when it came out, Crawl is a fantastic movie for those who like tense, character-driven thrills.

Crawl is about a swimmer (Kaya Scodelario) and her dad, who find themselves trapped inside a flooding house during a Category 5 hurricane in Florida. Not only must they battle the elements, but they also have to survive being hunted by brutal alligators. Taking inspiration from Jaws, but with a claustrophobic feel, Crawl will leave you gripping the edge of your seat.

3. We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

For fans of psychological horror 

Told in splintered, fever-dream sequences, We Need to Talk About Kevin explores a mother’s recollection of her son’s sociopathic and destructive behavior.

Inspired by real-life horror headlines and based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Lionel Shriver, this is a raw, emotional movie about the burdens of parenthood, featuring strong directing from Lynne Ramsay and stellar performances from Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller.

4. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

For fans of comedy horror 

The Cabin in the Woods takes all the cliches you’ve seen in teenager slasher movies and pokes fun at them whilst still managing to give them a deep meaning, turn them upside down, and surprise the viewer at the end.

Featuring a strong cast and several hilarious meta scenes, The Cabin in the Woods is a love letter to the genre. It’s both wickedly funny and terrifying at the same time, with an unforgettable ending.

5. Midsommar (2019)

For fans of heavy, thought-provoking folk horror 

Right off the bat, we should mention that Midsommar comes with quite a strong trigger warning, depicting mental health conditions, such as depression, childhood trauma, and abuse.

The plot follows a couple who travels to a small village in Sweden to enjoy their mid-summer festival, but their vacation quickly spirals into a nightmare as they discover that the festival hides the violent practices of a local cult. It’s the sophomore film from Ari Aster who burst on to the scene with the unforgettable, arthouse indie horror darling, Hereditary. And like his first film, his follow-up caused quite a stir and gave audiences plenty to talk about.

6. The Neon Demon (2016)

For fans of haunting cinematography

When sixteen-year-old model Jesse arrives in Los Angeles, her youth and charm start to attract people like a magnet. And everyone, from fellow models to photographers, wants a piece of her something special.

From the bold and intriguing director Nicolas Winding Refn, this is more than your conventional horror movie. The Neon Demon stands out through its astonishingly surreal cinematography, art-school feel, and trip-hop soundtrack.

7. Children of the Corn (1984)

For fans of suspenseful occult stories 

 This nearly 40-year-old horror classic based on Stephen King’s short story still holds up today.

The movie is about a young couple who is trapped in a small village where the local children are Satan worshippers and kill everyone over the age of 18. Featuring some truly memorable characters and scenes, if you love stories about the occult, this will quickly become one of your favorites.

8. Pet Sematary (2019)

For fans of dark themes and Stephen King 

 While we’re talking about Stephen King adaptations, you have to watch the most recent adaptation of Pet Sematary, which manages to capture the book’s essence and deliver some seriously good scares.

The movie follows the story of a family who moves from the big city to a small town, in a house that happens to sit on an ancient burial ground. When the family’s cat dies, and the father buries it in the graveyard behind the house, they discover that what dies is better left dead.

9. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

For horror movie nerds 

 This 1968 cult classic is as enjoyable to watch now as it was then.

Night of the Living Dead has generated a cult following for its ahead-of-its-time gore, compelling characters, and gut-wrenching ending. It even helped launch its own sub-genre. It’s now widely considered one of the best horror movies ever made. Movie buffs especially love this one because it is, after all, the original zombie movie from the genius mind of the late George A. Romero. But zombie fan or not, this is a near-perfect film that hasn’t lost an ounce of its impact after all these years. It’s perfect for a casual Friday night in.

10. Train to Busan (2016)

For fans of fast-paced survival movies 

Korean classic Train to Busan has a relatively simple premise: a zombie virus breaks out, and the passengers of the train from Seoul to Busan are stuck inside as it happens. But it’s precisely this simplicity that makes the movie work so well.

The fact that everything takes place inside a train makes Train to Busan incredibly scary and claustrophobic, and even though there’s almost no gore, you’ll grip your seat for the entire ride. Director Sang-ho Yeon injected new life into zombie movies and succeeded where dozens of big-budget Hollywood productions failed.

From undisputed classics to modern chillers and exciting new sub-genre interpretations, this list should give you everything you need for a spine-chilling night of exceptional horror.