Few things delight more than the terrors of this season, and 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for Halloween Horror at the theater.
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As the air turns crisp and the shadows grow long, horror lovers prepare to break out their favorite Halloween Sweatshirt and cozy up with some of the genre’s biggest cinematic treats.
This year, the lead-up to Halloween is stacked with killer theatrical releases. From franchise juggernauts to bold original visions, the months of September and October promise plenty of pulse-pounding reasons to visit your local cinema. Whether you’re into supernatural showdowns, psychological nightmares, or reimagined monsters, the big screen will be drenched in blood, chills, and thrills.
Here’s your ultimate guide to the most-anticipated horror movies hitting theaters just in time to set the perfect Halloween mood.
The Conjuring: Last Rites (September 5)
Spooky season kicks off early with the return of one of horror’s most beloved and bankable franchises. On September 5, The Conjuring: Last Rites, directed by Michael Chaves, creeps into theaters. While plot details for this fourth installment remain tightly under wraps, Chaves has already proven his mettle in The Conjuring Universe, having previously helmed The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II. Fans can expect his signature blend of eerie atmosphere and shocking set pieces — the perfect way to jumpstart your Halloween horror viewing.
Him (September 19)
Photo credit: Daniel Benavides, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Modern horror maestro Jordan Peele may not be directing this one, but his fingerprints are all over it. Through his production company, Monkeypaw Productions, Peele is bringing us Him, an anti-sports psychological horror film that sounds both chilling and deeply unsettling. Directed by Justin Tipping (Kicks) and starring Marlon Wayans, Him follows a rising young athlete who gets the once-in-a-lifetime chance to train with a legendary star on the verge of retirement — but this mentorship takes a sinister turn. According to Monkeypaw, Him will explore the terrifying price of fame and the soul-shaking pursuit of excellence. Catch it in theaters starting September 19.
The Bride! (September 26)
Universal’s legendary monsters are rising from the grave once again — and this time, it’s the Bride’s turn to shine. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s highly anticipated sophomore directorial effort, The Bride!, hits theaters on September 26. Set in 1930s Chicago, the film reimagines the iconic Bride of Frankenstein tale, following Frankenstein’s monster and Dr. Euphronius as they reanimate a murdered woman — unleashing social upheaval, romance, and a tidal wave of fear. Starring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, this feminist-forward take on the classic promises to breathe new life into a horror legend.
Saw XI (September 26)
For those who like their Halloween scares served with a side of elaborate death traps, Saw XI returns to theaters the very same day. Directed by franchise veteran Kevin Greutert, this next chapter in Jigsaw’s legacy arrives with high expectations after Saw X reinvigorated the series with a brutal and brilliant return to form. While writers Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger are sitting this one out, Greutert’s deep understanding of the Saw universe gives fans hope that the gore-drenched puzzle box will still deliver. Let the games begin — again.
Keeper (October 3)
Fresh off the success of The Monkey, director Oz Perkins (known for his slow-burn, dread-filled style) brings his latest nightmare, Keeper, to theaters on October 3. This psychological chiller follows a woman left alone in a remote cabin after her husband departs, only to find herself stalked by a sinister presence. As the past of the cabin begins to reveal itself, terror takes root. With Neon handling distribution and Perkins’ reputation for atmosphere-heavy horror, Keeper is poised to deliver dread in spades.
The Black Phone 2 (October 17)
Just in time for peak spooky season, the terrifying Grabber returns in The Black Phone 2, landing in theaters on October 17. Four years after Scott Derrickson’s chilling adaptation of Joe Hill’s novella became a surprise box office hit, Ethan Hawke is back to once again haunt our nightmares. The sequel will follow siblings Finney (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) as they reckon with the lingering trauma and sinister echoes of their ordeal. With Joe Hill himself crafting the story, fans can expect a direct follow-up that digs even deeper into the darkness.
There are also a ton, and we do mean a ton, of highly anticipated horror films that do not yet have release dates. We expect many of them to drop toward the end of this year. Stay tuned to our Release Calendar and Coming Soon list for more great titles as release dates are announced.
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