So far, 2025 has already seen its fair share of unsettlingly thrilling releases on the big screen,
but there is still a long lineup of anticipated movies yet to be released. Some of these 2025 releases have already created an intoxicating buzz throughout the community upon their premieres and deserve their respective praises not only for the terrifying entertainment but for the impressive nature behind the creation of these grotesque experiences. This is why these 5 distinctive horror movies are highlighted on the basis of the impressive experiences they’ve presented or are soon expected to present to their audiences. With the multitude of other horror movies set to be released this year, fans can be sure that there will be no lack of originally macabre experiences presented on screen in 2025.
“Sinners” was written and directed by award-winning filmmaker and local Sacramento State University alumni, Ryan Coogler. Since its release in April, the movie has risen in popularity as it grossed $48 million opening weekend making it set the record of the most successful debut weekend for an original film this decade. The movie takes place in 1932 and follows twin brothers played by Michael B. Jordan as they return to their hometown to escape the sins of their past and create a juke joint for their community in the Mississippi Delta. Their younger cousin Sammie, played by Miles Caton in his debut role, follows them on this journey as they use his musical abilities to curate the perfect night of freedom until they are confronted and infected by another supernatural evil. Coogler has described this movie as navigating the “human condition” as well as an eclectic range of influences including Metallica’s song “One” not just in theme but also in the format pacing of the movie. The movie additionally navigates the power of community, especially through self-expression like music, the cycles of subjugation and the complex meanings and easy descents into sin. In addition to the numerous powerful themes mentioned the movie portrays an intoxicating vampyric representation which incorporates classic tropes and gothic aspects such as the use of meticulous erotic scenes to build on the complexities of characters. Overall, the movie takes the audience on a twisted journey that ends with a satisfying full circle ending for their favorite characters, just make sure to stay for the end credit scene to receive this closure. The movie is currently still in theaters and due to the popularity, it likely will remain for a while, but this is definitely a movie audiences won’t want to miss out on.
“HIM” is an upcoming football-themed horror movie produced by the successful horror movie director Jordan Peele and directed by Justin Tipping. Audiences were immediately exposed to the disturbing and intriguingly grotesque visuals through the recent trailer that is being played at recent horror movies such as “Sinners.” The movie follows a young football star named Cameron Cade, played by Tyriq Withers, who has dedicated his life to the sport until he suffers from a severe brain injury. With this crucial halt in his life, Cade decides to seek guidance from legendary football star Isaiah White, played by Marlon Wayans, who invites him to his secluded compound for training. There, Cade is taken on a disturbing journey that introduces him to the dark secrets of desire, fame and ambition. With the trailer itself leaving a level of mystique about what Cade is exactly introduced to, the flashing visuals of sinister supernatural icons, morally grey scenarios and violent displays of desire leave audiences in wonder about what kind of journey they’ll be taken on. The movie is described to cover themes that explore the aspects of fame, the realities of idolatry and the pursuit of excellence no matter the cost. With an already stacked cast and directing team, this movie is bound to be a powerful and distorted journey of horror upon its release date on Sept. 19.
“Companion” was released on Jan. 31 and embodied a Valentine’s spirit for audiences that watched it during that holiday season. However, this love story has a sinister twist as a group of friends and their partners go on a weekend getaway at a remote cabin where it’s revealed that one of the guests is an android built for human companionship. Once this realization comes to light, a myriad of other secrets emerge which inspire the friends group to hunt down our main character, Iris. This manhunt consists of gory kills and thrilling suspense as we follow Iris on her desired journey to freedom. Despite the physical journey the audience is taken on, they are also following Iris on her journey of self-discovery as she learns to live a life de-centered from men and breaks from her former subservient nature. A level of representation is presented in terms of women’s experiences in traditional relationship roles as well as the inclusion of an LGBTQ+ couple in the main friend group. The themes of power dynamics in relationships, the societal changes of a woman’s “purpose” in relationships and the growing disturbing nature of human and AI relationships are presented throughout this fight for survival. The movie is described as a social thriller with a level of physiological thrill, but the human nature of the killings creates a slasher-type atmosphere. Overall, the multiple unexpected plot twists and the physiological abuse overcome by our main character make this movie an empowering and fascinating story of survival. Even though the movie is no longer playing in theaters, it’s available for subscribers on platforms like Max and is definitely worth the at-home watch.
“28 Years Later” is a post-apocalyptic thriller from director Danny Boyle, that takes place three decades after the events of its prequel “28 Days Later” in which a “rage virus” escaped from a biological weapons laboratory and infected England. Now, survivors are forced to live in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine to escape the infected, however, some have found ways to live amid them. The story follows one group of survivors who live on a small island connected to the mainland by a heavily guarded causeway, but when one of them decides to venture into the mainland he’s faced with the horrors of both those infected and those who survived. The gory and animalistic nature of this virus is sure to provide some truly grotesque kills and displays of violence on this exploration of human behaviors. Even though there is still a level of mystery surrounding the exact brutality faced by the newfound society on the mainland, visuals of skulls piled stories tall and a priest rejoicing in his “judgement day” seconds before getting torn apart by infected humans prove that the journey may become morally deeper than expected.
Pictures released from the set display Angus Niell who plays an “emaciated infected” and the impressive practical effects used to make up his undead appearance. With the cast including big names such as Ralph Fiennes, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and “Sinners” star Jack O’Connell, fans can expect intense performances as their characters navigate their journey of survival. Horror fans can catch this movie on June 20 where it will be released in theaters. This sequel will portray a world with a harrowing story of human survival and the disturbed realistic deformation of society coming to light under extreme violence.
“Weapons” is an upcoming mystery horror movie written, directed and produced by Zach Cregger and set to release August 8. in theaters. Cregger became famous in the horror community for his original movie “Barbarian” and has now returned with this chilling fictitious story loosely based on some personal experiences and real-life cases of missing children. The story follows a small community that experiences a night when seventeen children mysteriously leave their beds and disappear in the middle of the night. Now chaos erupts as frantic parents and community members deal with the mystery and after-effects of this night. Josh Brolin plays Archer Graff, one of the parents investigating the disappearance of his child, while actress Julia Garner plays Justine Gandy, the teacher of the missing children who is now facing conspiracies on her alleged involvement in the disappearances. The trailer introduces this mystery as well as providing creepy dreams featuring the children in Gandy’s psychological torment, unusually violent scenarios occurring throughout the community and the narration of a child adding to the intensely intimate realities of the situation. This movie has not only created a buzz in the horror community due to the mystique of its plot, but also because of the behind-the-scenes buzz that occurred due to a bidding war for the production of this movie two years ago. Multiple production companies were involved in a fierce bidding war over the movie, including horror icon Jordan Peele who lost to Warner Bros/New Line for a total of $38 million. Between the behind the scenes buzz and the excitement following the intriguing new trailer, many fans are already keeping an eye out for this upcoming suspenseful mystery.
Besides the top five movies chosen, there is an additional number of horror movies in 2025 that deserve honorable mentions. Starting with Oz Perkins’s “The Monkey” which was a comedic take on a short story by Stephen King. Perkins’s version stars Theo James as a man haunted by a drum-playing toy monkey that brings horrific death to those closest in his life with every beat on his drum. Besides the anti-climactic ending the humorous nature of each kill created a disturbingly fun atmosphere that literally laughed in the face of death.
Another unusually fun horror movie of this year was A24’s “Death of a Unicorn” which featured a star-studded cast including Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father-daughter duo. The story follows this duo as they travel to a management retreat but hit an unusual horse-shaped object on the drive up to this remote location which leads to the creature being tested on and used for the healing powers of its blood. From there the movie descends into a comical chaos introducing an interesting and realistic take on historical unicorn folklore, commentary on the corporate greed of the wealthy, a never before seen side of the beloved unicorn as it impales people on its glowing horn and a happy ending with themes such as love and the sanctity of the natural world.
Additionally, actor and musician Finn Wolfhard released his directorial debut and co-written horror called, “Hell of a Summer.” This lighthearted slasher follows a group of young counselors returning for another summer at Camp Pineway only to encounter a night of slasher survival. One of the most entertaining factors of this movie is the range of eclectic characters with everything from a kindhearted medium to a himbo just looking for a good time. Although this movie was originally released at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, it was officially released to U.S. audiences in theaters on April 4. Even though the kills and horror felt more mild, the humorous interactions between characters, fun plot twists and gen-z comedic take on this classic horror trope created a feel-good horror that’s worth the watch. While all of these movies may not have been striking enough to make the top 5, they still introduced an original unsettling experience that deserves its praise.
There are also a number of sequels coming out this year to continue the horror of their respective series. The popular 90s horror movie “I Know What You Did Last Summer” will return to theaters with another addition to the series this summer on July 18, under the same title as the original. This version seems to feature the same killer and reasoning as the original movie, but with the return of Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt there is a mystique around how this plot will create something new from the original ideals. There will also be a number of long-running horror series that will return this year to release their newest additions. “Final Destination: Bloodlines” returns to theaters on May 16, 2025 with new anxiety-inducing kills as well as “The Conjuring: Last Rites” on September 5, 2025 to introduce the paranormal investigating couple’s newest case. Additionally, the popular teen slasher series “Fear Street” will return with a retelling of RL Stine’s 15th book with “Fear Street: Prom Queen” on May 23, 2025 as they return to the roots of horror with an entertaining 80’s-themed high school slaughter. Lastly, “The Black Phone” gained popularity with its 2021 release, with a story about a 13-year-old boy being abducted by a sadistic serial killer and forced to teach himself to escape using the voices of the previous victims through a mysterious black phone. Now a sequel is being teased and even though little information about its plot and killer have been released, fans can expect this release on Oct. 17, 2025, to return to the 70s and brave the new unexpected horrors.
With the multitude of exhilarating horror films released and to be released in 2025, fans can be sure that there is no shortage of terrifying new movie nights to enjoy. Those who may have missed one of the brilliant horror movies in theaters should be encouraged to still experience the thrill at home. But for those nightmarish experiences still to come in 2025, fans should make sure to keep up with their theater and streaming releases as these movies are definitely worth the watch.
