10 Greatest Horror Movies Since ‘Hereditary,’ Ranked

When Hereditary came out in 2018, it was unlike most horror films. Ari Aster built a tense family drama that slowly pulled you in until it completely broke you. That “head and pole” scene became an instant classic, and from there, everything just kept getting darker as the supernatural side of the story took over. It truly felt like our generation’s The Exorcist or The Shining.

Since then, the horror genre has tried to chase the same highs. There have been plenty of misses, but also a few that managed to capture that same dreary feeling and emotional gut punch that made Hereditary so iconic. These are the 10 best horror movies that have come out since Hereditary.

10

‘Evil Dead Rise’ (2023)

Image via Warner Bros.

Evil Dead Rise takes the classic Evil Dead formula and turns it into a modern nightmare. Instead of a cabin in the woods, this time it’s an apartment complex. A mother becomes possessed, and her kids are trapped inside with her, which instantly calls back to Hereditary.

This movie is loud, bloody, and sometimes even funny in that twisted Evil Dead way. Alyssa Sutherland completely owns the film as the possessed mother. She’s just as terrifying as Toni Collette in Hereditary, but even more unhinged and unpredictable. Her performance feels closer to the evil presence in The Exorcist, full of filth, mockery, and cruelty.

9

‘Longlegs’ (2024)

Longlegs stands at a bus stop in the snow in Longlegs.

Longlegs is one of the creepiest serial killer thrillers in years. Nicolas Cage gives a chilling, almost unrecognizable performance as a disturbed killer who feels both human and supernatural. He easily ranks up there with Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) and Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) as one of the most striking serial killers in modern cinema.

The film feels like something you’d get if you combined The Exorcist with Se7en. Every scene feels cursed, like you’re watching something you shouldn’t, and there’s this constant tension that something awful is about to happen. The film also uses wide camera angles that make you paranoid of every corner and shadow. You start staring at the background instead of the characters, waiting for something to move that shouldn’t. It’s the same trick Hereditary pulled when the mother was crawling on the walls, and it works just as well here.

8

‘X’ (2022)

Jenna Ortega as Lorraine screaming with an injured hand in X (2022)

A24’s X is a modern slasher masterpiece that feels like a love letter to classic horror while pushing the genre to new heights. Set in 1979, it follows a group of young filmmakers who head to a remote Texas farm to shoot an adult film. But when the elderly farm owners catch them in the act, things quickly turn bloody as the crew fights to survive the night.

It’s everything a slasher fan could ask for, with plenty of blood, sex, and brutal kills. Eliot Rockett’s cinematography makes every scene feel cinematic. The film also brings together two of the best modern horror icons, Mia Goth and Jenna Ortega, who both deliver standout performances. X is a rare gem that fires on all cylinders and proves the slasher genre still has plenty of life left in it.

7

‘The Substance’ (2024)

Elisabeth Sparkle, played by actor Demi Moore, holds a snowglobe in her hands and looks depressed in The Substance.

The Substance tells the story of a fading Hollywood actress who discovers a mysterious new beauty treatment that promises to restore youth and perfection. The catch is that it literally creates a younger version of her that sprouts out from her body, and both versions can’t exist at the same time. This scenario quickly turns into a nightmare as the two selves begin to fight for control.

The film won the Oscar for Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling, and it’s easy to see why. The practical and prosthetic effects are nauseating to look at. When the younger version of the actress finally tears her way out of the older one’s body, it’s every bit as horrifying as it sounds. The Substance was also nominated for Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and even Best Film of the Year. That’s a huge achievement for a horror film, since the genre is largely overlooked at the Oscars.

6

‘Together’ (2025)

Together has one of the most unique concepts ever done in a horror film. It stars real-life married actors Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple who move to the countryside, hoping to fix their struggling relationship. There, they encounter a supernatural force that causes their bodies to literally merge into one another.

The film makes full use of this bizarre and haunting idea. There’s a sex scene where their bodies start blending together, and it’s pure nightmare fuel. The film also features one of the most terrifying shower scenes in a horror film since Psycho. But beneath all the body horror, though, is a surprisingly deep story about love, co-dependency, and how relationships can sometimes swallow people whole.

5

‘Barbarian’ (2022)

Justin Long in Barbarian (2022) — Justin Long retrieves a package in Barbarian.

Barbarian starts with a simple setup about a woman renting an Airbnb, but when she gets there, it turns out the place has been double-booked, and a guy is already staying there. With nowhere else to go, she reluctantly decides to spend the night. And in classic horror movie fashion, that’s when things go downhill fast.

The film introduces every horror cliché you can think of, only to flip them on their head halfway through. It plays with structure in a way that feels almost Tarantino-esque. Its perspective twists are some of the most daring and effective ever done, right up there with Psycho and Alien. And just when you think you’ve figured it out, the film changes direction again. So, if you feel like most new horror movies all kind of blend together, Barbarian will wake you right up.

4

‘Talk to Me’ (2022)

Sophie Wilde as Mia being possessed, with her head tipped back and mouth open in Talk to Me.

Talk to Me is one of the most exciting horror debuts in years. Directed by YouTubers turned filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, it starts off like a teen party movie where a group of friends play with an embalmed hand that lets them see and get possessed by spirits. It’s treated like a fun party trick, and everyone films each other’s possessions for social media. The only rule is to let go before 90 seconds, or the spirits will want to stay.

The shift from fun to horror in Talk to Me hits you like a ton of bricks. Remember that scene in Hereditary where Peter (Alex Wolff) slams his head on the school desk? Talk to Me has a similar scene, but it’s infinitely more intense and terrifying. It’s the moment the film stops being fun and becomes a full-blown nightmare. And just like Hereditary, it’s not just the scares that get you, it’s the emotional fallout. The horror of teens messing up and having to face the guilt, the parents, and the realization that there’s no going back.

3

‘Midsommar’ (2019)

Florence Pugh as Dani, wearing a flower crown and holding a stick with another woman in 'Midsommar' — Florence Pugh as Dani, wearing a flower crown and holding a stick with another woman in ‘Midsommar’

Midsommar was Aster’s follow-up to Hereditary, and it proved that he wasn’t a one-hit wonder. The film follows a group of Americans who travel to a remote village in Sweden to attend a Midsummer festival. However, their trip turns into a horrifying nightmare as they become unwilling participants in increasingly violent and bizarre pagan rituals.

Where Hereditary was dark and claustrophobic, Midsommar is its complete opposite in tone. It’s all sunshine, flowers, and dancing villagers, but you can just tell that something is very off. What makes it so effective is that the horror happens right there in the open, surrounded by smiling people in broad daylight. It messes with your instincts. We’re used to thinking daylight and people mean safety, but Midsommar turns both into pure dread. Midsommar is also one of the most visually stunning horror films ever made. It’s filled with soft pastel colors and dreamlike imagery that contrast beautifully with the gore. So, when the film gets bloody, it’s even more haunting.

2

‘Sinners’ (2025)

Sinners is the ultimate vampire movie that finally brings blood and real horror back to the genre after years of watered-down versions like Twilight and Morbius. It starts as a period gangster drama set in 1932 Mississippi, following two twin brothers who return home after a life of crime. They plan to start over by turning an old sawmill into a juke joint, but their fresh start turns into a nightmare when vampires arrive at their grand opening uninvited.

Music plays a huge role in Sinners. It becomes a bridge between life and death, and the film uses that premise to create one of the most hypnotic, transcendent, and euphoric one-take scenes ever put on screen. The vampires are genuinely terrifying. Jack O’Connell gives a haunting performance as the main antagonist that’s sure to land him in the Best Supporting Actor race. Michael B. Jordan is just as impressive in his dual role as the twins and makes you forget that both characters are played by the same person. From the stunning cinematography to the music to the screenplay, Sinners is a film that’s a straight 10/10 in every department.

1

‘Weapons’ (2025)

Josh Brolin as Archer standing up in a school auditorium in Weapons.

Coming from Zach Cregger, the same director behind Barbarian, Weapons hooks you from the very first frame and sticks with you long after the credits roll. It starts with a montage and voiceover explaining that one random night at 2:17 a.m., 17 children from the same classroom suddenly got out of bed and ran out of their homes, never to be seen again. From there, the story picks up a month later and shows the aftermath through multiple perspectives. Each one adds a new piece to the puzzle until everything comes together in one nerve-wracking finale.

The film is packed with twists that keep you guessing all the way through. It also plays with perspective brilliantly. You’ll see one scene through a character’s eyes, then watch the same moment again later from someone else’s point of view, and it recontextualizes what you thought before. And then there’s Aunt Gladys (Amy Madigan), easily one of the creepiest, most unforgettable horror characters in years. She left such a mark that she’s already getting her own prequel movie.