We’re shaking things up. As usual, the start of a new month means it’s time for the Nerd’s Watch, the place to find out all the best genre titles coming to Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, and more. However, while we usually cover all manner of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and genre films, this month, we’re going full horror. It’s all scary, all the time.
What follows is a list of the best horror content coming to all the big streaming services. We pore over those long, annoying, copy-and-pasted lists and whittle them down to a few dozen titles that we think are noteworthy this month. And this is just a sampling. There’s a lot this month. So beyond these, definitely do some digging, but these are the films and shows we think are perfect for this spooky season.
Evil Dead (Netflix on October 1)
The one that started it all. The franchise, the careers of Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi—take your pick. A perfect blend of gore, scares, and humor.
Friday the 13th movies (Netflix, HBO Max, Peacock, and Pluto TV on October 1)
With his mom getting her very own TV series this month (more on that below), there are a lot of Jason movies coming to streaming. The original is arriving on Netflix, HBO Max, and Peacock. Peacock is also getting parts two and three. And Pluto is getting eight of them. Plenty of hockey masks to go around.
The Psycho Trilogy (Netflix on October 1)
While there’s simply no touching Alfred Hitchcock’s original Psycho, if you want, you can follow Norman Bates (played by Anthony Perkins) on two more horrific adventures as well.
The Twilight Saga (Netflix on October 1)
There’s “horror,” and then there’s “gateway horror.” Gateway horror is often a story that has horror elements—like vampires or werewolves—but isn’t exactly scary, to get people cool with the idea. The Twilight films, all of which are coming to Netflix, are a solid example of that. Sure, they’re more cheesy romance, but there are some decapitations along the way.
Barbarian (Hulu on October 1)
Before Resident Evil and Weapons, Zach Cregger threw down the gauntlet with this shocking, scary horror film about what lies beneath an Airbnb that two random people both book at the same time.
The Substance (Hulu on October 2)
One of the best horror films in recent memory follows Demi Moore taking a substance that allows her body to pop out a younger version of herself. Which, of course, is totally normal and surely nothing will go wrong.
Hereditary and Midsommar (Hulu on October 3)
Ari Aster fans unite. Two of the talented, polarizing filmmakers’ most beloved films are both coming to Hulu, and while each is very different, they’re both horrific in their own ways. Highly recommended.
Hokum (Hulu on October 10)
To be honest, we have yet to see the brand new Adam Scott horror movie, but since this list is mostly older, classic stuff, we thought it would be worth it to add a new 2026 movie to it as well.
A Nightmare on Elm Street movies (HBO Max on October 1)
If Jason is coming out to play this October, Freddy has to join him too. Max is adding most of the films in the franchise—parts 1 through five, Freddy vs. Jason, and the 2010 remake—to its service to make sure you never sleep again.
Coraline (HBO Max and Peacock on October 1)
A young girl is tempted by an alternate universe found in her family’s new house in this beautiful, creepy, but ultimately family-friendly stop-motion animated film from Laika.
Poltergeist (HBO Max on October 1)
We all have those movies that we saw way too young and were way too scary. For me, that was Poltergeist. The images of Carol Ann being sucked into the TV have stuck with me forever and, watching it again, it’s shocking just how epic things get beyond that. A must-revisit Halloween tradition.
The Exorcist (HBO Max on October 1)
One of the best horror films ever made follows the story of a young girl possessed by a demon, and the priest tasked with getting the demon out. A true classic.
The Shining (HBO Max on October 1)
Speaking of classics, Stanley Kubrick’s interpretation of Stephen King’s novel might not be King’s favorite film, but it’s one of ours. Jack Nicholson is unforgettable as the father who tries to kill his family in a remote hotel.
Trick ‘r Treat (HBO Max on October 1)
Every few years, we get a new horror icon to join the likes of Jason, Freddy, Michael, and Leatherface. There’s Chucky, there’s Art, and in 2007 we got Sam, a creepy kid with a pumpkin mask that links four unsettling stories together in this solid little horror film.
American Psycho (Peacock on October 1)
We love horror that comes from unexpected places, and this adaptation of a Bret Easton Ellis novel starring Christian Bale is just that. It follows a serial killer who just so happens to spend his days as a powerful businessman.
The Blade Trilogy (Peacock on October 1)
You don’t get many intersections of “horror” and “superhero,” but the best example is Blade. Wesley Snipes stars as the vampire-hunting character whose three movies are all on Peacock. He then made a surprise return in Deadpool and Wolverine.
Death Becomes Her (Peacock on October 1)
The horror comedy is also a very difficult mash-up to nail, but few films do it as well as this star-studded 1992 Robert Zemeckis film that blends incredible effects, body horror, and infinite charisma.
The Fly (Peacock on October 1)
How could we do a list of horror films streaming in October and not have a little David Cronenberg on there? And why not go with maybe his most famous horror film, starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis?
From Dusk Till Dawn (Peacock on October 1)
A script by Quentin Tarantino. Directed by Robert Rodriguez. George Clooney. Salma Hayek. Vampires. And one of our favorite endings of all time. Yeah, we love From Dusk Till Dawn.
The Omen (Peacock on October 1)
The Antichrist rises in this excellent horror film starring Gregory Peck that started a pretty solid little franchise. This original, though, is hard to top.
Paranormal Activity films (Peacock and Pluto TV on October 1)
What? You thought you forgot about found footage? Think again. The first three Paranormal Activity films are coming to Peacock, and Pluto has even more. These are just simple, terrifying, and awesome.
Scream movies (Peacock and Pluto TV on October 1)
Certain movies mark a change and evolution of the horror genre. Night of the Living Dead. The original Halloween. The Blair Witch Project. And, definitely, Wes Craven’s 1996 Scream, which is coming to Peacock along with two sequels, while Pluto is getting a few additional ones.
The Silence of the Lambs (Peacock on October 1)
Even the best horror films rarely get love from major awards bodies, but there are certain films that transcend even that. Case in point: Jonathan Demme’s masterpiece, The Silence of the Lambs, which won all four major Oscars and popularized a new horror icon in serial killer Hannibal Lecter.
Crystal Lake (Peacock on October 15)
What were Jason and his mom like before he drowned in a lake and she killed all the counselors at his camp? We assume that’s a part of this brand new show, which marks the first original Friday the 13th story in a long, long time. We’re hearing things get wild, and we can’t wait to watch. All episodes drop on the same day.
It Follows (Paramount+ on October 1)
With a sequel coming next year, now is a perfect time to revisit this super-scary film about an entity that will never stop hunting you until it kills you. There’s obviously more to it than that, but that thought still haunts us to this day.
Want more io9 news? Check out the best movies and TV shows to stream this month and all the upcoming sci-fi, fantasy, and horror books that should be on your radar.
