We rated the scariness of the 14 biggest horror movies of 2026 (so far) — including 'Obsession,' 'Backrooms,' 'Scream 7' and more
If you’re looking for a new horror movie that will have you watching from behind the sofa and sleeping with the light on for days (maybe weeks) afterwards, you’ve come to the right place.
I’m Rory Mellon, one of the biggest horror fanatics at Tom’s Guide, and I’ve roped in my colleague Alix Blackburn, who is also a dedicated genre superfan, to look over the biggest scary movies released in 2026 (so far) and rate them based on a single aspect: how much they truly scared us.
We’re not rating these new releases based on overall quality (though a good horror movie should be at least somewhat scary), but rather based on how much they got our heart rates racing, palms sweating, and even a little terrified about what haunting sight would appear on-screen next.
So, if you want to watch a horror movie that will give you that (oddly enjoyable) spooked-out feeling, here’s how every major new entry in the genre released this year stacks up. Be prepared to be seriously scared!
‘Primate’
A beloved family pet turning feral is definitely a great recipe for scares, and while “Primate” doesn’t do much new with the concept, it echoes real-life tragedy, which I found impactful. — Rory Mellon
“Primate” triggered a different kind of fear in me because I’m a little bit scared of chimpanzees. This movie leans far more into visceral carnage and shock than anything else, and while it’s not the scariest film I’ve seen in 2026, its dread comes from watching Ben go on a relentless rampage. It made me uncomfortable. — Alix Blackburn
Watch "Primate" on Paramount+ now
‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’
Jack O’Connell’s unhinged performance as psychopathic Satanist Jimmy Crystal injects plenty of fear into this criminally overlooked zombie apocalypse sequel. — Rory Mellon
The real horror in this sequel stems from the sadistic behavior of the central cult, a horror trope that's always unnerved me, along with the heavy graphic violence that's often tough to stomach. "Bone Temple" is a real bone-chiller. — Alix Blackburn
Watch "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" on Netflix now
‘Return to Silent Hill’
“Return to Silent Hill” didn’t scare me for even a second. I was too preoccupied with being furious at how the filmmakers had butchered one of gaming’s greatest horror experiences. — Rory Mellon
Much like Rory, I don’t have much else to add about “Return to Silent Hill.” I’d highly recommend checking out the game instead if you can, because it delivers a true horror experience. This film, on the other hand, feels more like a comedy (seriously, you’ll laugh). — Alix Blackburn
Watch "Return to Silent Hill" on Hulu now
‘Iron Lung’
“Iron Lung” definitely builds some spooky momentum in its early portion, but the bloated two-hour runtime had me feeling more exhausted than scared roughly halfway through. — Rory Mellon
Markiplier’s direct adaptation of the indie sci-fi horror game “Iron Lung” offers an interesting concept driven mainly by psychological tension, but I didn’t find it particularly scary, with the only moments that really worked being the intense claustrophobia. — Alix Blackburn
Watch "Iron Lung" on YouTube Movies now
‘The Strangers – Chapter 3’
A terrible capper on a truly wretched trilogy. Maybe the only aspect of “The Strangers Chapter 3” that I found scary was realizing how much time I’d wasted watching all three. — Rory Mellon
I’m genuinely still baffled that this “Strangers” trilogy even exists, because it’s one of the worst additions to the horror genre. Chapter 3 is the least scary entry in the franchise, attempting to transform a survival slasher into a darker psychological thriller, but it fails spectacularly on every level. I thought the strangers were supposed to be strangers? — Alix Blackburn
Watch "The Strangers – Chapter 3" on Philo now
‘Scream 7’
The “Scream” series has never really been about scaring its audiences; instead, it’s a tribute to popular slasher tropes. “Scream 7” is no different, and this time the storyline is garbage. — Rory Mellon
Slasher films have never been my favorite subgenre of horror, but when done right, they can be savage. “Scream 7,” however, is not only one of the least scary films I’ve ever seen, but its story and performances also did little to elevate what felt like a real slop. — Alix Blackburn
Watch "Scream 7" on Paramount+ now
‘Undertone’
The marketing pitched it as “the scariest movie you’ll ever hear,” and while I don’t entirely agree, the finale is definitely bone-chilling and ends the movie on a very haunting note. — Rory Mellon
I have to admit that 2026 has had its fair share of disappointments, and “Undertone” was one of them. I agree with Rory that the ending was the strongest part when it came to scares, but the build-up to that point felt like a slow-burn nothingburger. — Alix Blackburn
Watch "Undertone" on HBO Max now
‘Exit 8’
Putting aside my (controversial) overall dislike of this movie and trying to judge it just on its scares alone, I still think “Exit 8” is extremely tame. Like “Backrooms,” it’s about creating terror through ordinary objects/locations, but isn’t anywhere near as effective. — Rory Mellon
Watch "Exit 8" on AMC+ now
‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’
Aside from one early scene that sent a cold shiver down my spine, “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy” focuses on gore and gross-out moments above chilling tension and true scares. — Rory Mellon
“The Mummy” was one of my most anticipated films of the year, but sadly it didn’t live up to my expectations. It’s certainly scary when it comes to its body horror and mummification elements, but it unfortunately falls into the trap of copying every horror trope under the sun. — Alix Blackburn
Watch "Lee Cronin's The Mummy" on HBO Max now
‘Hokum’
As a horror fanatic, I don’t get scared watching movies very easily, but there was a 40(ish) minute stretch in “Hokum” that really freaked me out. This supernatural flick is unsettling! — Rory Mellon
I like that “Hokum” relies little on gore and instead creates terror through its unnerving atmosphere. A huge portion of the fear comes from Damian McCarthy’s use of first-person framing, which forces you into the character’s perspective. Clever stuff! — Alix Blackburn
Watch "Hokum" on Prime Video (buy/rent) now
‘Obsession’
One of my favorite movies of 2026 (so far), but I’d label it more darkly comedic than genuinely frightening. However, Nikki’s nighttime antics did get me a little spooked. — Rory Mellon
I went into “Obsession” completely clueless and came out genuinely shaken. Even though it thrives on dark humor, I found the overwhelming sense of dread to be what made it truly scary. Plus, Inde Navarrette's brilliantly chilling performance only added more nightmare fuel. — Alix Blackburn
Watch "Obsession" on Peacock now
‘Passenger’
For the most part, “Passenger” is a pedestrian horror that relies too much on cheap tricks, but there is one creative scene (involving a projector) that managed to raise my heart rate. — Rory Mellon
“Passenger” plays it too safe with its classic jump scares, offering little tension to make you feel genuinely afraid. In fact, the heavy reliance on cheap shocks became repetitive by the second half, leaving me a little disappointed (even though I did jump a few times). — Alix Blackburn
Watch "Passenger" on Prime Video (buy/rent) now
‘Backrooms’
Few horror movies in 2026 have built a more eerie atmosphere than “Backrooms.” It makes ordinary office furniture seem terrifying. The found footage scenes are particularly chilling. — Rory Mellon
The best thing about Kane Parsons’ YouTube series is its chilling found footage style, and I’m glad the “Backrooms” movie included some of that because I found those segments the scariest. It’s also the perfect recipe for paranoia, making you feel uncomfortable as you stare at the yellow wallpaper. — Alix Blackburn
Watch "Backrooms" on Prime Video (buy/rent) now
‘Evil Dead Burn’
If you find excessive gore terrifying, then “Evil Dead Burn” will have you watching between your fingers. Blood and guts don’t really affect me (maybe that’s concerning?), so I didn't find the latest “Evil Dead” movie remotely scary. — Rory Mellon
I’ve always loved the “Evil Dead” franchise, and even though this latest film doesn’t pack in quite as many scares, I found the Deadite performances to be particularly chilling. You’ll most likely be scared by the seriously brutal deaths, as the practical effects look almost too real. — Alix Blackburn
Watch "Evil Dead Burn" in theaters now
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