Looking for a good scare?Max has you coveredwith an extensive collection of horror and thriller movies, promising you all the terrors you crave all year round (though especially during the Halloween season). Whether you prefer classic films or the latest releases, there’s something for everyone on Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service. The legendaryStephen Kingonce said that there are three levels to horror: the “Gross-Out”, “Horror”, and “Terror”. With these movies that we have handpicked for you, you’ll get a good dose of all three, and then some. Now without further ado, here are our picks for the scariest movies you may stream right now on Max.
‘Hannibal’ (2001)
Director: Ridley Scott |Run Time:132 mins
Cast:Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman, Ray Liotta, Frankie Faison
He’s the face (and mask) that launched not just four films, but two television shows, and millions of fans worldwide.WhileHannibalisn’t the scariest of the franchise(see 2007’sHannibal Risingif you want to be incredibly disturbed), Max is highlighting this flick as another must-see for fans of the originalSilence of the Lambs. StarringAnthony Hopkinsas Lecter, the film follows Clarice (now played byJulianne Moore) as she tries to find the doctor-turned-cannibal at the request of one of his past victims (Gary Oldman). While the film is more reserved thanLambs, its horror comes in the realism of the story, especially Oldman’s performance, whose character is so horribly disfigured by Lecter that you may feel his constant pain coming through in every scene. Whereas inLambswe, very much against our better judgment, found a soft spot for the repulsive Lecter, this film doesn’t allow any of that same wiggle room. By not framing our serial killer in a forgiving light, we are given no other option than to fear what he has planned.
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‘Coraline’ (2009)
Director:Henry Selick|Run Time:100 mins
Cast:Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David
Don’t let the stop animation fool you:Coralineis a horror movie. Based on the wonderful novel of the same name by famed novelistNeil Gaiman, The movie follows the story of an eleven-year-old girl (Dakota Fanning) as she moves with her family into a dreary new home in a dreary new neighborhood. Just when she can’t imagine her life getting any worse, Coraline finds a magic portal that takes her into an alternate universe that is eerily similar, and yet way, way better, than the life she has with her disinterested parents. It doesn’t take long for things to turn sinister, however, as Coraline learns she must sew buttons to her eyes and give her soul to a gigantic spider in order to permanently join the colorful word she’s had a taste of. For those still doubting if the film is in the “horror” genre, please re-read that last sentence. The film has beena continued success since it’s premiere in 2009, reappearing in theaters multiple times and still bringing in the box office bucks years later. There are countless fan theory videos on YouTube, with speculations about what the “Other Mother” (Teri Hatcher) might really be, the origins of the copycat dolls, and more.
‘Hereditary’ (2018)
Director:Ari Aster |Run Time:127 min
Cast:Alex Wolff, Gabriel Byrne, Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Christy Summerhays
One of the most disturbing films of all time,Hereditaryis a masterclass in horror direction, writing, and acting. In fact, the film is so uncomfortable from start to finish that it’s hard to pay attention to the stellar acting performances of its cast, specificallyToni Collette,Alex Wolff,andMilly Shapiro. The film follows Annie (Toni Collette) and her family as they grieve the loss of Annie’s mentally ill mother. It doesn’t take long for traditional mourning to turn into something evil, as something sinister begins to make its way through the family, wreaking havoc - and lots of death - in their lives. Directed byAri Aster(Midsommar), the film did well in theaters, although some audiences chose to stay home because the film wasthatscary.
Director:Lee Cronin|Run Time:97 min
Cast:Mirabai Pease, Richard Crouchley, Anna-Maree Thomas, Lily Sullivan, Noah Paul
In thisverygory flick, single mother Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) is possessed by an evil demon, summoned accidentally by her children after they find a mysterious book in the basement of their condemned apartment building. Her sister, Beth (Lily Sullivan), joins Ellie’s three children in an attempt to figure out how to get the monster out of their mother. The film was a hit amongEvil Deadfans, with some marking it as the scariest installment in the franchise’s history. Sutherland’s performance as Ellie will give you chills even when she is just standing still, with the battle being demon vs. children raising the stakes even higher.
‘Cujo’ (1983)
Director:Lewis Teague |Run Time:93 min
Cast:Dee Wallace, Danny Pintauro, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Christopher Stone, Ed Lauter
Stephen Kingfans knowCujoas a terrifying tale of a rabid dog wreaking havoc on a small town;Friendsfans knowCujoas the film Rachel (Jennifer Anniston) watches alone, causing Joey (Matt LeBlanc) to comfort her/fall in love with her. Both are iconic reasons for recognizing the most terrifying dog in film history, and both are terrific reasons for giving the film a watch. In typical King fashion, everyday life becomes terrifying inCujo. While the dog’s strength may veer on the unrealistic side (or perhaps it comes from the same planet as the shark fromJaws), it’s the fact that, technically, thiscouldhappen that makes it all so unnerving.
‘The Descent’ (2005)
Director:Neil Marshall |Run Time:100 min
Cast:Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, MyAnna Buring
A deep cut for horror film fanatics,The Descentdoes a great job of putting the horror in an impossible-to-see setting that only makes the jump scares pack more of a punch. Centering around six women who go on an annual expedition down into the depths of a cave, they soon realize that they are not alone. Something otherworldly begins to hunt the six friends as they realize they are trapped underground with no way out. Not a film for a claustrophobe, it deals with family death, betrayal, and…lots of blood and gore.
‘The Exorcist’ (1973)
Director:William Friedkin|Run Time:122 min.
Cast:Ellen Burstyn, Max Von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran
Often helmed as one of the greatest horror films of all time,The Exorcistfollows actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) as she moves to Washington D.C. from Los Angeles with her daughter Regan (Linda Blair) to star in a movie. Things take an unexpected turn when Regan begins to act in strange ways, eventually scaring her mother and causing her to bring her to several doctors who have no answer for her on what is going on. Chris eventually brings in the help of religious figures, who attempt to perform an exorcism on the young girl.Exorcist: Believer, the highly anticipated sequel from directorDavid Gordon Green, is set to be released on August 13, 2025, and starsExorcistalum Ellen Burstyn.The buzz around Green’s new filmproves the power of the original film, and how respected it is within the horror community.
‘Insidious’ (2010)
Director:James Wan|Run Time:101 min
Cast:Patrick Wilson, Rose Bryne, Ty Simpkins, Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell
Upon its release,Insidiouswas an instant success, raking in $100 million worldwide at the box office against its impressive $1.5 million budget. The movie jump-started a franchise that just released its fifth feature,Insidious: The Red Door, in July 2023, with a fifth film already coming down the pipeline. The plot follows a family as they attempt to deal with their son, Dalton (Ty Simpkins), after he falls into a coma. Things begin to spiral further out of control when Dalton’s mother, Renai (Rose Bryne), starts to have odd visions throughout their house. Eventually, the family enlists the help of a medium (Lin Shaye) to save their family from an evil presence. Not just another exorcism film,Insidioushas an intriguing presence of its own that hooks viewers through its story, effects, and acting performances.
‘Friday the 13th’ (1980)
Director:Sean S. Cunningham |Run Time:95 min
Cast:Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, Kevin Bacon
Not only didFriday the 13thgive us an iconic slasher film, but it also taught us that hockey masks are not just durable, but blood-resistant, too. The film is a fun mix of real-life horror and ghost stories, as those witnessing the murders at Camp Crystal Lake wonder if Jason (Kavin Bacon), the boy who drowned in the lake over twenty years ago, has come back to life seeking revenge. With a twist at the end that will make you want to immediately start the film over to see all you missed, this classic stands the test of time. Although the film generatedeleven sequels(yes, eleven), the original is still regarded as the greatest of all, and for good reason.
‘The Conjuring’ (2013)
Director:James Wan|Run Time:112 min
Cast:Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Shanley Caswell
Similar toInsidious,The Conjuringis a film that was an instant hit. In fact, it was so successful that there is nowan entireConjuring"universe,“with three films in the main cannon (The Conjuring,The Conjuring 2, andThe Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It), as well as films that focus on the lives of others within the same world, likeAnnabelle,Annabelle: Creation,Annabelle Comes Home, and twoThe Nunfilms. This allows fans to continue to explore the world the filmmakers have created in ways that are vastly different from each other, thus always bringing some new horror to the table.The Conjuring, now celebrating its tenth anniversary, focuses on real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (portrayed brilliantly in the film byPatrick WilsonandVera Farmiga), as they travel to help a family whose Perron family, who have been experiencing paranormal activity in their new home. The film does a wonderful job of making the audience care just as much about the well-being of the family (and Lorraine’s health as she investigates) just as much as they care about the haunting of the house. The film stands as a modern-day masterpiece, continuing to find fans year after year as its universe expands.
