It’s been another monumental year for horror, but a specific handful of titles stand out as the best horror movies of 2023. Expectations were high for the genre in 2023 after an outstanding 2022. In addition to noteworthy theatrical releases like Scream, Nope, X, The Menu, and Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, horror dominated on the small screen throughout 2022, with streaming hits such as Barbarian and even The Prey. Those heavy hitters carried momentum into 2023, paving the way for another massive year for the genre. Based on the prevalence of the genre and continued dominance, horror wasn’t a letdown in 2023.
Horror’s dominance in mainstream pop culture has been one thing, but the genre has also been dominating the box office. Since releases ramped back up following pandemic shutdowns, horror has been an absolute force at the box office. While there will always be a loyal fan following linked to the genre, horror movies are continuing a positive box office trend. Terrifier 2 was a prime 2022 example, making over $15 million from a budget of $250,000. Whether it’s word of mouth or intriguing sequels and original stories, horror will never die, especially with women at the forefront of the stories. That said, here are the ten best movies to release in 2023.
10 Skinamarink
Technically, Skinamarink debuted in 2022, but it didn’t make waves until it was released in North America in January 2023. Leaks and buzz surrounding the experimental horror movie led to its wider release in theaters and on Shudder shortly. The movie itself was written and directed by Kyle Edward Ball, who only needed a budget of $15,000 for his debut. The Canadian horror movie might not have had a major budget to use as a selling point, but it essentially didn’t need one to do the job of a horror film.
Skinamarink follows two young siblings who eerily discover that their father has gone missing in the middle of the night and that random elements inside their home are disappearing. A terrifying turn of events transpires through nightmarish scenarios, preying on viewers’ greatest childhood fears. Also, what would initially be seen as an innocent link to nostalgia, like the toy Chatter Box, turns into an unsettling vessel for evil, making for an unsettling ending to Skinamarink that will stick in the mind well after it’s over even if the ambiguity doesn’t work for all.
9 The Angry Black Girl And Her Monster
Horror movies inspired by Frankenstein were obviously a trend in 2023 because The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is another one that deserves wide notoriety. In this feature film from Bomani J. Story, a teenager named Vicaria (Laya DeLeon Hayes) uses her intelligence to bring her dead brother back to life but finds that she reanimated something more dangerous. Denzel Whitaker and Chad Coleman also co-star in this character-driven reimagination of classic horror with a modern twist.
Before Vicaria attempts to bring her brother back, the young woman was dealing with her mother’s death due to violence. Vicaria’s mission stems from the unrest within herself at her community and the state of the world, pushing her to go to great lengths to change a tragedy. The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is a powerful horror movie, but it also has a sense of social relevance.
8 Sick
Sick came from a genre veteran, Kevin Williamson, who would be best known for writing Scream 1-4 among other notable titles. Written by Williamson and directed by John Hyams, Sick takes a few pages out of Scream‘s playbook for a slasher but modernizes it by incorporating the coronavirus pandemic. Following a forced quarantine, best friends, played by Gideon Adlon and Beth Million, take refuge in a secluded family lake house, where they are stalked by a masked killer.
Sick’s use of COVID and that era of unease was risky, but it ultimately pays off through a timely horror movie in the same vein as Scream and other self-aware titles. The victims are not presented as damsels in distress; instead, they intelligently try to outwit their attackers despite being ill-prepared. Released on Peaock, the movie is short, coming in at only 83 minutes, but it’s a quick watch that never outstays its welcome.
7 No One Will Save You
Alien movies are one of the hardest subgenres in horror to pull off, but No One Will Save You succeeded. Going under the radar until it was officially released on Hulu in September 2023, No One Will Save You bypasses the technical sci-fi elements and dives right into the terror. Following Kaitlyn Dever’s Brynn as the central character, the Hulu horror movie is essentially an alien home invasion movie, but it also serves as a traumatic personal tale.
What makes No One Will Save You such a standout horror movie in 2023 is Dever’s outstanding performance, blending Brynn’s tragic past and the sheer terror that comes from the character being chased by aliens. This is highlighted by the fact that Brynn has minimal dialogue in No One Will Save You, relying on other aspects to piece together what’s happening. Still, Dever manages to steer Brian Duffield’s story without her voice to transform an alien invasion movie into a thought-provoking movie on being an outsider.
6 Evil Dead Rise
Arriving a decade after the last installment in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Rise accomplishes much of what the series’ loyal fanbase has hoped for. Rather than rely heavily on past characters and storylines, the 2023 entry stuck with the basics by following a new family encountering the Necronomicon and, in turn, Deadites. Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams and his humor might be missed, but the new cast of Evil Dead Rise led by Lily Sullivan’s Beth make for a great successor.
Evil Dead Rise certainly brings the campy gore, but it also sets up a new path for the franchise to take if the series continues. Despite the hype surrounding the franchise’s return with Lee Cronin at the helm, Evil Dead Rise exceeded expectations and became one of the most notable horror hits at the 2023 box office. If the franchise takes another break for any reason, this 2023 installment will not be forgotten any time soon.
5 Scream 6
On the surface, Scream 6 may look like a rehash of Scream 2, but the 2023 installment goes much deeper. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s second Scream movie takes the action to New York City, a risky decision that worked out in the movie’s favor. Not only was Scream 6 massive in terms of the setting, but it also broke box office records, proving the franchise’s continued relevance in the world of horror. Story-wise, Scream 6 keeps its meta-narrative but propels it to new levels while still allowing Ghostface to wreak havoc with inventive kills.
The story, however, wouldn’t have worked without the Scream 6 cast. In addition to fun returns by Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers and Hayden Panettiere’s Kirby Reed, the core four of Sam (Melissa Barrera), Tara (Jenna Ortega), Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown), and Chad (Mason Gooding) allow for more characters to root for. This is especially important due to the absence of franchise veteran Neve Campbell, who played Sidney Prescott in every other Scream movie. Sam’s story, in particular, allows for a different kind of final girl to take center stage, considering she’s not entirely innocent.
4 M3GAN
M3GAN was easily the most notable horror movie in 2023 when looking at pop culture relevance, but it also turned out to be one of the best movies of the year for the genre. Despite the bizarre premise, the horror-comedy about a robotic doll that becomes a murderous self-aware villain delivers on what teasers promised. At the center of M3GAN is a tragic story centered on the newly orphaned Cady (Violet McGraw) and her aunt, Gemma (Allison Williams), who is now responsible for the young girl.
The character of M3GAN, of course, takes center stage by stealing every scene she appears in due to her fun dialogue and thrilling kills. The element of self-aware AI technology and the notion that children’s toys could massacre humans also enhance the creepy factor. But even if M3GAN was initially seen as a joke, its box office earnings of over $180 million proved otherwise.
3 Huesera: The Bone Woman
Likely one of the lesser-known titles on the list due to no fault of its own, Huesera: The Bone Woman received a stellar reception following its limited release. The Mexican-Peruvian horror movie originally debuted in 2022 during the Tribeca Festival before getting a wider release in February 2023, including being added to Shudder. For those who missed out on the title, Huesera: The Bone Woman centers on a woman named Valeria (Natalia Solián) who finds herself cursed and consumed by dark magic during her first pregnancy.
Not only does Huesera: The Bone Woman present a disturbing supernatural story, but it also puts a spotlight on motherhood and post-partum depression. It’s a modern take on something like Rosemary’s Baby but transforms into something more personal. Even more impressive is the fact that Huesera: The Bone Woman serves as the directorial debut of Michelle Garza Cervera, who also co-wrote the movie.
2 Birth/Rebirth
Birth/Rebirth is another smaller release that deserves a spot on 2023’s best horror list, nonetheless. Like Huesera: The Bone Woman, Birth/Rebirth involves pregnancy, but the movie takes another horrifying avenue inspired by Frankenstein. Laura Moss’ film follows a pathologist (Marin Ireland) obsessed with reanimating corpses who ends up bringing the dead daughter of a maternity nurse (Judy Reyes).
Despite only making under $150,000 at the box office, it’s a must-watch for anyone who is a fan of classic monster flicks as well as twisted sci-fi staples like Re-Animator and even Alien, which it has been heavily compared to. The element of motherhood adds another layer to the devastatingly twisted tale while achieving a sense of relevancy through the presentation of grief. The performances of Ireland and Reyes also shouldn’t be missed.
1 Talk To Me
After releasing in Australia, A24 acquired Talk to Me‘s distribution rights, and the movie turned out to be a game-changer. Positive reception and word of mouth propelled Talk to Me into becoming a box office hit, ending up as A24’s most successful horror movie to date, passing Hereditary to make over $44 million domestically. Aside from Talk to Me continuing a horror box office trend, its frightening plot cemented it as the best horror movie of 2023, beating out quite the list of noteworthy titles.
Talk to Me follows a group of friends led by Sophie Wilde’s Mia, who use an embalmed hand as a way to contact the dead. What makes for thrilling experiences turns dangerous for the group as the mysterious hand’s connection to spirits goes too far. The story is instantly gripping and inventive, but it also contains some heart-racing scares and memorable visuals. There’s no question why the hype led to A24 green-lighting a Talk 2 Me sequel while a prequel had already been secretly filmed.
