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Scary movies worth the fear: 10 top-rated picks

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Last updated October 24, 2026

Horror that earns its reputation. The top picks are Psycho, The Shining, Obsession. The 10 films below rank highest on TMDB among titles with thousands of votes, so each one has a large audience behind its score. Streaming availability is for the US as of October 24, 2026.

Psycho

1960 · Horror, Thriller, Mystery · 109 min · TMDB 8.4/10

Rated 8.4/10 by 11,373 TMDB voters.

TMDB synopsis: When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where manager Norman Bates cares for his housebound mother.

US streaming: Netflix, Peacock

The Shining

1980 · Horror, Thriller · 144 min · TMDB 8.2/10

Rated 8.2/10 by 19,571 TMDB voters.

TMDB synopsis: Jack Torrance accepts a caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, where he, along with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, must live isolated from the rest of the world for the winter.

US streaming: HBO Max

Obsession

2026 · Horror, Thriller · 109 min · TMDB 8.2/10

Rated 8.2/10 by 6,287 TMDB voters.

TMDB synopsis: After breaking the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.

US streaming: Peacock

Alien

1979 · Horror, Science Fiction · 117 min · TMDB 8.2/10

Rated 8.2/10 by 17,022 TMDB voters.

TMDB synopsis: During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet.

US streaming: Netflix

The Thing

1982 · Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction · 109 min · TMDB 8.1/10

Rated 8.1/10 by 8,382 TMDB voters.

TMDB synopsis: A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

US streaming: Prime Video, AMC

Rosemary's Baby

1968 · Drama, Horror, Thriller · 138 min · TMDB 7.8/10

Rated 7.8/10 by 4,552 TMDB voters.

TMDB synopsis: A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, moves into an infamous New York apartment building, known by frightening legends and mysterious events, with the purpose of starting a family.

US streaming: Paramount+, AMC+, AMC

I Saw the Devil

2010 · Thriller, Horror · 144 min · TMDB 7.8/10

Rated 7.8/10 by 3,204 TMDB voters.

TMDB synopsis: Kyung-chul is a dangerous psychopath who kills for pleasure.

US streaming: not on a US subscription service as of October 24, 2026

Train to Busan

2016 · Action, Horror, Thriller · 118 min · TMDB 7.8/10

Rated 7.8/10 by 8,865 TMDB voters.

TMDB synopsis: When a zombie virus pushes Korea into a state of emergency, those trapped on an express train to Busan must fight for their own survival.

US streaming: Peacock

The Exorcist

1973 · Horror · 122 min · TMDB 7.7/10

Rated 7.7/10 by 8,968 TMDB voters.

TMDB synopsis: When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.

US streaming: HBO Max

Jaws

1975 · Horror, Thriller, Adventure · 124 min · TMDB 7.7/10

Rated 7.7/10 by 11,968 TMDB voters.

TMDB synopsis: When the seaside community of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town's chief of police, a young marine biologist, and a grizzled shark hunter embark on a desperate quest to kill the beast before it strikes again.

US streaming: Netflix, TNT, TBS, tru TV

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Sources: TMDB for titles, ratings, runtimes and synopses. JustWatch (via TMDB) supplies streaming availability. Streaming lists change often. Check the service before you plan your night.