This list has 27 horror movies available on Netflix in 2020 with high ratings from both IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes as well as my own opinion. From US cinema to Asia and European Cinema, discover new movies in this list on your Netflix account.
27 best highly rated horror movies available to watch on Netflix in 2020
- The Shinning
- Train To Busan
- One Cut of The Dead
- Beetle Juice
- The Evil Dead (1981)
- Hotel Transylvania
- The Conjuring
- Under the Shadow
- Sinister
- The Ring (Ringu)
- Ju-on: The Grudge
- Game Over
- The Platform
- Silence of The Lambs
- Paranormal Activity
- Shutter
- The Host
- I Am A Hero
- As The Gods Will
- Lessons of The Evil
- Stree
- Lupt
- IT (remake)
- Insidious
- Autopsy of Jane Doe
- Creep
- Hush (2016)
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1. The Shinning

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
8.4 | 93 | Netflix – Japanese version NORD VPN 30 Day Trial |
Arguably the most famous horror of all time from the Steven Spielberg novel. If you don’t know the plot then its simple a family are alone in an isolated hotel to take care of it in the winter months when there are no guests. The hotel is haunted with a number of entities as the father (Jack Nicholson) is driven mad. Not just a great horror movie but one of the greatest movies of all time that has stood the test of time still being jump scary, spooky scary and disturbing 30 years later.
2. Train to Busan

IMDb Rating | Rotten Tomatoes | How to Watch |
7.5/10 | 89/100 | Netflix or 7 day free trial to Shudder |
Train to Busan is one of the best zombie movies I have ever come across. Many zombie movies lack either a decent plot, decent acting or both but this has it all. Exciting, thrilling, great acting, great characters and just a mix of all the best zombie movie elements. The zombies are more like the zombies from World War Z in their abilities and movement, the acting is as good as any award winning drama or thriller and the action is like a decent Dwayne Johnson movie all with a decent plot to tie it all together. The Plot is easy to follow, martial law is declared in Korea as a viral outbreak engulfs the country, but passengers on the Train to Busan successfully fight off the infection and must now fight to survive. The Best Zombie movie since Shaun of The Dead. This film is available on most Netflix worldwide.
3. One Cut of The Dead

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
7.7 | 79 | Access Japanese Netflix with NORD VPN 30 Day Trial or 7 Day Free Trial on Shudder |
One Cut of The Dead is the first decent response to Shaun of The Dead in the Zombie Comedy niche. The plot is unique, whilst they are shooting a zombie film they are suddenly attacked by real zombies leaving opportunity for loads of great comedy moments. The movie was also shot as a One Cut, so kind of like 1917 recently. The whole thing is fun, original, funny and entertaining so make sure you watch it all the way through.
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4. Beetle Juice

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
7.5 | 85 | Netflix |
Beetle Juice is a fantastic comedy horror movie about a couple that die in an unfortunate car accident and when someone tries to move into their home they do all they can to haunt and scare the new owners away, but it doesn’t all go to plan. I have always loved this movie and is just one of the many movies from the 80s that is impossible to re-create today. Its not scary although small children may find it disturbing as there is lots of frightening make-up. If you have never seen this movie please do!
5. The Evil Dead

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
7.5 | 86 | Access US Netflix with NORD VPN 30 Day Trial |
Evil Dead is an over the top cult gore horror. Over the top with gore and ridiculous acting that it will make a modern audience laugh, if this was made today it would be classed as a comedy. The plot is quite simple, 5 friends go to stay at a remote cabin only to accidentally release a bunch of demons from a book. The whole movie is basically them getting possessed by demons and having to kill them by whatever means necessary. The movie has had sequels and remakes as well as a Netflix series with the original main actor which I am currently enjoying. This is a classic horror and a must watch for all horror fans.
6. Hotel Transylvania

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
7.1 | 77 | Netflix |
Ok, so not a classic but if you are needing to entertain a bunch of children on Halloween then this will be your best choice. A hotel run by Dracula strictly a place for monsters and ghouls to get away from their regular lives where they are expected to be terrifying monsters, showing their gentle side and that they are all big wimps really. This movie is everything I wanted it to be, a kids cartoon but with plenty of adult humour and gags to keep everyone entertained. If you just want an easy film for everyone to enjoy then these movies are a clear winner.
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7. The Conjuring

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
7.5 | 87 | Netflix – Japanese version with NORD VPN 30 Day Trial |
You could argue this movie is not old enough to be a classic but given its reputation and popularity it will be in 20 years. I remember when this movie first came out, there was a lot of hype as it being the scariest movie ever made. It is also based around and supposedly true story of the family that moved into a house which had been the sight of a brutal murders many years before. The House is haunted by a number of spirits and paranormal investigators are called in to help investigate. The movie lives up to its hype as its not just terrifying but is also very good all round and has since had many prequels and sequels being connected to the Annabelle movies (Annabelle is in this movie).
8. Under the Shadow

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.9 | 53 | Netflix – Worldwide |
This movie is worth watching as it is just a good movie. The plot is unique as a woman and her daughter cope with the terrors of war-torn Tehran of the 1980s. As the war is raging outside something evil is terrorising them inside their apartment. This is one of the highest rated ghost movies and it does not rely on cheap scares or constant jumpy scenes, instead it builds slowly and only a few times will really make you jump, but in the best possible way. The movie is very deep in meaning with much of the horror as a metaphor for the terror felt by families during times of war, when a bomb could fall onto your home at any point. This movie will leave its mark on you as a really good spooky ghost story.
9. Sinister

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.8 | 78 | Netflix – US version |
Sinister is a truly terrifying movie about a demon entity that uses images as its gateway, once you see him in an image there is no getting rid of him. A writer and a family move into a house where a whole family died in a horrific crime just 9 months before. The father discovers some film in the attic with the terrifying truth and unleashes the demonic entity upon the family. The movie overall has very high ratings and is definitely a jump scare movie, so watch with the lights on and the cushions at the ready. A well done horror movie with everything to make a modern thrill seeking audience jump.
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10. The Ring (Ringu)

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
7.2 | 80 | Access Japanese Netflix with NORD VPN 30 Day Trial |
Ringu (Not the US remake The Ring) is the original and classic movie of Sadako the vengeful spirit who calls, visits and kills anyone who watches the cursed video tape 7 days after watching it. Even the US remake is good as the concept is so good they just couldn’t ruin it. For me this is where I discovered just how terrifying Japanese cinema is and how they do it I am still unsure. If you are just looking for one of the most terrifying movies ever then this is it.
11. Ju-on: The Grudge

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.7 | 72 | Access Japanese Netflix with NORD VPN 30 Day Trial |
Ju-on is the original Grudge movie and a thousand times better than the American re-make, so don’t bother with the American re-make and just get over the fact it is subtitled!. This for me was one of the creepiest movies I have watched, at least top 10 in terms of lasting physiological effect. Never again can I look under my own bed sheets again, it is as creepy as hell. The plot follows a social worker who is chased by 2 vengeful spirits brutally murdered in the house. This movie has gone on to be a franchise with a number of sequels, remakes and now a Netflix series. Parts 1 and 2 are much the same and also available on the Japanese Netflix if you wish for more.
12. Game Over

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
7.1 | 65 | Netflix |
A fantastic and imaginative movie where Swapna, a nyctophobic, a game designer, who is on a turbulent road to recovery from an incident that scarred her deeply, has to fight her inner demons to stay alive in the game called life. As she is hunted within her own home she has to battle not just her would be killer but also her own emotional self. It is a very popular movie and one of the best horrors to come out of India in many years, exciting, new age and original.
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13. The Platform

IMDB Rating | Rotten Tomatoes | How to Watch |
7 | 83/100 | Netflix |
Another Physiological horror set mostly in a single room, this time the disturbing factor has been taken to a new level. trapped in a column of cells with people above and people below and an unknown number of levels. A table of food makes its way down each cell with less and less food the further it goes, cannibalism is the only way for lower levels to survive.
14. Silence of The Lambs

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
8.6 | 97 | Netflix – Globally |
Regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time and the movie which all other thrillers are compared to, if you have somehow not seen this movie then do not read any further and just watch this first! A young FBI detective is trying to catch a serial killer who skins their victims but consults with the infamous cannibal psychopath Hannibal Lecter who is already incarcerated. Hannibal is a character with a brilliant mind (think Walter White or Dexter) who likes to play mind games and ultimately has his own game as he also assists the young detective.
15. Paranormal Activity

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.3 | 77 | Netflix |
If you have seen any of these movies than you will know that they are crafted specifically to make a modern audience jump, and they do it extremely well. Not much to say about this or any of the other movies in the series except they are simply a handful of cameras set-up in a haunted house as paranormal activity starts to occur, becoming more sinister and jumpy as the film progresses. Simple but very effective.
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16. Shutter

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
7.1 | 66 | Netflix |
This is the 2004 Thailand version of the movie not the US 2008 remake. Firstly this is far better than the remake so please watch this one over the US version. A young photographer and his girlfriend discover mysterious shadows in their photographs after fleeing the scene of an accident. They are being pursued by a revengeful spirit. Very scary and well built up suspense and jump scenes.
17. The Host

IMDb Rating | Rotten Tomatoes | How to Watch |
7.1/10 | 82/100 | Japanese Netflix |
The first thing to mention about The Host is that it is an earlier film from Bong Joon Ho who has recently made history his film Parasite, the first Foreign film to win Best Picture at the Oscars and to many critics the most perfect movie ever made. The host is also very highly rated being cited as one of the best ever monster movies right alongside Jaws. The Plot is not clever or complicated just very well executed. One day a monster appears from the river and starts picking off prey (people). The Main characters choose to take it upon themselves to hunt this creature. The story follows a family living on the river. Don’t confuse this with he rubbish 2013 movie from Andrew Nicol.
18. I Am A Hero

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.8 | 56 | Access Japanese Netflix with NORD VPN 30 Day Trial |
I Am A Hero is a popular Japanese Zombie Apocalypse movies, and much better than many of the western Zombie movies over the last 2 decades. The movie was based on a Manga comic so straight away expect some interesting concepts and plots. The main character is a cowardly individual amongst the zombie apocalypse and follows him with various other characters as they try to survive. The movie has a lot of excitement and does a lot of things right such as the gore, the zombies, the humour and the characters making it a very good zombie movie.
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19. As The Gods Will

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.5 | 50 | Access Japanese Netflix with NORD VPN 30 Day Trial |
As The Gods Will is a crazy and fun Japanese Horror, it is not scary but terribly gory and has all that over the top Japanese entertainment. The plot is simply a higher force of power (supposedly Gods) take over a high school and force the students to plat games of death. The games played are mostly well known games famous at kids parties with the exception being as soon as you are out you die a gruesome death. The movie has lots of sound effects, lots of colours and lots of laughs. If you like other popular Japanese movies such as Battle Royal then you will enjoy this.
20. Lessons of The Evil

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.6 | 52 | Access Japanese Netflix with NORD VPN 30 Day Trial |
Lessons of The Evil is another crazy, fun, ridiculous bit of gory entertainment to good to miss, not a supernatural horror and not made to be scary but very a very good horror. a Popular high school teacher goes nuts as he creates a plan to deal with bullies and bad behaviour, the plan is to basically kill and brutally torching the students. Another movie clearly inspired by the popular Battle Royal, there are likely to be a few of these in this list.
21. Stree

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
7.6 | 78 | Netflix |
Stree is a real colourful Bollywood comedy horror treat and the highest rated horror on this list. A witch known as Stree abducts men in dark leaving their clothes behind during the four day annual festival. A group of friends finds themselves in the middle of this hilarious comedy horror trying to survive. If you like any Bollywood movie then you will enjoy this, if you like Shaun of The Dead you will enjoy this, If you enjoy decent movies you will enjoy this. A must watch that will keep you entertained.
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22. Lupt

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.8 | 53 | Netflix |
Lupt is the tale of, a workaholic haunted by disturbing visions that takes a vacation with his family, but a detour leads them to an unsettling stranger and chilling events as the family is attacked by strange entities. The movie is far more like a western horror with the actual scaring and atmosphere. It has a good mix of emotion, drama and thrills. It is a little;e different as it is more of a physiological horror than anything that receives mix opinions with most saying its is a nice watch but not the best.
23. IT (remake)

In my opinion not as good as the original but still very entertaining. It is tone of Steven Spielberg most famous stories. Part 1 follows the characters as children and is also a coming of age movie, part 2 is almost the same part with the same characters as adults as they hunt for IT. It is very similar to other coming of age Movies and shows such as Stranger Things, The Goonies and Stand By Me. If you like these sort of films then this is the scary version. This newer version is a lot more jump than the first as it is for a modern audience.
24. Insidious

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.8 | 79 | Netflix – US version |
Whats unique is it will make you jump when you think you are safe. If you are looking for something a bit different then this movie may just be worth a watch. For most of the film it seems like any typical horror / demonic haunting movies, which it is. However, the movie takes a fairly odd turn in how it chooses to try and conclude the film, I cannot say any-more without giving it away so just give it a watch. Perhaps it goes a little to far in craziness for some or maybe the witters were so fed-up of trying to write a good ending to a horror (which is rare) they decided to give something else a go.
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25. Autopsy of Jane Doe

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.8 | 81 | Netflix |
Father and son coroners receive a mysterious unidentified corpse with no apparent cause of death. As they attempt to examine the beautiful young “Jane Doe,” they discover increasingly bizarre clues that hold the key to her terrifying secrets. The movie is not clearly a horror movie at first but more a crime detective. It is built up slowly with more suspense and suggestive horror and just the occasional well place scare. If you want something a bit more original and not like other horror movies then this will do the job perfectly.
26. Creep

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.3 | 75 | US Netflix |
A young videographer answers an online ad for a one-day job in a remote town to record the last messages of a dying man. When he notices the man’s odd behaviour as his message become darker. He finishes the job and attempts to go home but he cannot find his keys, this is when things go really downhill for the videographer. The is a simple and very fun to watch found footage movie and one of the better of its genre. It has a great mix of black comedy mixed in which is rare for a found footage horror. If at this point you have decided you do not like found footage movies then watch this and it may change your mind.
27. Hush (2016)

IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | How To Watch |
6.6 | 81 | US Netflix |
A deaf and mute writer who retreated into the woods to live a solitary life must fight for her life in silence when a masked killer appears at her window. Hush is a popular slasher horror with a 80s feel in terms of atmosphere and suspense. As our main character/victim is deaf the film has to build suspense without screams, bangs and horrific noises that many horrors rely on. It definitely gains some points as it successfully builds suspense and chills through cinematography and lack of sound effects. Hush pushes the home invasion sub genre of horror to a new level.
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