Staff writer Lamisa Worthy names the 2026 horror films you need to look out for.
Horror has always possessed a peculiar resilience, constantly mutating our anxieties to find new ways to unsettle us. Part of that endurance stems from why we are drawn to horror films in the first place. Researchers often describe the genre as operating within a “protective frame”, allowing us to confront fear and process intense feelings from a comfortable distance.
That appetite has translated directly into box office success, as 2025 saw a 22% year-on-year increase in the genre for the UK and Irish box office. And if we turn to those with the most critical acclaim, we see they lean more heavily on psychological depth and social commentary. While franchise horror is still thriving, evidenced by releases like Conjuring: The Last Rites, Final Destination: Bloodlines or M3GAN 2.0, these films did not receive the same level of critical appreciation. The genre dominated the 98th Academy Awards this year with the following:
Weapons channels anxieties around grief, loss, and collective trauma. Though director Zach Cregger has insisted that the film is not an allegory for school shootings, its evocation of communal fear rooted in child loss echoes the psychic afterlife of such violence.
Sinners, which draws from deep-rooted histories of colonialism, white supremacy, and cultural exploitation in the US, proves that horror can hold immense commercial value whilst remaining incredibly politically resonant.
Frankenstein, which taps into fears of generational trauma, explicitly reframes the original narrative to spotlight fears around inherited violence and social exclusion.
If 2025 was defined by socially conscious horror, then the 2026 lineup seemingly highlights something different: originality. Not in the sense that sequels or remakes are disappearing entirely, but that more films which experiment with structure, source material, and unique contexts are emerging. Here are some of the most innovative films to anticipate:
Undertone (UK release: April 10, 2026)
The film follows a podcast host, caring for her dying mother, who becomes entangled in a series of eerie recordings of a couple’s paranormal encounters. What distinguishes it is its execution: it leans heavily on sound design, transforming the familiar intimacy of podcasts into a conduit for dread. Horror has always relied on sound to build suspense and punctuate scares, but Undertone makes sound itself the source of terror. Rather than simply accompanying what unfolds on screen, it weaponises the act of listening and taps into the growing role of digital media in everyday life
Exit 8 (UK release: April 24, 2026)
Subverting the typical survival narrative into something more claustrophobic, the film follows a young man trapped in an endless subway tunnel, searching for an exit. Adapted from a Japanese video game, it reflects the continued influence of J-horror in the West, known for its slow-building suspense, folklore, and emotional complexity, in contrast to the typical gore-heavy, jump-scare-driven Hollywood horror. Over time, Western filmmakers have drawn on this ambiguity and psychological dread, and we can certainly see why such themes resonate in a moment where audiences gravitate toward uncanny, original forms of horror.
The Backrooms (UK release: May 29, 2026)
This is perhaps one of the most internet-native horror films to date. Based on viral “liminal space” lore, the film follows a psychologist navigating an infinite maze of empty, yellow-wallpapered rooms to rescue a patient. Directed by Kane Parsons, the youngest filmmaker in A24’s history, the film reflects how horror is now being informed as much by contemporary online cultures as by traditional cinematic roots. The rise of this uncanny horror, particularly in A24’s output, points to a broader shift in the genre where unease is found within the distortion of the familiar.
Leviticus (UK release: UNCONFIRMED)
The film centres on two teenage boys who must escape a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most: each other. Blending queer romance with religious fanaticism and supernatural horror, it’s a premise that feels both timely and strikingly bold. Where older horror often coded queerness in subtext, films like this bring it to the forefront. Horror, as a genre, is uniquely situated for such a narrative. Its preoccupation with themes of repression, desire, and trauma is the ideal framework for exploring identity and taboo in their most raw forms.
What ties these films together is not a particular style or narrative thread, but a shared willingness to experiment. Horror in 2026 isn’t abandoning its past, as fans of sequels can rest easy knowing Insidious 6 and Scary Movie are in the works, but it is transforming.
By drawing on more unexpected influences, the genre is pushing originality to the forefront, finding new ways to translate contemporary anxieties onto the screen.
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