20 must-see horror movies for 2024

After wrapping up a great year of horror cinema in 2023, the genre shows no signs of resting on its laurels in 2024. A promising new crop of scary movies is preparing to unleash fresh visions of terror this year, ranging from high-concept slashers to classic titles with new twists to, of course, sequels for some of the most beloved franchises in the game.

There will be new entries in the Smile, Saw, and A Quiet Place franchises, original projects from the likes of Robert Eggers and M. Night Shyamalan, and buzzy titles from several up-and-coming filmmakers. While 2024 will see plenty of horror titles, to get the year started we’ve focused on the 20 most anticipated movies, and listed them here by release date.

Night Swim (January 5)

Starring: Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amélie HoeferleDirector: Bryce McGuireThe backstory: The horror year kicks off with a high-concept chiller from first-time feature director Bryce McGuire. is based on a short film of the same name, and it tells the story of a family who move into a new house that just happens to have a pool with a very dark history. The new owners are about to face everything from dark shapes moving beneath the water to a terrifying game of Marco Polo.