The best and scariest horror films to watch now on Max
Look for maximum scares on Max, including recent horrors like Evil Dead Rise and Hereditary, plus classics like The Exorcist and The Blob
Film Features Films
Graphic: AVClub
Halloween month is nigh and if you’re a horror fan, Max is a solid place for an October binge while you look up the word “nigh” on Google. The streamer has dozens of terrifyingly good films, both new and classic, to keep you up at night. But be warned: there’s no guarantee Max will have these same films tomorrow, so get to streaming before they disappear. Befitting its origins as a vertically and horizontally integrated streaming behemoth, Max loads up on films from sister company Warner Bros., including GOATs like The Exorcist, and newer faves like Evil Dead Rise and Hereditary.
As usual, The A.V. Club and its reviews and expert commentary are here to guide you toward the best—scariest, eeriest, and most essential—viewing options. So boot up your Max, minimize the endless scrolling, and read on for our recommendations for the best horror movies available now. You can thank with a regular sized Snickers bar….not those lame “fun size” ones the bad houses throw in your trick or treat bag.
This list was updated on September 30, 2023.
24 Comments
Kwaidan is one of the greatest films ever made.Thank you.
I miss Tom Breihan
Shame we’ll never get A History of Violence 2023 and beyond. Truly one of the last remaining worthwhile things about this website, along with When Romance Met Comedy.Back when there was still something worth coming back for…
Also, Popcorn Champs. Breihan is still doing awesome stuff at Stereogum though
BROOOOOOOOOO he was the greatest. I’d communicated with him over email and what a nice guy with such a breadth of knowledge of action films. His picks were great – I’ve already seen most of the ones he chose, but his write up of the films were fantastic. And there was always a recommendation or two from the article worth watching. I miss him.
The Most Dangerous Game, Cat People, Ugetsu, Horror of Dracula, Village of the Damned, Multiple Maniacs…
On “Blair Witch”: the film is 100% enhanced by watching the accompanying “documentary”, “Curse of the Blair Witch”.
I watched that first thinking I was watching the original. I was confused why anyone thought it was good. Then I realized my mistake and watched the original and it was ruined for me.
Wait. So, you were (mistakenly) watching the “documentary” (“Curse of the Blair Witch”)? Then watched the actual “Blair Witch Project”?
Yeah that’s what happened. I had just moved back to the U.S. probably less than a week before so I didn’t understand fully the whole Blair Witch thing. I had heard about the movie but didn’t know the cover or branding or whatever. The video store was probably out of the original or I just grabbed the first thing I saw. The documentary is obviously fake and not at all scary so I was a little confused.
Ah, that’s a shame.I mean, I *imagine* that watching one before the other (in incorrect order) might still be a cool experience? Of course, I can’t say for sure.I don’t know – if it’s been a while since, maybe give ‘em a second chance?For whatever it’s worth, I don’t think they hold up 100% (with the retrospect of 25 years of movies that did the same thing better), but they still hold a (kitschy) place in my heart. 🙂
Regarding “The Blob” (1958): I contend that the 1988 remake(?) is kitschier, and, somehow, better. It certainly leans into the scenery-chewing, with zero impact on the scares.Anyway. 😀
I like the 80s version of the Blob is that what is listed here or the original?
The remake is one of the best horror movies. A great, cheesy, nasty time.
Not a bad list. “We’re all going to the worlds fair” though in fact isn’t great it had a good concept and tried to be good but it just wasn’t.
Just watched I’m Thinking of Ending Things and it was fantastic. Great horror movie.
I love Kobayashi, always forgotten in the panteon of Japanese directors, and Kwaidan is great but I would not recommend it as an entry point for Japanese Horror – it is just too weird, too unique, moving at a very deliberate pace. But of course I don’t know what the rest of the catalogue there is.
As a kid the Blob always scared the shit out of me. Even the 90’s meh remake was decent but the original on local TV really scared me.
The Blair Witch Project is scary if you’re really terrified by unlikeable college kids bitching at each other in the woods.
The scariest thing on MAX is watching show disappear because Zazlav doesn’t want to pay royalties or wants to get shady tax breaks.
Evil Dead Rise is a horrible film. How did it get good reviews? My lord was it bad.
I don’t get it either. I’ve loved every other movie in the franchise (even the remake), but I thought this one was bad, and not bad in an enjoyable way. Just bad.
I couldn’t even finish it. The things we loved about the Raimi films were that they were equal parts horror and comedy. There was nothing funny about a struggling single mother trying her best, then brutally murdering her children.
Bruce Campbell was in Evil Dead Rise. He voiced the guy on the Necronomicon vinyl.