Horror is the one genre that is similar to its creatures and killers. It keeps coming back time and time again. Some moviegoers are always looking for the next big scare and flock to theaters each year for the newest slate of terrifying and unnerving tales. As an audience, we love to feel the adrenaline of fear coursing through our veins, and filmmakers are more than willing to oblige.
While 2023 was a solid year for horror with releases such as Infinity Pool, Evil Dead Rise, Five Nights at Freddy's, just to name a few. The new year is shaping up to be even better, with an impressive lineup of both original tales and continuations and remakes of classic properties. Here are the 16 horror movies we can not wait to see in 2024.
16 Night Swim - January
Night Swim
- Release Date
- January 5, 2024
- Director
- Bryce McGuire
- Rating
- PG-13
Blumhouse has made an art out of producing high-quality, low-budget horror movies that make tons of money at the box office and are generally hits among moviegoers. Five Nights at Freddy's, M3GAN, and The Black Phone are just a few of the more recent examples of the production companies' successes. The upcoming James Wan-produced supernatural horror thriller, Night Swim, promises to make audiences scared to go back in the pool again.
James Wan, Wyatt Russell, and Kerry Condon Are All Involved
Not only is horror master James Wan involved with the project, but Night Swim features an impressive cast that includes Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon. The trailers have given us just enough to be curious without giving away the entire plot of the film. Twists and turns are sure to be in store as we figure out just what lurks beneath the water.
15 Imaginary - March
The new year is going to be a busy one for Blumhouse and, as we have previously discussed, they look to continue their hot streak into the new year. Imaginary is set to introduce us to an adorable stuffed bear named Chauncey, who may not be all he seems. Directed by Kick-Ass 2 director Jeff Wadlow, Imaginary is set to tap into one of the most precious yet curious phenomenons, that of the imaginary friend. Something sinister is lurking inside this stuffed animal and is about to be unleashed.
Another Surprise Hit from Blumhouse?
Blumhouse does an excellent job at playing around with interesting premises, and, what is more curious than a demonic bear? Taking an outlandish premise and injecting a grounded and terrifying story is a perfect way to get audiences out to the theaters for a bloody good time.
14 Lisa Frankenstein - February
Diablo Cody is back with another horror comedy for the ages. The writer of the oftentimes underrated Jennifer's Body pens the script for this Zelda Williams-directed film about a girl who reanimates the corpse of a Victorian-era man who she believes she can craft into the man of her dreams. Hilarious yet unfortunate consequences are sure to ensue as Lisa navigates her new creation.
Diablo Code's Return to Horror
Given the success of the satirical horror film Jennifer's Body, Diablo Cody fans have been waiting for her return to the horror genre. Lisa Frankenstein offers an inventive new take on the Frankenstein story. We can't wait to see what Cody and Zelda Williams have in store when the film hits theaters in February.
13 A Quiet Place: Day One - June
A Quiet Place was a breakout hit in 2018 by director and writer John Krasinski, best known for his time as Jim Halpert on The Office. Its 2021 followup enjoyed equal success despite Krasinski not appearing in the starring role while doing a lot to propel the story and mythology forward. In 2024, however, we go back to the beginning, as A Quiet Place: Day One is set to tell the story of events that lead to a monster-filled, post-apocalyptic world.
A Sequel We're Pumped About
The franchise thus far has built enough goodwill with fans. Why wouldn't we be excited about the next entry? The lore of the series is set to be expanded with the help of an all-star cast, including, Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, and Djimon Honsou. A Quiet Place: Day One hits theaters in the summer of 2024.
12 Alien: Romulus - August
Horror director Fede Álvarez is set to introduce the ninth film in the Alien franchise directly to Hulu in 2024. The director of Evil Dead and Don't Breathe promises to deliver a terrifying new entry that is set between the original Alien and its sequel, Aliens. The film will be relatively unconnected to its predecessors and stand on its own.
Are We Set for Another Fede Álvarez Horror Banger?
Ridley Scott's Prometheus films were met with mixed reviews, letting down many fans of the original film. Alien: Romulus, at the very least, gives the reins to a different filmmaker to put their own spin on the property. Álvarez has a solid track history in the horror genre and promises to bring terror back to the Xenomorph.
11 Saw XI - September
2023 saw the return of the Saw franchise to the big screen, going back in its timeline to feature the likes of Tobin Bell as John Kramer and Shawnee Smith as his protégé, Amanda. The film enjoyed mostly positive reviews from critics and fans alike, and that seems to have been enough to juice up this franchise for one more run, as Saw XI is slated to release just a year after its predecessor.
Do You Want to Play a Game?
For being the 10th entry in the franchise, Saw X offered interesting plot twists and diabolical new traps from the mind of Jigsaw. An otherwise stale property had a breath of fresh air blown into it by the returns of Bell and Smith, a trend we hope continues in Saw XI, as there is so much more story that can be covered before the death of John Kramer. We will wait with bated breath to see if the new entry can continue the success of Saw X or if the franchise reverts back to its troubled ways.
10 Smile 2 - October
Smile cheesed its way into horror pop culture in 2022 thanks to a terrifying premise and some incredible marketing for the film that included smiling "demons" at popular sporting events around the country. While some criticism was leveled against the film for its overstuffed plot, turning a short film into a two-hour movie, overall the film received positive reviews and enjoyed a solid box office run, paving the way for Smile 2.
A Hopeful Extension to Smile's Conclusion
Fans of the first entry were no doubt left with lingering questions at the conclusion of the film, as this was intentionally done by the director, Parker Finn. While it is certainly almost always the goal of a filmmaker to create a self-contained story, Finn left just enough to generate interest in a sequel. Actor Naomi Scott will take on the lead role in the follow-up, which is set to hit theaters just in time for Halloween in 2024.
9 Terrifier 3 - October
Damien Leone's Terrifier franchise returned horror to its blood-soaked and schlock-filled roots. The series introduced the world to a terrifying (no pun intended) new slasher, Art the Clown, a makeup-clad serial-killing clown. Terrifier and Terrifier 2 may not be for every horror fan, but those that love it do so with passion, as the films resemble a throwback to B-level horror movies of the '70s and '80s.
Terrifier 3 Will Somehow be Even Gorier
Terrifier 3 is set to bring the holiday cheer to theaters in 2024. By the time a third entry in a franchise roles around, a new concept and breath of fresh air are typically needed to keep fans interested, and a Christmas setting is set to do just that for Art the Clown. New and inventive Christmas kills are sure to be on deck, and we, for one, can not wait.
8 Return to Silent Hill - TBD
The Silent Hill game franchise is widely considered to be one of the scariest video games ever made, so naturally, when it was set to be adapted into a feature film, excitement was high. What we got, however, was a mediocre big-screen adaptation and an underwhelming sequel to boot. The films could not capture the terror and quality that the games did, and would sadly become just another two entries into a long list of failed video game film adaptations.
Is the Third Time a Charm?
Everyone (and thing) deserves a second chance, right? Our excitement for Return to Silent Hilllies in the hope that this time around, the source material can be done justice on the big screen. While we continue to hope, the return of director Christophe Gans may mean we only receive a modern version of the same film from 2006.
7 The Watchers - June
Ishana Night Shyamalan hopes to follow in her father's footsteps with her feature directorial debut, The Watchers. The film is set to feature elements seemingly borrowed from some of her father's films, and promises a supernatural thriller full of fantasy and horror. The film stars Dakota Fanning in the lead role and is set to hit theaters in June.
Like Father, Like Daughter
Following the release of The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, it appeared that director M. Night Shyamalan was on a path to becoming the next great director before a string of underwhelming and universally panned films plagued his resume. We are excited to see if his daughter has the same freshman success as her father, a success she can hopefully sustain throughout her career.
6 Witchboard - TBD
The lesser-known '80s horror film, Witchboard, is set for a remake in 2024 starring Jamie Campbell Bower of Stranger Things fame. The plot of the film centers around an ancient pendulum that unleashes a malevolent force, setting the main characters on a deadly and terrifying supernatural game. The film is directed by Chuck Russell, known for directing A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, and The Scorpion King.
A Necessary Modern Remake
Witchboard boasts an interesting premise and one that could benefit from a modern-day retelling. We are also excited to see Jamie Campbell Bower continue his scary streak after playing One and Vecna in season four of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. Despite suffering some setbacks due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, the film is still set for release at an undisclosed date in 2024.
5 The Strangers Trilogy - TBD
Aviron Pictures
The Strangers (2008) remains one of the most terrifying films of the last 20 years, and while it did not enjoy much box office success, the film became a cult classic among horror fans. When its sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night, was finally released 10 years later, it failed to capture the terror of the first film. Fast-forward to 2024, and director Renny Harlin is set to bring a trilogy of films to The Strangers' universe in 2024, starting with The Strangers: Chapter 1.
Because You Were Home
While director Renny Harlin does not have any smash hits on his resume, there is hope that he can help expand the terrifying premise of The Strangers. The return of the killer trio has fans excited about what these next three chapters might hold. Hope is high that these new films can recapture the magic of the 15-year-old original.
4 Thread: An Insidious Tale - TBD
Modern-day horror master, James Wan, along with producer Jason Blum, brought us one of the most terrifying horror movies in recent memory in' 2010's Insidious. This supernatural thriller follows a young boy named Dalton, who, after slipping into a coma, becomes open season for all number of demonic spirits. The movie would spawn four sequels that never quite lived up to the success of the original. The franchise is slated for its first spin-off in 2024 with Thread: An Insidious Tale.
Has the Series Worn Out its Welcome?
The newest entry in the series features a cast of fresh faces to the franchise, including Mandy Moore and Kumail Nanjiani. The film also features a director in Jeremy Slater, who has found success writing for hit television shows and movies such as, The Umbrella Academy and Moon Knight. This injection of new creators into the film series has us excited about what the Insidious universe has to offer moving forward.
3 Beetlejuice 2 - September
The new year promises to deliver a sequel over thirty-five years in the making, as Michael Keaton is set to reprise his role as Betelgeuse in the Tim Burton-directed followup. Beetlejuice remains one of the most popular and iconic horror comedies of all time, and is worth rewatching every Halloween season. Burton looks to keep his wave of resurgence going into 2024, as Beetlejuice 2 is set to release in September.
Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!
Beetlejuice 2 has a big legacy to live up to, and, by all indications, the movie is shaping up to deliver. Familiar faces like Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder, and, of course, Michael Keaton are set to return. While being joined by newcomers Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe. Burton's recent success with the hit Netflix show, Wednesday, which features Ortega, has us all excited about what this legacy sequel will look like.
2 MaXXXine - TBD
Director Ti West took the world by storm in 2022 with the release of the first two films in his "X" trilogy, Pearl and X, with the former being a prequel to the latter. Both throwback films to classic 1970s horror, like Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, West delivered two outstanding horror films all within a few months of each other. MaXXXine is set to conclude the filmmakers' trilogy and sees actor Mia Goth reprising her role from X as adult film star Maxine Minx.
She's Finally a Star!
Simply based on the quality and success of the two films prior, excitement is at a fever pitch for MaXXXine among horror fans, and Ti West is ready to deliver. In addition to the return of Mia Goth, the film has an all-star cast featuring Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Monaghan, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon. If the cast was not enough to garner excitement, a short teaser clip was shown for the film at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, with one viewer describing it as, "Pitch-perfect, hall of fame-level."
1 Nosferatu - December
Nosferatu (2024)
- Release Date
- December 25, 2023
Robert Eggers has cemented himself as the master of modern-day atmospheric horror film with films like 2015's The Witch and 2019's The Lighthouse. The director's 2024 release is a project nearly 10 years in the making, as remaking the classic vampire film Nosferatu has been a dream of the filmmaker. Christmas of 2024 is currently set as the release date for what could be Eggers' masterpiece.
Eggers Is the Perfect Director for Nosferatu
In addition to the praise we have already heaped on Eggers, the cast of the film has us just as excited. Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, and Willem Dafoe are set to star in the film, with Bill Skarsgård playing the iconic Count Orlok. If Skarsgård's transformation into Pennywise the Clown in It is anything to go off of, then his take on the iconic vampire is sure to be haunting.
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