The sixth entry in the top-rated Scream franchise recently landed on Paramount+. Those who missed the film in theaters can catch up on the latest Ghostface killings, while others are simply reliving it. In addition to Scream VI, there are many other horror movies on Paramount+ for fans to enjoy. From vintage chillers to modern classics, here are 9 fantastic horror movies now streaming on Paramount+.
10. Scream VI (2023)
As stated before, Scream VI is one of the latest additions to the site. The sixth film proves the Scream series is going strong and show no signs of slowing. The movie follows the “core four” from the previous entry as they try to escape their traumatic experiences. Now living in New York, three of the four survivors are trying to live their lives as best they can. Sam Carpenter, however, is still haunted by Ghostface as well as visions of her murderous father. Sam’s worries are justified when a new killer donning the Ghostface mask stalks the quartet, proving they can never truly run from their past. This film is brutal, stylish, and of course, scary. This is a fantastic entry to the series that demands fans check it out.
9. Smile (2022)
Released just last year, Smile is already shaping up to be a classic horror flick. The film follows a psychiatrist named Rose Cotter, who witnesses a bizarre yet brutal scene involving one of her patients. Soon, the doctor begins showing the same symptoms as her patient, including seeing people with inhuman grins and visions from her past. Desperate to save herself, Rose tries to deduce where this strange curse started to try and stop it. What makes this one of the better horror movies on Paramount+Â is the effects. The terrifying smile that characters possess sends chills down viewers’ spines, and some incredible practical effects in the climax drive the point home.
8. Cloverfield (2008)
The found footage genre saw a rejuvenation in the early 2000s. One of the biggest films in this new era was Cloverfield. The movie had a stellar viral marketing campaign that refrained from using the film’s title, leading to fans rushing to figure out the meaning behind the cryptic adverts. Directed by The Batman director Matt Reeves and produced by J.J. Abrams, Cloverfield follows a group of friends in New York. The group is having a going away party and is recording the festivities. Things take a dark turn when something attacks the city. Filmed in the pov of the one with the camera, this movie puts audiences right in the action and is still effective today.
7. Friday the 13th (1980)
In addition to newer films, there are, of course, genre staples such as Friday the 13th. There are several of these films on the site, but where better to start than the original? Friday the 13th started out as nothing more than a Halloween rip-off but blossomed into something huge. This first film sees a group of camp counselors preparing Camp Crystal Lake for opening. The camp is supposed to be cursed, and the group is inclined to believe this when they start to be killed off one by one. This iconic slasher led to the creation of the Jason Voorhees character and is one of the more important horror movies on Paramount+.
6. Candyman (2021)
Like Scream VI, Candyman proves that requels are the next hot thing with horror movies. Set in the same continuity as the 1992 movie, Candyman follows an artist hoping to unravel the mystery of the Candyman legend. Exploring the housing projects where the legend was born, he soon discovers dark secrets that lead to grizzly murders. Believing he reawakened the legends, he must find a way to stop the killings before his sanity is twisted into something out of his worst nightmares. Like many great requels, one does not need to see the original films to enjoy Candyman. It stands mostly on its own.
5. The Ring (2002)
It took years for the impact felt from the release of The Ring to dissipate. The film is streaming on Paramount+, making it easy for new fans to see what the fuss was about. Based on the 1998 Japanese horror film Ringu, The Ring follows a newspaper reporter investigating the deaths of two high schoolers. She learns of a supposedly cursed videotape that kills those who dare to watch it seven days after viewing it. Expecting it to be nothing more than an urban legend, she soon realizes just how real it is. Desperate to save those close to her, she tries to find the source of the curse, hoping to stop it once and for all.
4. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
It doesn’t get more classic than this. This is the film that created the zombie genre as we know it today. George A. Romaro’s Night of the Living Dead is responsible for creating one of the most popular subgenres in horror. One of the most influential horror movies on Paramount+, the film follows a group of people held up in a farmhouse as the dead rise from their graves. The group must learn to work together to survive the undead’s attacks. While tensions build inside, more and more horrors are happening outside. This film is not only a phenomenal zombie movie, but it also speaks to racial tensions of the time, making it timeless as well as scary.
3. Carrie (1976)
The novel that made Stephen King a household name was Carrie. It is fitting, then, that the first movie based on his work was an adaptation of the novel. The movie follows Carrie White, a young outcast in high school who is always the butt of the joke. Having a traumatic home life and a nonexistent social life leads to her learning she has special telekinetic powers. All Carrie wants to do is fit in, but a cruel prank at prom leads to her snapping. What follows is one of the most iconic sequences in all of horror. The film’s remake is also on Paramount+, but as with most things, you can’t beat the classics.
2. Paranormal Activity (2007)
As mentioned with Cloverfield, the early 2000s saw a resurgence in the found footage genre. This was due mostly to the wild success of Paranormal Activity. Due to the less-than-stellar sequels and numerous parodies, it is hard to remember just how good this original film is. A young couple, Micah and Katie, move into a new house in the suburbs. They soon begin to suspect they aren’t alone in the house and that a paranormal presence is with them. They set up cameras to catch the titular paranormal activity, leading to a terrifying film that still holds up. The jumpscares are actually minimal but deserved. Like Scream VI, Paranormal Activity is the perfect viewing for a horror marathon on Paramount +.
1. Midsommar (2019)
In this new era of elevated horror, few movies have come close to the impact of Midsommar. Written and directed by Ari Aster, the film follows a couple as they travel to Sweeden to join their friend in their town’s annual midsummer festival. They soon release that the festival is put on by a pagan cult, and the two are caught up in the horrific festivities. The film is a slow build to an absolutely terrifying experience. Midsommar is one of the more disturbing movies in recent years and more than deserves the title of horror.
