Key Takeaways
- October 2025 brings a fresh lineup of horror hits across Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and Prime Video — no need to wait for Halloween night.
- Big names like It: Welcome to Derry, Weapons, and The Substance headline a month packed with original scares and classic revivals.
- From supernatural rituals to psychological thrillers, the best new horror streaming now blends old-school chills with modern nightmares.
A Fright-Filled October for Horror Fans
October 2025 is already looking terrifying — in the best way possible. Major streaming services including Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Prime Video, and Peacock have unleashed a mix of new horror films and TV series that cater to every kind of fear. From bone-chilling serial killer tales to supernatural rituals and psychological thrillers, this month’s lineup is built to haunt your dreams.
No matter your preferred scare style — slow-burn suspense, monster mayhem, or bloody slashers — there’s something streaming now that’ll keep you watching through your fingers.
HBO Max and A24 Deliver Prestige Terror
HBO Max dominates this month’s horror selection with a mix of high-profile releases.
Leading the charge is Weapons, directed by Zach Cregger (Barbarian), starring Julia Garner as a teacher blamed for the eerie disappearance of her students. The mystery deepens with Josh Brolin playing a desperate father, making Weapons one of the most anticipated horror releases of 2025.
Then there’s Bring Her Back, a disturbing new A24 production with an unsettling mix of cult rituals, grief, and psychological dread. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 89%, it cements A24’s reputation for intelligent, stylish horror.
Fans of Stephen King can return to Derry, Maine, with It: Welcome to Derry, a prequel to the It movies that explores the origins of Pennywise in 1962. Bill Skarsgård reprises his terrifying role, while Andy Muschietti returns as executive producer.
Finally, The Substance, starring Demi Moore, brings grotesque beauty and biting satire to body horror. After earning an Oscar for makeup and hairstyling, it’s a must-watch for fans of psychological and physical transformation stories.
Netflix Unleashes Slashers and True-Crime Nightmares
Netflix continues its reign of terror with several new offerings.
The franchise revival I Know What You Did Last Summer brings back Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. for a fresh chapter in the cult classic slasher saga. However, only US subscribers on Netflix’s ad-free plan can stream it due to licensing limits.
The streamer also goes darker with Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the third season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series. This chilling dramatization dives into the twisted life of one of America’s most infamous killers — a story so disturbing it inspired Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Adding an international twist, The Elixir from Indonesia blends zombie horror with folklore as a herbalist’s failed recipe triggers an outbreak. The film is gory, fast-paced, and perfect for fans of Train to Busan.
Prime Video, Hulu, and Peacock Bring Global Frights
Prime Video expands its thriller lineup with Harlan Coben’s Lazarus, a moody six-part mystery starring Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy. The platform also debuts Host, a supernatural Thai horror set in an isolated reform school — expect ghostly encounters and sinister secrets.
On Hulu, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle gets a modern remake featuring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Maika Monroe. It’s a psychological showdown between a suburban mother and her increasingly unhinged nanny. Hulu also adds Stay, a supernatural survival story about a crumbling marriage turned nightmare.
Peacock goes the true-crime route with Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. The scripted adaptation of the 2021 docuseries focuses on the killer’s victims, avoiding exploitative gore while maintaining psychological intensity.
Paramount Plus and Tubi Close Out the Scarefest
Paramount Plus’s Vicious, starring Dakota Fanning, has already drawn praise from festival audiences. When a mysterious stranger brings a box containing “something she needs, something she hates, and something she loves,” Fanning’s character is thrust into a relentless night of terror.
For those who prefer lighter scares, Tubi offers R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead, a young-adult horror film that channels the nostalgic thrills of The Haunting Hour. It’s family-friendly Halloween fun — and completely free to stream.
Conclusion: The Season of Screams Is Streaming Now
October isn’t just about pumpkins and candy — it’s prime horror season. With streaming giants releasing a lineup of thrillers, chillers, and psychological nightmares, 2025’s Halloween season has already arrived. Whether you want prestige horror like The Substance, nostalgic slashers like I Know What You Did Last Summer, or true-crime chills from Devil in Disguise, there’s no shortage of fear-filled entertainment this month.
So dim the lights, grab your popcorn, and let the screams begin — because October 2025 is streaming horror at its best.
