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The most streamed movie in October was Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, but half of the month’s top ten is made up of season-appropriate horror movies. This year’s two most successful horror movies, Backrooms and Obsession, made the list; so did a classic (Halloween from 1978) and an art movie about the genre that Halloween created,Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. Perfect double feature. Rounding out the list is the all-around-excellent Hokum. If you’re not into horror, you might like Golden Arm, a comedy that refused to die, star-studded comedy The Invite, or ultimate crowd-pleaser Project Hail Mary.
Disclosure Day (2026)
Legendary director Steven Spielberg returns to the extraterrestrials he loves so much with a thriller that’s a spiritual sequel to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Disclosure Day details the events that lead up to the revelation that aliens are among us. Josh O’Connor plays Dr. Daniel Kellner, a cybersecurity expert for a government contractor who uncovers explosive evidence that his employers would kill to keep secret. Meanwhile, a TV meteorologist (Emily Blunt) begins speaking in an alien language. It all sets the stage for a series of set pieces and chases leading to the biggest revelation in human history. Stream Disclosure Day on Peacock.
Backrooms (2026)
Director Kane Parsons’ analog horror breakthrough is proof that atmosphere, mood, and a fascinating story is scarier than CGI monsters every time. Based on the viral YouTube series of the same name, Backrooms tells the story of Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a store owner who discovers a labyrinthian liminal space in his furniture shop’s basement. Renate Reinsve plays his therapist, who goes downstairs for a visit and does not find it easy to return. A hit with critics—Backrooms is sitting at 86% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes—and audiences, Backrooms is a delicious Halloween treat for horror fans. Stream Backrooms on HBO Max.
Obsession (2026)
Director Curry Barker is still in his 20s, but his debut theatrical feature is the kind of horror film that changes the entire genre. Obsession is a classic “be careful what you wish for” story that feels fresh thanks to its talented young cast, unpredictable plot, and careful pace. Michael Johnston plays a young man too scared to tell his crush how he feels, so he wishes she’d fall in love with him instead. The result is a nightmare embodied by Inde Navarrette, whose portrayal of the villain/victim is at once harrowing, terrifying, and heartbreaking. Obsession is the best horror movie I’ve seen in years. Stream Obsession on Peacock.
The Invite (2026)
This comedy-drama from A24 is packed with heavy-hitting actors. Olivia Wilde, who also directed the film, plays Angela, and Seth Rogen plays her husband, Joe. With the straight-laced couple’s marriage on thin ice, Angela and Joe invite their more, uh, open-minded neighbors Piña, played by Penélope Cruz, and Hawk, played by Edward Norton, over for dinner. The evening unravels in hilarious ways, changing everyone’s life. If you’re a fan of smart, honest comedy, you will really like The Invite. Stream The Invite on HBO Max.
Hokum (2026)
With Hokum, Director Damian McCarthy (Oddity, Caveat) carefully builds a suffocatingly creepy story around Adam Scott’s portrayal of Ohm Bauman, a celebrity novelist and unmitigated jerk who travels to the isolated Bilberry Woods Hotel in Ireland to scatter the ashes of his parents and finish his book. Bauman soon learns that the lore of the hotel includes an ancient witch who feeds her victims to the creatures of hell, and she might be more than just a local legend. Hokum is a horror movie for fans of dreadful atmosphere and careful pacing instead of gore or jump-scares. Stream Hokum on Hulu.
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (2026)
With a title like this, it’s not going to be a normal movie. Director Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow and We’re All Going to the World’s Fair are two of the most fascinating, fiercely original horror movies of the last decade, and their third film follows in those strange footfalls. While it’s technically a meta re-imagining of the slasher genre, Miasma goes way deeper than Scream ever could. It’s a postmodern exploration of why the slasher genre’s cocktail of sex, death, and subversion casts such a strong spell on interesting, weird people. Definitely see this movie. Stream Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma on Mubi.
Golden Arm (2021)
When Golden Arm was released in 2021, not many people paid attention—with the pandemic in full swing, people didn’t seem to have room for a quirky, indie comedy about a woman’s quest to win the ladies’ arm-wrestling championship—but it’s a new age, and you should stream Golden Arm. It’s sitting on a perfect score at Rotten Tomatoes, the movie’s stars, Mary Holland and Betsy Sodaro, are charming and hilarious, and you can catch Golden Arm on Fandango, a free streaming service. What’s not to love? Stream Golden Arm on Fandango or Prime Video.
Project Hail Mary (2026)
In this crowd-pleasing sci-fi flick, Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher who is blasted into the firmament in a last-ditch effort to save the world. Grace is the only person on Earth who might know how to protect the sun from a cosmic infection that threatens all life, but he’s definitely not an astronaut and doesn’t see himself as a hero either. Will he rise to the occasion and learn something about his inner strength and resilience while saving us all from death? My money is on, “yeah, probably.” Stream Project Hail Mary on MGM+, Prime Video, and Philo.
Halloween (1978)
Hundreds of slasher movies have been released since Halloween came out in 1978, but none have surpassed the original. Michael Myers’ expressionless visage and the synthesizer theme have become universally recognized cultural signifiers for “horror movie,” and every shot in Halloween has been stolen countless times, but the movie is so good, it’s still scary. Watch or re-watch Halloween now! Stream Halloween on Philo, AMC+, and Prime Video.
Animals (2026)
Directed by and starring Ben Affleck, Animals is a thriller that tells the story of Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped and held for ransom. Having spent every dime on his outsider campaign, Kimball is forced to turn to extreme methods to guarantee his son’s safe return, even if it conflicts with his public persona as a man of the people. Animals is a taut, expertly directed movie that should more than satisfy fans of political thrillers. Stream Animals on Netflix.
