2026 IS THE YEAR OF SCARES—AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOOD!
Horror is having a MAJOR moment at the multiplex, with low-budget shockers and sequels flooding screens. Here's what's terrifying audiences right now.
Hold onto your popcorn, horror fans—2026 is shaping up to be THE year for screams! According to Variety, multiplexes have been packed with spine-tingling flicks, and the best part? A bunch of them are legitimately fantastic. Low-budget surprises like "Backrooms" and "Obsession" are racking up serious box-office wins, proving you don't need a massive budget to scare the pants off audiences.
Of course, 2026 is also the year the studios decided to resurrect every horror franchise known to mankind. We're talking "Scream 7" and "The Strangers – Chapter 3"—sequels Variety notes "the world could have lived without." But hey, if you're hungry for horror, the menu is PACKED.
The wild part? Even with sequels that might feel like retreads, the overall horror slate is surprisingly strong. Variety's roundup includes standouts like "Hokum" alongside the hits, which means there's legitimately scary, entertaining stuff for every terror taste. Whether you're into fresh frights or familiar franchises, 2026 is keeping horror fans very, very busy—and very, very awake at night!
Sources · Variety