2025 has been a robust year for horror movies, both in terms of the nonstop release schedule and numerous box office hits. From monster openings for movies like “Sinners” and “Final Destination Bloodlines” to word-of-mouth streaming debuts like “Dead Mail” and “Best Wishes to All,” there are so many standouts that any horror fan has their work cut out for them to catch up. There’s still plenty on the way this year as well, from Zach Cregger’s top secret “Weapons” to eagerly anticipated sequels like “Black Phone 2” and “Predator: Badlands” to a pair of Stephen King adaptations and much more. Below, take a look at Variety’s list of the Best Horror Movies of the Year So Far, a selection that hopefully invites spirited debate and encourages adding some new titles to your Letterboxd Watchlist.

First, some honorable mentions, in alphabetical order:  

(A24) — Danny and Michael Philippou’s “Talk to Me” follow-up is handsomely shot and features a great Sally Hawkins performance, but is stuck in one wildly depressing gear.
  
(RLJE Films and Shudder) — More clever than the name implies, a mid-film twist plays well at upending genre conventions.

(Universal Pictures) — In one of the year’s best popcorn movies, Meghann Fahy has to squeeze out of one sticky situation after another in this dynamically filmed low-budget thriller.  
  
(Hulu) — This impressive triptych delivers some of the most epic Predator battles ever, with animation acting as a wonderful canvas for prohibitively expensive fight scenes.