5 Must Watch Horror Movies on Paramount+!

Paramount+ is an underrated gem when it comes to the horror genre. Here are some of our favorite horror films on the platform and why you should watch!

Need a classic horror fix or a shocking new hit? Paramount+ has you covered! You could spend weeks sifting through their horror section and never get bored. Here are 5 of the best horror films on the streaming service, along with a couple of honorable mentions.

The Scream Franchise

Scream is one of the most iconic horror franchises of all time (and I’m not just saying that because it’s my personal favorite, and I’m wearing a Ghostface hoodie right now). The original single handedly revitalized the genre in the 90s and gave birth to a new subgenre of meta horror.

These films are packed with stellar killer reveals, tense chase scenes, timely self-referential humor, and a delicious bit of slasher cheese. In my opinion, there isn’t a bad one in the bunch, although they each vary in what they offer. You could find a reason why each is your favorite!

The series straddles the line between horror and comedy, so if you like a good laugh and a good kill, this is for you.

Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000), Scream 4 (2011), and Scream (2022) are all available for your binging pleasure, just in time for Scream 6 (2023), coming out March 10!

Smile (2022)

Smile was an absolute hit, grossing $216.1 million globally at the box office. The film graphically explores trauma and the consequences of ignoring it. It offers startling sound design, well-crafted jumpscares, and camerawork that leaves you as paranoid as the main character. The acting is devastatingly realistic, from side characters that kick off the story to the main character Rose played by Sosie Bacon.

Although I must warn you, if you are sensitive to discussions or depictions of paranoia, self-harm, and suicide, I would skip this one.

Even if you can handle those themes, this film sticks with you. I had the eerie feeling of being watched for days after seeing it, and I didn’t even watch it in the theater! Get a buddy for this one, for your own sake.

Night Of The Living Dead (1968)

George Romero’s Night Of The Living Dead started the zombie subgenre as we know it. It stars Duane Jones, marking the first time a Black actor was cast as the lead and hero in a horror film.

This black-and-white masterpiece is full of intentional commentary on class and unintentional commentary on race, given its casting and ending. Anyone who thinks zombie movies are all blood and guts with no substance needs a lesson in horror history!

Paranormal Activity (2007)

The original Paranormal Activity scared the pants off of audiences in the 2000s. It built on the legacy left by The Blair Witch Project (1999) for the found footage subgenre.

Just like Blair Witch, promotions for the movie attempted to trick audiences into believing the film was real footage. The two main characters, Katie and Micah, share names with their actors, and the disclaimer at the start of the film makes you feel like you’re watching a messed up documentary put together by a cop investigating the case.

All the Paranormal Activity movies are available on Paramount+. Horror YouTubers and podcasters Dead Meat have a series of deep dives on the 7 movies, and I recommend you check it out if you end up loving what you see!

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Rosemary’s Baby is 2 hours and 16 minutes of pure tension. It’s based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Ira Levin and follows a young pregnant woman who slowly finds herself in the center of a sinister plot she has no knowledge of.

The film is a slow burn, constantly building to the point where someone innocuously walking by in the background makes you jump out of your seat. There is no gore or deranged killers to be seen, just a woman, her unborn child, and relentless psychological torment.

Some honorable mentions include Friday The 13th (1980), the classic slasher that gave birth to the second highest grossing horror film franchise in the US, and The Ring (2002), the American remake of the Japanese original Ringu (1998) that can rival the source material.

Paramount+ is becoming a horror safe haven with each new addition. I can’t wait to see what comes next!