Horror movies are perhaps one of the most loved movie genres by moviegoers… People like to be afraid and feel tension in front of the big screen. That’s why hundreds of horror movies are produced every year in Hollywood and independent cinema. Now let’s take a look at the 12 most watched and discussed horror movies of 2023.
1. Influencer
Social media fame is the ultimate curse in writer-director Kurtis David Harder’s latest. Released as a Shudder Original, Influencer set itself apart from traditional horror fare by flipping a well-worn trope on its head. From Single White Female to Ingrid Goes West, there’s no shortage of movies about lonely girls making trouble, but this film’s clever twists and shocking turns (particularly after the title sequence) left IMDb fans calling it the most underrated horror movie of the year.
2. Infinity Pool
Brandon Cronenberg’s latest nightmare made waves at Sundance with its surreal imagery and disturbing plot about tourists behaving abominably. At the time, fans and critics couldn’t help but make associations between Infinity Pool and the hit show “The White Lotus,” but the film’s story about the dark influence of affluence makes the HBO series look like “Sesame Street” by comparison. Although much was said about the picture’s graphic violence and adult themes, it was the bold performances from Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård that made the director’s third feature a standout. Both actors shot to the top of IMDb’s STARmeter chart after the movie’s release, thanks to their portrayal of this cat-and-mouse courtship of doom.
3. The Last Voyage of the Demeter
It took seven years for Irish novelist Bram Stoker to write his seminal classic “Dracula.” But would you believe it took Hollywood three times that long to bring The Last Voyage of the Demeter to the screen? Good things seem to come to those who wait, and fans of period horror stories were rewarded when the film finally sailed into theaters this summer. Crafted from a single chapter of the landmark novel, the movie earned high marks from viewers who longed to see an adaptation indulge in the monstrous side of the Transylvanian terror.
4. The Pope’s Exorcist
It’s a good year for exorcism films, if that particular subgenre compels you. As real-life exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth, Russell Crowe turns this meat-and-potatoes possession flick into a surprisingly fun ride. While many IMDb reviewers had low expectations for The Pope’s Exorcist, Crowe won them over with a charismatic performance that reminds you of his star power. Sony scared up an impressive $76 million worldwide and a sequel is currently in development.
5. Knock at the Cabin
M. Night Shyamalan took home invasion to a cosmic level with his 14th feature, Knock at the Cabin. Adapted from Paul Tremblay’s novel “The Cabin at the End of the World,” the tense chamber piece featured an ensemble of seven actors trapped in a single location for the majority of the runtime. Although the battle between faith and reason left audiences divided, everyone agreed that Dave Bautista’s performance as mild-mannered fundamentalist Leonard was heaven-sent.
6. No One Will Save You
This alien invasion flick became a surprise hit, thanks to an extraordinary lead performance by Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart, “Dopesick”). With only about five words of dialogue in the screenplay, Dever commands attention throughout the film with an expressive, near-silent turn as a woman under siege by extraterrestrials. Brian Duffield (Spontaneous) has crafted a tense thriller that’s earned a spot next to sci-fi/horror thrillers like Signs, Nope, and A Quiet Place.
7. Renfield
It’s not the only film about Dracula on this list (see #10), but it is the only horror-comedy. Centering the story around the trusted servant of the Prince of Darkness—who concludes that he may have a toxic relationship with his boss—Renfield was a true crowd pleaser with its mash-up of horror, action, and comedy. Nicholas Hoult displayed comedic (and athletic) chops while teaming up with Awkwafina. Meanwhile, Nic Cage had the time of his life chewing up scenery as Dracula, which—ever since 1988’s Vampire’s Kiss—we knew he was born to do.
8. M3GAN
Well before Barbie fever gripped the nation, another doll captured the hearts and minds of moviegoers in M3GAN. The zany brainchild of writers James Wan and Akela Cooper landed at the perfect time to poke at our ever-increasing fears of A.I., high-tech gadgets, and raising children in the digital age. Between the constant memes and TikTok dance routines, it’s easy to lose sight of just how effective the movie actually was. M3GAN may have nailed that aerial and turned David Guetta’s “Titanium” into a bedtime lullaby, but she also dispatched her enemies with the chilly efficiency of a pint-sized Terminator. It’s no wonder Blumhouse green-lit a sequel after the microbudget production grossed more than $170 million worldwide.
9. Scream VI
After the huge success of last year’s Scream, Paramount wasted no time getting co-directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett back on set for a new installment in Wes Craven’s self-reflexive horror franchise. This time, the returning cast (including Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, and Courteney Cox) do their best Jason Takes Manhattan as they move locations from Woodsboro to New York City. As always, fans loved the balanced mix of laughs, scares, and horror movie commentary that have come to define the franchise since its inception.
10. Evil Dead Rise
Director Lee Cronin took a big swing by releasing the deadites from the cabin in the woods and giving them a new playground in a Los Angeles apartment building. Evil Dead Rise may not have met the expectations of all rabid Evil Dead fans, but it won praise for showing off the same brand of nasty humor that made Fede Alvarez’s 2013 reboot so much fun. Alyssa Sutherland’s gleefully psycho possession was universally praised, and the myriad of prop-based horror set pieces (cheese grater, anyone?) kept audiences squirming and screaming with terror.
11. Saw X
In a plot twist we didn’t see coming Saw X has become the highest rated sequel in the series, thanks to its return to form after the much-maligned Spiral. At 81, Tobin Bell deserves some kind of MVP award for being the moral(ly corrupt) center of the franchise for nearly 20 years. This time around, John Kramer (aka Jigsaw) becomes a true antihero, as he exacts revenge on a group of fraudulent medical treatment hucksters. To misquote The Dark Knight, “You either die a villain or you live long enough to see yourself become the hero.”
12. Talk to Me
Danny and Michael Philippou’s debut feature is not only poised to become the top horror movie of the year, Talk to Me has also become A24’s biggest horror hit in the US, pulling in nearly $50 million (and almost $90 million worldwide). The twin filmmakers cut their teeth as RackaRacka, showcasing insane stunts and hilarious shorts on YouTube. Their confidence behind the camera resulted in a tight, spooky, even shocking thriller that’s anchored by a star-making performance from relative newcomer Sophie Wilde. If there’s one must-see horror movie this year, Talk to Me is it.
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