If you’re looking for the best A24 horror movies, then this is the list for you. There are plenty of upcoming A24 films, but to me, I love to check out the ones that have already come out – mainly their amazing horror films.
Sure, there are plenty of other upcoming horror movies from other studios that you could look out for, or you can watch some of the best horror movies, but I have to say that A24 is always giving us some great ones – and this list just proves it.
From smaller, independent films to wide releases that have captured our attention, here are the best A24 horror movies, ranked.
14. Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Bodies Bodies Bodies stars the impressive cast that includes Amandla Stenberg, Pete Davidson, Maria Bakalova, and more, and tells the story of a group of rich twenty-somethings who get trapped in a mansion when a hurricane comes through, and decide to play a game called “bodies bodies bodies” that takes a murderous turn throughout the night.
Let me just say that I laughed my ass off while watching this movie, and I mean that in the best way. There’s a lot that this film does that’s so unbelievably silly, and other moments that are genuinely scary as heck that made me turn my head away from my television screen. I don’t think it’s good enough to be in the top 10, but it’s certainly a fun one to view.
13. MaXXXine (2024)
Man, I really wanted to love this movie. Like, so much. But it just didn’t turn out the way I really thought it would.
That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy MaXXXine. It’s the final story in the X trilogy (with the other two films above this one in ranking), and follows Maxine as she takes on Hollywood and yet another killer that is taking out young women. It’s a really fun movie with plenty of blood and a good conclusion to the trilogy that we’ve seen play out the last few years.
That being said, I think there could have been even more gore and it didn’t feel up to the same amount of scares as the previous two films in the trilogy, which is why it ranks at thirteen. Even so, Mia Goth’s performance is still unbeatable. She’s just that good.
12. X (2022)
X is a great horror film starring Mia Goth and Jenna Ortega about a cast and film crew who are gathered in Texas to film a porno. Soon, a killer starts to shake things up for the main players.
X is utter madness. Really, so much better than I thought it was going to be. I went into this film with zero expectations because I trusted that A24 would, at the very least, make a good horror film, but I didn’t expect it to blow me away as much as it did. It almost feels like an ode to slasher films of old with its major bouts of horror, blood, and intensity. MaXXXine is the direct followup to this film.
11. I Saw The TV Glow (2024)
Very few people have brought up the amazing I Saw the TV Glow,and it’s driving me insane because this movie is so ridiculously good.
The film stars Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine as two teenagers whose lives begin to slowly unravel when their favorite TV show is cancelled – and honestly, I would be the same way.
Jokes aside, this film is surprisingly good. I don’t think it’s top-ten quality, which is why it’s at eleven, but it deserves to at least get talked about because the performances are stellar and the story itself is actually really original. It doesn’t go the way you would expect it and the ending is one of the best I’ve seen in a while. Give it a shot if you haven’t.
10. Men (2022)
This folk horror film is certainly one to remember. Men follows the tale of a woman who goes away on vacation but finds herself increasingly disturbed by the men that live in the village, until these disturbances turn into something a little more sinister.
I think the thing I like about Men is that it really doesn’t rely on a lot of crazy gimmicks to make you uncomfortable. Yes, the ending turns into something you would never really expect, like most A24 horror movies, but the suspense that builds it is built purely on human interaction and that is something that is hard to do in a horror movie. And it just keeps growing and growing until you can’t take it anymore.
9. Pearl (2022)
Remember X? Now, if you enjoyed the main antagonist of that movie, then Pearl is for you. It tells the origin story and how she got to be the person she became in X – and all the bloody goodness that came with it.
I can’t say much about Pearl without revealing major details in X, so all I’ll say is that it’s even better than its predecessor and provides so much more lore that I never would have expected from just watching the original film. And yes, it’s about as weird as it gets. I would re-watch this film – if it didn’t creep the heck out of me in so many ways. It’s top 10 quality, for sure.
8. Heretic (2024)
This movie delivered and more. Heretic, starring Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher and Hugh Grant, is a horror film about two missionaries who travel to a man’s house to speak the good word of the Mormon Church, but discover that they’re just another part of his ongoing revelation into the world of religion according to him.
I think Heretic actually leans more into horror-comedy a lot of the time, but it’s definitely one of the best A24 horror films. The story is fun, the suspense is killer, and Hugh Grant is utterly terrifying in the villain role. Without giving anything away, you will never be able to look at blueberry pie the same way again after watching Heretic.
7. Under The Skin (2013)
Under the Skin, starring the wonderful Scarlett Johansson, tells the story of a mysterious young woman who seduces men using her looks, but there’s more to her than just her pretty face.
It’s one of those films where Johansson should have been nominated for an Oscar. She was outstanding in this film. Not only that, but the story is genuinely petrifying. The whole point is the idea of not really knowing who you’re with, whether that be a friend, lover, or even a family member, which is what makes her so scary here. The only reason I rank it at seven is that sci-fi horror doesn't really fit in with a lot of other A24 films, but this one stands out.
6. The Killing Of A Sacred Deer (2017)
The Killing of a Sacred Deer stars Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan in the story of a cardiac surgeon meeting a teenage boy who has a strange connection to his past. Through the friendship which grows, he brings the boy home to his family - and not long after, they begin to succumb to illness.
This is such a fantastically well-written film, from start to finish. I have to give credit where credit is due, and give it up to Barry Keoghan, because his part was the absolute best. Number six feels like a good spot for this movie, because while the story is a little slow to start, the performances are some of the best in A24's horror films and are really tough to beat.
5. Green Room (2015)
Oh, you want gore? You want horror? This film is the one to watch. Green Room is a horror-thriller that follows a punk band that witnesses something they weren’t supposed to. This, in turn, leads to them getting captured by a group of Neo-Nazis, who plan to off them one by one. Now they have to fight to survive.
I would rank this higher than five if the movie weren’t as gruesome as it is - there is such a thing as too much blood, but the difference between this and X is the brutal reality of the deaths, which make this movie so terrifyingly real. It feels like something that can happen. Oftentimes, horror films are filled with impossible realities, such as mysterious ghosts or demons, but being captured, tortured, and killed? Yeah, that stuff happens in real life, which is what makes Green Room so scary and a good spot for number five.
4. Talk To Me (2023)
I had my doubts about whether Talk to Me would be truly frightening, but I couldn't have been more mistaken. It stands out as one of the most remarkable horror movies in recent years, easily earning a spot on this list.
The plot centers around a group of teenagers who get almost a high from an embalmed hand that’s used to communicate with the afterlife. This interaction allows a spirit to possess them, but with a strict 90-second time limit; exceeding this results in the spirit becoming a more permanent presence. However, when one character, Mia, lets the possession linger for too long, their world is upended by haunting experiences.
This is an exceptional film. Although I don’t believe it’s the absolute pinnacle of A24's horror offerings, it undoubtedly stands amongst the best, from the stellar cast of Talk to Me, the expertly crafted cinematography, and the genuinely spine-chilling moments that don’t include crazy amounts of gore. The Talk to Me ending itself is one that will sit with you for hours. If you haven't had the chance, make sure to experience this cinematic gem.
3. The Witch (2015)
While Anya Taylor-Joy got famous from other big roles, many first saw her in The Witch. In this fantastic horror film, a family moves to an area that is hidden in the woods when their church banishes them. However, when an unknown evil entity begins to make their lives a living hell, they must rely on their faith to survive.
The Witch is what I’d classify as a slow-burn horror. It doesn’t hit you in the face with blood, guts or anything gruesome, and it takes its time slowly trying to break you apart as you wonder who the heck you can trust, which is why it's number three. You never quite find out until the end what is causing this whole family to suddenly be tortured, but you’re questioning everything, and you almost feel like you’re going insane by the end of it.
2. Hereditary (2018)
You knew this would be ranked high. Hereditary, directed by Ari Aster, tells the story of a family who is hit with a tragedy, but while they are grieving, a mysterious force that has a connection to their past relatives begins to haunt them and tear apart their family from the inside out.
Let me tell you - it takes a lot to scare me to the point where I can’t sleep. I thrive off of this stuff because I know it’s very hard to get me to feel genuine fear from a film. However, Hereditary did that and more, and it deserves its number two spot here. From the spectacular performance by Toni Collette that should have been nominated for an Academy Award, to the brilliant practical effects to the story to even the score, it’s phenomenal in every way. And, that Hereditary ending, gosh, it sticks with you, doesn’t it?
1. Midsommar (2019)
This film, man. This freaking film. It will be number one for a long time unless another A24 film can overtake it.
Midsommar, starring the amazingly talented Florence Pugh, tells the story of a young woman who has recently undergone a horrible personal loss and leaves with her boyfriend and his friends on a trip to Sweden to take part in a traditional festival that takes a deadly twist.
While both Hereditary and Midsommar are great films, Midsommar left me feeling some type of way. I was floored by Pugh’s performance, and truly felt uneasy in many of the scenes, from the flowers on her crown to the dancing to the usage of symbols and subtle gore.
What really makes Midsommar so fantastic is that you feel as if you are the main character. Pugh takes us on such an intense emotional journey that by the end of the film, you almost feel as exhausted as she is.
Midsommar is an experience unlike any other that will stun you from the moment you first start watching it. Truly the best A24 horror film, and one that needs to be studied over and over again.
This just makes me want to re-watch all these films again - and I think I’m gonna go and do that right now until the next A24 horror film comes out. Anyone else up for a movie marathon?
