October is here. The nights are getting longer, the air feels colder, and Netflix has filled its library with horror titles that cover every kind of fear. Some are brand new. Some are classics that have found a new home on the platform. And a few are movies you might have missed in theaters that deserve a second look now that they are streaming.
This guide covers the new horror movies and shows that arrived on Netflix in October 2026. I have not just listed them. I have explained what each one is about, who made it, and why it might be worth your time. Whether you want a slow burn that gets under your skin or a slasher you can shout at with friends, there is something here for you.
New Netflix Horror Original: Below
The biggest new horror arrival this month is Below, a six-episode thriller series that came to Netflix on October 8. The story takes place in a small fishing village in Newfoundland, Canada. Josh Hartnett plays Calvin, a fisherman whose community comes under attack by a violent creature from the ocean. As locals start acting strangely and Calvin's son Wade (played by Charlie Heaton from Stranger Things) begins showing terrifying symptoms, Calvin teams up with a marine biologist named Fonda, played by Mackenzie Davis, to figure out what is hiding beneath the water.
What makes Below stand out is how it was made. The cast and crew filmed on location in Newfoundland instead of using green screens. Charlie Heaton has said he actually went out on the ocean in a kayak during filming. Josh Hartnett spent time with local fishermen to learn the accent and the way of life. That commitment to realism gives the show a texture you can feel. The fog, the cold water, the isolation of the village — it all becomes part of the horror.
The show was created by Jesse McKeown, who wanted to capture both the danger and the warmth of Newfoundland. That balance between a close community and an unseen threat is what drives the story forward.
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Returning Horror Classics and Fan Favorites
Netflix has also added a long list of horror movies from the past that are now streaming. These are not new releases, but for many viewers they will be new to Netflix, and they are worth mentioning because they represent some of the best the genre has to offer.
The Classic Slashers
Psycho (1960) is on Netflix now. Alfred Hitchcock's film about a woman on the run who checks into the Bates Motel remains one of the most influential horror movies ever made. Anthony Perkins plays Norman Bates, a motel owner with a very complicated relationship with his mother. If you have never seen it, October is the perfect time. If you have seen it, it still holds up.
Friday the 13th (1980) also arrived this month. This is the movie that introduced Jason Voorhees, though he is not actually the killer in this first film. A group of camp counselors trying to reopen Camp Crystal Lake are picked off one by one. The mystery of who is doing it and why is part of what made this movie a classic.
The Scream trilogy — Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 3 — came to Netflix on October 9. Wes Craven's movies changed horror by making the characters aware of horror movie rules. The first film follows Sidney Prescott, a teenager whose friends are being killed by someone in a Ghostface mask. The sequels continue her story in college and then in Hollywood. These movies are scary, but they are also funny and smart.
I Know What You Did Last Summer is another late-90s slasher now streaming. Four friends hit a man with their car and try to hide what happened. A year later, someone sends them a note saying they know the truth. Then people start dying. It is a straightforward revenge story with a hook-wielding killer and a cast of young actors who were everywhere at the time.
Supernatural and Psychological Horror
The Sixth Sense (1999) is on Netflix. Bruce Willis plays a child psychologist trying to help a boy who says he sees dead people. The twist ending is famous, but the movie works even if you know what is coming because the performances and the atmosphere are so strong.
The Boogeyman (2023) arrived on October 5. This is based on a short story by Stephen King. It follows a therapist and his two daughters who are grieving the death of their mother. A patient brings a supernatural threat into their home, and the family has to figure out how to survive it. The movie did okay at the box office and got mixed reviews, but it has found a second life on streaming. Sophie Thatcher, who is becoming a familiar face in horror, plays the older daughter.
Ouija and Ouija: Origin of Evil are both on Netflix now. The first one is about a group of teenagers who use a board to contact a dead friend and get more than they bargained for. The second one is a prequel set in the 1960s about a fake medium's daughter who accidentally unleashes a demon. The prequel is generally considered the better of the two.
The Purge series is also available. These movies take place in a future America where all crime is legal for one night each year. The first film is a home invasion story. The later ones expand the world and get more political. They are not subtle, but they are effective.
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International Horror
The Trip is a Norwegian horror-comedy from 2021. Noomi Rapace and Aksel Hennie play a married couple who each secretly plan to kill the other during a weekend away. When they arrive at a remote cabin, things do not go as planned because there are also fugitives on the loose nearby. It is dark, funny, and violent.
The Conference is a Swedish slasher from 2023. A team-building retreat for office workers turns into a bloodbath when a killer shows up. The twist is that the victims are not teenagers at summer camp but middle-aged bureaucrats. It is a fun take on the slasher formula.
Korean Kanakaraju is a Telugu-language horror-comedy that came to Netflix in September but is still relevant for October viewing. A carefree young man becomes possessed by a spirit from Korea. The movie mixes scares with comedy and was popular enough in theaters to get a quick streaming release. It is available with subtitles in multiple languages.
How to Choose What to Watch?
With so many options, the question is where to start. Here is a simple way to think about it based on what you are in the mood for.
If you want something new and original, watch Below. It is the only major new horror original Netflix released this month. The six-episode format means you can finish it in a weekend, and the setting in Newfoundland gives it a look and feel that is different from the usual horror shows.
If you want a classic you have never seen, watch Psycho. It is shorter than most modern horror movies and the black-and-white photography still looks beautiful. The story of Norman Bates and his mother has been copied so many times that seeing the original is almost an education in how horror works.
If you want something fun with friends, watch Scream or The Purge. These movies are not trying to be deeply disturbing. They are roller coasters with jump scares and quotable lines. They are better with a group.
If you want something that will stick with you, watch The Sixth Sense or The Boogeyman. Both deal with grief and loss as much as they deal with monsters. The horror comes from real emotions, not just jump scares.
If you want something from outside the United States, watch The Trip or The Conference. Both are from Scandinavia, and both mix horror with other genres in ways that American horror often does not.
What Makes This Month Different?
October is always a big month for horror on streaming services. But this year feels different because Netflix is offering both brand-new content and a deep library of older titles at the same time. Below is the flagship original, but the real value is in the breadth of the catalog. You can watch a 1960 masterpiece and a 2023 Stephen King adaptation on the same platform in the same month.
Another thing that stands out is the international selection. The Trip and The Conference show that the Nordic countries have their own take on horror that is worth seeking out. Korean Kanakaraju brings Indian horror-comedy to a global audience. Netflix has been criticized for focusing too much on American content, but this month's horror lineup is genuinely global.
The other thing worth noting is that several of these movies are not exclusive to Netflix. The Boogeyman was in theaters. The Trip has been on other platforms. Scream and Psycho have been streaming elsewhere before. What Netflix offers is convenience. If you already have a subscription, you can watch all of them in one place without renting or buying anything extra.
A Note on the "New" Label
It is worth being clear about what counts as "new" on Netflix. Some of the movies in this list are new to the platform but not new to the world. Psycho is from 1960. Scream is from 1996. They are new in the sense that you can now stream them on Netflix. They are not new movies.
The only true original horror release from Netflix this month is Below. Everything else is licensed content that the platform has added to its library. That does not make the older movies any less worth watching. It just means that if you are looking for something that has never been available before, Below is your answer.
FAQs
Is Below a movie or a series?
Below is a six-episode limited series. It came to Netflix on October 8, 2026.
What is the scariest movie on this list?
That depends on what scares you. Psycho is psychologically disturbing. The Boogeyman deals with grief and trauma. Scream is more fun than frightening. For pure dread, The Sixth Sense and The Trip might be the most effective.
Are these movies available in all countries?
Netflix libraries vary by region. Most of the titles mentioned here are available in the United States. Some may not be available in other countries. Check your local Netflix library for specific titles.
Do I need to watch the Scream movies in order?
It helps. The first three films follow the same main character, Sidney Prescott, and there are running jokes and references that build across the trilogy. You can watch them out of order, but you will get more out of them if you start with the first one.
Is The Boogeyman based on a true story?
No. It is based on a short story by Stephen King. The story is fiction.
What should I watch if I do not like jump scares?
The Trip and The Conference are more violent and funny than they are jump-scare heavy. Psycho and The Sixth Sense rely on atmosphere and psychological tension rather than sudden loud noises.
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