Several horror movies gained critical acclaim this year however many top-rated films came before Halloween changing up ratings and rankings according to critic's perception. While the spooky season is usually peak time for new releases many titles released earlier in the year hold the top spots in review aggregate scores. This demonstrates 2024’s horror lineup held unexpected successes outside the usual spooky release schedules. Four horror films ranked in the Top 10 prior to Halloween fell off the top spots during end of the year reviews for 2024 according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Terrifier 3 Falls Short of Top 10 as New Releases Shift Critics Ratings During 2024
Writer director Damien Leone's Terrifier 3 starring David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown no longer secured a top ten spot despite an impressive 78 percent "fresh" rating from 121 reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes aggregate platform . The new ranking on Rotten Tomatoes positions a more accurate portrayal of critical feedback regarding various horror movies during the year after its initial release. The film's high score initially gained from various critic's has slipped just shy of Top 10 lists.
The release of Nosferatu on Christmas Day brought another shake up and a full view of the best horror movies in 2024. Rotten Tomatoes currently maintains the latest list. This list is made by critics on the site who determine what the best ten horror films of the year were and have a list readily available.
Abigail and Speak No Evil Tie For Tenth Place in Latest Critics Horror Ratings of 2024
Abigail directed by Scream and Scream VI’s Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin functions as a reboot of Universal Studios’ Monsters movie titled Dracula’s Daughter. Melissa Barrera Dan Stevens Kathryn Newton and Kevin Durand and Will Catlett play characters who kidnap Abigail portrayed by Alisha Weir only discovering she is a vampire with very dangerous abilities. This film premiered on April 19 and is streaming currently on Amazon Prime Video with a critics score of 83%. Abigail movie also features both Matthew Goode and Giancarlo Esposito as supporting cast.
Speak No Evil also is a film with 83% from 204 reviews by critics which premiered on September 13 tying Abigail for number 10 spot. James McAvoy who played Paddy a seemingly kind man with his wife Ciara portrayed by Aisling Franciosi who befriend a family played by Mackenzie Davis Scott McNairy and Alix West Lefler during their stay in Italy . This seemingly kind couple invites them back to their English countryside home leading to some dire consequences as this family soon realizes their intentions. Peacock currently offers Speak No Evil as part of their streaming options. James Watkins is the lead director in this horror adaptation which features also includes actor Dan Hough in supporting role.
Longlegs Claims Eighth Spot While Smile 2 Lands In Seventh Place Among Best Horror Films
Longlegs directed by Osgood Perkins starring Maika Monroe as agent Lee Harker investigating the Satan-worshipping serial killer Longlegs played by Nicolas Cage who has eluded the authorities for over 30 years now and it secured 85% fresh rating by critics on Rotten Tomatoes with 309 reviews. Also included in the movie is Blair Underwood and Alicia Witt who work with her as agents working on the same cases as her as this thriller came to theaters July 12. The movie is available via premium video-on-demand.
Smile 2 earns 86% with 201 reviews for seventh spot this movie with Naomi Scott as Skye Riley with the plot centered around a pop superstar suffering from an invisible parasite that causes disturbing visions. Rosemarie DeWitt Lukas Gage Dylan Gelula and Kyle Gallner fill the additional supporting roles in the movie released October 18th currently available on Paramount plus.
Nosferatu Takes Sixth Place while Heretic and The Substance Tie For Fifth
Nosferatu a Robert Eggers directed remake of the classic 1922 film stars Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok. This story also stars Lily Rose Depp and features Nicholas Hoult Aaron Taylor-Johnson Emma Corrin Simon McBurney Ralph Ineson and Willem Dafoe as the supporting actors. The new Nosferatu debuted Christmas Day garnering an impressive 87% rating with 195 reviews from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes with many citing high praise for director Robert Eggers creative choices.
Heretic and The Substance tie for 5th place with Hugh Grant portraying Mr Reed in Heretic a sinister heretic with Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East as missionaries all part of an 90% fresh rating and 262 reviews for the film after release date in theatres November 8 with Topher Grace also in the cast. Demi Moore stars as Elizabeth Sparkle in The Substance about an aerobics guru using a drug to gain her youthful looks as she tries to re-attain her old successes. Margaret Qualley plays the younger version of Elizabeth and is co-star with Dennis Quaid playing her sexist boss while garnering a score of 90 percent and 344 reviews. Both titles The Heretic and The Substance are available via premium video on demand with Mubi streaming the substance as one of its offerings.
Strange Darling Secures Third while Oddity and Late Night With The Devil Dominate Top Spots
Strange Darling directed by JT Mollner has a serial killer story with actors Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner and also featuring cinematography by Giovanni Ribisi . This thriller obtained an amazing 95% and 153 reviews making this one to watch for horror fans even though most reviewers feel the audience score 77% was low for a film of this merit. This horror title premiered on August 23 with many sources currently streaming this movie via premium video on demand.
Oddity which was directed by Damian McCarthy stars Carolyn Bracken playing a psychic searching for truth about her deceased sister. The film is currently being shown through Shudder and AMC+ while managing 96 percent and 118 reviews by the critics putting it as the second best horror movie. Gwilym Lee and Caroline Menton join with Carolyn Bracken to make a very memorable spooky story.
Late Night with the Devil Written and directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes has achieved a 97% rating and 231 reviews from the critics making it the number one film on the list while it is available through streaming through Shudder, Hulu, and AMC Plus. David Dastmalchian stars in the horror title with many supporting cast members including Laura Gordon Ingrid Torelli and Ian Bliss where they perform their parts alongside the central figure during a Halloween broadcast from October 31st 1977.