5 best scary movies of 2022 to watch right now

Josh Tyler
Keke Palmer Darius Jackson

Halloween may be over for 2022, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still plenty of spooky movies to watch, so here are our picks for the best scary movies to watch right now, from Prey to Scream, and Nope.

The year is almost over, and the festive season is still here, so the last thing some people may be thinking about is Halloween and horror movies. But that doesn’t include us.

While it’s never a bad option to rewatch the classics like The Shining, Halloween, Friday the 13th, or Trick ‘r Treat, there have been plenty of great horror movies released just this year. Without further adieu, here are some of the best scary movies from 2022 to watch before midnight strikes on this year.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for recommendations on a particular streaming platform, be sure to check out our best horror movies on Netflix, scary horror movies on Amazon Prime, and the scariest movies on Hulu lists for additional content to watch right now.

Best scary movies to watch in December 2022

X

x mia goth

A slasher film with a twist, the movie follows a group who are producing an adult video in Texas and then come across an elderly couple who lets them stay on their farm. Of course, things turn south and the group is forced to run for their lives and survive until dawn.

Starring Jenna Ortega, Mia Goth, Brittany Snow, and others, the movie is basically the Texas Chainsaw Massacre cranked up to 11 (and it’s much better than the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre that was released in 2022 but did not make this list).

X is available to stream on Amazon Prime in the UK and via a Showtime subscription in the US.

Prey

A character from Prey, the Predator prequel, one of the best scary movies

Perhaps more sci-fi than a scary movie, Prey was an incredible revisit to the Predator franchise that may be the best instalment since the original. Taking place in the American Great Plains of the 1700s, the movie follows Naru, a member of the Comanche tribe as she tries to prove herself as an adept hunter. Of course, things go wrong when she and her fellow hunters become the titular prey, being hunted by one of the most terrifying creatures in the universe.

With breakout performances from Amber Midthunder and Dakota Beavers, Prey is a twist on a horror favorite, done with historical and cultural sensitivity. And it doesn’t hurt that the movie has incredibly tense action and stalking sequences.

Prey can be streamed on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK.

Scream

Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream, who won't be returning for Scream 6.

Not to be confused with the 1996 original, the 2022 version of Scream introduces a whole new crew for Ghostface to torment. Once again, it’s part slasher, part mystery as characters and the audience try to figure out who is behind the mask and holding the knife.

Not only does it bring new characters into the fold, it keeps the original gang of Sidney (Neve Campbell), Gail (Courtney Cox), and Dewey (David Arquette), but ups the stakes in a way none of the first four did. With a sequel already on the way, fans will be anxious to see how the franchise can continue to maintain its form.

Scream can be streamed on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime.

Bodies, Bodies, Bodies

A screenshot from Bodies Bodies Bodies, one of the best scary movies

Perhaps the goofiest and most sardonic entry on the list, this scary movie is part slasher, part whodunit, part black comedy. When a group of friends is partying during a hurricane, they become trapped in the house. They soon realize that one of their friends is dead and must work together to figure out where the killer is… or if it is one of them.

Solid performances from Maria Bakalova, Amandla Stenberg, Pete Davidson, and Rachel Sennott carry the movie, which ends with an incredible twist.

Bodies, Bodies, Bodies can be rented or downloaded from Amazon Prime but is not currently on a subscription-based platform.

Nope

Daniel Kaluuya in one of the best horror movies of 2022, Nope.

Of course, the list of 2022’s best scary movies to watch wouldn’t be complete without another exciting entry from Jordan Peele. Unlike Get Out and Us, Nope is more monster movie than psychological horror. But, in true Peele fashion, it still hits on deep themes like the attention economy.

When a brother (Daniel Kaluuya) and sister (Keke Palmer) notice a UFO hovering above their ranch, they endeavor to capture it on film for profit. Unfortunately, that proves to be a fatal mistake.

Check out our dedicated guide to find out exactly where you can watch Nope.

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For more TV & movies content, be sure to check out our main page and the following links below:

Best horror movies streaming on Hulu | Best horror movies on Amazon Prime | Best 80s horror movies | Most underrated horror movies | Highest-grossing movies of all time | Best horror movies on Netflix | Best Disney Plus horror movies