screenshot-2023.02.10-04_13_491676020429335.jpg

2023 is shaping up to be a stellar year for horror movies, but some offerings come with more hype than others. 2022 was a massive success for the horror genre. Not only did established franchises like Scream and Halloween make a killing at the box office with new sequels, but indie hits like Barbarian and Terrifier 2 also managed to exceed expectations with both critics and audiences. As cinemas reopened in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the horror genre as a whole proved a huge winner, with sleeper hits like Smile scaring up hundreds of millions of dollars in box office receipts.

While it will be tough for 2023’s slate to beat the best horror movies of 2022, there are many highly-hyped titles arriving in the coming months. From the twisty Scream sequel Scream 6 to a much-anticipated reboot of the Evil Dead series, there is something for everyone in 2023’s horror lineup. Even outside of classic franchises returning to cinema screens, there are also numerous reboots of beloved 2000s horror properties, as well as the obligatory smattering of Stephen King adaptations. There are even not one, but two variations on Bram Stoker’s iconic Dracula on their way in 2023.

11. The Nun 2

screenshot-2023.02.10-04_17_181676020638340.jpg

While director Corin Hardy’s The Hallow was a superb indie horror movie, his 2018 follow-up The Nun was one of the lesser installments in the ever-expanding The Conjuring cinematic universe. The tale of an abbey haunted by the eponymous demonic threat, The Nun ranked as one of the weaker entries in New Line's The Conjuring movie franchise thanks to its predictable plot. In fairness, however, The Nun’s lackluster story was ameliorated somewhat by a compelling central performance from Taissa Farmiga. Hopefully, The Nun 2 have a little more fun with its campy premise than its taciturn predecessor did, and the return of Farmiga at least ensures that the sequel will have a strong lead.

10. Saw 10

screenshot-2023.02.10-04_19_101676020750516.jpg

The phrase “once bitten, twice shy” has rarely been more appropriate than it is for the Saw franchise. While 2004’s sleeper hit was a tight, tense psychological thriller, surprisingly inspired by 1979’s original Mad Max, the subsequent slew of lesser Saw sequels traded clever twists and sharp social commentary for increasingly cartoony traps and convoluted plotting. As such, hype for Saw 10 comes with tempered expectations, especially since directing duties will go to Kevin Greutert of Saw VI fame. Admittedly, however, the presence of original Jigsaw Tobin Bell on the cast list is promising, and the release of any new Saw movie still commands attention due to the original's reputation.

9. The Last Voyage of the Demeter

screenshot-2023.02.10-04_20_581676020858305.jpg

The first of 2023’s two Dracula retellings, The Last Voyage of the Demeter takes a single chapter from the novel and expands its story into a full-length feature film. Horror aficionados will recognize the titular vessel as the ship Dracula stows aboard on his way to London. What makes this one of the most exciting new 2023 horror movies is the return of director André Øvredal, who has not released a new movie since 2019’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. However, since anyone familiar with Dracula already knows how this story ends, The Last Voyage of the Demeter may struggle as one of two Dracula movies in 2023.

8. The Strangers

screenshot-2023.02.10-04_22_351676020955344.jpg

2008’s The Strangers is a home invasion thriller that became a cult classic thanks to the movie’s relentlessly bleak tone and daring ambiguity. As such, when it was announced that director Renny Harlin would be releasing a new reboot trilogy, those familiar with The Strangers might have rightfully felt a little confused. A lot of what made The Strangers so successful was the movie’s refusal to offer any backstory for its villains or an explanation for their actions. This highly anticipated horror movie risks losing the original's memorable ambiguity, since those aspects will almost certainly have to be fleshed out further in a new trilogy of The Strangers movies.

7. Renfield

screenshot-2023.02.10-04_24_291676021069298.jpg

The second of 2023’s two Dracula retellings is a significantly sillier spin on the infamous Count’s story, and one that takes a lot more creative liberties from Bram Stoker's novel. Set in contemporary New York, Renfield stars Nicholas Hoult as the beleaguered eponymous manservant of Count Dracula. In this tongue-in-cheek retelling, Renfield is willing to serve Dracula because the bugs that he eats give him superpowers - a twist that risks turning this oddball gothic comedy into a more genetic superhero story. Nevertheless, Renfield is still an exciting prospect on 2023's horror calendar thanks to the inspired decision to cast Nicholas Cage as the vampire boss from hell.

6. Insidious 5

screenshot-2023.02.10-04_26_021676021162023.jpg

Not a lot is known about Insidious 5, other than it will be a direct sequel to the first two movies in James Wan’s 2010s horror franchise, and will follow the story of Josh and Renai’s haunted son, Dalton, as he grows up and moves into university. Directing duties go to series star Patrick Wilson this time around, which will make for an interesting change in the franchise’s established style. Alas, with no trailer yet available, despite the June 2023 release date for Insidious 5, the latest release from this dormant 2010s horror franchise is not yet as exciting as some of 2023’s bigger horror releases.

5. The Boogeyman

screenshot-2023.02.10-04_27_351676021255011.jpg

Director Rob Savage’s upcoming Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman managed an impressive feat before the movie was even released thanks to its test screenings. Following the example of other 2022 and 2023 horror movies, The Boogeyman was originally destined for a straight-to-streaming release before stellar test screening reactions ensured that the horror movie will instead be released in theaters. The creepy trailer for The Boogeyman promises some intense horror, but the original King story that the project is adapted from is a fairly sparse tale that is light on plot. As such, The Boogeyman may struggle to find a compelling story among its scares.

4. Salem’s Lot

screenshot-2023.02.10-04_28_521676021332163.jpg

The second Stephen King adaptation arriving in 2023 has the opposite problem to the one facing The Boogeyman. Based on one of King’s most perennially popular books, Salem’s Lot will be the third screen adaptation of this small-town vampire horror story. Salem’s Lot faces a Stephen King adaptation problem as there is simply too much plot in the novel for one feature film to faithfully adapt. Fortunately, one of IT’s screenwriters, Gary Dauberman, has writing and directing credits on this adaptation, and if anyone can manage to make a sprawling King story into a digestible blockbuster, Dauberman stands a fighting chance.

3. Scream 6

screenshot-2023.02.10-04_30_161676021416579.jpg

After the massive financial and critical success of Scream 2022, Scream 6 swiftly became one of 2023’s most-hyped horror movies. This hype only increased with the news that Scream 4 supporting character Kirby Reed would finally return in Scream 6, but anticipation faltered when series star Neve Campbell’s negotiations fell apart, and it was announced that the original franchise heroine Sidney Prescott would not return for Scream 6. This unfortunate news has not killed the excitement around the sequel - and the best Scream 6 legacy killer theory can still work - but Campbell's absence has left a wariness about the upcoming sequel.

2. Evil Dead Rise

screenshot-2023.02.10-04_31_571676021517413.jpg

Director Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise was set to be a straight-to-streaming release, and this, along with the absence of series star Bruce Campbell, made the prospect of another Evil Dead reboot less exciting. The first trailer for Evil Dead Rise changed things considerably. Intense, gruesome, and legitimately scary, the trailer for Evil Dead Rise promises one of 2023’s strongest horror movies and a thrilling return from one of the most infamously gruesome franchises in the genre. Additionally, Evil Dead Rise has been promoted to a theatrical release due to positive test screenings. Evil Dead Rise is not rated NC-17, but certainly seems like a worthy follow-up to its predecessors.

1. The Exorcist

screenshot-2023.02.10-04_33_461676021626825.jpg

Unlike some of the horror movies releasing in 2023, The Exorcist does not yet have a trailer or a poster. In fact, director David Gordon Green’s reboot of William Friedkin’s classic 1973 horror movie does not even have a title, with “Untitled The Exorcist Film” being its current working moniker. Nevertheless, 2023's follow-up to The Exorcist promises to bring back one of the most iconic horror movies in the horror genre’s history, updating the story of Chris MacNeil for a new generation. It is tough to conceive of how any contemporary movie could hope to recapture the impact of The Exorcist in 2023, and this alone makes Green’s reboot the most exciting of 2023’s horror movies.