Who says enjoying a spine-tingling and bone-chilling horror movie during the spooky season had to be expensive? There are countless ways that cord cutters can enjoy horror content for free. Tubi, Youtube, Pluto TV, IMDB TV, Stirr, Xumo, and The Roku Channel are just a few streaming services that offer quality horror films for no charge. These services often have channels curated with content from the genre as well. For example, The Roku Channel is the exclusive home of The Bloody Disgusting channel, which streams horror classics and original programming.
Below is our list of the best horror movies that you can stream today for free.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
Written, directed, and produced by the Chiodo Brothers, Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a sci-fi horror comedy about the arrival of an evil clan of aliens that look like circus clowns who wreak havoc upon a small town. The Klowns’ nefarious plans include capturing and harvesting humans to use them as sustenance. The film has become a cult classic as there have been numerous different plans to release a sequel or follow up series since the film’s release.
Where to watch? Youtube and The Roku Channel
Suspiria (1977)
An Italian supernatural horror, Suspiria has become a cult film over the years. The gory film follows an American ballet student, who attends a dance academy in Germany, but things take a turn for the worst after a series of murders, she realizes the studio participates in the supernatural. At the time of release, the film’s use of color was critically acclaimed and over the years, the film has become influential, even serving as the inspiration of a 2018 film with the same name.
Where to watch? Tubi
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The first film of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise was marketed as being based on a true story, yet was banned in several countries and theaters due to its violence. A group of friends comes across a house filled with a family of cannibals and Leatherface, a mute man who sews on the face of his victims that he kills with his chainsaw. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is cited as one of the best and most influential horror movies of all time due to originating several elements that have become tropes in slasher films over the years.
Where to watch? Tubi
Hellraiser (1987)
Written and directed by Clive Barker, the British supernatural horror film left critics split upon its release with some calling it the greatest horror ever made and others panning it for lack of imagination. The general consensus was positive, but Hellraiser ended up spawning 9 sequels and it’s lead antagonist Pinhead is still one of the most iconic horror villains of all time.
Where to watch? Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Tubi.
Ginger Snaps (2000)
A Canadian fantasy horror, Ginger Snaps had very little buzz upon release, but word of mouth helped the film achieve a cult following that led to significant VHS and DVD sales. Two sequels were produced and in October 2020, a television series was announced to be in development. Fans of werewolves and metaphors of female empowerment and femininity should give this one a watch.
Where to watch? Crackle and The Roku Channel.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Most of 10 Cloverfield Lane acts as a bottle film as the 3 leads (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, and John Gallagher, Jr.) are stuck in an underground bunker where things aren’t quite like they seem. A loose sequel to Cloverfield, this sci-fi psychological thriller uses horror elements to create a suspenseful atmosphere for audiences.
Where to watch? IMDB TV.
Train to Busan (2016)
A South Korean action horror, Train to Busan takes place during a zombie apocalypse and mostly on a train. The film is cited as one of the best zombie movies in history and has spawned a sequel titled Peninsula was released in South Korea on July 15, 2020.
Where to watch? Crackle.
Halloween (1978)
John Carpenter’s iconic film was influential enough to inspire and develop decades worth of slasher films and laid the blueprint of the tropes that have become synonymous with the genre. Masked killer Michael Myers escapes from his mental sanatorium on Halloween night and stalks a babysitter (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her group of friends. 40 years after its initial release and 12 films in the franchise, Halloween is one of the longest-running franchises in all of film.
Where to watch? Xumo, Stirr, The Roku Channel, and Crackle.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George A. Romero’s film revolutionized the horror genre due to its gore and was pivotal in the creation of the splatter film subgenre. At the time of release, it was criticized due to its excessive gore, but has since been praised to universal acclaim and was selected by the Library of Congress in 1999 for preservation in the National Film Registry. Romero’s film was impactful by creating the modern film zombie that a plethora of other movies and television shows have used over the years
Where to watch? Stirr, Xumo, and The Roku Channel
The Ring (2002)
An American remake of a Japanese supernatural horror of the same name, The Ring follows a journalist investigation into a videotape that kills viewers in gruesome ways in 7 days after watching it. The Ring is influential because it opened the door for many other American remakes of Asian horror films.
Where to watch? IMDB TV and Crackle.
Those are some of the best and most influential horror films that you can stream today for free. Check out these free services for even more titles to watch this Halloween weekend.