Preview: 2026 In Horror

By Alex Wiggan

Craving a good ol’ dose of horror goodness this year? Then 2026 promises to have your back with a selection of new horror movies and television shows to entertain and scare the living heck out of you.

From franchise favourites to some entirely new offerings, there is plenty of horror on the horizon. You just need to decide if you can handle it all.

Here is some of what’s on offer…

Send Help

In Send Help, Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien play two work colleagues locked in an office power struggle (she’s nice, he’s her asshole-boss). However, things take an unexpected turn when the pair become the only survivors of a plane crash and find themselves stranded on a deserted island.

On the island, the pair must overcome past issues and work together to survive. But that’s easier said then done, and a dark battle of wills soon rears its head.

Release: January 30th

Also due in 2026…

Cold Storage – Georgina Campbell, Joe Keery, and Liam Neeson take the lead in this comedy horror from director Jonny Campbell, which focuses on an attempt to contain a parasitic fungus leaking from an abandoned military base. Release: February 13th

This Is Not a Test – Apocalyptic horror from filmmaker Adam MacDonald, about a group of students trying to escpae from zombies. The film is based on Courtney Summers’ book of the same name, with Olivia Holt, Froy Gutierrez, and Carson MacCormac amongst the cast. Release: February 20th

Evil Dead Burn – Sixth instalment in the Evil Dead movie series, this time from director Sébastien Vaniček. Similar to 2013’s Evil Dead, and 2023’s Evil Dead Rise, Evil Dead Burn is set to be a standalone tale… filled with gore. Release: July 24th

Scream 7

After a fairly well-publicised stumble in production, which saw the original director, and two of its stars out of the project, Scream 7 got back on track with a new focus and some familiar faces. Neve Campbell reprises the role of Sidney Prescott for this latest entry, which sees the latest Ghostface killer target Sid’s daughter.

Joining Campbell on screen is a sizeable cast which includes Courteney Cox, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, Isabel May, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown, as well as David Arquette, Matthew Lillard, and Scott Foley, who are reportedly reprising the roles of their deceased characters from previous instalments. Kevin Williamson directs and co-writes.

Release: February 27th

Also due in 2026…

Passenger – Horror-meister, André Øvredal (The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, etc) calls the shots on this forthcoming horror film about a road accident and a demonic stalker. Release: May 29th

Crystal Lake – After years trapped in development hell and complicated rights issues, the Friday the 13th franchise emerges with a new television series, currently set for release on Peacock later this year. Developed by Brad Caleb Kane, the series is being described as a prequel series, with Linda Cardellini taking on the role of a young Pamela Voorhees, and Callum Vinson as an even younger Jason. Release: TBC

Insidious: The Bleeding World – Sixth entry in the popular supernatural franchise. Nothing is known about the story yet, but Jacob Chase is directing and co-writing this one, while the cast includes Brandon Perea, Amelia Eve, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Sam Spruell, Laura Gordon, and of course, Lin Shaye. Release: August 21st

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

After surviving a brutal attack from the Le Domas family on the night of her wedding (as seen in 2019’s Ready or Not), Grace MacCaullay is back for round two in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. This time around, Grace is accompanied by her estranged sister, Faith, as the pair get caught up in a whole new game of survival.

Samara Weaving reprises the role of Grace, while horror fave, Kathryn Newton joins this sequel as sister, Faith. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood, Kevin Durand, and David Cronenberg are also set to star.

Release: March 20th

Advertisements

Also due in 2026…

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 – Keen not to let Stranger Things die, following the conclusion of the most recent season, Netflix has a new animated show on the horizon. Executive produced by the Duffer Brothers, the series takes place between the events of Stranger Things seasons two and three, and sees Eleven and Co. facing new monsters. Release: TBC

Clayface – The newly rebooted DC Universe takes an unexpected turn into the realm of body horror with Clayface – a movie based on the shapeshifting Batman villain of the same name. James Watkins is on director duties, while Tom Rhys Harries takes on the role of Matt Hagen/Clayface. Release: September 11th

Resident Evil – Fresh off the success of 2025’s hit horror, Weapon‘s, Zach Cregger is set to revive the Resident Evil franchise with a new movie. Resident Evil will be the eighth instalment in the film series, and is set to take things back to basics with a reboot. Release: September 18th

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy

And proof you can never keep an iconic monster down, the Mummy returns via Lee Cronin’s supernatural horror movie, The Mummy (aka Lee Cronin’s The Mummy). Written and directed by Cronin, this reimagining stars Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, and May Calamawy.

As for the story, The Mummy focuses on a distraught family who find themselves in the midst of a terrifying reunion. Eight years ago, their young daughter disappeared without a trace, and now she returns in an unexpected way.

Release: April 17th

The best of the rest…

And if the above is not enough, also popping up in 2026 is The Strangers – Chapter 3, Twisted, Psycho Killer, The Dreadful, Vampires of the Velvet Lounge, Forbidden Fruits, They Will Kill You, Deep Water, Hokum, Obsession, Other Mommy, and Werwulf, amongst one or two others.