Looking for something to scare your socks off? Here’s our picks of the best horror films on Disney Plus UK.
There’s something primal and exciting about experiencing real fear in a safe place, such as your sofa. That’s the beauty of horror films, but I think you’ll agree that it can be tricky finding a really good one. After all, fear is subjective and there’s a lot of less-than-great scary films out there, which is why we felt this list was a pretty important one.
If you feel like you’ve exhausted the libraries of other streaming services, Disney+ has a surprisingly wide range of horror films in its catalogue, and we’ve picked some excellent suggestions for you. We’ve got ghosts, cannibals, mutants, zombies and the occasional so-bad-it’s-actually-good film here. Enjoy!
28 Weeks Later
While it may not reach the highs of its predecessor, 28 Weeks Later is an effective zombie film with a premise that felt fresh and unique in 2007 and has since inspired other filmmakers. The sequel’s scale is bigger and more ambitious than 28 Days Later, but its focus is still pleasingly family-oriented as we follow Robert Carlyle’s Don and his two children as the rage virus is further taking control of Britain. Chilling stuff. Another sequel is also on the way, so what better time to check this one out?
A Cure For Wellness
Whatever happened to Gore Verbinski? The director was Hollywood’s most wanted director after the success of Pirates Of The Caribbean and Rango, but his less-appreciated foray into horror rarely comes up in conversation now. A Cure For Wellness brings together an impressive cast consisting of Dane DeHaan, Jason Isaacs and Mia Goth for a bizarre story of a mysterious health facility that hides a secret inside its walls. While the film often trips over its own ambition, there’s plenty to enjoy here.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter will probably make you giggle rather than scream in terror, but its funky premise earns the film a place on this list. Hey, sometimes we just want a side order of laughter with our gore and spooks. Timur Bekmambetov’s film reimagines the titular, famed US president as a secret slayer of the undead. The film’s has more style than it perhaps deserves, but it’s also gleefully dumb and silly, even if Bekmambetov doesn’t lean into the silliness enough. File this under “so bad it’s kind of fun”.
Alien
Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror masterpiece needs no introduction, but we’ll give it one anyway. The crew of the Nostromo, a commercial freighter, are awakened after the ship picks up a strange signal. After investigating the planet LV-426, the crew are faced with “the perfect organism”, a terrifying, deadly monster. Alien is quite literally the perfect film, at least for this writer. Its seamless blend of sci-fi and horror is thrilling and Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley is one of the most iconic final girls of the genre. With Alien: Romulus in cinemas now, it’s the perfect time to revisit this classic.
Aliens
There’s two types of people; those who prefer Alien and those who prefer Aliens. Neither camp is wrong, they’re both excellent films, but if you’re keen on a bit more action with your horror, Aliens is an excellent choice for your movie night. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ripley as she’s forced to face the Xenomorph again, but the biggest enemy here (as well as in Alien) might just be “the company”, Weyland-Yutani. James Cameron’s entry into the Alien franchise has become iconic for a good reason; it’s bloody great.
Alien 3
Not sure if it’s obvious, but we’re big fans of the Alien franchise here at Film Stories. Alien 3 is often overshadowed by the arguably better, more consistent Alien and Aliens, but David Fincher’s vision is perfectly bleak here, even if the director himself refuses to talk about the film to this day due to the horrible experience in making it. The second sequel also produces one of the most iconic images in all of the franchise as Ripley comes face to face with a Xenomorph.
Alien: Resurrection
Okay, hear us out on this one. While Resurrection is largely considered the weakest of the Alien films, it’s still a pretty bold film. This entry, set 200 years after Alien 3, sees Ripley find out just how far Weyland-Yutani would go to acquire the Xenomorphs for their own use. Sure, it goes a bit camp and often swaps Alien 3’s bleakness for silliness, but there’s some excellent action here too.
Alien: Covenant
Yes, it’s another less-liked Alien film, but compared to Prometheus (also available on the platform) Covenant is a pretty pure-blooded Alien film. Set before the events of Alien, Covenant explores the origins of the Xenomorphs in more detail, which has proved controversial among fans. The crew of the titular ship, en route to a new home planet, divert from their journey to investigate another, seemingly perfect planet. You can guess the rest.
Beloved
Beloved is a truly great film that is easy to miss on a streaming platform, which often prioritises newer films. Oprah Winfrey stars as Sethe, a mother and former slave with a tragic secret, who’s possessed by the spirit of her child. Not only is Winfrey on excellent form, the supporting cast also bring their all. Thandiwe Newton is particularly haunting (pun intended) as the titular Beloved.
Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan isn’t necessarily the most pure-bred horror film, but it sure is a disturbing and uncomfortable watch. Natalie Portman’s Nina is a gifted ballet dancer, who pushes herself to the limit as she’s cast as the angelic White Swan in a new production of Swan Lake. The arrival of a new dancer (Mila Kunis) quickly begins to mess with Nina’s psyche.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy The Vampire Slayer the series is one of the defining late-90s, early 2000s TV shows. The film the series was based on isn’t quite as iconic but well worth checking out. The film includes early appearances for Ben Affleck, Seth Green (who would later go on to play Oz in the series) and Ricki Lake as well as a great performance from Donald Sutherland as Buffy’s mentor, or an early version of a Watcher if you will. And Rutger Hauer’s the villain!
Read more: Best films on Disney Plus UK (for grown-ups)
Clock
Motherhood is a common theme in horror films, but Clock really ups the ante when it comes to parenthood-related terror. Dianna Agron plays 30-something Ella, who has no desire to have kids, but a doctor urges her to take part in new, experimental treatment, which might just kick start her biological clock. Come for the horror, but stay for the absolutely bonkers final shot.
Dark Water
The early 2000s saw a large number of Japanese horror films remade in Hollywood and Dark Water is one of the more interesting ones. Jennifer Connelly’s mother moves her daughter into a crumbling apartment complex, only to find their new home to be plagued by a malevolent spirit. Tons of atmosphere in this, even if the frights are somewhat lacking.
Fresh
Cannibal films feel quite rare these days which is why Mimi Cave’s Fresh is such a delight. Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Noa goes on a date with the charming Steve but is horrified to find out what he does for a living; harvests the meat of young women to eat and sell to other cannibals. I bet you won’t find that on LinkedIn.
Fright Night
Craig Gillespie’s Fright Night is one of those rare remakes that manages to craft its own identity while also adapting an existing property. In a brilliant piece of casting, Colin Farrell plays Jerry, who has just moved to the house next to Charley’s (Anton Yelchin). Funnily enough, a lot of kids from Charley’s school have gone missing and Jerry may be behind it.
From Hell
Directed by the Hughes Brothers, From Hell is a pretty film to look at and boasts some very fine performances as well, especially that of the late, great Ian Holm. Johnny Depp plays a troubled police inspector Abbeline, who is investigating the Jack The Ripper murders in 19th century London. The film is loosely based on a graphic novel of the same name and while Abberline’s romance with one of the prostitutes is severely underdeveloped, the Hughes Brothers really capture the grim nature of the real-life murders.
A Haunting in Venice
Pardon? An Hercule Poirot mystery? A horror film? Yes. Based on Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel, Hallowe’en Party, Kenneth Branagh’s third outing with his ludicrous moustache makes a few small tweaks to the source material (namely the title, the setting, the plot, several characters and who the murderer is) to add a touch of Don’t Look Now-inflected spooks to proceedings. In director mode, Branagh is clearly having an absolute ball packing the film with as many jump scares and horror cliches as he can get his mitts on, making A Haunting In Venice a surprisingly effective gateway horror disguised as something you could persuade your nan to watch. It’s also set at Hallowe’en which, like Mean Girls and ET, absolutely makes it a horror movie. We don’t make the rules.
Jennifer’s Body
Karyn Kusama’s Jennifer’s Body has been granted a new lease on life after writer Diablo Cody mentioned her interest in a sequel. Many are now rediscovering the film and being allured by its gruesome, feminist heart. Megan Fox stars as Jennifer, who becomes a succubus after being sacrificed in a ritual for your generic emo rock band to get famous. Jennifer’s Body is biting, sharp and all-around fun.
Joy Ride
Like many films on this list, Joy Ride is a fine example of a very good film that time simply forgot. Two brothers, played by Paul Walker and Steve Zahn, lie to and tease a truck driver only known as Rusty Nail over a radio, only to find out the trucker has a psychotic side and he doesn’t like to be made fun of. Joy Ride is a thoroughly enjoyable if cheesy thriller that seemed, even in 2001, a little dated, but that’s part of its charm.
Mirrors
Director Alexandre Aja made a big splash in the genre circles with his unforgiving French slasher Haute Tension. After directing The Hills Have Eyes remake (find that a bit further down), the director tried his hand at a more traditional, spooky horror with Mirrors, starring Kiefer Sutherland as a security guard tasked with guarding an abandoned department store full of mirrors. The film didn’t impress critics at the time of release, but upon rewatch, Mirrors is a very solid and ambitious effort from Aja.
No One Will Save You
There’s a valid argument that Brian Duffield’s No One Will Save You is more sci-fi film than horror, but it’s is pretty dang scary. Kaitlyn Dever stars as Brynn, a lonely seamstress who finds her town under the influence of aliens. Duffield’s film works as a straightforward – and really tense – sci-fi horror, but there’s some potent stuff here about trauma. Dever is compelling as Brynn, especially as most scenes include just her on her own.
Personal Shopper
This might be a controversial thing to put on the internet, but I’m firmly in the camp that horror films don’t need to be scary. Horror isn’t just about fear, but also about tension and atmosphere. A horror film can be incredibly effective without scaring you, which brings us to Oliver Assayas’ Personal Shopper. Kristen Stewart plays the titular shopper, who begins to suspect she’s communicating with her dead brother. The film’s final moments alone are worth waiting for and Assayas masterfully crafts a completely unique film that’ll likely crawl under your skin and stay there for a good while.
Ready Or Not
Before Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett went on to make Scream (2022) or Abigail, the pair had already established themselves as reliable genre directors with a sense of showmanship. The pair’s 2019 film Ready Or Not might be their best work and certainly one of the most entertaining horror films of the modern era. Samara Weaving plays Grace, who marries into the Le Domas family, who have acquired their wealth in board games, but as Grace finds out on her wedding night, the family have some very disturbing traditions…
Sea Fever
Neasa Hardiman’s Sea Fever was effective in 2019, when it was released, but it has only grown in relevance after the global pandemic that had us all terrified of being infected by something we didn’t quite understand yet. A PhD student boards a fishing trawler to study deep sea fauna, but the crew find themselves at the mercy of a strange creature and the infection it spreads. With limited location and a small cast, Sea Fever mines the premise for a deep-rooted sense of paranoia and panic, making this a bit of a hidden gem.
Signs
You probably either love M Night Shyamalan’s films or you hate them. Your mileage will inevitably vary when it comes to any of his films, but it’s hard to deny how effective Signs is. Not to mention that one moment that scared the socks off an entire generation. Yes, you know what moment.
Stay
Before Ryan Gosling was the dashing leading man in films like The Fall Guy, Barbie and La La Land, he played a lot of very moody, brooding characters, including Henry Letham in Stay. Co-starring Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts, Stay is a pretty mind-bending thriller and while not all elements hold up, it’s a pretty neat concept. McGregor plays a psychiatrist who treats Henry, but the young man seems to be lost in his own world. It’s directed by Marc Forster too! You might be able to see the ending coming from a mile away, but the impressive cast and some memorable visuals make this worth a watch.
Stoker
Park Chan-Wook made his English-language debut with 2013’s Stoker, an atmospheric psychological thriller with erotic undercurrents. Mia Wasikowska’s India is grieving her father when his brother Charlie enters the picture, but there’s something very off about Charlie. If you’re not afraid with a hint of incest, Stoker is a visually sumptuous and intoxicating affair. It somehow grows even more fascinating on a rewatch.
The Boogeyman
Rob Savage’s Zoom-horror Host made him a talent to watch and The Boogeyman marked his move into big budget filmmaking. The film is based off of Stephen King’s 1973 short story of the same name and finds the family of a therapist haunted by the titular monster. Savage’s direction elevates the slightly stilted script and the jumpscares are expertly crafted.
The Empty Man
The Empty Man was a bit of a dud on arrival in 2020, but has since garnered a passionate cult following as one of the most ambitious horror films of the 2020s. Running at well over two hours, The Empty Man is an overwhelming piece of horror cinema and a film that I didn’t stop thinking about for days after watching it. The film involves James Badge Dale’s ex-cop who discovers a deadly cult worshipping the titular entity, but the rest is best experienced fresh.
The First Omen
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was fully expecting The First Omen to follow in the footsteps of other recent horror prequels and sequels in being a disappointing cash grab. Instead, I was offered a genuinely disturbing horror film about female bodily autonomy with some memorable, unique imagery. The First Omen has a strong connection to The Omen franchise, but it also has a strong identity of its own. One of 2024’s best films.
The Fly
The Fly is one of those films that it feels futile to try and write about. You’re probably already familiar with the film, but more importantly, nothing I write here can do David Cronenberg’s 1986 horror classic about a scientist turning into a fly-human hybrid any justice. If you haven’t seen The Fly, go watch it. If you have seen The Fly, go watch it again anyway.
The Hills Have Eyes
This is the second Alexandre Aja film on this list and for good reason. It’s hard to top Wes Craven’s original The Hills Have Eyes but Aja sure gives it a good go and there’s a brutality in the remake that you rarely see in studio horror films. A family finds themselves at the mercy of mutants with a taste for human flesh. The remake ups the violence and gore of the original, but Aja’s excellent eye for spectacle will make you wince and grin simultaneously.
The Night House
Rebecca Hall delivers a devastating performance in this psychological ghost story. Hall plays Beth, a woman who has lost her husband to suicide. Beth begins to sense a supernatural presence in her house and discovers some disturbing secrets about her husband. This one’s more atmospheric and emotional rather than scary, but it’s a film that haunts you and will have you considering its central themes, which are too good to spoil here.
The Omen
You can’t go wrong with the original, can you? The decades have been kind to The Omen, which is just as effective in 2024 as it was in the 70s. Naturally, the film makes a great double bill with The First Omen (see further up) and it’s great to see visual similarities as well as differences between the two. Harvey Spencer Stephens’ hair-raising performance as Damien remains an all-timer.
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Rocky Horror Picture Show is a classic for a reason. Riotously funny, unpredictable and featuring one of Tim Curry’s most iconic performances as the camp, flamboyant Dr. Frank-N-Furter. The film’s cultural legacy as an LGBTQ+ classic is undeniable and there’s still something groundbreaking about the film’s embracing of bisexuality and sexual freedom. The songs are catchy – we’re still obsessed with The Time Warp – and it’s just a bloody good time. We’d also recommend catching a public midnight screening of this one or perhaps hosting your own.
The Sixth Sense
It’s the film that started it all for M Night Shyamalan. It’s not exactly a spoiler to say there’s a twist, but what makes The Sixth Sense so good is that the film holds up impeccably even after you know what’s about to unfold. In my book, this is Bruce Willis’ finest performance. It’s full of growing paranoia and uncertainty and Willis plays it all perfectly. The line “I see dead people” hasn’t lost much effect either, despite all the memes over the years.
The Village
Another M Night film, but this one is slightly more controversial than the others on the list. While it’s not as loathed as The Lady In The Water, The Village still divides audiences over that spoilery thing that happens in the third act. However you might feel about the ending, there’s no denying that Shyamalan excels in creating an uneasy, creepy atmosphere in his films and The Village is appropriately chilling.
Underwater
At the time of its release, Underwater was somewhat unfairly compared to Alien when a more appropriate comparison would have been the works of HP Lovecraft. If William Eubank’s 2014 thriller The Signal was a taster of the director’s ambition, Underwater is the fulfilment of it. A stellar cast, including Kristen Stewart, Mamodou Athie, John Gallagher Jr, help balance the film’s sometimes wobbly script, but the film offers some great spooks and terrific monsters.
Werewolf By Night
I bet you didn’t think to find a Marvel film on this list, did you? Don’t worry, Werewolf By Night more than deserves its spot here. A common complaint with Marvel films is that they all look the same – and we fully agree! – but Werewolf By Night is a refreshing change of pace and visuals. Technically, Michael Giacchino’s ode to the horror films of the 1930s and 40s, is a TV special but as it’s longer than the 40 minute limit for features, we’re including it. Gael Garcia Bernal is wonderful as the central monster hunter and werewolf. If only Marvel big screen efforts could adopt such a unique, bold approach to their stories.
What Lies Beneath
Did you know Clark Gregg, aka Marvel’s Agent Coulson, wrote the script to What Lies Beneath? I sure didn’t, but I do remember being very unnerved by this early 2000s supernatural horror starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer. Ford is particularly convincing in walking a tricky tightrope between playing the victim and the villain. What Lies Beneath probably won’t blow your mind, but it’s the kind of thriller Hollywood isn’t interested in making anyone anymore; a true blast from the past.
