The 20 best horror movies on Tubi to watch late at night

Whether you're craving chainsaw-wielding cannibals, vengeful scarecrows, or cackling clowns, the titles on this list are likely to induce chills, nightmares, fever dreams, a tinge of sadness, or just linger in your psyche for a while.

To help you indulge your horror fandom, here are EW's picks for the 20 best horror films currently streaming (for free with ads) on Tubi.

01 of 20

Audition (1999)

From the same Japanese production company that made the 1998 film Ring and inspired the American remake, The Ring (2002), comes Audition. Released in 1999, just four years after dating apps started infiltrating the internet, Audition offers an alternative — but still terrifying — approach to meeting dating prospects. The film follows a widower who sets up a phony casting call in the hopes of meeting a new wife. But when the widower becomes infatuated with one of the women he auditions, he finds himself willing to overlook a number of red flags as he attempts to learn more about her.

Directed by Takashi Miike , Audition is described as a "masterpiece" by filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. Clocking in at just under two hours, Audition uses barely simmering tension to propel itself toward a finale that is torturous to watch (in the best way possible). — Declan Gallagher

Where to watch Audition : Tubi

Director:Takashi Miike

Cast:Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina

02 of 20

Black Christmas (1974)

Imbued with the suburban paranoia of the '70s, Black Christmas is the ultimate feel-bad holiday movie — though it can certainly be enjoyed all year round. Taking place during the Christmas season, the film centers on a group of sorority sisters who are tormented by persistent, disturbing phone calls. After one of the sisters is murdered, they try to get the police to intervene as the mysterious killer brutally picks off the other young women. Haunting and influential, Black Christmas is all the more terrifying due to the plausibility of the fears expressed. — Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watch Black Christmas : Tubi

Director:Bob Clark

Cast: Olivia Hussey , Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder , John Saxon

03 of 20

Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981)

In a small southern town, a mob led by postman Otis Hazelrigg (Charles Durning) hunts down and murders Bubba (Larry Drake), who is developmentally disabled, after mistakenly believing he hurt a local girl who was in fact mauled by a dog. Not long after Bubba's funeral, the men who killed him begin to perish in a series of mysterious accidents.

Frank De Felitta's made-for-TV chiller is a searing indictment of mob violence and personal prejudice that only gains relevance as the years go on. It also happens to be one of the most frightening films of the era. The Guest and You're Next scribe Simon Barrett describes it to EW as one of his "go-to, creepy, spooky Halloween movies." It's a film that seems to say, in the end, the most monstrous villains are not supernatural vengeance-seekers, but rather everyday men in pursuit of power. — D.G.

Where to watch Dark Night of the Scarecrow : Tubi

Director:Frank De Felitta

Cast:Larry Drake, Charles Durning, Tonya Crowe, Jocelyn Brando, Lane Smith

04 of 20

Goodnight Mommy (2015)

A mother (Susanne Wuest) returns home after cosmetic facial surgery, leaving her twin sons (Elias and Lukas Schwarz) unnerved by her heavily bandaged appearance in this Austrian psychological horror film. When their mother starts to exhibit strange behavior, the twins conclude that she's not their real mother, but, in fact, an impostor. The boys begin testing this presumed interloper, going to extreme lengths to prove her wrong, despite her protestations. Featuring a wild twist ending, Goodnight Mommy gets under your skin while exploring themes of family trauma and fear of the unknown.

EW's critic hailed the film as "brilliantly sinister," and, "a mad, malevolent adventure through the minds of its three characters and the house they inhabit." An American remake starring Naomi Watts was released in 2022, but, like with most horror films, you're better off sticking with the original. — K.J.

Where to watch Goodnight Mommy : Tubi

EW grade:A

Director:Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala

Cast:Susanne Wuest, Elias Schwarz, Lukas Schwarz

05 of 20

Green Room (2016)

The eternal battle of ideologues vs. rebels is represented in bloody fashion in Jeremy Saulnier's underrated horror-thriller. After a down-on-their-luck punk band plays at a seedy venue that turns out to be a bar for neo-Nazis, they quickly find themselves fighting for their lives. Confined to the bar's titular green room, the band is forced to use its limited resources to find a way out. Anton Yelchin, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, and Callum Turner make up the band, the cleverly named Ain't Rights, but it's Patrick Stewart who steals the show as the eerily calm skinhead leader. As EW's critic writes, "Stewart is way scarier when he's neither barking nor biting but just purring controlled threats. Who knew he was so good being so bad?" — K.J.

Where to watch Green Room : Tubi

EW grade:A–

Director:Jeremy Saulnier

Cast:Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner, Patrick Stewart

06 of 20

Hellraiser (1987)

Hollywood has returned again and again to the Hellraiser well — with a whopping nine sequels and a 2022 reboot — but nothing beats the original. Clive Barker's adaptation of his own novella, The Hellbound Heart , introduced us to one of the scariest cinematic baddies, Pinhead, leader of a group of sadomasochistic demonic beings who are summoned by humans either accidentally or in pursuit of pleasures of their own. Frank Cotton (Sean Chapman) falls into the latter category in the original film, learning the hard way of Pinhead and the Cenobites' twisted sensibilities. After escaping their clutches, his sister-in-law — with whom he's also had an affair — learns of his unusual fate and takes extreme measures to revive him.

Even after all these years, the film holds up in spectacle and substance, with EW's critic calling it "a nauseatingly gooey visual effects epic as well as a character drama with an unexpected emotional hook." — K.J.

Where to watch Hellraiser : Tubi

Director:Clive Barker

Cast:Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman

07 of 20

Hush (2016)

This anxiety-riddled film from horror maestro Mike Flanagan makes the most of its relatively simple concept. Kate Siegel stars as Maddie, a writer living in seclusion in the woods who must deal with the sudden arrival of a serial killer ( John Gallagher Jr. ). Complicating matters is the fact that Maddie is deaf and mute, forcing her to utilize her other senses to stop the killer from claiming her as his next victim. What separates Hush from other slasher films of its ilk is how Flanagan and Siegel give its main character sharp instincts and depth, as well as a frightening use of silence. — K.J.

Where to watch Hush : Tubi

Director:Mike Flanagan

Cast:Kate Siegel, John Gallagher Jr., Samantha Sloyan, Michael Trucco, Emma Graves

08 of 20

The Invitation (2016)

Have you ever been to a dinner party that feels a little...off? Such is the case in The Invitation , which stars Logan Marshall-Green as Will, who attends a soiree thrown by his ex-wife, with whom he has a shared trauma. Will becomes unsettled as he learns of his ex-wife and her new boyfriend's recent induction into a cultish group called the Invitation. To say much more would be to ruin the wild twists and turns that unfold as the night marches onward.

The Invitation marked a welcome return to indie filmmaking for director Karyn Kusama , previously known for Girlfight (2000), Aeon Flux (2005), and the perpetually misunderstood Jennifer's Body (2009). Filled to the brim with slow-burn dread, The Invitation earned raves from critics, with EW's critic noting that the ending is "as chilling and as perfect as anything Twilight Zone impresario Rod Serling dreamed up in his sting-in-the-tail prime." — K.J.

Where to watch The Invitation : Tubi

EW grade:A–

Director:Karyn Kusama

Cast:Logan Marshall-Green, Tammy Blanchard, Michiel Huisman, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Lindsay Burdge, Michelle Krusiec, Mike Doyle, Jay Larson, John Carroll Lynch

09 of 20

Let the Right One In (2008)

The depiction of vampires on film has run the gamut from creepy classics like Nosferatu (1922) to moody gothic romance like Nosferatu (2024), and this Swedish horror drama has a little something for everyone. Set in early-'80s Stockholm, Let the Right One In centers on Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), a 12-year-old outcast boy who befriends a vampire girl named Eli (Lina Leandersson) — though he's unaware of her true identity at first. Together, they develop an intense connection as Eli helps Oskar confront his sadistic bullies while she tries to harbor her bloody secret.

EW's critic praises the film as "like a Scandinavian Twilight minus the teen-steam schmaltz, packing in great gooey scares." — K.J.

Where to watch Let the Right One In : Tubi

Director:Tomas Alfredson

Cast:Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Ika Nord, Peter Carlberg

10 of 20

The Love Witch (2016)

Shot on gorgeous 35mm film, this darkly comedic horror flick is a nostalgic cinephile's dream. The Love Witch centers on a young witch (Samantha Robinson) who moves to a California town and uses her magic powers to make men fall in love with her, though she soon gets herself into increasingly messy situations as bodies start to pile up. Anna Biller, who wrote, directed, and produced the film, finds inspiration in B-movie horror and the sumptuous Technicolor of Old Hollywood. EW's critic calls the film "gorgeous to look at. Biller fills every frame with Pucci bursts of color, kitschy  Stepford Wives -era artifacts, and tame Frederick's of Hollywood kink." — K.J.

Where to watch The Love Witch : Tubi

EW grade:B

Director:Anna Biller

Cast:Samantha Robinson, Gian Keys, Laura Waddell, Jeffrey Vincent Parise, Jared Sanford, Robert Seeley, Jennifer Ingrum

11 of 20

Next of Kin (1982)

Linda (Jacki Kerin) returns to her Australian hometown in the wake of a family death to oversee her inheritance: Montclare, a creaky old mansion that functions as a retirement home for the community. Before long, bodies of residents begin turning up, and diary entries from Linda's mother expose dark secrets from the past. Next of Kin is a brilliantly constructed slow burn, an old-fashioned gothic spine-tingler of the highest caliber. Director Tony Williams masterfully curates a mood of oppressive dread from the opening minutes through the bloody climax and explosive final frames, making this one of the very best Australian horror films of all time. — D.G.

Where to watch Next of Kin : Tubi

Director:Tony Williams

Cast:Jackie Kerin, John Jarratt, Gerda Nicolson, Alex Scott

12 of 20

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Our modern understanding of zombies can be traced back to George A. Romero 's landmark horror classic. While the undead walkers in Night of the Living Dead are never referred to as "zombies," they have all the trademarks of the horror movie staple. A group of humans, drawn together out of necessity, try to ward off a pack of ghouls who intend to feast on them — thus turning them into ghouls themselves.

While the film remains an effective horror experience, its historical context makes it all the more fascinating. Analysts have cited Night of the Living Dead as a subversive commentary on the Vietnam War, which was raging at the time of the film's release. It also features a Black man as the central hero when race relations were being examined more than ever before in American society. Even without that context, though, Night of the Living Dead operates as an enthralling horror movie in and of itself. — K.J.

Where to watch Night of the Living Dead : Tubi

Director:George A. Romero

Cast:Judith O'Dea, Duane Jones, Marilyn Eastman, Karl Hardman, Judith Ridley, Keith Wayne

13 of 20

Nosferatu (1922)

Horror wouldn't be what it is today without Nosferatu , which celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2022. F.W. Murnau's gothic silent film is essentially an unofficial take on Bram Stoker's Dracula , with the names changed. Max Schreck plays Count Orlok, the Dracula analog who preys upon Hutter, a visiting estate agent. Hutter eventually realizes his client is, in fact, a vampire, and Hutter's wife may be the key to saving him and their community.

While the limitations of technology at the time naturally prevent the film from delivering the dread-inducing jump scares that modern audiences may crave, the atmosphere of Nosferatu is enough to get under your skin. A century later, there have been too many depictions of Dracula and other blood-sucking vampires to count, but as EW's critic notes, Schreck's remains "the creepiest of vampire turns." — K.J.

Where to watch Nosferatu : Tubi

Director:F.W. Murnau

Cast:Max Schreck, Gustav von Wangenheim, Greta Schröder, Alexander Granach, Ruth Landshoff, Wolfgang Heinz

14 of 20

Pieces (1982)

Genre stalwart Christopher George stars as a detective investigating a series of chainsaw murders at a Boston university in this gonzo gorefest. Joining George in his fight to stop the slasher are a particularly suspicious student (Ian Sera) and a famous tennis pro (Lynda Day George) who, bored with the celebrity touring circuit, decides to join up as an undercover detective.

The unabashed silliness of the plot does little to dilute the entertainment value of director Juan Piquer Simón's sleazy, cheesy fever dream. Among moments of dubious dubbing and peculiar acting, the film delivers some genuinely suspenseful sequences, and Juan Mariné's cinematography is colorful and well-polished. Simón made the film in response to the Friday the 13th series, which he felt would often soft-peddle the gore. If you're in it strictly for the viscera, you will leave satisfied, and possibly even a bit exhausted, by the splattery shenanigans on display here. — D.G.

Where to watch Pieces : Tubi

Director:Juan Piquer Simón

Cast:Christopher George, Paul Smith, Edmund Purdom, Linda Day

15 of 20

Possessor (2020)

Andrea Riseborough is renowned for her ability to shape-shift as a performer, which takes on new meaning in this acclaimed sci-fi horror film. The Oscar-nominated actress plays Tasya Vos, an assassin who uses an innovative machine that allows her to inhabit other people's bodies and carry out her bloody tasks. This has gradually caused difficulties in living her own life as she is plagued with violent memories. She experiences her biggest challenge yet when she possesses a man (Christopher Abbott) who unexpectedly regains control, trapping Vos' consciousness in his body.

Director Brandon Cronenberg revealed to EW that he devised the film from his own emotional experience of the press campaign for his previous film, Antiviral (2012). "You end up performing another version of yourself, this kind of media-self that then goes off and has its own weird life online without you," he explained. — K.J.

Where to watch Possessor : Tubi

Director:Brandon Cronenberg

Cast:Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Rossif Sutherland, Tuppence Middleton, Sean Bean, Jennifer Jason Leigh

16 of 20

Rec (2007)

Found-footage horror was all the rage in the late-2000s, and this Spanish zombie movie is one of the exemplars of the subgenre. The film follows Ángela (Manuela Velasco), a reporter who goes with her cameraman (Ferrán Terraza) to an apartment building where an elderly woman has called the fire department for assistance. Upon arriving, the woman viciously attacks a police officer and it becomes clear that a dangerous infection is spreading within the complex. EW's critic calls the film "a bit like George A. Romero's  Diary of the Dead , but, you know, actually scary." — K.J.

Where to watch Rec : Tubi

Directors:Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza

Cast:Manuela Velasco, Ferrán Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano, Pablo Rosso, David Vert, Vicente Gil, Martha Carbonell, Carlos Vicente

17 of 20

Ringu (1998)

Ringu is one of the most influential films in the horror genre, not only spawning a U.S. remake in the form of 2002's The Ring but also making "J-horror" such a hot, worldwide trend in film at the turn of the century. The Japanese psychological horror drama tells the story of Reiko (Nanako Matsushima), a journalist investigating the death of her niece, who watched a videotape featuring cryptic imagery and received an ominous phone call claiming she would die in seven days — which ended up coming true. After Reiko watches the tape for herself, she receives the same call and tries to get to the bottom of its origin and meaning.

Unnervingly tense, Ringu still holds up today as a watch-between-your-fingers favorite. As EW's critic put it , " Ringu  has proven to be a surprisingly durable concept...The elegant simplicity of that hook is supported by a disturbing internal mythology." — K.J.

Where to watch Ringu : Tubi

Director: Hideo Nakata

Cast:Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rikiya Otaka, Miki Nakatani, Yuko Takeuchi, Hitomi Sato, Yutaka Matsushige

18 of 20

The Ring (2002)

American remakes of international horror films tend not to replicate the eerie atmosphere of the original, opting instead for cheap scares. While The Ring certainly has a more overtly frightening vibe than Ringu , it also retains the original's memorable imagery and sense of dread. The film follows the basic plot of Ringu , with Naomi Watts starring as the journalist investigating her niece's demise and finding the mysterious videotape that leads to death seven days after viewing. Gore Verbinski has a strong visual sense for horror, creating a particularly striking image with Samara, the vengeful, dark-haired girl you won't soon forget. — K.J.

Where to watch The Ring : Tubi

EW grade:B

Director:Gore Verbinski

Cast:Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox

19 of 20

Suspiria (1977)

Back in 2017, Scott Derrickson , the noted director behind Sinister , told EW that Suspiria , the tale of American Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper) and her encounter with a coven of witches at a prestigious German dance academy, was "the most influential horror film on me, personally... Every time I see it, its influence on me continues to grow."

Dario Argento's sublime horror film (streaming in a luminous new transfer) was originally written for a cast of young children. When scripting issues necessitated older characters, Argento built the sets to appear large next to his adult actors. Through this sly trick, where doorknobs rise to noses and walls tower high above the hairline, Argento sketches a vision of witchy terror akin to early works of German surrealism. Suspiria sees Argento at the height of his powers, and contains some of the most eye-popping production design ever committed to celluloid. — D.G.

Where to watch Suspiria : Tubi

Director:Dario Argento

Cast:Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé, Barbara Magnolfi

20 of 20

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

One of the true granddaddies of the horror genre is as terrifying now as it was to moviegoers in 1974. The film follows a group of unsuspecting young friends who travel through Texas and come across a depraved family of cannibals hellbent on making them their next victims. As the friends are taken out one by one, the dread amplifies all the way through the blood-soaked finale.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre not only spawned a franchise (with nine feature films, to date) but proved massively influential on horror in the decades to come. The low-budget slasher proved you didn't need big studio money or high-profile stars to make an impact. Director Julia Ducournau, who mastered the art of body horror with films like Raw and Titane , cited The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as the preeminent Halloween film . — K.J.

Where to watch The Texas Chain Saw Massacre : Tubi

Director:Tobe Hooper

Cast:Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, Gunnar Hansen

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly