There are some truly scary shows on Netflix you can stream during the Halloween weekend. We have zombies, vampires, serial killers, witches, haunted houses, and much more. In this guide we take a look at some of the best series worth watching over the weekend.
Looking for movies instead? We have a guide for that.
The best Netflix horror series
Editor’s Note: We will update this list as more Netflix horror series drop on the service.
1. The Walking Dead
Based on the best-selling comic, The Walking Dead came in at just the right time. Zombies were already huge in movies and shows, but creating a serialized TV show that combined the horror of the undead apocalypse with human conflict made The Walking Dead an instant hit. If you have never seen the series, be aware that the status quo of this show changes on a rapid basis. In other words, don’t get too attached to the characters. It’s definitely one of the best Netflix horror series.
2. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
A spin-off (sort of) of the CW’s Archie-based series Riverdale, this series combines teen angst with true horror. Not since Buffy The Vampire Slayer has a show successfully combined the trial and tribulations of high school with demons, witches, and much more. It’s too bad that the last batch of new episodes will be arriving after Halloween on December 31, but it’s still one of the best scary shows on Netflix to watch this October 31.
3. The Haunting of Hill House
Based loosely on the gothic horror novel by Shirley Jackson, this limited series focuses on a house and a family who lived in it many years ago. The show regularly splits between two timelines. One features the family, including several young kids, who have to deal with tragedy in this haunted house. The other features the children as adults as they are still dealing with the effects of the house. It’s not only great horror, but great human drama as well. You can watch this series’ spiritual sequel, The Haunting of Bly Manor, on Netflix as well.
4. Hannibal
This entry shows that prequels to great novels and TV shows can actually work. Hannibal, as you might have guessed by its name, is a prequel to the Thomas Harris novels featuring the most famous fictional serial killer of all time, Hannibal Lector. The series sees Lector before he gets locked up, and we see just how smart, and how evil he truly is. Mads Mikkelsen is perfect in the titular role, and Hugh Dancy is also great as FBI profiler Will Graham.
5. Dracula
This three episode series, co-produced with the BBC, is yet another take on the Dracula story. Bram Stoker’s character is seen in his natural 19th-century habitat, but this is not the super-sexy version we have seen in many movies. Rather, this is a true monster who sees humans as food. The end of the second episode takes this show in a new direction, which may or may not please viewers, but it’s still one of the best Netflix horror series you can watch this Halloween.
6. Supernatural
This long-running CW show about two brothers who hunt monsters all over North America has remained popular for many reasons. The performances from leads Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles as the Winchester brothers are one reason. Another is how Supernatural has evolved, crafting its own mythology by borrowing from many different sources. The show’s many supporting players, particularly Misha Collins as the fallen angel Castiel, also help to fill out the show’s universe. You can watch the first 14 (yes, 14) seasons of the show on Netflix now, and the 15th and final season should drop sometime in late November.
7. Black Summer
This series is even more frightening than The Walking Dead when it comes to portraying a zombie apocalypse. Unlike The Walking Dead, we actually get to see the early days of this outbreak, where the zombies are fresh, and the fear is high. Look for the second season of one of the best scary shows on Netflix to drop in 2021.
8. Stranger Things
Is Stranger Things a horror series? Some people might dispute this, but we think any show that features a frightening alternate universe with deadly monsters qualifies as a horror show. Of course, it’s more than that as well. Set in a small town in the 1980s, the show is also about growing up and dealing with the unexpected. Its atmosphere, humor, and great cast make Stranger Things one of the best scary shows on Netflix.
9. Ash vs Evil Dead
How about some comedy with your horror? This series, based on the classic Evil Dead horror trilogy, brings back Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams. After fighting the “Deadites” twice in the 1980s, and once while time traveling to the Middle Ages, Ash is now somewhat down in the dumps, wondering what to do with himself. Things get back to some chainsaw speeds when the Deadites start reappearing again. It’s not only one of the best Netflix horror series, but one of the funniest as well.
10. Dead Set
What, another zombie show? Yes, but this one is different and cool for a couple of reasons. First, it’s set in the UK. Second, the zombie apocalypse is happening while the contestants of the reality show Big Brother are under lockdown. How would you feel if the end of the world happened while you were trapped in the Big Brother house? The series was written by Charlie Brooker, who later went on to create the hit sci-fi anthology show Black Mirror. You can see something of that show in Dead Set, with some interesting comments on the media as well.
That’s our look at the best Netflix horror series. We will update this post as more scary shows debut on Netflix.
