As the autumn days grow shorter and a chill creeps into the air, horror fans are finding plenty of reasons to keep the lights on in 2025. The year has already been a banner one for the genre, with a slew of releases that have delighted, terrified, and even surprised audiences worldwide. But according to Awards Radar, the scares are far from over. With several major horror films still set to premiere before the year’s end, anticipation is mounting for what could be a historic season for fright flicks.
From sequels that revisit beloved franchises to bold new visions from established auteurs, the current horror landscape is as varied as it is vibrant. 2025 has seen the release of titles like 28 Years Later, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Good Boy, Heart Eyes, The Monkey, Presence, Together, and the awards-friendly duo of Sinners and Weapons. Each has brought something unique to the table, whether it’s a fresh take on apocalyptic dread or a chilling character study that lingers long after the credits roll.
Yet, as Awards Radar points out, the best may be yet to come. The site recently highlighted six horror films still to be released in 2025, dividing them into two tiers based on anticipation and potential impact. The first tier, described as a "mixed bag," includes Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, The Plague, and Shelby Oaks. The second tier features the year’s most eagerly awaited titles: Black Phone 2, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, and Keeper, the latest from Osgood Perkins.
Let’s start with Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, a sequel that’s expected to be a box office hit despite some skepticism from critics and fans of the original. As Awards Radar admits, "I notably wasn’t a fan of Five Nights at Freddy’s, so that keeps me at arm’s length with this sequel. Still, there’s no question that Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will be a hit, so not including it would be silly." The film’s predecessor tapped into the haunted animatronic craze and generated a massive following, so expectations are sky-high—even among those who were less than impressed the first time around.
Then there’s The Plague, which straddles the line between horror and prestige drama. The film made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, lending it a certain cachet that sets it apart from more conventional genre fare. Its festival pedigree suggests a film that’s willing to take risks, perhaps blending social commentary with existential terror. For viewers who crave something more cerebral with their scares, The Plague could be a must-see.
Shelby Oaks is another intriguing entry, having "been floating around for a year but now is coming out this month, fueled by a NEON campaign reminiscent of Longlegs," according to Awards Radar. The marketing push has generated significant buzz, and with its October 2025 release, it’s poised to capitalize on Halloween season hype. NEON’s involvement hints at a film that’s both stylish and unsettling, much like the studio’s previous horror successes.
But the real heavy hitters are yet to arrive. Black Phone 2 is scheduled for release on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, and fans are already bracing themselves for more supernatural chills. The original Black Phone was praised for its inventive scares and standout performances, and the sequel "again can showcase Ethan Hawke," which has certainly piqued interest. As Awards Radar notes, "The Black Phone was a nifty little horror flick, so a more supernatural sequel that again can showcase Ethan Hawke has my attention." A review is expected before the end of the week, and early word suggests the film could surpass its predecessor in both ambition and execution.
Perhaps the most anticipated event of the horror calendar is Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. Having premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, the film has already generated significant critical buzz. Awards Radar calls it "likely the horror event of the fall/winter," and with del Toro at the helm, expectations are justifiably high. Known for his visually stunning and emotionally resonant films, del Toro is expected to bring new depth and nuance to Mary Shelley’s classic tale. The director’s unique blend of gothic romance and monster mythology could make this the definitive Frankenstein for a new generation.
Rounding out the list is Keeper, the latest from Osgood Perkins. If Perkins’ previous work—Longlegs in 2024 and The Monkey earlier this year—is any indication, audiences are in for a disturbing and unusual ride. Awards Radar is unabashed in its enthusiasm: "Considering how much I loved Longlegs last year and The Monkey at the start of 2025, I’m very much here for this one. Plus, it looks as disturbing and unusual as you’d expect from Perkins." Perkins has developed a reputation for crafting atmospheric, slow-burn horror that lingers in the imagination, and Keeper looks set to continue that tradition.
Of course, the year’s horror offerings aren’t limited to these six films. As The Conversation points out, 2025 has also been marked by a wave of sequels and reboots that reflect the genre’s ongoing evolution. "The current wave of horror sequels and reboots reveals how the genre continues to reinvent itself while reckoning with its past," the outlet observes. Studios are increasingly revisiting familiar worlds and mythologies, not simply to cash in on nostalgia, but to explore how fear changes with each generation. This is evident in projects spanning the globe, from Hollywood to Indonesia, as filmmakers experiment with legacy, tone, and cultural resonance.
One standout example is 28 Years Later, which reunites director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland nearly two decades after 28 Weeks Later. The film "revisits Britain long after the Rage Virus outbreak, following Spike, a child raised in isolation who journeys to the mainland," according to The Conversation. Rather than rehashing old ground, the film "extends the original’s bleak realism into new mythic territory, exploring how survival mutates into belief." With a planned follow-up titled The Bone Temple, it’s clear that this isn’t just a nostalgic exercise, but the beginning of a new trilogy that will push the franchise in unexpected directions. 28 Years Later is set to stream on Netflix later this month, ensuring that a global audience will have access to its chilling vision.
The Conversation further notes that these sequels and reboots are testing how much horror can adapt to both cultural and technological shifts. Some films expand on established stories, others reinterpret well-known figures, and a few are bold enough to ask what truly scares us in the modern era. This diversity is key to the genre’s continued vitality, mapping out what fascinates and terrifies audiences today.
So, as the year winds down, horror fans have plenty to look forward to. Whether it’s the return of iconic monsters, the emergence of new nightmares, or the reinvention of familiar tales, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the genre. The only real question is: which of these films will haunt us the most?
