Netflix is packed with horror offerings that will have your spine crawling with chills. And if your preferred brand of horror is one filled with jump scares? Then you're in luck!
While Netflix's library is cluttered with less-than-stellar films, dig around enough and you'll find frightful films that inspire dread, eeriness, and nightmares—all on top of those jump scares.
Here are my picks for the best horror movies on Netflix full of jump scares, perfect to watch for Halloween or any other night where you just want to be terrified.
14. Eerie (2018)
Directed by Mikhail Red
Starring Bea Alonzo, Charo Santos-Concio, Jake Cuenca
Horror, Mystery, Thriller (1h 41m)
Overseas, there's plenty of horror to enjoy. In the Philippines, horror has become a national staple and there are many movies to choose from. Looking for an easy watch? Eerie fits the bill.
This film centers on a guidance counselor named Pat, who investigates the death of a student at an all-girls Catholic school. What she uncovers is a horrifying truth about the school she's serving.
Relying on its supernatural premise, Eerie packs horrifying imagery and ominous scenery at every turn. Even by the end, the uneasiness remains.
13. Bird Box (2018)
Directed by Susanne Bier
Starring Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich
Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi (2h 4m)
Bird Box was so hugely hyped back in 2018 that it was near impossible to live up to its marketing, hence its subpar reception. However, if you haven't seen it yet, it's not bad if you temper expectations.
The premise certainly has a frightening hook: in a post-apocalyptic world, unknown entities exist that cause anyone who looks at them to commit suicide, so people have resorted to blindfolding themselves at all times.
Every scene where Malorie (played by Sandra Bullock) and the two kids flee from danger while hampered by blindfolds is guaranteed to give goosebumps, especially as the infected pop out.
If you can look past its flaws, Bird Box has plenty of thrills through its jump scares and shocking imagery. And even if it comes off as a gimmick, its executed well enough to be worth a watch.
12. Incantation (2022)
Directed by Kevin Ko
Starring Hsuan-Yen Tsai, Sin-Ting Huang, Ying-Hsuan Kao
Horror, Mystery (1h 50m)
From Taiwan comes Incantation, a chilling found footage horror movie that exploded into an overnight sensation.
Inspired by a true story, Incantation follows a single mother named Li Ronan (played by Hsuan-Yen Tsai) who must reverse or overcome an occult curse afflicted on her in order to protect her daughter.
It might build up to what feels like a conventional ghost film, but Incantation takes full advantage of its found footage format, its real-life inspirations, and Tsai's performance to deliver its thrills.
11. Before I Wake (2016)
Directed by Mike Flanagan
Starring Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane, Jacob Tremblay
Drama, Fantasy, Horror (1h 37m)
Before Mike Flanagan made his mark with The Haunting of Hill House in 2018, he directed a trio of indie horror flicks in 2016: the slasher horror Hush, the haunted horror Ouija: Origin of Evil, and the dark fantasy horror Before I Wake.
Before I Wake is certainly the least of those three, but even so, the movie still has the fingerprints of the modern horror maestro.
With its bold premise about dreams and nightmares coming to life, Flanagan builds up the tension until there's no turning back—and there's no telling what he may conjure up, jump scares and all.
10. The Ritual (2017)
Directed by David Bruckner
Starring Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier
Horror, Mystery, Thriller (1h 34m)
The Ritual follows five college friends who reunite for a hiking trip in a Swedish forest. However, the deeper they go, the more they sense a presence stalking them at every turn.
Horror aficionado David Bruckner knows his craft, his setting, and his characters—and that means he knows when to deliver his scares.
For this film, those scares primarily come from two sources: the Scandinavian lore behind the main beast, and the bond between the friends where they gradually become vulnerable to each other.
As soon as those two elements collide, there's no looking away from the shocking scenes that are straight out of folklore terror.
9. Berlin Syndrome (2017)
Directed by Cate Shortland
Starring Teresa Palmer, Max Riemelt, Matthias Habich
Drama, Horror, Mystery (1h 56m)
Sometimes, travel can be genuinely disturbing. Berlin Syndrome follows young photographer Clare (played by Teresa Palmer), who meets an attractive English teacher named Andi (played by Max Riemelt).
When Max takes her to his house during one stormy night, Clare suddenly finds herself at the mercy of her unexpected captor.
Nothing is more frightening than being trapped in someone else's world with no escape in sight. It's one of the many sensations in Berlin Syndrome that makes for a genuine thrill ride, and it gets even worse as you never know when the handsome abductor may pop out from the dark.
8. The Call (2020)
Directed by Lee Chung-hyun
Starring Park Shin-hye, Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Sung-ryung
Crime, Horror, Mystery (1h 52m)
South Korea has its share of horror gems, ranging from merely passable to downright unforgettable. The Call falls somewhere in-between, but it still packs jolting suspense within its time-ripping gimmick.
The story involves two women, Seo-yeon (played by Park Shin-hye) and Young-sook (played by Jeon Jong-seo), from two different timelines who end up connected through a phone call.
As you'd expect, one of them inevitably changes the fate of the other, causing ripple effects on their respective timelines.
The Call blends its elements effectively enough to deliver clever scares and isolation-heavy moments. The MVP is Park Shin-hye, who puts in some of the most terrifying expressions of horror we've seen from her.
7. Blood Red Sky (2021)
Directed by Peter Thorwarth
Starring Peri Baumeister, Alexander Scheer, Dominic Purcell
Action, Horror, Thriller (2h 1m)
Even on the most mundane of days, a red-eye flight can be nerve-wracking. But how much worse if that flight had animalistic vampires? Blood Red Sky takes this premise and runs with it.
Taking inspiration from the "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" episode of The Twilight Zone, this British-German Netflix film blends action, horror, and drama to create a tension-filled travel scenario.
It's bad enough to see your loved ones transform into bloodthirsty monsters. It's even worse when you're stuck in a giant metal tube with monster jump scares waiting around every corner.
Amidst the hair-raising vampiric thrills, you'll find a true heart in Peri Baumeister as the ill-stricken mother Nadja, who must do more than just survive this unnerving voyage through the skies.
6. Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
Directed by Mike Flanagan
Starring Elizabeth Reaser, Lulu Wilson, Annalise Basso
Drama, Horror, Mystery (1h 39m)
Here we have another film by Mike Flanagan, this time putting his name on the map with his skillful direction of atmospheric scares.
As the prequel to the 2014 movie Ouija, Ouija: Origin of Evil traces the backstory of Lina Zander (played by Annalise Basso), whose family fell victim to the demonic corruption of their Ouija board.
Flanagan rounds up his usual tricks to horrifying effect. Every scare—from the sewed mouths to the devious kills—is a shock you'll remember. The fear of the Zander family and the nervous atmosphere really pays off, especially the first time Lina gets possessed.
5. Under the Shadow (2016)
Directed by Babak Anvari
Starring Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobby Naderi
Drama, Fantasy, Horror (1h 24m)
Supernatural horror and war drama are two genres you'd never expect to blend well, but Under the Shadow made it happen.
A mother named Shideh (played by Narges Rashidi) stays in war-torn Tehran to protect her daughter Dorsa (played by Avin Manshadi). But as the war intensifies, their fears do as well—including that of a mysterious apparition who watches their every move.
While the djinn and the chador make for terrifying entities, the true enemy here is anxiety. When those jump scares arrive, they feel all too real due to the historical context and Shideh's PTSD.
4. Creep (2014)
Directed by Patrick Brice
Starring Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice
Horror, Thriller (1h 17m)
Found footage horror is always good for jumpy scares, and Creep is one that's a delightfully haunting treat. Mark Duplass's performance here is a nerve-wracking watch.
Creep follows a videographer named Aaron, who takes up an assignment to record a man named Josef who has a brain tumor. However, Aaron discovers a darker story behind Aaron and his "family."
This might sound like a story about a serial killer, but even that's uncertain as this tale blends found footage horror with warm drama—and that mixture makes the jump scares all the more unnerving.
3. Lights Out (2016)
Directed by David F. Sandberg
Starring Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Maria Bello
Horror, Mystery (1h 21m)
If you're afraid of the dark, you'll find much to related to in Lights Out. This film takes that common fear and adds a ghastly presence that hides in the dark and strikes at the most unsuspecting moments.
Based on the scary short film of the same name, hands-on director David F. Sandberg's Lights Out effectively expands on the mythos.
The film follows a girl named Rebecca (played by Teresa Palmer) who must protect her stepbrother Martin (played by Gabriel Bateman) from an evil entity rooted in her traumatic past.
Beyond the jump scares and the unbearable tension every time the light flickers or shuts off, the core family drama is just as horrifying.
2. His House (2020)
Directed by Remi Weekes
Starring Sope Dirisu, Wunmi Mosaku, Malaika Wakoli-Abigaba
Drama, Horror, Thriller (1h 33m)
His House is a frightening thriller with brimming anxiety that's relatable with its allegory. Like all the best horror flicks, its timely metaphor only adds to the horror that lurks beneath, ready to strike.
This unsettling tale about a Sudanese refugee couple struggling to settle in to their new home has terror invading their very doorstep. Their trauma in migrating to Britain is as effective as the jump scares and startling imagery throughout the film.
The appearance of Matt Smith as a cold-hearted case worker certainly doesn't help matters! Released at the right time, His House creeps.
1. Jaws (1975)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
Adventure, Mystery, Thriller (2h 4m)
Right now, the best film on Netflix with the most effective jump scares is the horror that birthed the concept of the summer blockbuster.
Jaws has been discussed to death since its release almost 50 years ago. Yet, many still find it hard to ignore this behemoth, which comes in the form of a mechanical shark that hides and only strikes at the right time.
Indeed, the behind-the-scenes production stories about Jaws are hellish and fascinating, and it's incredible that Steven Spielberg somehow made it all work despite a malfunctioning shark.
The result is a tense summer adventure that will surely give you thalassophobia, just as it did to an entire generation when it first came out. Jaws is a horror classic for good reason!
