People fall into two categories: those who like a good romantic comedy and revel in the happy ending, and those who require a little more gore, blood, and terror to completely unwind. It can be difficult to find a superb horror movie if you fall into the latter category. Despite being one of the most common genres, many series and movies in this category are not worth seeing. Horror films frequently run the risk of focusing more on jump scares and gore than on the narrative and actually spine-tingling thrills. But here is the list of best Paramount Plus scary movies of all stripes.
This streaming site includes a horror film for every type of viewer, whether they prefer them old or new, graphic or psychological. Read on for our best picks, then turn off the lights and go onto Paramount+ — if you dare.
World War Z (2013)
| Director | Marc Forster |
| Cast | Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner |
| IMDb Rating | 7.0/10 |
World War Z, which is based on the best-selling book of the same name, is an apocalyptic story that is rooted in the very real need of a parent to save his family. Brad Pitt plays former UN investigator Gerry Lane in the movie. When a mysterious virus starts spreading over the world and turning people into mindless zombies, Lane is called back to work. Although the movie’s creators may not have anticipated its continued relevance nearly 10 years after its initial release, it has (sadly) only grown more ominous. Try watching World War Z if pandemics no longer frighten you.
Scream (1996)
| Director | Wes Craven |
| Cast | Neve Campbell, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Courtney Cox, David Arquette |
| IMDb Rating | 7.4/10 |
Horror comedies that get to the heart of what is so ludicrous about the genre while yet being able to make our skin crawl have been attempted and failed by a number of directors. It took a seasoned horror director like Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street) to properly analyze the genre and give us some of the most terrifying antagonists ever. Ghostface, a serial killer, starts killing teenagers in a small village at the start of Scream. Sydney (Neve Campbell), a no-nonsense youngster with a painful past, will have to identify the killer and put an end to the carnage as the death toll climbs.
Annihilation (2018)
| Director | Alex Garland |
| Cast | Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez |
| IMDb Rating | 6.8/10 |
One of his generation’s most captivating sci-fi directors, Alex Garland, has solidified his reputation. In Ex Machina and Annihilation, he looked at issues such as what makes us human and the terrors of the unknown. The story revolves around a biologist who agrees to participate in a secret, perilous trip into an enigmatic region where the laws of nature don’t exist. It’s reasonable to say that this is a criminally underappreciated adrenaline ride with overtones of Andrei Tarkovsky’s frightening classic, Stalker, and a cast that features actors like Natalie Portman and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
A Quiet Place (2018)
| Director | John Krasinski |
| Cast | John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe |
| IMDb Rating | 7.5/10 |
The screams of the victims and the perpetrators are probably what come to mind when you think of your favorite horror film. The question posed by A Quiet Place is whether or not a horror film can still be frightful and unforgettable without any sound. In the post-apocalyptic setting of the film, a family must live in quiet while hiding from predators that hunt by sound. This John Krasinski-directed horror film illustrates that silent killers are the most difficult to overcome, in contrast to other horror films that draw their inspiration from spine-tingling screams or musical compositions.
The Ring (2002)
| Director | Gore Verbinski |
| Cast | Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox |
| IMDb Rating | 7.1/10 |
No line in the history of the genre has ever made spectators feel as terrified as “You’re gonna die in seven days” does in The Ring. Naomi Watts plays newspaper reporter Rachel Keller in the film, which starts when she learns about notorious footage. You receive a call telling you that you have one week to live if you find it and view its violent imagery. She watches it in disbelief and then realizes she doesn’t have much time to save herself. It’s terrible to watch the movie since it’s difficult to distinguish the dangerous videotape from the actual movie. Just hope that when the credits start to roll, your phone won’t ring.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
| Director | Don Siegel |
| Cast | Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter |
| IMDb Rating | 7.7/10 |
Although this movie from the Cold War era has shoddy special effects, its message is timeless. Invasion of the Body Snatchers is about an alien invasion that starts in a little town in California. Alien seed pods that can produce a human replica with an exact visual match have fallen from space. The only difference between these clones and their human counterparts is that they are emotionless. A local doctor and his ex-girlfriend will have to solve the riddle. Even though it has extraterrestrial bad guys, the film was really a protest against conformity and the growing McCarthyism that was sweeping the country. This movie is recommended for aficionados of traditional horror with a social conscience.
Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
| Director | Adrian Lyne |
| Cast | Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello |
| IMDb Rating | 7.4/10 |
With movies like 9 12 Weeks and Fatal Attraction, director Adrian Lyne may have established himself as a master of the sensual thriller in the 1980s, but Jacob’s Ladder demonstrated that he was also more than capable of creating a horror classic. The story follows Vietnam War veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins), who experiences flashbacks and hallucinations. He sinks more and further into lunacy as he searches for the meaning of his visions. The story that Lyne writes is immensely upsetting because it not only examines the horrors of war and the afterlife but also the inner workings of the human mind.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
| Director | George Romero |
| Cast | Duane Jones and Judith O’Dea |
| IMDb Rating | 7.8/10 |
Every every film or television program that even mentions the word “zombie” owes everything to this George Romero classic, Night of the Living Dead. This includes The Evil Dead and The Walking Dead. The plot of the film centers on a group of individuals who are trapped inside a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse and must fight to survive a zombie onslaught. Saying that Night of the Living Dead did for zombies what Dracula did for vampires isn’t being overly dramatic. Romero crafted a narrative so horrific that other authors of horror fiction were forced to emulate him. This is a timeless film with excellent performers and spooky visuals that you shouldn’t miss.
Summing it up!
We end our list of best Paramount Plus scary movies that are sure to leave viewers on the edge of their seats. One of the prominent attractions of this new streaming platform is its vast library, which includes films dating back a century, making it a unique source for content not easily found on other streaming services. With its ever-expanding library and convenient streaming options, horror fans can indulge in a night of terror from the comfort of their own homes. So, if you’re in the mood to face your fears, look no further than Paramount Plus for an unforgettable journey into the realm of the macabre.
