Finding good quality horror shows can be tough, especially if you can't justify spending bags of bucks on the never-ending list of streaming services out there. However, Netflix is the OG streaming platform, and it's safe to say that the popular service remains a staple among viewers. With beloved horror-themed shows like Supernatural and The Walking Dead either coming to an end, dropping off in quality, or both, fans may be craving a new horror rabbit hole to go down.
Netflix boasts a wide selection of movies, including international-language features, and binge-able Original series, but it's the horror TV series options that are on point. As such, here are the best horror TV series to watch on Netflix, ranked.
Updated on September 16, 2023, by Rudransh Bundela: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
11 The Walking Dead (2010-2022)
When it comes to the zombie genre, The Walking Dead series is considered to be the gold standard. The show single-handedly created a separate zombie subculture for hardcore horror fanatics, resulting in 11 seasons' worth of footage and a boatload of memories within them.
What separates The Walking Dead from other, run-of-the-mill zombie shows is its characters. Despite being put in an apocalyptic landscape festered with zombies, the show features many characters that have various shades of gray, making them immediately likable and relatable. Having premiered in 2010, AMC’s show has lasted over a decade, making it one of the network’s crown jewels along with Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
10 Kingdom (2019-)
This hidden gem on Netflix is set against the backdrop of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, three years after the Imjin War, and follows a mysterious plague that begins to turn the dead into the undead. Since modern weaponry was practically non-existent during that period, the show features ingenious action sequences and clever solutions to the zombie menace.
Considering the number of zombie films and shows that are made by the dozen every year, it’s refreshing to see a fresh spin on the genre by setting it in a distant time, giving the genre a lot of body and depth. If you’re a fan of period drama and the zombie genre, Kingdomshould be at the top of your watch list.
9 Hellbound (2021-)
Hellbound is another underrated Korean gem on the list. The show has a somewhat absurd premise but manages to captivate the audience up until the last episode. Part horror, part cult thriller, the show revolves around unearthly beings that drag humans to hell based on their idea of divine justice.
Directed by Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan), Hellbound strikes the perfect balance between violence and radicalism and uses public hysteria and religious fanaticism as a vessel to get its point across. Upon its release the show’s violence instantly got compared to Squid Game, propelling it to chart-topping ratings in over 80 countries.
8 Slasher (2016-2023)
At a surface level, Slasher might seem like every gore fan’s wet dream, but the show has so much more to it. The show features a smart approach to the “whodunit” mystery angle by establishing who the killer is from the start and then slowly unveiling their intention as the season progresses.
Despite not having any big names attached to it, Slasher is a criminally underrated anthology series that constantly changes its storyline and cast based on the new season keeping things fresh and relevant. When compared to other anthologies like American Horror Story, the showmight come up short on the absurdity quotient but still manages to retain the mystery angle and pack a solid punch.
7 Marianne (2019)
While it might be the Koreans that are reigning supreme on the global OTT stage, the French aren’t far behind when it comes to horror. With shows such as The Black Spot, and The Forrest, French shows have mastered the ability to create tension and terror, without overtly relying on jump scares and tacky tricks.
Regarded by many as one of Netflix’s most terrifying shows, Marianne follows a famous writer who returns to her hometown in search of inspiration, yet finds herself face to face with an evil that’s above and beyond her in strength and possession. Unlike other horror shows about haunting and possession, Marianne possesses a certain degree of believability and panache that makes it all the more real and all the more scary.
6 The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
Though probably the least strong of modern horror master Mike Flanagan's Netflix partnerships, The Haunting of Bly Manor is still extremely engaging and high-quality. The story involves a young au pair arriving at Bly Manor to tend to the needs of two children who had lost their parents.
During her stay, she's haunted by both the ghosts of her past and the spirits deep within the walls of the old mansion. Mike Flanagan brings in his Hill House regulars like Victoria Pedretti, Carla Gugino, and Henry Thomas, but Bly Manor also boasts some incredible performances from newcomers T'Nia Miller and Rahul Kohli. The story doesn't feel as emotional and the scares don't hit as deep as Flanagan's other projects, but the cinematography, editing, and music are all top-notch.
5 Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020)
Based on an Archie comic book series of the same name, and developed for Netflix by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina follows a horror-filled coming-of-age story for Sabrina Spellman, a teen girl diving into her predestined life of witchcraft.
Kiernan Shipka does a fantastic job portraying the teenage witch, and though the series relies on some cheesy undertones and dialogue, the theme and events are quite intense and horrific. Tons of great practical effects and makeup are used for the creatures and settings alike. Sabrina has four seasons currently available on Netflix, and though it was canceled due to COVID-19, horror fans are hopeful for its eventual return.
4 Castlevania (2017-)
Frederator Studios and Powerhouse Animation Studios came together to produce one of the best animated video game adaptions to the screen with Netflix's Castlevania. The first two seasons adapt the 1989 NES classic Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, and Alucard's story is derived from the popular Playstation game, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
This gory adaptation was created and written by comic book writer Warren Ellis, and the art style is highly inspired by Japanese animation and Ayami Kojima's artwork from the original game series. A third season was recently announced as well, giving fans even more Castlevania to love.
3 The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
Widely regarded as one of actual scariest horror TV shows of all time, Mike Flanagan hit a home run with The Haunting of Hill House. This loose and modern adaptation of Shirley Jackson's classic novel features an incredible cast that comes together as a collective to give amazing performances all around, especially by Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, and Kate Siegel.
The camera work and editing style are fantastic, doing things that no other show has done before, and even bringing Flanagan out to break down specific scenes and how they were done to the viewers. The jump scares and eerie moments are aplenty, so be warned, that this show isn't for the faint, and the emotional moments pack quite a punch to the gut.
2 Midnight Mass (2021)
Another powerhouse from Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass was our pick for the best horror series of 2021. Where Hill House focused more on the creep factor of the supernatural along with jump scares, Midnight Mass features the more terrifying aspects of humans and their beliefs. The story came straight from the heart of Flanagan and his personal experiences with religion, and he had been writing it for years while popping hints of the story in his other films and shows.
This show dives deep into the horrors of small-town bigotry and the religious cliques within. Those aspects are so uncomfortable that the weaved supernatural element of Midnight Mass is more of a bonus rather than a main focus. This show is the definition of a slow-burn horror, but the excellent performances from the entire cast, and especially Hamish Linklater, Samantha Sloyan, and Kate Siegel will have you invested until the blood flows.
1 Stranger Things (2016-Present)
Stranger Things is one of the top 10 most-watched series ever on Netflix, and with good reason. The show is like if Stephen King and Steven Spielberg got together to create a coming-of-age horror and science-fiction art project, and had John Carpenter score the film. Of course, none of those talents worked on Stranger Things, but the Duffer Brothers along with score writers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein have done an amazing job capturing that classic 80s aura with their popular release.
The series has won seven Emmys and features iconic performances from not just the adult actors like Winona Ryder and David Harbour, but the child actors too, like Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard, who have since gone on to star in other huge-budget projects, like IT and Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Stranger Things hasn't just solidified its place as the best horror series on Netflix over the last few years, but also as one of the best shows of all time, period.