There are some really scary shows on Netflix that you can stream over the Halloween weekend. We have zombies, vampires, serial killers, witches, haunted houses and a lot more. In this guide, we’re taking a look at some of the best series worth watching over the weekend.
Are you looking for movies instead? We have a guide for that.
The best Netflix horror series
publisher’s Note: We’ll update this list as more Netflix horror series join the service.
1. The walking dead
Based on the best-selling comic, The Walking Dead came at just the right time. Zombies were already huge in movies and shows, but the creation of a serialized TV show that blended the horror of the undead apocalypse with human conflict made The Walking Dead an instant hit. If you’ve never seen the series before, be aware that the status quo of this show is changing rapidly. In other words, don’t get too attached to the characters. It’s definitely one of the best Netflix horror series out there.
2. The scary adventures of Sabrina
This series is kind of a spin-off of the Archie-based CW series Riverdale and combines teenage anxiety with true horror. Not since Buffy The Vampire Slayer had a show that successfully combined the exams and difficulties of high school with demons, witches, and more. It’s a shame that the last new episodes will come out after Halloween on December 31st, but it’s still one of the best scary shows on Netflix to see on October 31st.
3. The Haunted Hill House
Loosely based on the gothic horror novel by Shirley Jackson, this limited edition series focuses on a house and family who lived in it many years ago. The show regularly splits between two timelines. One shows the family, including several small children, who have to grapple with tragedy in this haunted house. The other characteristic is the children as adults as they are still dealing with the effects of the house. It’s not just great horror, it’s great human drama as well. You can also watch the spiritual sequel to this series, The Haunting of Bly Manor, on Netflix.
4. Hannibal
This entry shows that prequels to great novels and TV shows can actually work. Hannibal, as you might have guessed from his name, is a sequel to Thomas Harris’ novels starring the most famous fictional serial killer of all time, Hannibal Lector. The series sees Lector before he gets locked up, and we see how smart and how bad he really is. Mads Mikkelsen is perfect in the title role, and Hugh Dancy is great as FBI profiler Will Graham too.
5. Dracula
This three-episode series, co-produced with the BBC, is yet another take on the Dracula story. Bram Stoker’s character can be seen in his natural 19th century habitat, but this isn’t the super sexy version we’ve seen in a lot of films. Rather, this is a veritable monster that regards humans as food. The end of episode two takes this show in a new direction that viewers may or may not like, but it’s still one of the best Netflix horror series to watch this Halloween.
6. Supernatural
This long-running CW show about two brothers hunting monsters across North America has remained popular for many reasons. The appearances of the leads Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles as Winchester brothers are one reason. Second, Supernatural has evolved and developed 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 fill the show’s universe. You can see the first 14 (yes, 14) seasons of the show on Netflix right now, and the 15th and final season should fall sometime in late November.
7. Black summer
This series is even scarier than The Walking Dead when it comes to portraying a zombie apocalypse. In contrast to The Walking Dead, we actually see the early days of this outbreak when the zombies are fresh and the fear is great. Look for the second season of one of the best scary shows on Netflix coming out in 2021.
8. Stranger things
Is Stranger Things a horror series? Some people may deny this, but we believe that any show that features a terrifying alternate universe filled with deadly monsters is considered a horror show. Of course, it’s more than that. The show is set in a small town in the 1980s and 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 a comedy with your horror? Based on the classic horror trilogy Evil Dead, this series brings back Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams. After fighting the “Deadites” twice in the 1980s and traveling once in the Middle Ages, Ash is now in the dump and wondering what to do with himself. Things are returning to some chainsaw speeds when the Deadites reappear. Not only is it one of the best Netflix horror series, it’s also one of the funniest.
10. Dead set
What, another zombie show? Yes, but this one is different and cool for several reasons. First, it is set in the UK. Second, the zombie apocalypse happens while the participants in the reality show Big Brother are under lock and key. How would you feel if the end of the world happened while trapped in Big Brother’s house? The series was written by Charlie Brooker, who later created the hit science fiction anthology show Black Mirror. You can see some of this show in Dead Set, with some interesting commentary in the media too.
This is our look at the best Netflix horror series. We’ll update this post as more scary shows debut on Netflix.