A24 has established itself as a premier purveyor of elevated, artful horror films over the past decade.
From the chilling family drama of “Hereditary” to the folk horror nightmares of “Midsommar,” the studio has consistently delivered some of the genre’s most compelling and boundary-pushing entries.
Here are the 10 best A24 horror movies:
1. Hereditary (2018)
Ari Aster’s directorial debut is a harrowing exploration of grief and the dark legacies that can haunt families. Toni Collette delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as a woman unraveling after the death of her secretive mother. “Hereditary” is a slow-burn nightmare that culminates in some of the most disturbing imagery in modern horror.
2. The Witch (2015)
Robert Eggers’ meticulously crafted period piece transports viewers to 17th century Puritan New England, where a family’s isolation leads to paranoia, possession, and the revelation of dark forces at work. With its unsettling atmosphere and arcane dialogue, “The Witch” is a mesmerizing descent into the unknown.
3. Midsommar (2019)
Ari Aster’s follow-up to “Hereditary” is an hallucinatory folk horror nightmare. After a personal tragedy, a young woman travels to a remote Swedish commune with her troubled boyfriend, only to find herself drawn into their disturbing pagan rituals. Anchored by Florence Pugh’s powerful performance, “Midsommar” is a visually stunning and deeply unsettling experience.
4. The Lighthouse (2019)
Robert Eggers’ hypnotic psychological thriller stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson as two lighthouse keepers slowly unraveling on a remote New England island. Shot in moody black-and-white, “The Lighthouse” is a delirious descent into madness, buoyed by the captivating chemistry between its two leads.
5. X (2022)
Ti West’s slasher homage is a bloody good time, following a group of 1970s filmmakers who encounter a deadly threat while shooting an adult film on a remote Texas farm. Blending exploitation thrills with deeper themes about aging and the objectification of women, “X” marks an exciting new chapter in the A24 horror canon.
6. The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015)
Oz Perkins’ chilling debut interweaves three narratives – a pair of girls left alone at their Catholic boarding school, and a young woman hitchhiking through the snow. As the stories converge, “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” reveals itself as a slow-burning supernatural thriller with a shocking finale.
7. Green Room (2015)
Jeremy Saulnier’s intense siege thriller follows a punk band trapped in a neo-Nazi bar’s green room after witnessing a murder. Anchored by Patrick Stewart’s terrifying turn as the club’s ruthless owner, “Green Room” is a relentlessly tense and violent descent into hell.
8. Saint Maud (2019)
Rose Glass’ unsettling psychological horror centers on a pious hospice nurse who becomes dangerously obsessed with saving the soul of her terminally ill patient. Morfydd Clark is mesmerizing as the title character, whose religious fervor spirals into madness.
9. Talk to Me (2023)
Daniel Goldhaber’s latest A24 chiller follows a group of friends who discover they can connect with the dead by holding an embalmed hand. As they push the boundaries of this morbid party trick, they unleash a deadly supernatural force. Blending jump scares with deeper themes, “Talk to Me” is a fresh and frightening addition to the A24 horror canon.
10. Lamb (2021)
Valdimar Jóhannsson’s eerie Icelandic folk tale follows a childless couple who discover a mysterious newborn on their remote farm. Part creature feature, part family drama, “Lamb” is a mesmerizing and unsettling meditation on the human desire for connection.
These 10 films showcase the range and ambition of A24’s horror output, from the intimate terrors of “Saint Maud” to the hallucinatory nightmares of “Midsommar.” Whether exploring the darkest corners of the human psyche or conjuring supernatural dread, these are some of the most compelling and boundary-pushing horror movies of the past decade.
