Looking to curate your Halloween watchlist? For a terrifying treat, make sure you add these top picks.
A new study has ranked the scariest horror movies for 2026, with a new release delivering the biggest jump scare ever recorded.
Now in its seventh year, with over 100 movies screened, the Science of Scare Project uses heart rate monitors and an expert panel to measure the viewers physiological response to horror films to find the scientifically scariest movies ever made.
For 2026, 15 new contenders joined the list, including favourites of the year Obsession, Backrooms, and Undertone.
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil broke a jump-scare record held by Insidious for six years, recording a heart-rate peak of 134 beats per minute, beating Insidious’ longstanding 133 BPM record.
A24’s Undertone is scientifically the scariest new film of 2026, matching Skinamarink for the largest drop in heart rate variability recorded by the study.
Obsession and Backrooms both crack the top 50, placing joint 35th and joint 47th respectively.
But what is the scariest film ever made? And where can you watch it for Halloween? We have all the details you need, if you dare…
5. The Conjuring
Coming in at number five is the film that kicked off the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time – The Conjuring.
Released in 2013 and directed by James Wan, The Conjuring follows fictionalised versions of Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they investigate paranormal cases.
In The Conjuring, they are called to a secluded farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island, to help the Perron family, who have experienced steadily increasing paranormal phenomena in their home.
Where to watch: Prime Video, NOW TV, and HBO Max
4. Insidious
Another classic horror franchise starter starring Patrick Wilson and co-directed by James Wan takes fourth place (though these are the only two, we promise).
Insidious, released in 2010, brought together Wan, his Saw co-creator Leigh Whannell, Wilson, and Adam Robitel to create what would become one of horror’s most popular and enduring franchises.
The film follows married couple Josh (Wilson) and Renai Lambert (Rose Byrne) who move into a new home with their three children.
Shortly after moving in, their young son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) falls into a coma that stumps medical professionals, soon realising that the cause is more supernatural than scientific.
Where to watch: HBO Max and Plex
3. Skinamarink
One of 2022’s most controversial horror films cracks the top three after starkly dividing horror fans at the time over whether it was scary or not.
Directed by Kyle Edward Ball in their feature debut, the Skinamarink film follows a young brother and sister who wake up during the night to discover that they cannot find their father.
The windows, doors, and other objects in their house are disappearing, while two young siblings are trapped inside as an unseen, malevolent entity manipulates reality around them in the darkening home.
Where to watch: Shudder via Prime Video
2. Host
It’s not just Patrick Wilson who appears twice in the top five; we also have a double helping of found footage horror to chill us to the bone.
Rob Savage’s genius 2020 horror film Host came just short of the top spot, but still gets hearts racing fastest, with the highest average heart rate in the top 50 at 88 BPM.
Set and also filmed during the COVID-19 lockdown, six friends gather for a weekly video call on Zoom and hire a medium to conduct a virtual séance.
Things soon go awry when they don’t take the ritual seriously, accidentally unleashing a spirit into their lives.
Where to watch: Shudder via Prime Video
1. Sinister
Ethan Hawke’s Sinister is the scariest movie off all time for a fourth consecutive year, with a Scare Score of 96/100.
Scott Derrickson’s 2012 horror, starring Ethan Hawke, raised viewers’ average heart rate by 34%, from 64 to 86 BPM, with its most terrifying moment reaching 131 BPM.
The film follows struggling true-crime writer Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke), who moves his family into a house in Pennsylvania where a gruesome family murder previously took place.
He hides this dark history from his wife and children to find inspiration for a new bestseller, but soon realises he has placed them in direct danger when he finds a projector and a box of mysterious home movies.
Where to watch: Lionsgate+ via Prime Video and HBO Max
The top 20 scariest films of all time, according to science
- Sinister
- Host
- Skinamarink
- Insidious
- The Conjuring
- Hereditary
- Smile 2
- Smile
- The Exorcism of Emily Rose
- Talk To Me
- Hell House LLC
- The Conjuring 2
- It Follows
- The Dark and The Wicked
- The Descent
- Paranormal Activity
- The Babadook
- A Quiet Place Part 2
- The Autopsy of Jane Doe
- Insidious 2