Best 20 British Horror Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 10, 2026

British horror built its reputation on atmosphere over jump scares, from Michael Powell’s once-scandalous Peeping Tom to Nicolas Roeg’s Venice-set unravelling in Don’t Look Now. Hellraiser introduced Pinhead as one of horror’s most enduring villains, 28 Days Later reinvented the zombie film, and The Descent and Saint Maud show the range from claustrophobic survival to religious breakdown. The Wicker Man sends a devout policeman to a strange island, Attack the Block defends a South London tower from invaders, and Repulsion, The Innocents, The Haunting and The Woman in Black round out the list.

The Wicker Man (1973)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 92% Metacritic 87

A devout policeman investigates a missing girl on an island that practises very different beliefs.

"Oh God! Oh Jesus Christ!" - Sergeant Howie

Directed by Robin Hardy · 1h 33m · Rated R

3 wins & 6 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, BFI Player Amazon Channel, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

Attack the Block (2011)

A teenage gang in a South London tower block defends their home from an alien invasion on the same night they mug a nurse.

Directed by Joe Cornish · 1h 28m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

28 Days Later (2002)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 87% Metacritic 73

A man wakes from a coma to find Britain emptied out by a rage-fuelled virus.

"Hello? Hello? Anybody here?" - Jim

Directed by Danny Boyle · 1h 53m · Rated R

10 wins & 32 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

Saint Maud (2019)

A devout palliative care nurse becomes convinced she must save the soul of the dying dancer in her care.

Directed by Rose Glass · 1h 25m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Descent (2005)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 87% Metacritic 71

A caving expedition traps a group of women underground with something else that lives there.

"I'm never drinking again. I'm serious this time." - Juno

Directed by Neil Marshall · 1h 40m · Rated R

8 wins & 22 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, BFI Player Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Netflix Netflix HBO Max Hulu

Repulsion (1965)

A withdrawn young woman's tenuous grip on reality collapses into violent paranoia while home alone.

Directed by Roman Polanski · 1h 45m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Brew, Midnight Pulp · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Don't Look Now (1973)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A grieving couple visit Venice after their daughter's death and meet a series of disturbing, supernatural events.

"Nothing is what it seems." - Heather

Directed by Nicolas Roeg · 1h 50m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

Hellraiser (1987)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A man unknowingly opens a puzzle box that unleashes sadistic beings known as Cenobites, leading to a nightmare of pain.

"We'll tear your soul apart!" - Pinhead

Directed by Clive Barker · 1h 33m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video Hulu YoutubeTV

The Innocents (1961)

A governess at a remote English estate becomes convinced the two children in her care are being possessed.

Directed by Jack Clayton · 1h 40m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Haunting (1963)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A group of paranormal investigators meets escalating terror inside a notoriously haunted mansion.

"I'm not staying in this house another minute!" - Eleanor Vance

Directed by Robert Wise · 1h 52m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video HBO Max YoutubeTV

The Woman in Black (2012)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A young lawyer travels to a remote village to settle a deceased client's estate but uncovers a vengeful spirit.

"I have seen no evidence of any haunting in the nursery." - Arthur Kipps

Directed by James Watkins · 1h 35m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Netflix Amazon Prime Video HBO Max YoutubeTV

Kill List (2011)

TMDB ★ 6.2

A hitman takes on a mysterious assignment that spirals into a nightmare of violence and occult ritual.

"You are now entering the kill zone."

Directed by Ben Wheatley · 1h 35m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Shudder · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video HBO Max YoutubeTV

Dog Soldiers (2002)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A squad of British soldiers on training exercises must survive a night besieged by werewolves.

"I hope I give you the shits, you fucking wimp!" - Spoon

Directed by Neil Marshall · 1h 45m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Shudder, Shudder Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video Hulu YoutubeTV

Sightseers (2012)

TMDB ★ 6.3

A couple's caravan holiday takes a dark turn as they embark on a killing spree.

"I won't be ignored, Janet." - Chris

Directed by Ben Wheatley · 1h 28m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video HBO Max

The Awakening (2011)

TMDB ★ 6.4

In post-First World War England, a paranormal investigator is called to a boarding school to look into a haunting.

"I won't go back there again." - Florence Cathcart

Directed by Nick Murphy · 1h 47m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Cohen Media Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Netflix

Peeping Tom (1960)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 96%

A shy cameraman films his victims' final moments of terror as part of his own twisted project.

Directed by Michael Powell · 1h 41m · Rated NR

1 win

Where to watch

Stream: Cultpix, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, BFI Player Amazon Channel, Chilling · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Eden Lake (2008)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A romantic getaway for a couple turns into a nightmare when they are terrorised by a group of violent teenagers in the countryside.

"You're gonna fucking get it now!"

Directed by James Watkins · 1h 31m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, BFI Player Amazon Channel, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

Creep (2004)

TMDB ★ 6.0

A videographer answers an ad for a one-day job in a remote cabin and discovers his client is not what he seems.

"You're a very good cameraman, you know that? You catch things perfectly."

Directed by Christopher Smith · 1h 25m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store, BFI Player · Buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

Ghost Stories (2017)

A sceptical professor investigates three unsolved supernatural cases and confronts his own beliefs in this chilling anthology.

Directed by Andy Nyman & Jeremy Dyson · 1h 38m

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, Shudder, Sundance Now · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Ritual (2017)

TMDB ★ 6.3

Friends hiking through a Swedish forest are stalked by an ancient, monstrous pagan entity.

"We're in the middle of nowhere. We're gonna die out here!" - Dom

Directed by David Bruckner · 1h 34m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Netflix Amazon Prime Video

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

Best 20 British Horror Movies

The Wicker Man (1973)

Attack the Block (2011)

28 Days Later (2002)

Saint Maud (2019)

The Descent (2005)

Repulsion (1965)

Don't Look Now (1973)

Hellraiser (1987)

The Innocents (1961)

The Haunting (1963)

The Woman in Black (2012)

Kill List (2011)

Dog Soldiers (2002)

Sightseers (2012)

The Awakening (2011)

Peeping Tom (1960)

Eden Lake (2008)

Creep (2004)

Ghost Stories (2017)

The Ritual (2017)

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