Top 10 Most Anticipated Horror Movies of 2023

Renfield is an upcoming American horror-comedy directed by Chris McKay, with a script by Ryan Ridley, based on an original pitch by Robert Kirkman. The film stars Nicholas Hoult as Renfield, the loyal servant of Count Dracula, who decides to quit his sinister job after falling in love. Alongside Hoult, the cast includes Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, and Nicolas Cage. A new project from Universal Pictures, this monster movie shifts focus from Dracula to his infamous henchman. It marks the return of Nicolas Cage to a major Hollywood film after several acclaimed independent productions. The movie will be directed by Chris McKay, known for his work on the sci-fi film The Tomorrow War, and written by Ryan Ridley, best known for his work on Rick and Morty. The original gothic novel by Bram Stoker introduces Renfield as a patient in an insane asylum, believed to suffer from delusions and a craving to consume living creatures in hopes of achieving immortality, only to later discover he is under Dracula's influence. Renfield is slated for release on April 14, 2023, by Universal Pictures.

Evil Dead Rise is an upcoming supernatural horror film written and directed by Lee Cronin. It serves as the fifth installment in the Evil Dead franchise, starring Alyssa Sutherland, Lily Sullivan, Gabrielle Echols, Morgan Davies, Nell Fisher, and Mia Challis. The story follows two sisters as they try to survive and save their family from demonic creatures known as Deadites.

The development of the film began after plans for sequels to Evil Dead (2013) and Army of Darkness (1992) were dropped, which could have led to a crossover. In October 2019, Raimi announced that a new film was in the works, with Robert G. Tapert producing, while Raimi and Bruce Campbell would oversee production. Cronin was chosen to write and direct the project. New Line Cinema, the distributor of the original film, is also involved, alongside Ghost House Pictures. The new installment, titled Evil Dead Rise, was confirmed to be underway, with Bruce Campbell revealing the film would begin production in the same year. Campbell also hinted that the film would expand the setting to an urban environment, a departure from the first two films, which were centered around a cabin in the woods.

Lee Cronin, selected by Sam Raimi himself, will helm this project. Raimi, the creator of the iconic franchise, has brought it to life across three films and numerous other successful horror projects. Evil Dead Rise is slated for release on April 21, 2023, by Warner Bros Pictures.

Haunted Mansion is an upcoming supernatural horror-comedy directed by Justin Simien, based on a script by Katie Dippold. The movie features an ensemble cast including Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Winona Ryder, Dan Levy, Jared Leto, Danny DeVito, and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, this is the second theatrical film adaptation of Walt Disney's Haunted Mansion attraction, following the 2003 movie. The film is inspired by the eerie, spooky mansion within the theme park, which opened in 1969 and quickly became a fan favorite. Inside the mansion, visitors encounter creepy, supernatural spaces designed to challenge their courage. The script for this new version of Haunted Mansion is written by Katie Dippold, known for her work on Ghostbusters (2016) and The Heat (2013). The project is being produced by Rideback, the studio behind the successful Aladdin (2019) remake. In 2003, Disney previously adapted the Haunted Mansion setting into a film directed by Rob Minkoff, starring Eddie Murphy.

Haunted Mansion will explore the story inside the haunted mansion from a family-friendly, humorous perspective. The film is scheduled for release in the U.S. on August 11, 2023.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter is an upcoming supernatural horror film directed by Andre Ovredal, with a screenplay by Bragi F. Schut, Stefan Ruzowitzky, and Zak Olkewicz.

The film is based on 'The Captain's Log,' a chapter from Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula. It stars Corey Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham, and David Dastmalchian. The movie will be released in theaters, likely as a wide release, and features a chilling performance by Javier Botet as Dracula, known for his portrayal of otherworldly creatures like Slender Man and the Crooked Man in The Conjuring 2. In this adaptation, the film follows a group of characters aboard the merchant ship Demeter as it sails toward London, carrying mysterious, unmarked wooden crates. Each night, the crew is haunted by a terrifying presence, until the ship arrives in England in a dilapidated state, with no one aboard.

Hawkins plays Clemens, a doctor aboard the Demeter, while Cunningham and Dastmalchian portray the ship's captain and his first mate, respectively. Franciosi plays a stowaway. The Last Voyage of the Demeter is set to be released on August 11, 2023, by Universal Pictures.

David Gordon Green’s Exorcist Sequel is an upcoming supernatural horror film directed by David Gordon Green, who co-wrote the script with Peter Sattler, based on a story they co-authored with Scott Teems and Danny McBride.

This film is intended to be a part of a franchise based on the 1971 novel by William Peter Blatty and will serve as a direct sequel to William Friedkin's 1973 film adaptation. While the Exorcist Sequel will revisit the continuity of the franchise, all previous installments remain as essential to its foundation. This film is set to be the first in a trilogy of new Exorcist films, and the sixth overall in The Exorcist series. The project was first officially announced in August 2020 as a reboot, but it was later clarified to be a direct sequel to the original film. After rebooting the Halloween series with sequels that continued the story from the original film, David Gordon Green now brings his magic to The Exorcist franchise. The sequel, yet to be titled, will feature the return of Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil. The original 1973 film, directed by William Friedkin, starred Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, and Linda Blair.

The plot of David Gordon Green’s Exorcist Sequel follows a 12-year-old girl possessed by a mysterious entity, with her mother and two Catholic priests doing everything they can to save her. The film is set for release by Universal Pictures on October 13, 2023.

The second horror film from Singer, Cuckoo, has entered its post-production phase with a release scheduled for 2023. The movie stars Hunter Schafer, known for her role as Jules Vaughn in Euphoria, as a teenager pursued by a mysterious woman linked to a shocking conspiracy.

The filmmakers have kept tight-lipped about the plot of Cuckoo, and details remain scarce, with only a few hints released so far. What is known, however, is that the film is being described as a 'neon horror,' a term that may sound unfamiliar to audiences. According to IMDb, 'neon horror' is defined by vibrant, stylized visuals that enhance the tone and atmosphere of the film. This concept may sound vague, but it’s no coincidence that Neon, a Los Angeles-based distributor, is handling the film’s U.S. release. Whether or not the final product lives up to this unique genre remains to be seen, but Singer’s debut suggests the film will be anything but conventional.

Cuckoo is slated for release in 2023 and promises to deliver a suspense-filled horror experience that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. With intense chase sequences and high tension, it’s expected to be a thrilling ride for viewers.

The Boogeyman is an upcoming American horror film directed by Rob Savage, with a screenplay written by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods, Akela Cooper, and Mark Heyman. The movie is based on Stephen King's 1978 short story of the same name and stars Madison Hu, Vivien Lyra Blair, Sophie Thatcher, David Dastmalchian, and Chris Messina.

On June 26, 2018, filmmakers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods announced that they would write the script with Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, and Dan Cohen producing for 21 Laps Entertainment, with 20th Century Fox set to distribute. However, in 2019, after Disney acquired Fox, the film was canceled along with other projects in development. In November 2021, the film was revived, and it was confirmed that Rob Savage would direct from a script by Mark Heyman, based on a draft by Beck, Woods, and Akela Cooper. Hulu will distribute the film. By early 2022, Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, David Dastmalchian, Marin Ireland, Vivien Lyra Blair, and Madison Hu were added to the cast. Filming began in February 2022 in New Orleans. The film is set to be released on Hulu in 2023, with Scott Beck and Bryan Woods credited for their work on the script.

Based on the work of horror master Stephen King, The Boogeyman follows two sisters still reeling from the tragic death of their mother, as they discover that an evil supernatural presence has taken hold of their home. The film is scheduled for release on Hulu in 2023.

M3GAN is an upcoming American sci-fi horror film directed by Gerard Johnstone from a script by Akela Cooper, based on a story by Cooper and James Wan. The film stars Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, and Brian Jordan Alvarez, with Amie Donald in the title role. Produced by Jason Blum and James Wan under their Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster banners.

M3GAN is being described as a horror spin on popular dolls like Talking Tina and Annabelle, with a chilling twist: the doll is an A.I. (artificial intelligence) equipped with deadly weapons in this sci-fi horror movie from Blumhouse, known for hits like Paranormal Activity, Insidious, The Purge, Sinister, The Gift, Split, and Get Out. Directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound), M3GAN stars Allison Williams (Get Out) as Gemma, a brilliant roboticist working for a toy company. Gemma uses A.I. to develop M3GAN, a doll designed to be the perfect companion for children and an ideal caregiver for parents. When Gemma unexpectedly gains custody of her orphaned niece, she introduces her to M3GAN at work. At first, the two are cautious, but soon develop a close bond as M3GAN provides care and protection. However, M3GAN becomes possessive and starts attacking other children and anyone who threatens their relationship.

What’s truly terrifying is that M3GAN can run faster and farther than a normal person and can even attack with a nail gun. M3GAN is set for release in the United States on January 6, 2023, by Universal Pictures.

Knock at the Cabin is an upcoming American psychological horror film set in an apocalyptic scenario, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, who also wrote the screenplay based on an initial draft by Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman.

The movie is adapted from Paul G. Tremblay’s 2018 novel, The Cabin at the End of the World, which marks the first film adaptation of one of his works. The film stars Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint. The teaser for Knock at the Cabin reveals an intense, nerve-wracking thriller involving a family on vacation. Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge play Andrew and Eric, a couple who take their young daughter Wen, portrayed by Kristen Cui, to a remote cabin in the woods. While there, Wen notices a mysterious man wandering through the trees, followed by a series of loud, ominous knocks at the cabin door. To their horror, the family finds themselves facing a group of armed intruders with chilling intentions.

As the strangers break in, they tie Andrew and Eric to chairs and warn them that they must make an unthinkable choice to prevent the apocalypse. Knock at the Cabin is set for release in the United States on February 3, 2023, by Universal Pictures.

The upcoming untitled sequel to Scream is set to be a chilling slasher film, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, with a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick. Kevin Williamson, the original creator of the franchise, returns as an executive producer. This will be the sixth installment in the iconic Scream series and will serve as a direct follow-up to Scream (2022).

Scream 6 will feature returning stars Courteney Cox, Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding, Hayden Panettiere, and Jasmin Savoy Brown, all reprising their roles from previous films. Dermot Mulroney, Henry Czerny, Samara Weaving, and Tony Revolori have been added to the cast. However, franchise star Neve Campbell, who plays Sidney Prescott, announced she would not be returning due to dissatisfaction with her offer, making this the first film in the series without her character. The film's release has been moved up earlier than expected. Paramount Pictures recently confirmed that the horror film will now hit theaters on March 10, 2023, instead of the previously scheduled March 31 date, bringing this bloody sequel to audiences two weeks earlier than anticipated.

With the return of fan-favorite Hayden Panettiere and the addition of newcomer Samara Weaving, there’s plenty to look forward to in Scream 6 as it hits theaters on March 10, 2023.