Highlights
- A24 is known for releasing unique and thought-provoking films that have received numerous accolades and praise.
- A24 specializes in producing first-rate horror movies that go beyond gorefests, delving into the darkest depths of the human psyche.
- The 10 best horror movies by A24, including "A Ghost Story," "Green Room," and "Midsommar," offer psychological distress, intense skin-crawling experiences, and unsettling endings.
From Moonlight to Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, the independent studio A24 knows how to spot unique and thought-provoking films. Several movies released by the company over the last decade have received numerous accolades and high praise from audiences and critics alike.
While A24 specializes in pumping out Oscar-worthy titles year after year, the indie titan is perhaps best known for its array of first-rate horror movies. These films go beyond the average gorefest, instead opting for the exploration of the darkest depths of the human psyche. Of course, there's still plenty of gore, too. There are many horror titles under A24's umbrella, but these 10 are the best of the best.
A Ghost Story (2017)
A Ghost Story stars Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara as a young couple on the brink. When Affleck’s character (called simply C) dies suddenly, his girlfriend M is left behind to grieve. C becomes a ghost, bedsheet and all, as he desperately attempts to find his way to the other side.
The story is minimalist, with very little blood or gore to be found. Instead, the horror comes from the psychological distress of both C and the viewer, especially his frantic attempts to remove a note from a plastered-up wall. An intense skin-crawling experience, A Ghost Story is undeniably one of the spookiest of the genre.
A Ghost Story is currently available to rent or buy on Prime Video.
Green Room (2015)
The slasher horror Green Room is a prime example of how humanity can be the worst monster of all. A group of bandmates mistakenly end up booking a gig at a skinhead bar in rural Oregon. They go through with the gig anyway, only to find themselves fighting for their lives against a brutal hate group headed by the bar’s owner, played by Patrick Stewart.
Just the thought of Patrick Stewart as a neo-Nazi is horrible enough, but the actor’s chilling performance proves that it can be so much worse than imagined. As the young musicians fight for survival, the savageness of the supremacist killers is enough to make Green Room one of A24's terrifying titles.
Green Room is available on Max and can be rented or bought on Prime Video.
Saint Maud (2019)
Saint Maud stars Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power's Morfydd Clark as Maud, a traumatized woman who turns to zealous faith to cope. While nursing a terminal patient, Amanda, Maud makes it her personal mission to “save” Amanda’s soul. Her endeavor is thwarted by people mocking her for her faith, which leads Maud to extreme religious fervor and less-than-godly deeds.
The film balances expertly between sympathy for Maud and horror for her actions. The most bone-chilling scene comes when Maud’s self-immolation changes from spiritual ecstasy to the very harsh reality of burning alive. The horror genre is filled with holier-than-thou villains, and Maud is near the top of the list.
Saint Maud can be streamed on Prime Video and MGM Plus.
Midsommar (2019)
Midsommar redefined the folk horror genre and made Florence Pugh a household name. While grieving from a personal loss, Dani and her friends decide to vacation at a Swedish commune, where things are not as peaceful as they seem.
The film is made even more unsettling by its pastoral setting, as vicious acts of brutality are committed under bright blue skies. Midsommar's ending is infinitely disquieting, as Dani’s wails of grief turn into a satisfied smile. Midsommar was one of the first breakout films to put A24 on the map, and for good reason.
Midsommar is available to purchase or rent on Prime Video.
The Lighthouse (2019)
The Lighthouse is an acclaimed psychological horror starring Willem Defoe and Robert Pattinson as two men forced to live together when they are marooned in a lighthouse during the 1890s. As time stretches and rescue seems unlikely, madness threatens to claim them both.
The Lighthouse has a building tension throughout that keeps its audience on edge, culminating in a climax that seems inevitable but is still unsettling. The haunting performances of the actors alone make this one of A24's best.
The Lighthouse is available to stream on Paramount Plus and it can be rented or bought on Prime Video.
The Witch (2015)
The Witch is a folk horror movie that fully encapsulates the genre. Anya Taylor-Joy is Thomasin, the eldest daughter of a Puritan family. When a chain of terrible events starts to occur, Thomasin is blamed and accused of witchcraft by her mother. Though Thomasin is innocent, there is a darkness that beckons from deep in the forest.
Brimming with an eerie atmosphere and disturbing visuals, The Witch is a gothic horror that truly haunts the audience. Black Phillip’s offer to Thomasin at the film’s climax is somehow both horrific and seductive as he offers her to “live deliciously.” The Witch maintains a haunting presence on the list of A24's best horror films.
The Witch can be streamed on Max and rented or bought on Prime Video.
Hereditary (2018)
The bone-chilling Hereditary stars Toni Collete in one of her most lauded performances as Annie, a wife and mother dealing with severe grief and trauma. As the truth of Annie’s family history is revealed, she learns that a demonic presence is out to claim her and her family for its own.
Hereditary has some disturbing visuals that are sure to haunt viewers for a lifetime. Whether it’s the sight of Charlie’s decapitation or Annie’s demise via piano wire, the filmmakers used truly horrifying means to leave its audience in shock, making this film one of A24's most memorable.
Fans can watch Hereditary on Max and buy or rent it on Prime Video.
Pearl (2022)
Pearl is the prequel to X, with Mia Goth reprising her role as the homicidal Pearl. As a young woman, Pearl is trapped in an unhappy life and dreams of a more glamorous future. Her obsession becomes murderous as she takes out her circumstances on her controlling family.
Pearl’s desperation and emotional instability lead her to some truly horrid actions. Scenes like Pearl lying next to her dead mother and a disturbing sex act with a scarecrow make her one of A24's modern movie legends.
Pearl can be streamed on Hulu with Showtime and rented or bought on Prime Video.
X (2022)
The bloody slasher film X is a tribute to genre horror akin to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Shining. A group of filmmakers finds an old farmhouse to be the perfect location for their adult film, but they get more than they bargained for when they meet Pearl, a disturbed elderly woman, and her husband, Howard.
Pearl is one nasty customer, and her need to kill stemming from her unfulfilled fantasies makes her all the more frightening. Terrifying scenes like Lauren's fingers being mutilated and Pearl dancing around R.J.'s corpse have become legendary, putting X nearly at the top of the list.
X is streaming on Paramount Plus and is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.
Talk To Me (2022)
The supernatural horror Talk to Me takes demonic possession to the next level. Teenager Mia copes with the death of her mother by participating in a dangerous game with her friends - one that opens herself to horrific consequences.
Talk to Me is a masterpiece of horror with all the required elements. The scene of Riley’s torture alone rivals every Hellraiser movie combined, and it’s impressively done without using cheap gore or scares. It deserves all the hype and the honor of being the best A24 film to date.
Talk to Me is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.