The best horror films of 2024 according to Rotten Tomatoes including ‘hellish’ smash hit

Which of these films do you think came out on top? (Picture: REX)

The past 12 months have been monumental for horror films, with some of cinema’s most terrifying titles dominating the box office.

From demonic serial killer flick Longlegs, to gory slasher sequel Terrifier 3 and legacy prequel The First Omen, horror fans have continually been treated to some of the best the genre has to offer.

Demi Moore-starring body horror The Substance has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, and Hugh Grant made his grand return to horror in twisty thriller Heretic to critical acclaim.

There’s certainly been no shortage of thrills and chills to enjoy in 2024 – but which title hacks and slashes its way to the top of your end-of-year best-of-list?

If you can’t possibly decide which ghost or ghoul reigns supreme on your watchlist, review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has done the work for you by rounding up the site’s top-rated horror films of 2024 – and the results might shock you.

Here are the top 10 horror films of 2024 according to Rotten Tomatoes, from found footage phenomenons to truly unholy possession flicks.

Stopmotion – 91%

Coming in at number 10 with an impressive critics rating of 91% is Stopmotion, the feature debut from Robert Morgan.

Told through a blend of stop-motion animation and live action, the chilling film follows stop-motion animator Ella (Aisling Franciosi) who moves to a new apartment to complete the film she is making alongside her mother, Suzanne (Stella Gonet) after she is admitted to the hospital.

In the apartment block, she meets a mysterious girl (Caoilinn Springall) who tells her the story of the Ash Man, a terrifying tale that begins haunting Ella’s everyday life.

Heretic – 91%

Hugh Grant has charmed his way into the top 10 horror films of 2024 in the role of Heretic’s utterly terrifying Mr Reed.

Released last month, Heretic follows Mormon missionaries Paxton and Barnes (Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher) who enter Mr Reed’s home to try and convert him.

But they soon discover there’s more to the mysterious man than meets the eye as he traps them in his home, promising to show them the ‘one true religion’ he has uncovered.

MadS – 93%

Coming in at a respectable 93%, MadS is one of two zombie films critics rated highly in 2024 – just in time for 28 Years Later next summer.

Directed by David Moreau and told all in one, long take, it follows the story of Romain (Milton Riche), a French club kid who wakes up from another night of partying to do it all over again.

But on his way back home, he encounters an escaped patient from a local medical facility who flips the trajectory of his life when she smashes her head against the dashboard of his car, dying soon after.

New Life – 94%

Brooding, bloody, and devastating all in equal measure, it’s no surprise New Life has climbed so highly on Rotten Tomatoes’ 2024 horror list.

Directed by John Rosman, New Life follows Jess (Hayley Erin), a woman on the run who is desperately trying to cross the Canadian border.

Despite receiving a life-changing health diagnosis, agent Elsa (Sonya Walger) is hot on her trail as she comes across increasing numbers of dead bodies that complicate her case.

Strange Darling – 95%

Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald deliver career-defining performances in the impossibly twisty thriller Strange Darling.

Directed by JT Mollner, Strange Darling follows The Lady (Fitzgerald) and The Devil (Gallner) in a non-linear thrill ride that tells the story of a one-night stand gone wrong and the final slayings in a serial killer’s spree.

And that’s all we can say about this film – Strange Darling really is a movie you must go into as blind as possible.

In Flames – 95%

In Flames dazzled critics at its Cannes Film Festival premiere in 2023 and was selected as the Pakistani entry for the best international feature film at the 96th Academy Awards.

The ghostly horror film centres on Mariam (Ramesha Nawal) and her loved ones following the death of her grandfather.

Soon after Mariam, her mother Fariha (Bakhtawar Mazhar) and her younger brother Bilal (Jibran Khan) are pressured by Uncle Nasir (Adnan Shah) to sign their apartment over to him as they battle both human and supernatural threats over their autonomy.

Infested – 95%

If you’re scared of spiders, this might just top your list of terrifying 2024 horror films.

Vermines, aka Infested, is the terrifying directorial debut of Sébastien Vaniček starring Théo Christine, who buys a dangerous exotic spider from the backroom of a Paris convenience store. As you do.

He brings the arachnid home but soon he and his neighbours find themselves under threat when the spider escapes and its offspring terrorise the banlieue they live in.

Nosferatu – 94%

Kicking off the 2024 top 3 horror films is Nosferatu – an unusual choice given it has only just been released in the US, and has not yet hit UK screens.

But the star-studded vampire film has garnered a whopping 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been dubbed a ‘masterpiece’ by various critics.

Based on FW Murnau’s 1922 classic, it tells the story of Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult), his wife Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), and their loved ones as they are plagued by the mysterious and deadly Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard) after he buys a property in London and travels from the Carpathian Mountains in a bid to win Ellen’s heart by any means necessary.

Oddity – 96%

Irish horror has gone from strength to strength in the last decade, with Damian McCarthy’s Oddity once more showing the Emerald Isle is at the forefront of genre cinema.

The spine-tingling movie follows Darcy (Carolyn Bracken), a blind paranormal expert who is devastated by the death of her twin sister Dani (Bracken).

But she uses the ghostly tools at her disposal to track down the killer and bring them her own unique brand of justice.

Late Night With The Devil – 97%

Taking the top spot on the list is ‘hellish’ found footage horror Late Night With The Devil which sits at a near-perfect 97% rating and was named the ‘best horror film of 2024’ by numerous critics.

Starring David Dastmalchian as late-night TV host Jack Delroy, the film takes place during a special broadcast of his talk show Night Owls on Halloween night.

Following the death of Delroy’s wife Madeleine, the ratings for his beloved show have plummeted, with everything riding on this one 1977 episode. But he gets more than he bargains for when a very real evil becomes an unwanted guest on the show.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.