Blood, guts, gore, and more: Watch the best slasher movies
This JustWatch streaming guide to the best slasher movies is not for the faint of heart. Find the best and the most gruesome movies in the genre that includes the all-time greatest slasher movies, those that go under the radar, and more.
Use JustWatch to discover what slasher movies are available on different streaming services in Australia including the likes of Max, Paramount+, Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, and more. You can use the JustWatch filters to narrow down your search. Find slasher movies from the very beginning of this spine-chilling subgenre by using the release date filter. Or use the IMDb rating filter to discover only the best of the best. Whether it’s the vintage horror of Psycho, the death-obsessed doll of Child’s Play or modern takes on the genre like Happy Death Day, find the best slasher movie for you right now.
Discover the scariest slasher movies of all time
The best slasher movies are defined by slow stalking and gory, unexpected kills. The genre came to life in the late 70s with the definitive slasher movie Halloween directed by John Carpenter and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, two of the undisputedly best films in the genre. The golden era of slashers included Friday the 13th, sparking countless hockey mask Halloween costumes, and Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street that introduced audiences to Freddy Krueger. The genre hit another peak in the mid-90s with Craven’s smash hit Scream and the following sequels, alongside movies such as Candyman and I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Find horrifying hidden gems on your streaming services
Audiences dipped back into this blood-soaked genre in the 2010s after a hiatus from the box office, leading to a whole slew of slept-on slashers. Outside the resurrection of recognised titles such as Candyman and Scream, lesser known movies in the genre include the likes of Ti West’s trilogy (X, Pearl, and MaXXXine), Terrifier featuring the iconic Art the Clown, and the shocking Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey. While the slasher subgenre doesn’t translate to TV series in quite the same way other genres do, shows such as American Horror Story and Scream Queens show that an anthology format can keep up the sadistic suspense needed for a slasher series. Honourable Australian mentions in the genre include Houseboat Horror, regarded as one of Australia’s worst films ever made, and the postmodern take on slasher movies Cut starring the iconic Kylie Minogue.
Discover other genres
Despite being heavily rooted in the general horror movie category, slasher movies have made an impact across multiple other genres. Films such as The Terminator and Alien show the influence of the slasher style on sci-fi dramas, while psychological thrillers often employ the same tools without the gruelling violence. One significant crossover between slashers and musicals is Sweeney Tood: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
