Honestly, the streaming landscape is a mess right now. You open an app, scroll for twenty minutes, and end up watching the same episode of a sitcom you’ve seen ten times. But if you’re looking for new horror movies on paramount plus, the vibe has shifted lately. It’s not just a dumping ground for old Friday the 13th sequels anymore.
Don't get me wrong, the classics are great. I love a good Jason Voorhees marathon as much as the next person. But the platform has started leaning hard into "elevated" territory—think more psychological trauma and less "teenager trips over a log."
The Heavy Hitters You Need to Stream Right Now
If you haven’t seen Smile 2 yet, you’re basically lagging. It hit the service in December 2024, and it’s one of those rare sequels that actually manages to out-creep the original. Naomi Scott plays a pop star, Skye Riley, who starts seeing that iconic, bone-chilling grin everywhere. It’s loud, it’s colorful, and it’s genuinely mean-spirited in a way that modern horror often avoids.
Then there’s Apartment 7A. This one is weird. It’s a prequel to Rosemary’s Baby, which sounds like a recipe for a corporate cash-grab, but Julia Garner actually carries it. She plays a dancer who moves into the Bramford—the same creepy building from the original 1968 film—and, well, you can guess that the neighbors aren't just there to borrow a cup of sugar. It’s a slow burn. Very slow. But the payoff is worth the wait if you like your horror with a side of 1960s paranoia.
A Quiet Place: Day One is also sitting there waiting for you. This isn't the family-on-a-farm vibe we got from the first two. It’s New York City. It’s chaos. Lupita Nyong’o is incredible in it, and honestly, the cat deserves an Oscar for not meowing while aliens were literally ripping the city apart.
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Hidden Gems and New Additions (January 2026)
We just crossed into 2026, and the library refreshed again. There are some titles popping up that aren't getting the massive "featured" banner but deserve a click.
- Sinister: This one just rotated back onto the service. It’s over a decade old now, but those Super 8 snuff films still feel illegal to watch.
- Would You Rather: A low-budget, high-tension flick starring Brittany Snow. It’s basically "What would you do for money?" taken to the most sadistic extreme possible.
- The Haunting: The 1999 version. Is it "good"? Technically, no. Is it a nostalgic fever dream with Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones in a CGI-heavy mansion? Absolutely.
Also, keep an eye out for Girl Taken. It’s being billed as a miniseries/movie event that dropped on January 8. It’s more of a psychological thriller, but it leans so hard into the "trauma-horror" subgenre that it counts for a Friday night scare session.
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Why Paramount Plus is Actually Winning the Horror War
People usually talk about Shudder or Netflix when they want scares. But Paramount has the "Big Three" legacy: Scream, A Quiet Place, and Smile.
They’ve realized that horror is their "sticky" content. It's the stuff people keep their subscriptions for after they finish watching Yellowstone. Because of their deal with Paramount Pictures, these movies hit the service faster than they used to. We're talking a 45-to-60-day window from the theater to your couch.
The 2026 Horizon: What's Coming Next?
The pipeline is actually kind of insane. We know Scream 7 is looming on the theatrical horizon for late February, which means it’ll likely be one of the biggest new horror movies on paramount plus by early summer. There are also rumors of more Evil Dead projects and the eventual arrival of Primate, that killer-chimp movie that just hit theaters this month.
If you’re into the "A24 style" of horror, the platform has been snatching up international rights for things like The Ghost (an Irish folk horror film) and Don't Leave The Kids Alone. These aren't always front-and-center, so you usually have to dig into the "Horror" category and sort by "Recently Added" to find them.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Movie Night
- Check the "Expiring Soon" Section: Paramount+ is notorious for cycling movies out without much warning. If a movie like Talk to Me or Barbarian (which they occasionally license) is on your list, watch it tonight. It might be gone by Tuesday.
- Adjust Your Audio: If you’re watching A Quiet Place: Day One, use headphones or a solid soundbar. The sound design is 90% of the experience.
- The "Rosemary" Double Feature: Watch Apartment 7A and then immediately follow it with the original Rosemary’s Baby (which is also on the service). The continuity is actually pretty tight.
- Explore the "Showtime" Tab: If you have the bundle, half the best horror is hidden in the Showtime section. Pearl and X often live there, and you’ll miss them if you only look at the main Paramount library.
Go ahead and update your watchlist. Start with Smile 2 if you want a jump scare, or Apartment 7A if you want to feel uneasy about your apartment's wallpaper.