October’s Scares: The Most-Watched Horror Movies This Month, According to Nielsen

From October 1 to 7, 2025, horror fans were busy seeking scares on both TV and streaming services. A mix of new releases and classic favorites dominated viewing, drawing in audiences looking for thrills. Here’s a look at the movies that got the most attention in the first week of October.

10. ‘The Intruder’ (47M Minutes Watched)

Coming in at number 10 with 47 million minutes watched is The Intruder (2019), a psychological thriller directed by Deon Taylor and written by David Loughery. The film stars Michael Ealy and Meagan Good as a couple who buy a country home, only to find that the previous owner, played by Dennis Quaid, refuses to leave.

9. Halloween (50M Minutes Watched)

At number 9 with 50 million minutes watched is Halloween (2018), a slasher film directed by David Gordon Green and co-written with Jeff Fradley and Danny McBride. Serving as the eleventh film in the Halloween franchise, it acts as a direct sequel to the 1978 original, ignoring all other entries.

Jamie Lee Curtis reprises her role as Laurie Strode, who prepares for a final confrontation with Michael Myers, played by James Jude Courtney, while Nick Castle returns for a cameo as the killer. The story centers on Laurie, now traumatized, facing Myers on Halloween night, forty years after surviving his initial killing spree.

8. Sinners (57M Minutes Watched)

Landing at number 8 with 57 million minutes watched is Sinners (2025), an American horror film written, produced, and directed by Ryan Coogler. Set in the Mississippi Delta in 1932, the story follows twin brothers, both played by Michael B. Jordan, who return to their hometown and confront a supernatural force. The cast also includes Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton in his film debut, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, and Delroy Lindo.

7. Tremors (58M Minutes Watched)

Coming in at number 7 with 58 million minutes watched is Tremors (1990), a monster horror film directed by Ron Underwood. The cast includes Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, and Reba McEntire.

The story follows handymen Val McKee (Bacon) and Earl Bassett (Ward), who plan to leave the quiet desert town of Perfection, Nevada, but get caught up in a series of strange deaths. Alongside seismologist Rhonda (Carter) and survivalist couple Burt and Heather Gummer (Gross and McEntire), they must battle giant, underground, worm-like creatures threatening their lives.

6. Slender Man (58M Minutes Watched)

At number 6 with 58 million minutes watched is Slender Man (2018), a supernatural horror film directed by Sylvain White and written by David Birke.

The film, inspired by the infamous internet character, stars Joey King, Julia Goldani Telles, Taylor Richardson, Jaz Sinclair, Annalise Basso, and Alex Fitzalan, with Javier Botet bringing the chilling Slender Man to life.

5. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (58M Minutes Watched)

Coming in at number 5 is What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), a psychological horror thriller directed and produced by Robert Aldrich. The film stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, with Victor Buono making his film debut. Adapted from Henry Farrell’s novel by Lukas Heller, it tells the story of a former child star who torments her paraplegic sister in a decaying Hollywood mansion.

Shot in Los Angeles on a $1 million budget, the movie sparked rumors of a feud between Davis and Crawford, though both denied it. Released by Warner Bros., it premiered on October 31, 1962, to strong reviews and box office success.

The film earned five Academy Award nominations, including Davis’s final Best Actress nod, and won for Best Costume Design. Praised for its dark humor and psychological tension, it revitalized the careers of its stars and became a cult classic, inspiring the psycho-biddy subgenre.

4. 28 Years Later (60M Minutes Watched)

At number 4 with 60 million minutes watched is 28 Years Later (2025), a post-apocalyptic horror film produced and directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. The third film in the 28 Days Later series, it stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes.

3. Bring Her Back (93M Minutes Watched)

Claiming the bronze spot with 93 million minutes watched is Bring Her Back (2025), an Australian horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou.

The story follows two step-siblings, played by Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, and Jonah Wren Phillips, who, after losing their parents, are drawn into a sinister occult ritual set up by their new foster mother, with Sally Hawkins also starring in the film.

2. Scream (1996) (113M Minutes Watched)

Taking the number two spot with 113 million minutes watched is Scream (1996), a classic American slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. The film stars Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, and Drew Barrymore.

Set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, the story follows high school student Sidney Prescott (Campbell) and her friends as they become the targets of a masked killer on the anniversary of her mother’s murder.

1. M3gan 2.0 (115M Minutes Watched)

Taking the top spot with 115 million minutes watched is M3GAN 2.0 (2025), an American sci-fi action film written and directed by Gerard Johnstone, from a story he co-wrote with Akela Cooper.

A sequel to the 2022 hit M3GAN, the film stars Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ivanna Sakhno, and Jemaine Clement. Amie Donald physically portrays M3GAN, while Jenna Davis provides the character’s voice. Produced by Jason Blum and James Wan under Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster, the story follows M3GAN as she is rebuilt to confront a humanoid military robot using her technology that is attempting an AI takeover.

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