The best horror films, according to hackers
4 horror films were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 3 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended horror films with the badge. Each figure is 2 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Unsettling, well-executed horror
Praised as a well-executed, unsettling horror film that works as a standalone, with strong tension and clever writing. Caveat: thin plot and an abrupt ending.
Strong box office on a low budget
A low-budget horror film that people found genuinely spooky, with strong box office returns for its small budget.
Takes creative risks with original story
Recommended for its original story, risky filmmaking, fun scenes, and a near-theater experience on UHD disc. Critics find it forgettable and too long.
All 4 horror films, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Backrooms (2026 film) | 22 | 6 | 79% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Tied 2 | Obsession (2025 film) | 12 | 2 | 86% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Tied 2 | Sinners (2025) | 12 | 2 | 86% | 4 | — | Approved |
| 4 | Backrooms (2026 film) | 5 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same horror film in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to horror films that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
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