Last Updated: June 9, 2020
There are already lots of horror movies to look forward to in 2020, including Halloween Kills, A Quiet Place 2, The Conjuring 3, and more. While some years turn out better than others, a year never goes by without giving horror fans at least a few box office hits and future cult classics. 2019 was no different, continuing the resurgence of Stephen King movies with a new take on Pet Sematary, blockbuster sequel IT Chapter Two, and Doctor Sleep, the long-awaited follow-up to The Shining.
Outside of King material, 2019 also saw Annabelle Comes Home continue The Conjuring franchise, Ari Aster's Midsommar freak the hell out of everyone, and Crawl save the creature feature genre from drek like Sharknado. Mark Hamill debuted as the voice of a modern day Chucky in Child's Play 2019, while Us proved Jordan Peele wasn't a one-hit wonder, and 3 From Hell served as a swan song for iconic horror character Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig). But now, it's on to 2020, when a whole new round of frights is waiting to scare moviegoers.
While the movie line-up for 2020 may or may not be complete at this point, there's already over a dozen theatrical horror features to look forward to. This includes several franchise sequels, reinventions of time-tested stories, and even a mashup of Marvel Comics and horror.
Underwater - January 10
Underwater stars Kristen Stewart as part of a team of aquatic researchers that find themselves under siege from unknown undersea monsters after an earthquake destroys their laboratory. Vincent Cassel (Black Swan), T.J. Miller (Deadpool), and Jessica Henwick (Iron Fist) also star in this tale somewhat similar to Leviathan (1989).
The Turning - January 24
The Turning is Hollywood's latest attempt at reinventing Henry James' The Turn of the Screw, this time casting Mackenzie Davis (Terminator: Dark Fate) as the beleaguered nanny tasked with watching over two creepy kids, one of which is played by Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard. It remains to be seen what new twists are in store.
Gretel & Hansel - January 31
Gretel & Hansel is a creepy new spin on the classic fairy tale in which two siblings are abandoned, then come face to face with a cannibalistic witch. Sophia Lillis (IT) stars as an older teenage Gretel, while Hollywood veteran Alice Krige plays the witch, who seems more interested in turning the young girl to the dark side than eating her.
Fantasy Island - February 14
Fantasy Island is a horror re-imagining of the classic 1970s TV show in which Mr. Roarke and his diminutive assistant Tattoo invited people onto a remote island to live out their greatest fantasies, but with strings attached. Michael Pena takes over the Roarke role, with Maggie Q, Lucy Hale, and Michael "Yondu" Rooker also starring.
Brahms: The Boy 2 - February 21
Brahms: The Boy 2 is a sequel to 2016 horror film The Boy, which focused on a doll that may or not have been alive. Obviously, that question is answered now, so it'll be interesting to see where the sequel takes things, although it involves the same house and doll. Katie Holmes stars this time out, alongside Ralph Ineson (The Witch).
The Invisible Man - February 28
Another new twist on an old story, The Invisible Man is Blumhouse's reboot of the classic Universal Pictures horror franchise. Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale) stars as Cecillia, a woman who escapes her abusive scientist boyfriend (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) only to be menaced by him in invisible form after his apparently faked death.
You Should Have Left - June 19
Based on a 2017 book by author Daniel Kehlmann, You Should Have Left reunites writer/director David Koepp with lead actor Kevin Bacon for the first time since 1999's criminally underrated Stir of Echoes. The story sees a married couple travel to a remote mountain house, only to encounter unpredictable psychological terror.
Unhinged - July 1
Unhinged stars Russell Crowe as a character known only as The Man, who begins stalking a single mother and maing her life a living hell after a road rage incident. Caren Pistorius (Mortal Engines) plays Rachel, the target in this scenario, while Westworld's Jimmi Simpson plays Rachel's ex-husband Andy.
The Empty Man - August 7
Based on a graphic novel, The Empty Man stars James Badge Dale as a traumatized ex-cop looking for a missing girl, only to instead find a sinister collective looking to summon a powerful evil entity. Samantha Logan (13 Reasons Why), Stephen Root (Get Out), and Aaron Poole (The Void) also star.
Antebellum - August 21
Very little is known about the plot for Antebellum, and the trailer didn't really clear much up. Janelle Monae stars as a successful author named Veronica, who finds herself alternately in modern day and what looks to be an old-time slave plantation in the deep south. Ghosts and such are also involved, but the film is still mostly a mystery.
The New Mutants - August 28
After long, long delays, and the sale of Fox's assets to Disney, X-Men horror film The New Mutants is finally hitting theaters this spring. Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams and Charlie Heaton lead the cast of misfit Marvel characters, but after spending so long in limbo, one wonders what the final product will ultimately look like.
A Quiet Place Part 2 - September 4
A Quiet Place Part 2 picks up not long after director John Krasinksi's original A Quiet Place, a surprise 2018 hit that explored a family's attempts to survive after an alien invasion proved apocalyptic. Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe return as the surviving Abbots, alongside new additions Cillian Muprhy and Djimon Hounsou.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It - September 11
Often referred to simply as The Conjuring 3, this is the first in the series not to be directed by creator James Wan. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, in a storyline based on the first real court case in which a defendant blamed demonic possession for a murder he'd been accused of.
Candyman - September 25
In yet another instance of an upcoming movie being shrouded in secrecy, Candyman is a "spiritual sequel" to the classic slasher franchise starring Tony Todd, with Todd set to return to his signature role in a still kind of unclear capacity. Jordan Peele co-wrote and is producing the film, while newcomer Nia DaCosta handles directing duties.
Halloween Kills - October 16
Halloween Kills picks up Laurie Strode and Michael Myers' story after the success of 2018's Halloween reboot. The surviving cast of the last film is slated to return, while Anthony Michael Hall and Kyle Richards join in to play adult versions of Tommy Doyle and Lindsey Wallace. Several other classic Halloween characters will also participate.
Come Play - October 30
Based on a short film titled Larry, Come Play focuses on a family whose lives are put in danger after a monster named Larry makes his way into the real world via their son's electronic devices. Gillian Jacobs (Community), John Gallagher Jr. (Underwater), and Azhy Robertson (Marriage Story) star.
Antlers - TBA 2020 (Delayed Due to Coronavirus)
Produced by Guillermo del Toro, Antlers is based on a short story by Channel Zero creator Nick Antosca, and stars Keri Russell (The Americans) as a small-town Oregon teacher who gets way more than she bargained for by getting mixed up in the life of a mysterious young student. Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad) plays the local sheriff.
The Forever Purge - TBA 2020 (Delayed Due to Coronavirus)
The Forever Purge has been teased by creator James DeMonaco as the possible final film in the franchise, which has earned Blumhouse huge profits on small budgets. It's unclear what the story will be about, but it presumably picks up sometime after The Purge: Election Year saw Purge Night get controversially outlawed.
Malignant - TBA 2020 (Delayed Due to Coronavirus)
The latest horror effort from modern master James Wan, Malignant is based on a 2011 graphic novel called Malignant Man, written by Wan himself. How much the two will have in common remains to be seen, although Annabelle Wallis (Annabelle), Jake Abel (Supernatural), and Jacqueline McKenzie (The 4400) will star.