We realize we’re only halfway through March and April has its own share of exciting new horror movies, but indulge us for a few minutes as we jump ahead a bit… all the way to May 2026.
What’s so special about this coming May? Well, it’s playing host to a handful of brand new horror movies that have our attention. Specifically, brand new ORIGINAL horror movies.
Not that there’s anything wrong with sequels, remakes, and reboots, of course – on that note, Mortal Kombat II finally hits the big screen on May 8 – but we’re always keeping our eyes peeled for fresh and original horror movies that could spawn their own franchises in the future. And the May 2026 box office is loaded with a surprising number of fresh original nightmares.
Here’s all the new ORIGINAL HORROR coming to theaters in May 2026.
Deep Water – In Theaters May 1
With his reboot trilogy The Strangers now complete, Renny Harlin is returning to the deep blue sea with brand new shark attack horror movie Deep Water. Why is this exciting? Because Harlin directed one of the most beloved shark movies of all time: Deep Blue Sea!
Harlin previews his return to shark attack cinema, “Deep Waterrepresents the kind of movie I’ve dreamed of making since I grew up loving the ’70s disaster movies. Spectacular action and unforgettable characters who didn’t leave a dry eye in the movie theater.”
Aaron EckhartandBen Kingsleystar withMolly Wright(The Best Christmas Pageant Ever),Angus Sampson(Insidious),Kelly Gale(Plane), andLi Wenhanfrom K-Pop group UNIQ.
In Deep Water, “A flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai goes down in the middle of the Pacific. After surviving the crash, the survivors soon discover they’re not alone and they must survive the shark infested waters. The terrified group is forced to work together and overcome their differences if they hope to escape their sinking plane and the frenzy of sharks.”
Watch the official trailer for Deep Water below.
Hokum – In Theaters May 1
Also releasing only in theaters on May 1, 2026 is Hokum, the latest nightmare from distributor NEON (Longlegs) and writer/director Damian McCarthy(Oddity, Caveat).
Adam Scott (“Severance”) stars in Hokum as reclusive novelist Ohm Bauman. When he retreats to a remote Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, the staff’s tales of an ancient witch haunting the honeymoon suite take hold of his mind. Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance draw Ohm into a nightmarish confrontation with the darkest corners of his past.
Meagan Navarro raves in her review for Bloody Disgusting, “A quaint Irish hotel with a deeply haunted history awaits an American writer in McCarthy’s third outing, continuing his streak for folkloric tales of supernatural karma and spine-tingling terror with a dark sense of humor.”
Watch the official trailer for Hokum below.
Obsession – In Theaters May 15
Another horror movie that earned rave early reviews from Bloody Disgusting is the latest from writer-director Curry Barker(Milk & Serial), Focus Features’ buzzy Obsession.
In Curry Barker’s Obsession, after breaking the mysterious One Wish Willow to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
Michael Johnston(“Teen Wolf”),Inde Navarrette(“Superman & Lois”),Cooper Tomlinson(Milk & Serial),Megan Lawless(“The Girl from Plainville”), andAndy Richter(“Conan”) star.
Meagan Navarrowrote in her Obsession review for Bloody Disgusting, “While Monkey’s Paw scenarios often yield predictable outcomes, and this outcome is practically telegraphed from the start, Curry Barker manages to surprise with the journey itself. And it’s one insane journey paved with blood-soaked violence and no shortage of nightmare fuel.”
Watch the official trailer for Obsession below.
Corporate Retreat – In Theaters May 22
Get ready to punch the clock, because the new indie horror movie Corporate Retreatis getting ready to skewer corporate culture in theaters nationwide on May 22, 2026.
Odeya Rush(Goosebumps),Alan Ruck(Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), andRosanna Arquette(Pulp Fiction) star in the movie, described as “a gory mix ofThe MenuandSaw.”
Blending the dread of survival horror with dark laughs and shocking twists,Corporate Retreatcenters around a group of young executives whose luxury team-building trip descends into a bloody fight for survival against a vengeful retreat leader.
Watch the official trailer for Corporate Retreatbelow.
Passenger – In Theaters May 22
DirectorAndré Øvredal’s(The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, The Last Voyage of the Demeter) new horror moviePassenger was originally set for theatrical release on May 29, but it was just the other day bumped up a week to May 22, 2026.
Paramount has been building buzz forPassengerby playing the teaser trailer only in theaters, and it still hasn’t yet made its way online. The short teaser shows a man having a harrowing experience on the highway, encountering strange figures standing eerily on the side of the road. ThePassengerteaser ends with a jump scare: the man isn’t alone in his car.
Here’s the synopsis: “A few weeks into their van life adventure, a young couple witnesses a horrific accident that leaves the driver dead. Soon they’re being pursued by a demonic stalker who’s impossible to outrun and follows them wherever they go.” Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, Melissa Leo, Tony Doupe, Bonni Dichone, Devielle Johnson, and Jessica Cruz star.
Stay tuned for the official trailer for Passenger, coming soon.
Backrooms – In Theaters May 29
Easily the most anticipated new horror movie release for May 2026 is Backrooms from A24 and director Kane Pixels, a liminal nightmare that expands upon Pixels’ massively viral YouTube horror universe. We suppose that makes this one an adaptation rather than a fully original movie, but it’s the first time The Backrooms have ever been on the big screen all the same.
In the movie, “A strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom.”
James Wan produces the Backrooms movie for A24.
Watch the official teaser trailer for Backrooms below.
Which of these May 2026 horror movies are you most excited for?
Comment below and let’s chat!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on March 18, 2026.