10 female-directed horror movies to stream-and-scream this Feb

There’s no better way to honor the 9th annual Women in Horror Month taking place this February than by binge-watching all the best female-directed horror movies that you can currently stream online. Between Netflix, Hulu, and Shudder are some spectacular titles to keep you streaming, and screaming, for the entire month. Described by its organizers as an “international, grassroots initiative”, WiHM “encourages supporters to learn about and showcase the underrepresented work of women in the horror industries”. This involves events like do-it-yourself screenings or creative media aimed to help horrors starred in and made by women to reach a wider audience. This is our contribution to that effort, and now it’s over to you. How about you hustle up your creepiest pals, stream the following ten female-directed horror movies, and then share your love for these scary movies with the rest of the world. Time to get your spook on folks!

1. The Love Witch (Shudder)

Director: Anna Biller. As The Guardian once put it, The Love Witch is a “B-move with A-grade potency”. Though it provides a lovingly camp pastiche of technicolor thrillers from the 70s and is full of hilarity, the film also contains a lot of serious (and scary) hidden depths, which come to light as the movie progresses. The film now streams on Peacock Premium, Philo, Tubi with ads, and additional services beyond its original Shudder window.

2. Honeymoon (Netflix)

Director: Leigh Janiak. Starring Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones) and Harry Treadaway (Mr. Mercedes), a newlywed couple’s happy honeymoon is thrown into disarray when the wife is found wandering, disoriented in the middle of the night. As her behavior becomes increasingly strange, her husband suspects something more sinister is at hand – and oh boy, is he onto something! The film has moved primarily to Philo and the Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel.

3. XX (Netflix)

Directors: Jovanka Vuckovic, Sofia Carrillo, Annie Clark, Roxanne Benjamin, and Karyn Kusama. An all-female horror anthology, XX features five peculiar and ghoulish tales, each with their own singular perspective. Annie Clark (better known as musician St. Vincent) delivers a killer directorial debut with The Birthday Party – a dark, suburban nightmare with a wry spirit. Meanwhile the esoteric mystery of Vuckovic’s The Box will linger with you like a bad spirit.

4. Dearest Sister (Shudder)

Director: Mattie Do. Dearest Sister tells the story of a young woman travelling to Vientiane to care for her rich cousin, only to discover she has lost her sight but gained the uncanny ability to communicate with the dead. Full of nuance and foreboding, this Laotian horror will get right under your skin.

5. Raw (Netflix)

Director: Julia Ducournau. A coming-of-age story with a brutal twist, Raw sees a vegetarian develop the taste for human flesh after enduring a harrowing hazing ritual at her school. Both stomach-churning and oddly beautiful, the film is nothing short of a masterpiece. Availability continues on Netflix in select regions alongside wide rent-or-buy options.

6. The Rage: Carrie 2 (Hulu)

Director: Katt Shea. It’s perfectly reasonable to object to this movie as an insult to both Stephen King’s original novel and Brian De Palma’s 1976 adaptation, but taken as a standalone movie, The Rage: Carrie 2 is actually campy fun. Just do yourself a favor and don’t take it too seriously. The film also appears on fuboTV, MGM+, Philo, YouTube TV, and Pluto TV.

7. The Babadook (Netflix)

Director: Jennifer Kent. The Babadook presents a searing exploration of grief, mourning, and mental health, weaving the story of a struggling mother-and-son relationship that manifests in strange and terrifying ways. As terrifying as it is devastating, Kent’s direction is nonetheless playful, which makes for a thoughtful horror that’s still eminently entertaining. The film streams on Hulu, Shudder, AMC+, Philo, and additional outlets.

8. Kiss of the Damned (Hulu)

Director: Alexandra Cassavetes. Starring Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us) as an extremely easy-on-the-eye mortal who falls in love with Josephine de La Baume’s alluring vampire, Kiss of the Damned is sexy, scary, and features vampires who thankfully do not sparkle. The film is now on YouTube TV, Philo, Magnolia Selects, and Tubi.

9. The Invitation (Netflix)

Director: Karyn Kusama. This suspenseful drama by Kusama, a masterful expert at entertaining visions of tension, provides a shocking slow-burning story set across the evening of a dinner party. The movie is astoundingly creepy, and though the scares are gradual, they hit hard. It currently appears on Peacock Premium, Pluto TV, and Tubi.

10. American Psycho (Shudder)

Director: Mary Harron. Harron’s adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ controversial novel continues to be regarded as a satirical masterpiece over fifteen years since it first premiered. The movie makes some bold statements regarding masculinity, consumerism, and power, in ways that are accessible and darkly comic. As such, American Psycho’s themes remain unnervingly relevant. The film is now widely available across major services.

Recent Female-Directed Horror Releases

Recent titles show the momentum that began with the films above. Nia DaCosta’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and Julia Ducournau’s Alpha arrive in 2026. The Substance from Coralie Fargeat and The Ugly Stepsister from 2024-2025 keep the conversation moving forward. The documentary 1000 Women in Horror, directed by Donna Davies, streams on Shudder and spotlights the broader catalog.

Women in Horror Month in 2026

WiHM occurs in March with grassroots events, panels, and showcases worldwide. The 2026 slate includes panels on evolving depictions of women in horror and fresh publications. The initiative continues to promote underrepresented work by women in horror industries through community screenings and online programming.

Streaming Platforms for Female-Directed Horror

Availability changes frequently. Services like Shudder, Hulu, Peacock, and Philo frequently host these films. Free-with-ads options such as Tubi and Pluto TV also carry select titles. JustWatch and similar trackers help locate current options across regions when schedules shift.

Impact of Female Directors on Modern Horror

Rotten Tomatoes lists over 90 top horror films directed by women, with recent additions performing strongly. Directors like Julia Ducournau and Jennifer Kent have influenced body horror and psychological subgenres. 2026 commentary notes women carrying significant portions of the horror output, both in front of and behind the camera.

The ten titles listed here remain essential viewing for anyone tracking how female directors have shaped horror across decades. Their continued availability on rotating platforms keeps the catalog accessible year-round. Fresh releases and annual observances ensure the conversation around these films stays active rather than archival. Viewers who start with the original ten will find a clear through-line into the projects that followed, from intimate character studies to expansive studio productions. The same directors and emerging voices continue to expand the genre’s range without abandoning its core tensions. Tracking these films through current services offers both a history lesson and a preview of what comes next.