If you think haunted houses and ghost stories can keep you up at night, Netflix’s scariest movie will have you triple-checking your locks and glancing behind the shower curtain. Horror films usually come and go, but every so often, a movie drops that makes millions of viewers lose sleep. That’s not an exaggeration—Netflix actually published a stat showing that about 18% of viewers who started this movie last month didn’t finish it in one sitting. They just got too freaked out. And if you’re wondering which film is getting all this buzz right now, sit tight—because it’s a wild pick nobody really saw coming.
The Reigning King: Why "His House" Tops Netflix's Scare List
So, what’s the #1 scariest movie on Netflix in July 2025? If you scan Reddit, Twitter/X, and TikTok, the answer’s crystal clear: "His House". Even though it originally dropped in 2020, this British horror flick exploded again in 2025 after a wave of horror streamers on Twitch declared it “legit nightmare fuel.” The film follows a refugee couple from South Sudan as they try to settle into a new home in England, but their new home has other plans. You’re not just dealing with jump scares or gore—you’re talking deep, psychological horror. The movie tugs at your chest until you want to cover your eyes, but you just can’t look away.
What hits hardest about "His House" is how it mixes supernatural terror with real human trauma. The scares are relentless, but what gets under your skin is the invisible burden the characters carry. The ghosts? They aren’t just monsters—they’re memories, regrets, guilt. And because the plot doesn’t let up, you can’t relax. Director Remi Weekes is a genius at using silence and shadows to make you uncomfortable. Even if you think you’re horror-proof, this film will test your nerves in new ways. It’s not uncommon to see people online saying they had to pause for "a breather."
One tip for watching: Don’t go in expecting easy answers. "His House" doesn’t just want to scare you. It aims to haunt you days after the end credits. Dim the lights. Keep your phone handy if you need a distraction. And maybe watch with someone else unless you want total darkness to really mess with your head.
What Makes "His House" So Terrifying?
Let’s get into what actually makes "His House" so next-level scary compared to the usual haunted house fare. The first thing? This movie takes everything you know about ghosts and possession and gives it depth. The supernatural stuff is inventive. The entity haunting the home isn’t just a generic evil spirit—its presence ties directly to the main character's past. The horror becomes personal, not just a run-of-the-mill battle of good vs. evil.
Second, the acting pulls you into the story. Wunmi Mosaku and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù play the leads with so much raw emotion that you genuinely feel what they feel. That pain, across their faces? Yeah, that’s not just acting, it’s lived-in trauma—something a lot of viewers find sticks longer than cheap jump scares. Add to that the setting: shot in an old, bleak British council estate, every hallway and peeling wall looks like it could hold a secret. Remi Weekes uses space—and even silence—as a weapon. Ever notice how your own home gets creepy at night when it’s quiet? This film makes sure you never forget that feeling.
What’s wild is that "His House" doesn’t ever go for big blockbuster gore. In fact, there’s barely any. Instead, most of the run time runs on pure dread. It’s the stuff hiding just outside your vision, or flickering in the corner, that fuels your anxiety. Fans say they keep their lights on long after watching. Want to mess with yourself? Re-watch certain scenes, but mute the sound. Even in total silence, the visuals alone chill you to the core.
How "His House" Broke Netflix's Horror Trend
Netflix has had big hits before—think "The Haunting of Hill House" or "Fear Street"—but few movies stick in people’s minds like "His House". In fact, back in June 2025, Netflix reported a 40% spike in horror streaming the week after several top TikTok creators did reaction videos on this film. According to internal streaming data (referenced in an interview with Variety), over 7.5 million unique accounts streamed "His House" worldwide in May alone, making it the single most-watched horror movie on Netflix for that month.
So why did "His House" resonate more than other horror classics on the platform? Part of it is timing. In 2025, there’s a big appetite for smart, socially relevant horror. Audiences want scares, but they also care about strong narratives and films that say something about the world. "His House" does both—and doesn’t sacrifice one for the other. It avoids cheap shots and instead explores trauma, migration, and guilt in a way no horror film has done before on Netflix.
| Movie | Release Year | Unique Streams (May 2025) | % of Viewers Who Finished in One Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| His House | 2020 | 7.5 million | 68% |
| Fear Street: Part One | 2021 | 4.1 million | 94% |
| The Haunting of Hill House | 2018 | 3.3 million | 99% |
| Texas Chainsaw Massacre | 2022 | 2.7 million | 91% |
Notice that "His House" had more people quitting halfway through—which says a lot about how unsettling viewers found it. Horror fans rarely back down from a challenge. But this movie? It gets under your skin in ways that stick around long after the lights are back on.
Tips for Watching (and Surviving) the Scariest Movie on Netflix
Ready to test your nerves with Netflix’s current scariest movie? Here’s how to make the most of the experience—and survive without losing too much sleep. First, time your viewing. Don’t watch alone at 2 a.m. unless you’re fearless. Nighttime does make it scarier, but if you’re easily spooked, go for a late afternoon watch.
- Use headphones or a surround sound setup—the audio in "His House" is packed with tiny creaks and whispers you’ll miss on a phone speaker.
- Try watching with friends. Bonus: their reactions might be funnier than the movie. But if you want to get totally freaked out, turn off all the lights and dive in solo.
- Keep a cozy blanket or something to hide behind close by, just in case you need to shield your eyes during tense moments.
- Watch for foreshadowing in the early scenes. Some of the creepiest moments make way more sense on a second viewing—and you might piece together the deeper supernatural logic before the characters do.
- If the ending leaves you unsettled (and it will), swap stories with someone else who’s seen it. Shared horror is half the fun.
The best tip, though? Don’t rush yourself. If you need to pause or step away, do it. There’s no trophy for watching the entire thing in one go—unless you want to brag online, of course. Want to catch other trending horror on Netflix before bed? The "Fear Street" trilogy is less psychologically intense, but great for a creepy binge. Or try "Apostle" for a different flavor of unsettling.
In 2025, "His House" isn’t just a scary movie—it’s the film everybody talks about when discussing Netflix horror. And if you survive it without jumping at the next creak in your own house, you’re braver than most. Sleep tight.
