Best Movies Like The Black Phone

If The Black Phone hooked you with its mix of grounded terror, child-focused stakes, and supernatural dread, you’re likely craving more horror that feels intimate, tense, and emotionally unsettling. These are films that lean on atmosphere, strong performances, and slow-burn fear rather than nonstop shocks, often blending coming-of-age drama with genuine menace. With that eerie tone in mind, let’s dive into the list.

Split

Kevin has 23 distinct personalities. The 24th is about to be unleashed.
Streaming on:
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 57m
Release date: 19th January 2017
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.3/10)

Centers on an abducted teen trying to survive a deranged captor, directly mirroring the core premise of The Black Phone.

Though Kevin has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher, there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others. Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the willful, observant Casey, Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those contained within him — as well as everyone around him — as the walls between his compartments shatter apart. Split is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.3 by 18,063 people. The movie made an estimated total of $278,454,358 in the box office.

It

You'll float too.
Streaming on:
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 15m
Release date: 6th September 2017
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

Follows a group of kids confronting a child-targeting predator in a nostalgic setting, one of the closest thematic matches.

In a small town in Maine, seven children known as The Losers Club come face to face with life problems, bullies and a monster that takes the shape of a clown called Pennywise. It is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 15m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.2 by 20,002 people. The movie made an estimated total of $719,766,009 in the box office.

The Conjuring

Based on the true case files of the Warrens.
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Genre: Horror, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 52m
Release date: 18th July 2013
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.5/10)

A period-set horror focused on protecting children from evil forces, sharing atmosphere and tone.

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case of their lives. The Conjuring is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.5 by 12,440 people. The movie made an estimated total of $321,293,998 in the box office.

Oculus

You see what it wants you to see.
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Genre: Horror
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 44m
Release date: 3rd April 2014
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.5/10)

Blends childhood trauma with supernatural forces affecting the present, similar to how past victims influence events.

A woman tries to exonerate her brother's murder conviction by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon. Oculus is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 6.5 by 3,107 people. The movie made an estimated total of $44,459,951 in the box office.

The Strangers

Lock the door. Pretend you're safe.
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Genre: Horror, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 26m
Release date: 29th May 2008
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.1/10)

Masked attackers terrorize victims in an isolated setting, creating the same helpless fear and suspense.

After a 4 a.m. knock at the door and haunting voices, Kristen McKay and James Hoyt’s remote getaway becomes a psychological night of terror as three masked strangers invade. Now they must go far beyond what they thought themselves capable of if they hope to survive. The Strangers is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 26m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.1 by 2,602 people. The movie made an estimated total of $83,051,676 in the box office.

Barbarian

Some stay for a night. Some stay for a week. Some never leave.
Streaming on:
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 43m
Release date: 8th September 2022
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.8/10)

Features an innocent person trapped in a terrifying situation with unpredictable danger, matching the survival horror tone.

In town for a job interview, a young woman arrives at her Airbnb late at night only to find that it has been mistakenly double-booked and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to stay the night anyway. Barbarian is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 2022 with an average rating of 6.8 by 3,055 people. The movie made an estimated total of $45,400,000 in the box office.

Cobweb

Sooner or later, family secrets creep out.
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Genre: Horror
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 28m
Release date: 19th July 2023
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.5/10)

Told from a child’s perspective with mysterious voices offering help, echoing the supernatural communication aspect.

Eight year old Peter is plagued by a mysterious, constant tapping from inside his bedroom wall—one that his parents insist is all in his imagination. As Peter's fear intensifies, he believes that his parents could be hiding a terrible, dangerous secret and questions their trustworthiness. Cobweb is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 28m runtime, released in 2023 with an average rating of 6.5 by 1,010 people. The movie made an estimated total of $10,091,821 in the box office.

Longlegs

Say your prayers.
Streaming on:
Genre: Crime, Horror, Mystery
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 41m
Release date: 10th July 2024
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.5/10)

A dark serial-killer tale filled with dread and occult undertones, similar to the eerie presence of The Grabber.

FBI Agent Lee Harker is a gifted new recruit assigned to the unsolved case of an elusive serial killer. As the case takes complex turns, unearthing evidence of the occult, Harker discovers a personal connection to the merciless killer and must race against time to stop him before he claims the lives of another innocent family. Longlegs is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2024 with an average rating of 6.5 by 2,421 people. The movie made an estimated total of $127,961,936 in the box office.

10 Cloverfield Lane

Monsters come in many forms.
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Genre: Thriller, Science Fiction, Drama, Horror
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 44m
Release date: 10th March 2016
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.0/10)

Builds tension around captivity and psychological manipulation, closely resembling the hostage dynamic and escape struggle.

After a catastrophic car crash, a young woman wakes up in a survivalist's underground bunker, where he claims to have saved her from an apocalyptic attack that has left the outside world uninhabitable. 10 Cloverfield Lane is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.0 by 8,435 people. The movie made an estimated total of $110,216,998 in the box office.

Insidious

It's not the house that's haunted.
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Genre: Horror, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m
Release date: 31st March 2011
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

A supernatural horror where a child is endangered and contacted from another realm, mirroring key elements of the story.

A family discovers that dark spirits have invaded their home after their son inexplicably falls into an endless sleep. When they reach out to a professional for help, they learn things are a lot more personal than they thought. Insidious is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.9 by 7,165 people. The movie made an estimated total of $100,106,454 in the box office.

The Ring

Before you die, you see
Streaming on:
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 55m
Release date: 18th October 2002
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.7/10)

Relies on mysterious messages from beyond to help uncover dark truths, much like the ghostly guidance in The Black Phone.

Rachel Keller is a journalist investigating a videotape that may have killed four teenagers. There is an urban legend about this tape: the viewer will die seven days after watching it. Rachel tracks down the video... and watches it. Now she has just seven days to unravel the mystery of the Ring so she can save herself and her son. The Ring is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 6.7 by 6,505 people. The movie made an estimated total of $249,348,933 in the box office.

Us

Watch yourself.
Streaming on:
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 56m
Release date: 14th March 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.0/10)

Blends family-focused horror with relentless suspense and fear of being hunted, similar in intensity and tone.

Husband and wife Gabe and Adelaide Wilson take their kids to their beach house expecting to unplug and unwind with friends. But as night descends, their serenity turns to tension and chaos when some shocking visitors arrive uninvited. Us is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.0 by 7,869 people. The movie made an estimated total of $256,071,218 in the box office.

Prisoners

Every moment matters.
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Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 33m
Release date: 19th September 2013
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.1/10)

A grim story about kidnapped children and desperate rescue efforts, thematically very close to the emotional core of The Black Phone.

Keller Dover is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Prisoners is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 33m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 8.1 by 12,678 people. The movie made an estimated total of $122,126,687 in the box office.

Summer of 84

Every serial killer lives next door to someone
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Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
Country: Canada
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 46m
Release date: 10th August 2018
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

Follows teens who suspect a neighbor is abducting children, sharing the same suburban paranoia and serial-killer theme.

After suspecting that their police officer neighbor is a serial killer, a group of teenage friends spend their summer spying on him and gathering evidence, but as they get closer to discovering the truth, things get dangerous. Summer of 84 is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.9 by 1,425 people. The movie made an estimated total of $42,027 in the box office.

The Sixth Sense

Not every gift is a blessing.
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Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 47m
Release date: 6th August 1999
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.9/10)

Involves a child communicating with the dead, directly paralleling the supernatural phone calls guiding the main character.

Following an unexpected tragedy, child psychologist Malcolm Crowe meets a nine year old boy named Cole Sear, who is hiding a dark secret. The Sixth Sense is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 7.9 by 12,493 people. The movie made an estimated total of $672,800,000 in the box office.

Super 8

It arrives.
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Genre: Thriller, Science Fiction, Mystery
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 52m
Release date: 9th June 2011
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.8/10)

Centers on a group of kids in a nostalgic small-town setting confronting danger, matching the tone and era vibe of The Black Phone.

In late 1970s Ohio, a group of friends filming a homemade zombie movie witness a devastating train derailment. Soon after, their quiet town is gripped by unexplained disappearances, strange phenomena, and a growing sense of fear, as they uncover that something terrifying has been set loose. Super 8 is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.8 by 6,913 people. The movie made an estimated total of $260,100,000 in the box office.

Zodiac

There's more than one way to lose your life to a killer.
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Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 37m
Release date: 2nd March 2007
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.5/10)

Explores the terror of a mysterious serial killer and the fear gripping a community, much like the background menace of The Grabber.

Over the course of a decade, editors of the San Francisco Chronicle entice themselves in the murders of the Zodiac Killer. However, as time runs its course, interest in the case dwindles in the eyes of the professionals. The Killer stops interacting with the public. However, believing he has the answers, an amateur cartoonist from the initial sightings races against time to prevent what he believes is another murder. Zodiac is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 37m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.5 by 11,260 people. The movie made an estimated total of $84,785,914 in the box office.

Hush

Silence can be killer.
Streaming on:
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 22m
Release date: 12th March 2016
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.7/10)

A tightly focused thriller about a victim trapped and hunted by a killer, echoing the claustrophobic captivity feel of The Black Phone.

A deaf woman is stalked by a psychotic killer in her secluded home. Hush is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 22m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 6.7 by 4,747 people.

M3GAN

She's more than a toy. She's family.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m
Release date: 28th December 2022
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.0/10)

Features a vulnerable child facing a dangerous predatory threat, similar to the intense survival tension of The Black Phone.

A brilliant toy company roboticist uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to emotionally bond with her newly orphaned niece. But when the doll's programming works too well, she becomes overprotective of her new friend with terrifying results. M3GAN is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2022 with an average rating of 7.0 by 4,625 people. The movie made an estimated total of $181,796,517 in the box office.

Together, these movies capture the same uneasy balance of realism and the uncanny that makes The Black Phone linger long after the credits roll. They focus on vulnerable characters, creeping suspense, and horror that feels personal rather than flashy perfect picks for viewers who want chills with substance.

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