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Variety ranks the best horror movies of 2026 so far

Variety's year-to-date list says 2026 has been strong for scary movies, with low-budget hits like Backrooms and Obsession outshining some franchise sequels; the multiplexes stayed busy.

On air: Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield on BBN Tonight
Published 8:49 PM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

Photo: National Museum of American History · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · Pop Culture

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from BBN Tonight at 8:49 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Variety's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by Variety: “The Best Horror Movies of 2026 (So Far), Ranked: ‘Obsession,’ ‘Resident Evil,’ ‘Backrooms’ and More”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 8:49 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

VarietyThe Best Horror Movies of 2026 (So Far), Ranked: ‘Obsession,’ ‘Resident Evil,’ ‘Backrooms’ and More

What BBN said about it

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorVariety ranks the best horror movies of twenty twenty-six so far, and Obsession, Resident Evil and Backrooms are right at the top.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorI love all of them, and I have not seen one.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBackrooms and Obsession were low-budget box office hits, which is a nice change.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentVariety also names Scream 7 and The Strangers Chapter Three as sequels the world could have lived without.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWell, I loved those too! A scary movie is a scary movie, and I'm sure somebody had a great time at the theater.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSomebody. Three Strangers movies and the only mystery left is why there's a fourth.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA fourth?
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentI'm pitching it now. Backrooms Two: The Other Backroom. Same hallway, but this time the hallway has notes.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat sounds absolutely perfect.

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