A new horror movie has quietly clawed its way into Netflix’s global Top 10, generating buzz among fans of the genre — despite not receiving much attention during its original theatrical run. While comedy sequels and action blockbusters dominate the upper ranks of Netflix’s charts, this particular thriller is proving that there’s still a massive audience hungry for scares.
It currently sits at #10 on Netflix’s global movie rankings, placing just behind titles like Happy Gilmore 2, KPop Demon Hunters, and Rampage. While that may not sound groundbreaking, here’s the twist: it’s the highest-ranking horror film on the platform right now — both globally and in the U.S., where it ranks at #6 overall. In a sea of lighter fare, this chilling entry stands alone as the genre’s top performer.
What makes this rise particularly interesting is the film’s reception when it initially hit theaters. Released back in April, it didn’t exactly win over critics or audiences — reviews were middling at best. Still, in just three days on Netflix, the movie racked up over 3.3 million views. So what changed?
The film is Until Dawn, an adaptation of the cult-classic 2015 PlayStation game of the same name. Despite the brand recognition among gamers, the movie doesn’t follow the exact story of the game. Instead, it spins a fresh, standalone narrative that loosely shares some themes and atmosphere with its source material. That creative choice divided fans of the game — but hasn’t stopped new viewers from tuning in en masse.
Directed by David F. Sandberg (Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation), Until Dawn features a cast that includes Ella Rubin, Peter Stormare, Michael Cimino, Odessa A’zion, Ji-young Yoo, Belmot Cameli, and Maia Mitchell. It clocks in at 103 minutes and carries an R rating — no surprise given its intense tone. At the box office, it made a respectable $53.6 million on a $15 million budget, but it’s on Netflix where the film appears to be finding its widest audience yet.
With horror fans always on the lookout for their next scare, Until Dawn may be benefiting from the right timing, a built-in gamer audience, and Netflix’s ability to surface unexpected hits. Whether you’re a fan of the original game or not, this one seems to be worth checking out — just don’t expect it to follow the rules.