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Best Horror of September 2026: Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil,’ Adam Wingard’s ‘Onslaught,’ a Lizzie Borden Miniseries and More
Variety's monthly "Horror Explorer" column highlights the best horror releases coming in September 2026, spanning theatrical films, streaming series, a novel and two major genre festivals. Curated by executive digital director William Earl, the list reflects a busy month for the genre, with high-profile directors returning to horror and true-crime anthology television tackling one of America's most notorious historical cases.
Standout theatrical releases include Adam Wingard's siege thriller "Onslaught" (4 September, A24) starring Adria Arjona, Na Hong-jin's Cannes-premiered creature feature "Hope" (9 September, Neon), and Zach Cregger's zombie adaptation "Resident Evil" (18 September, Sony), starring Austin Abrams. Streaming highlights include Netflix's "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story" (17 September), featuring Sarah Paulson, Vicky Krieps, Charlie Hunnam and Rebecca Hall, alongside Shudder's third season of "The Creep Tapes" (15 September) and new film "Bloody Tennis" (25 September). Other picks include the sequel "Fall 2: Deadpoint," spider thriller "Don't Move," documentary "Black Zombie," novel "She Haunts Me Still," and the Toronto International Film Festival (10-20 September) and Fantastic Fest, both showcasing genre premieres.
In short
- Variety rounds up September 2026's top horror films, TV and books.
- Zach Cregger's "Resident Evil" and Adam Wingard's "Onslaught" lead theatrical releases.
- Netflix's Lizzie Borden miniseries stars Sarah Paulson and Charlie Hunnam.
Explained simply
Horror spans several formats, including cinema releases, streaming series, books and film festivals. September’s selection brings together established directors, returning franchises and new stories, with releases from studios and specialist services such as A24, Netflix and Shudder.
Some entries draw on familiar material: Resident Evil adapts a long-running video game series, while Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story revisits a notorious 19th-century murder case. Others, such as the creature feature Hope and the siege thriller Onslaught, are original films; festivals in Toronto and Austin also give audiences a chance to see genre films premiering on the circuit.
The range matters because horror reaches audiences through different routes, from cinema and streaming to festivals and fiction. The monthly list is a guide to what is arriving across those formats, rather than a single competition or award.
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