Collider list writer Daniel Boyer has published a ranking of the eight best horror films of 2026 so far, arguing that the year has already surpassed 2025 to become the most impactful for the genre this century. The piece frames the 2020s as a new "golden age" for horror, citing box-office success, critical acclaim and a wave of new filmmakers as evidence that the genre is thriving.

The visible portion of the list details two entries. At number eight is Iron Lung, a claustrophobic survival-horror film written, directed by and starring YouTuber Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach, adapted from the 2022 video game and made on a $4 million budget, which became a surprise box-office hit despite complaints about its length and pacing. At number seven is Primate, a gory animal-attack film directed by Johannes Roberts and starring Troy Kotsur, following teenagers trapped in a Hawaii home with a rabid pet chimpanzee; the writer praises its over-the-top entertainment value while acknowledging it is clichéd and ridiculous.