The Best Horror Movies Coming To Streaming In December 2022

If it's one thing all horror fans understand, it's that every month is a good month for watching scary movies. Sure, we often like to ramp up the on-screen scares come October, but the frights still continue throughout the rest of the year. And while the holiday season brings with it a lot to celebrate and be thankful for, there's also quite a lot that still goes bump in the night (I mean, Santa Claus, anyone? Talk about a good home invasion story). 

In honor of the various terrors that occur every December — i.e. every single trip you will take to a shopping mall in the coming weeks —  here is a list of the best horror movies available to stream this month. Consider it your holiday gift guide for movies you can watch after the family has gone home and you are left to piece your sanity back together. The holidays may only come around once a year, but terror lasts forever.

The holidays are all about returning to the classics, and what's more classic to a horror fan than Wes Craven's hellish dreamscape "A Nightmare on Elm Street?" The franchise boasts an impressive number of films, and this December, Freddy fans can experience more than just dreams of sugar plums by watching "Nightmares" 1-7 on Shudder. 

If you're new to the iconic 80's slasher series, then get ready to indulge in some delightfully spooky boiler rooms and un-relaxing baths with Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) as she works to uncover and defeat a mysterious villain with the power to kill people in their dreams. While the first film is a classic that's not to be skipped, other entries into the series also have their merits. "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge" is often analyzed for its queer subtext, and "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors" is a satisfying tale in which a handful of young patients at the Westin Hills Psychiatric Hospital use dream-induced superpowers to fight good ol' Freddy K. In fact, each of the seven films has something fun to offer, and if you're looking for the perfect film series to binge while you wrap presents and drink eggnog, this might just be the place to start.

The first seven films in the "A Nightmare on Elm Street" series will be available to stream exclusively on Shudder starting December 1, 2022.

Calling all Hell Priests and Priestesses! HBO Max has such sights to show you during the month of December. Fans will be able to watch a whopping six films from the "Hellraiser" franchise, starting with "Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth." While the first two films in the series will not be available to stream, those looking to continue their "Hellraiser" journey will be able to jump right into the madness, and even though the series is well-known for not having the greatest of sequels, this is a great opportunity for HBO Max subscribers to experience more of Pinhead and the cenobites without having to put too much stock (i.e. money) into it. 

Clive Barker's original "Hellraiser" — which is based on his novella, "The Hellbound Heart" — revolves around a man named Frank Cotton who opens up a mysterious puzzle box that subjects him to a realm of pain (pleasure?) at the hands of creatures called Cenobites. Frank eventually escapes their masochistic realm, and what follows is a crazy love story turned horror film that has become a classic over the years. Those who are looking to expand their knowledge of the Lament Configuration — especially after watching the recent Hulu reboot — may find something to love (or at least enjoy) in any of these six films.

"Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth," "Hellraiser IV: Bloodline," "Hellraiser V: Inferno," "Hellraiser VII: Deader," "Hellraiser: Hellseeker," and "Hellraiser: Hellworld" will all be available to stream on HBO Max starting December 1, 2022.