What does March have in store for horror movies streaming on Max and Netflix? Quite a lot, actually. Max has heard that viewers have an interest in giant monsters, so you can find Godzilla movies and classic monsters on Max this month. With Godzilla: King of the Monsters and the original King Kong, you can check out a recent adaptation of Godzilla, the pre-code version of King Kong, and Peter Jackson's epic modern version, Kong: Skull Island.
For those who love slashers, Max has three Scream franchise films and the supernatural scares of Sinister. Read more about the trials and tribulations of Scream's first final girl, Sidney Prescott.
Netflix has a mix of monsters and psychological horror. Who doesn't love a good Kaiju? But sometimes, the most terrifying monsters are within ourselves. Human beings can be every bit as terrifying as the universe's greatest monsters, so Netflix has a good selection of realistic horrors like Fear, Bodies Bodies Bodies, and The Gift.
Godzilla (2014)
Image Credit: Warner Brothers Pictures
Produced by Legendary Films for release in 2014, this American reboot of the Toho Godzilla franchise stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn, and Bryan Cranston. It was directed by Gareth Edwards, who also directed the beautifully creepy Monsters.
Read the Gingold Files review of Godzilla (2014) at Fangoria.
Godzilla is now streaming on Max.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
Image Credit: IMDB
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is the second sequel and third film in Legendary Pictures' Monsterverse. It followed the release of Peter Jackson's Kong: Skull Island and is a direct sequel to Godzilla (2014).
Michael Dougherty directed and co-wrote the film, which stars Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, O'Shea Jackson Jr., David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe, and Zhang Ziyi. Dougherty is best known for his beloved Halloween film Trick 'r Treat.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is now streaming on Max.
The Green Knight (2021)
Image Credit: A24
David Lowery's film The Green Knight is a retelling of the story of Sir Gawain, a knight of the Round Table. In the story, Gawain is a less-than-noble man who must find a way to deal with a supernatural agreement he made with a ghostly knight. It stars Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, and Sarita Choudhury.
You can read more about Lowery's work on The Green Knight right here.
The Green Knight is now streaming on Max.
King Kong (1933)
Image Credit: IMDB
King Kong is one of the original monster movies. It was made in the pre-code era, that is, the time in Hollywood prior to the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines or the Hayes Code, when films were much more violent and had openly sexy stars. Fangoria has a great article about the stop motion used to make King Kong for the film's 90th anniversary.
The film stars Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, and Bruce Cabot and was co-directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. Fay Wray was a successful actress who also starred in one of the early horror films, The Most Dangerous Game, but her work in King Kong became her most famous role. She is known as the earliest scream queen. When you watch the film, you will know why.
King Kong is now streaming on Max.
Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Image Credit: IMDB
Peter Jackson's Kong: Skull Island is the second film in Legendary Pictures Monsterverse and a reboot of the King Kong series. It stars Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Corey Hawkins, Shea Whigham, and John C. Reilly.
The film is filled with terrifying new monsters, including reptilian "Skullcrawlers," carnivorous birds, and a horrifying pit of giant bugs. If you love monsters, Kong: Skull Island is packed with them.
Kong: Skull Island is now streaming on Max.
Scream (1996)
Image Credit: IMDB
Wes Craven's Scream is one of horror's most popular franchises and beloved scary movies. This month, Max is streaming the first three films in the franchise. The series is always great for binge-watching because it is frightening and fun. Get your snacks ready.
Written by Kevin Williamson, the film stars David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, and Drew Barrymore. The film has cameos by Henry Winkler, poor Principal Himbry, and Linda Blair, as a reporter. But let's not forget Liev Schreiber giving a creepy performance as Cotton Weary. For more, take a deep dive into the iconic Ghostface mask's journey to the screen (and horror history).
Scream is now streaming on Max.
Scream 2 (1997)
Image Credit: IMDB
After the success of the first film, Scream 2 takes the surviving characters to college as the final girl, Sidney Prescott, tries to find a way to live her life under the threat of a return of Ghostface. David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jamie Kennedy, Laurie Metcalf. Jerry O'Connell, Jada Pinkett, and Liev Schreiber.
The sequel goes bigger as a slasher, not just in the setting but the stakes, and has one of the most intense scenes that leads to a beloved character's death. It breaks the curse of the sequel by being just as good, if not better, in some ways than a classic.
Scream 2 is now streaming on Max.
Scream 3 (2000)
Image Credit: IMDB
The third sequel in the now historic franchise Scream 3 did the only thing the series could do, except maybe go into space and, instead, go to Hollywood. With a terrific cast including David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox Arquette, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Foley, Lance Henriksen, Matt Keeslar, Jenny McCarthy, Emily Mortimer, and Parker Posey, the Wes Craven directed and Kevin Williamson written sequel rules.
The movie explores more of the background behind Sidney's mother's death and reveals secrets that the audience had not even glimpsed before.
Scream 3 is now streaming on Max.
Sinister (2012)
Image Credit: IMDB
Director and co-writer Scott Derrickson and co-writer C. Robert Cargill's supernatural story of a demon that comes after families still chills. Sinister stars Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Fred Thompson, and James Ransone and is known for its shocking and horror-filled imagery.
It has been declared the scariest film, judged by science and viewer heart rates, more than once. You can check out our list of the top ten films ranked by heart rate in 2023 at Fangoria now.
Sinister is now streaming on Max.
Son of Kong (1933)
Image Credit: IMDB
Son of Kong is the pre-code sequel to King Kong, released just nine months later. Directed by
Ernest B. Schoedsack, written by Ruth Rose, who co-wrote King Kong, tells the story of Carl Denham's ruin after Kong attacks New York City and his return to Skull Island.
Denham finds another giant ape, this time slightly smaller and albino, who he and his companion Hilda decide must be Kong's son. It stars Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack, Frank Reicher, and Victor Wong.
Son of Kong is now streaming on Max.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Image Credit: IMDB
Director Halina Reijn brought this tale of paranoia among a circle of friends during a dangerous hurricane to life. Are the women being pursued by a killer among them? What starts as a catty and comedic weekend suddenly turns into a dark journey into distrust and fear.
The film stars Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Myha'la Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace, and Pete Davidson.
Bodies Bodies Bodies is now streaming on Netflix.
Fear (1996)
Image Credit: IMDB
This late-90s entry into the psychological horror genre has a wonderful cast that makes what would usually be a pedestrian tale into something horrifying. Directed by James Foley (At Close Range, Glengarry Glen Ross), a beautiful and innocent young teenager's love story turns into a nightmare due to an obsessed and violent boyfriend.
The film stars Reese Witherspoon, William Petersen, Alyssa Milano, Amy Brenneman, and Mark Wahlberg.
Fear is available to stream on Netflix.
The Gift (2015)
Image Credit: IMDB
Joel Edgerton, the Australian actor who first came to prominence in David Michôd brilliant Animal Kingdom, directed and wrote this psychological horror film that stars Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, and Edgerton himself.
The story is about a happy couple who are suddenly visited by the husband's old friend from high school. He plies them with gifts, and slowly, the reason for his visits is revealed and the terror begins.
The Gift is now streaming on Netflix.
Godzilla (2014)
Image Credit: Warner Brothers Pictures
Is there ever too much Godzilla on streaming services? The answer is no because the giant Kaiju is always welcome in horror hearts. You can also find Godzilla (2014), directed by Gareth Edwards, on Netflix in March, too. That is great news for everyone.
Godzilla is now streaming on Netflix.
Vampires (1998)
Image Credit: IMDB
John Carpenter directed this lusty and gory vampire romp in 1998, which stars James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Thomas Ian Griffith, Maximilian Schell, Tim Guinee, and the beautiful and extraordinarily talented Sheryl Lee. Lee's alternately tough and tender performance shows that her work as Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks was no fluke.
In John Carpenter's Vampires, you get a vampire western, with Vatican scheming and tough-drinking vampire killers who do not follow the rules. It's wonderful, if goofy fun that could make a good double feature with The Pope's Exorcist.
Vampires is now streaming on Netflix.
