35 Scariest Home Invasion Horror Movies

Are you looking for some movies that will make your heart race and your blood run cold?

Do you enjoy watching ordinary people face extraordinary dangers in their own homes?

If you answered yes, then you’re in the right place.

We’ve selected 35 of the scariest home invasion horror movies ever made.

From pandemic slashers to alien invasions, from revenge thrillers to terrorist attacks, these movies will make you think twice before opening your door.

As with all of our lists, we provide a free movie checklist for you to download for later reference.

What information is provided about each home invasion horror movie in this selection?

• The movie title and release year of the movie
• Movie Image
• Director
• A list of actors in the movie
• The MPAA rating
• Link to the movie in IMDb – For movie reviews, where to stream, ratings, trailers and lots more.
• A movie summary

Don’t forget to download the FREE MOVIE CHECKLIST to keep track of what movies you want to watch!

35 Scariest home invasion horror movies of all time

1. You’re Next (2011)

• Director: Adam Wingard
• Cast: Sharni Vinson, Joe Swanberg, AJ Bowen
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘You’re Next’ on IMDb

Erin joins her boyfriend’s family for a dinner party, but their reunion takes a deadly turn when mysterious masked intruders crash the party. But don’t underestimate Erin because she’s got some seriously deadly surprises up her sleeve, turning the tables on her would be killers.

2. Don’t Breathe (2016)

• Director: Fede Alvarez
• Cast: Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Don’t Breathe’ on IMDb

When a group of young burglars thinks they’ve found an easy target, an elderly blind man living alone, they couldn’t be more wrong. The blind man turns out to be a relentless and deadly adversary. The tension in this cat and mouse game is so thick you’ll find yourself holding your breath too.

3. Funny Games (2007)

• Director: Michael Haneke
• Cast: Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Michael Pitt
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Funny Games’ on IMDb

This is a chilling tale of sadistic home invaders who delight in tormenting an unsuspecting family on vacation. These sociopathic killers play cruel games with their victims, and what makes it even more unsettling is their unnervingly polite demeanor.

4. The Strangers (2008)

• Director: Bryan Bertino
• Cast: Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman, Gemma Ward
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Strangers’ on IMDb

Lock the doors and windows because these strangers aren’t selling cookies. A young couple’s romantic getaway turns into a nightmarish ordeal when they’re terrorized by masked assailants who invade their isolated vacation home. What sets this film apart is its eerie sense of realism, making you dread the bumps in the night.

5. Panic Room (2002)

• Director: David Fincher
• Cast: Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Forest Whitaker
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Panic Room’ on IMDb

Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart star as a mother and daughter who find themselves trapped in a high-tech panic room while burglars break into their New York City brownstone. Tension runs high as the burglars become increasingly desperate and the mother’s determination to protect her child takes center stage.

6. People Under the Stairs (1991)

• Director: Wes Craven
• Cast: Brandon Quintin Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘People Under the Stairs’ on IMDb

Wes Craven, the master of horror, takes you on a twisted journey into a dilapidated house inhabited by a bizarre and malevolent couple. A young boy named Fool becomes trapped in their house of horrors while trying to rob them. As he navigates the labyrinthine home, he discovers a gruesome secret. .

7. Straw Dogs (2011)

• Director: Rod Lurie
• Cast: James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgård
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Straw Dogs’ on IMDb

If you thought the countryside was all tranquil meadows and chirping birds, think again! “Straw Dogs” takes the notion of rural bliss and turns it into a nightmare. This modern day remake of the 1971 classic is directed by Rod Lurie.

David Sumner (James Marsden) and his wife Amy (Kate Bosworth) move to Amy’s hometown in the deep South, looking for a quieter life.  The couple’s idyllic farmhouse becomes the epicenter of a brutal home invasion. The locals, led by the enigmatic and menacing Charlie (Alexander Skarsgård), take this seemingly tranquil setting and turn it into a horrifying battle for survival.

8. I See You (2019)

• Director: Adam Randall
• Cast: Helen Hunt, Jon Tenney, Owen Teague
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘I See You’ on IMDb

In this psychological thriller, a small town family begins to unravel when their son goes missing. While investigating the case, strange occurrences and disturbing secrets emerge, suggesting that someone is invading their home and their lives.

9. Trespass (2011)

• Director: Joel Schumacher
• Cast: Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman, Cam Gigandet
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Trespass’ on IMDb

In this intense game of survival, a husband and wife (played by Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman) find themselves at the mercy of ruthless criminals who invade their home. As the invaders force the family to confront their own dark secrets, tensions escalate, leading to a deadly showdown.

10. The Purge (2013)

• Director: James DeMonaco
• Cast: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Purge’ on IMDb

Welcome to a dystopian America where, for one night each year, all crime, including home invasion, is legal. Follow one family’s attempt to survive this annual 12 hour madness as their home is targeted by a group of masked intruders. “The Purge” explores the darkest facets of human nature, leaving you to wonder what you’d do in a world without laws for a night.

11. Mother! (2017)

• Director: Darren Aronofsky
• Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Mother!’ on IMDb

Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem star as a couple living a peaceful life in a secluded house. However, their tranquility is shattered when uninvited guests arrive, pushing the boundaries of reality and symbolism. “Mother!” is a nightmarish experience that will leave you questioning its meaning long after the credits roll.

12. The Collector (2009)

• Director: Marcus Dunstan
• Cast: Josh Stewart, Andrea Roth, Juan Fernández
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Collector’ on IMDb

This film follows a desperate man who breaks into a secluded home to rob it, only to discover he’s not alone. A sadistic intruder has rigged the house with deadly traps, and our unwitting burglar becomes the prey. As he navigates the gruesome maze of traps, tension and terror escalate in this suspenseful game of cat and mouse.

13. The Collection (2012)

• Director: Marcus Dunstan
• Cast: Josh Stewart, Emma Fitzpatrick, Christopher McDonald
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Collection’ on IMDb

This sequel to “The Collector” continues the blood soaked story of a sadistic killer who sets his sights on a new set of victims. When a young woman is abducted and taken to the killer’s lair, a group of mercenaries is hired to rescue her. Prepare for a twisted journey filled with gruesome traps and relentless pursuit.

14. I Spit on Your Grave (1978)

• Director: Meir Zarchi
• Cast: Camille Keaton, Eron Tabor, Richard Pace
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘I Spit on Your Grave’ on IMDb

Directed by Meir Zarchi, “I Spit on Your Grave” is a controversial and disturbing film that follows the harrowing story of Jennifer Hills, a young woman who retreats to a remote cabin to work on her novel. Unfortunately, her peaceful retreat takes a nightmarish turn when she becomes the target of brutal sexual assault by a group of local men. Left for dead, Jennifer miraculously survives and embarks on a merciless mission of revenge against her attackers.

The film’s graphic nature and unflinching portrayal of violence sparked intense debates and censorship, making it one of the most notorious and polarizing entries in the home invasion horror genre.

15. The Last House on the Left (1972)

• Director: Wes Craven
• Cast: Sandra Peabody, Lucy Grantham, David Hess
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Last House on the Left’ on IMDb

Directed by Wes Craven, “The Last House on the Left” tells the gruesome tale of two teenage girls, Mari Collingwood and Phyllis Stone, who venture into the city for a birthday celebration. They unwittingly cross paths with a group of sadistic criminals led by Krug Stillo, who abduct, torment, and ultimately murder them.

As fate would have it, the criminals unknowingly seek refuge in the home of Mari’s parents, Dr. John Collingwood and his wife, Dr. Emma Collingwood. When the parents discover the horrifying truth about their daughter’s fate, they take matters into their own hands, leading to a gruesome and shocking revenge plot.

The film is known for its raw and unflinching portrayal of violence and remains a classic in the horror genre.

16. Inside (2007)

• Director: Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury
• Cast: Alysson Paradis, Béatrice Dalle, François-Régis Marchasson
• Rating: Not Rated
• IMDb: ‘Inside’ on IMDb

A French horror masterpiece that will make your heart race. A pregnant woman is stalked by a deranged stranger who wants her unborn child. As she barricades herself inside her home, the tension escalates into a nightmarish battle for survival.

17. Hostage (2005)

• Director: Florent-Emilio Siri
• Cast: Bruce Willis, Kevin Pollak, Serena Scott Thomas
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Hostage’ on IMDb

Starring Bruce Willis, this thriller revolves around a former SWAT officer who, as a small town police chief, must protect his own family from a group of criminals who take them hostage in their own home.As the home becomes a battleground, secrets and suspense unfold.

18. Knock at the Cabin (2023)

• Director: (Information might not be available yet.)
• Cast: (Information might not be available yet.)
• Rating: (Information might not be available yet.)
• IMDb: Link to ‘Knock at the Cabin’ on IMDb

Knock at the Cabin tells the story of a family who are taken hostage by four strangers who claim to have visions of the apocalypse. The strangers demand that the family kill one of their own to prevent the end of the world. The film stars Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, and Ben Aldridge.

19. Villains (2019)

• Director: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
• Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Maika Monroe, Jeffrey Donovan
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Villains’ on IMDb

When a pair of amateur criminals on the run decide to break into what they believe is an abandoned house, they get more than they bargained for. The homeowners turn out to be a far more sinister and eccentric couple with dark secrets of their own.

20. Hush (2016)

• Director: Mike Flanagan
• Cast: Kate Siegel, John Gallagher Jr., Michael Trucco
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Hush’ on IMDb

In this intense thriller, a deaf writer retreats to a secluded cabin in the woods for some peace and quiet. However, her solitude is shattered when a masked intruder appears. Unable to hear his approach, she must rely on her wits to outsmart her assailant and survive.

21. See for Me (2021)

• Director: Randall Okita
• Cast: Skyler Davenport, Laura Vandervoort, Kim Coates
• Rating: Not Rated
• IMDb: ‘See for Me’ on IMDb

A blind woman housesits for a wealthy client in a secluded mansion. Things take a terrifying turn when a group of burglars break in, and she must rely on an app to help her navigate and defend her home. “See for Me” offers a fresh and innovative take on the home invasion genre.

22. Mother’s Day (2010)

• Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
• Cast: Rebecca De Mornay, Jaime King, Shawn Ashmore
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Mother’s Day’ on IMDb

This unnerving horror thriller revolves around a group of friends who, during a weekend getaway, find themselves at the mercy of a sadistic and unhinged family led by the diabolical Mother (Rebecca De Mornay).As the night unfolds, the friends are subjected to a series of torturous games and harrowing mind games orchestrated by Mother and her deranged offspring

23. When a Stranger Calls (1979)

• Director: Fred Walton
• Cast: Carol Kane, Charles Durning, Rutanya Alda
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘When a Stranger Calls’ on IMDb

The movie begins with a babysitter, Jill Johnson (Carol Kane), who’s tasked with watching over two children in a large, isolated house while their parents are out for the evening. She starts receiving eerie and threatening calls from a mysterious stranger who asks “Have you checked the children?”.She realizes she’s not alone in the house, and a harrowing game of cat and mouse ensues as Jill fights to protect herself and the children.

24. Them (2006)

• Director: David Moreau, Xavier Palud
• Cast: Olivia Bonamy, Michaël Cohen, Adriana Mocca
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Them’ on IMDb

Also known as “Ils,” this French-Romanian horror film takes place in a remote country home and is based on real events. A couple living there is terrorized by hooded strangers who invade their home and relentlessly hunt them down.

25. High Tension (2003)

• Director: Alexandre Aja
• Cast: Cécile de France, Maïwenn, Philippe Nahon
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘High Tension’ on IMDb

This French horror film, also known as “Haute Tension,” follows two college friends who head to the countryside for a quiet weekend. Their idyllic getaway takes a nightmarish turn when a psychopathic killer invades their friend’s home. The tension is palpable as the friends must fight to survive and unravel the mystery of the assailant’s identity.

26. Shut In (2016)

• Director: Farren Blackburn
• Cast: Naomi Watts, Charlie Heaton, Jacob Tremblay
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDb: ‘Shut In’ on IMDb

In this psychological thriller, a widowed child psychologist played by Naomi Watts is caught in a fierce winter storm and becomes trapped inside her home with a young patient. As eerie events unfold, the line between the real and the supernatural blurs, and they must confront a malevolent presence that seems to be invading their sanctuary.

27. Better Watch Out (2016)

• Director: Chris Peckover
• Cast: Olivia DeJonge, Levi Miller, Ed Oxenbould
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Better Watch Out’ on IMDb

This holiday themed horror film puts a sinister spin on the Christmas season. When a babysitter and her charge are targeted by a home invader, things take a twisted turn. Expect dark humor and unexpected plot twists in this unique and chilling Christmas thriller.

28. The Gift (2015)

• Director: Joel Edgerton
• Cast: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘The Gift’ on IMDb

Directed by Joel Edgerton, this psychological thriller follows a married couple whose life takes a disturbing turn when a mysterious acquaintance from the husband’s past reenters their lives, leaving sinister gifts and unsettling secrets.

29. Signs (2002)

• Director: M. Night Shyamalan
• Cast: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin
• Rating: PG-13
• IMDb: ‘Signs’ on IMDb

A former priest and his family discover mysterious crop circles on their farm. As they grapple with the unexplained phenomena, they realize they may be dealing with an otherworldly invasion.

30. Us (2019)

• Director: Jordan Peele
• Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Us’ on IMDb

Directed by Jordan Peele, “Us” is a unique and provocative horror film that blurs the line between home invasion and doppelgangers. A family’s vacation takes a terrifying turn when they are confronted by eerie and violent versions of themselves.

31. Knock Knock (2015)

• Director: Eli Roth
• Cast: Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo, Ana de Armas
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Knock Knock’ on IMDb

Starring Keanu Reeves, this psychological thriller tells the tale of a man left home alone for the weekend. However, things take a dark and seductive turn when two seemingly innocent young women appear at his doorstep during a rainstorm. As the night progresses, their intentions become increasingly sinister, making “Knock Knock” a twisted and tense experience.

32. Sick (2022)

• Director: Ryan M. Andrews
• Cast: Christina Aceto, Richard Roy Sutton, Robert Nolan
• Rating: Not Rated
• IMDb: ‘Sick’ on IMDb

Sick is a pandemic themed slasher film that follows two college friends who decide to quarantine at a lake house, only to find out that they are not alone. A group of escaped convicts, led by a ruthless Neo-Nazi, invades their home and terrorizes them. The girls must fight back using their wits and whatever weapons they can find.

33. Nope (2022)

• Director: Jordan Peele
• Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun
• Rating: Not Released
• IMDb: ‘Nope’ on IMDb

Nope is a sci-fi horror film from the mind of Jordan Peele, who also directed Get Out and Us. The film stars Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as horse wrangling siblings who witness a mysterious cloud hovering over their town. They soon discover that the cloud is hiding an alien threat that has a sinister agenda.

34. Becky (2020)

• Director: Jonathan Milott, Cary Murnion
• Cast: Lulu Wilson, Kevin James, Joel McHale
• Rating: R
• IMDb: ‘Becky’ on IMDb

A revenge thriller that pits a rebellious teenager against a gang of Neo Nazi intruders who take her family hostage at their lake house. Becky, played by Lulu Wilson, uses her cunning and creativity to unleash a bloody rampage on the invaders, led by Kevin James in a rare villainous role.

35. The Wrath of Becky (2023)

• Director: Phil Sheerin
• Cast: Lily James, Luke Evans, Michael Rooker
• Rating: Not Released
• IMDb: ‘The Wrath of Becky’ on IMDb

A sequel to Becky that takes place two years later. Becky, still traumatized by her past, tries to rebuild her life with the help of an older woman. However, her peace is shattered when a domestic terrorist cell, known as the Noble Men, breaks into her home and kidnaps her dog. Becky must once again unleash her wrath and stop their evil plan.

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