Our Top 15 Animal-Themed Horror
Movie Watchlist!
In my opinion, there’s nothing more terrifying than being torn to pieces or eaten alive by a wild animal! Check out this great curated list of our Top 15 Animal-Themed Horror Movies to watch streaming. We’ve also included a few bonuses at the end that didn’t make the cut due to streaming availability or are animal-inspired but not technically animals but are worth a mention. There are some really well-done indie gems on this list and some that are just pure fun! Lions, tigers, and bears…oh my!
*Please note* Films are listed in alphabetical order. Streaming availability is posted according to publish date. Please check your local listings and the linked Just Watch page for streaming updates!
Backcountry (2014): A couple takes a romantic retreat in the woods. A man’s intent to propose turns dire when he makes a wrong turn in the woods and they’re stalked by a bear. Based on a true story.
Be careful in the woods y’all!
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: DirecTV, AMC+ with Amazon, and available for rental.
Bats (1999): A small town is ravaged by a hoard of mutated bats that have a taste for human flesh. It’s up to the scientist that created them and a team of townspeople to stop them. Starring Lou Diamond Phillips.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: STARZ, The Roku Channel, STARZ with Amazon and Roku, and available for rental.
The Birds (1963): In this Alfred Hitchcock classic a rich socialite follows a romantic interest to a small fishing town in Northern California. Soon thereafter everyone is unexplainably terrorized by birds.
This is a Hitchcock classic and will leave you a little nervous when you see a flock in the sky…
Fun Fact: The Birds was Tippi Hedren’s first starring screen credit!
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Rental only.
Boar (2017): In a small Australian town, people are plagued by a mutant boar that’s a killing machine. A small family has to fight to survive and try and story the beast!
Don’t take this film too seriously. It borderlines a corny Sci-Fi original movie but it’s a fun watch. Simone Buchanan who plays “Debbie” gives a stand-out performance.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: DirecTV, Shudder, Shudder with Amazon, AMC+ with Amazon, and The Roku Channel, and available for rental.
Congo (1995): When exploration of the African Congo ends in catastrophe, a new squad is brought together to find out what went horribly wrong. They find themselves hunted by a mythical grey gorilla.
This classic stars Laura Linney, Tim Curry, and Ernie Hudson.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Fubo, Showtime, DirecTV, Showtime with The Roku Channel and Amazon, and available for rental.
Cujo (1983): In this Stephen King classic, a friendly St. Bernard contracts rabies and terrorizes the small New England town.
This film brought a new terror to the animal kingdom. Starring Dee Wallace! (The Hills Have Eyes, The Howling, Critters)
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Available for rental only.
Day of the Animals (1977): A group of hikers on a camping expedition find themselves in danger with animals suffering from ozone exposure hunting them at every turn.
This 70s film is actually really ahead of its time! It discusses misogyny, and environmental impacts, and at the base is about the human nature of mankind. Starring Leslie Nielson like you’ve never seen him before!
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Sling TV, The Roku Channel, PLUTO TV, PLEX, and available for rental.
Man’s Best Friend (1993): A genetically engineered dog breaksout from a science facility and a family takes in the wild dog unaware of its deadly instincts that will materialize. The scientist responsible try and find the wild animal before it kills again! (I mean come on…why do they create these things anyway? lol)
Starring Lance Hendriksen (Aliens, Pumpkinhead, Dark Reel) and Ally Sheedy. Man’s Best Friend is a Sci-Fi horror classic!
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Man’s Best Friend is only available for rental but had to make the list!
Maneater (2007): A small town is plagued by a murderous wild tiger and it’s up to a small boy, a sheriff, and the local animal hunter to find the tiger before he strikes again! Of course there’s always some resistant diplomat that is more concerned with money than the lives of others…
Starring Gary Busey as Sheriff Grady Barnes, and he kicks ass! This little-known animal-themed horror film is pretty good!
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Paramount+, Paramount+ with Amazon, The Roku Channel, DirecTV, PLUTO TV, and available for rental.
Monkey Shines (1988): In this 80s classic, a quadriplegic man is given a trained monkey to help him. The monkey ends up developing feelings, and eventually fury, against its new master.
After watching Monkey Shines you’ll think twice about a pet monkey…
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Tubi, MAX GO, and available for rental.
The Pack (2015): A struggling family in the farmland of Australia finds themselves hunted by a wild pack of dogs. They fight to live through the night as the animals infiltrate their home.
I used to want to live in the woods in isolation. Not so much anymore…
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: DirecTV, AMC+ with Amazon, IFC, Tubi, and available for rental.
Prey (2019): In this Spanish film, a young paraplegic woman and her father arrive home from the hospital. Something happens to her father and she must fight to stay alive amongst a murderous rabid dog stalking her every step. In Spanish language with English subtitles.
The story is emotionally captivating while being terrified of this voracious animal. Highly recommend!
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Shudder, AMC+ with Amazon, and available for rental.
Shakma (1990): A group of medical students is attacked by an aggressive laboratory baboon while trapped in their school role-playing.
This movie is a lot of fun. The story is kind of weak but it makes up for it in the end. Enjoy watching this red-assed murdering beast!
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Tubi, Shudder, and available for rental.
Uncaged AKA Prey (2016): In this Dutch horror film, a zoo veterinarian gets caught up leading the city-wide hunt for a gruesome lion terrorizing the capital of Amsterdam.
There are a few plot issues I had with the film but overall it’s well done. The CGI is pretty good as well for an independent picture. Let’s just say this lion is NOT cowardly.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Shudder, AMC+, Tubi, and available for rental.
Willard (2003): In this cult hit Crispin Glover plays “Willard” a reclusive young man with a strange connection to rats. His constant abuse at the hands of his boss and others leads him down a sociopathic spiral.
Also starring Laura Harring (Mulholland Drive, The Punisher) and R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket, Seven, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – 2003).
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Kanopy, and available for rental.
Bonus Animal-Themed Horror Movies
- Burning Bright (2010): A young woman and her autistic little brother become trapped in their home with a dangerous tiger during the onset of a hurricane.
- Cat People (1982): A young woman’s sexual appetite brings horror when she discovers her urges change her into a ravenous black leopard.
- Cat’s Eye (1985): In this Stephen King classic a stray cat finds itself linked to three tales of terror. Since this film’s center isn’t the cat we kicked this to the bonus. Starring a James Woods and a young Drew Barrymore!
- Chaw (2009): In this Korean horror/comedy a small village is ravaged by a gigantic man-eating boar. This movie is pretty funny and in some ways is too long but overall an enjoyable thriller.
- Into the Grizzly Maze (2015): Two estranged brothers (James Marsden, Thomas Jane) come to their childhood home in Alaska. They are stalked by a bear during their two-day hike in the wild.
- King Kong (1976): In this classic, a petroleum exploration goes to a deserted island and finds themselves in the midst of a giant gorilla. This animal is moreso protecting itself under human attack than the vice versa but hard to have an animal list without King Kong! You can also check out the original 1993 film or the remake starring Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, and Jack Black.
- Lamb (2021): A lonely and childless couple discovers a mysterious newborn lamb on their farm in Iceland. She considers this animal to be one of her own and things go dark when the line is blurred for them. Starring Noomi Rapace (Prometheus, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).
- Prey (2007): An American family on vacation in Africa becomes lost in a game reserve and hunted by lions.
- Razorback (1984): In this Australian film a vicious wild boar terrorizes the outback. A farmer, local, and hunter search for the beast before he kills again. For more Australian horror check out our watch list, “Three Australian Horror Movies to Thrill Ya and Chill Ya!
- Sleepwalkers: In this Stephen King classic a mother and son with supernatural powers go to a small remote town to seek a young virgin to feast upon. Starring Brian Krause (Charmed) and Mädchen Amick (Twin Peaks).
More from Married to Horror
Looking for more? You can find more Married to Horror selections and watchlist by checking out our recommendations and lists. Take a peek at our Master Watch List where you can find an array of horror films sorted by title, platform, rating, and more!
Did we miss any of your favorites? Comment below or email us at contact@marriedtohorror.com! Follow our Facebook group Married to Horror and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @marriedtohorror.
