Based on the eponymous 2004 short story by Joe Hill, 2021’s *The Black Phone* found director Scott Derrickson returning to his genre roots following his *Doctor Strange* stint. The film became one of the biggest hits of 2020s horror cinema.
The story follows suburban kids Finney (Mason Thames) and Gwen Blake (Madeleine McGraw), whose lives are irrevocably transformed by a masked, child-abducting serial killer known as the Grabber (Ethan Hawke). Soon after Gwen starts having psychic dreams about the Grabber, Finney is kidnapped by him. His only hope for survival may be a disconnected rotary dial phone that allows him to communicate with the Grabber’s previous victims.
Financially and critically successful, *The Black Phone* prompted a recently released sequel that’s already blowing everyone away at the box office. If you’re among the many fans of Derrickson’s chilling vintage horror concoction, here are 12 other great movies you should watch next.
—
### Split (2016)
*Split* stars James McAvoy as a man with dissociative identity disorder who abducts teenage girls Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), Claire (Haley Lu Richardson), and Marcia (Jessica Sula), imprisoning them in a basement. Caught in a claustrophobic setting at the mercy of an unstable and unpredictable individual, the girls scramble to survive and break free while their captor’s 23 different personalities wrestle for control inside him.
A looming threat throughout the film is the man’s 24th personality, lying dormant somewhere in his mind—most violent and deranged of all.
A critical and commercial success, *Split* marked writer-director M. Night Shyamalan’s return to favor with audiences after years of mixed reception. Although it’s far from an accurate portrayal of mental illness, it’s a gripping, handsomely directed isolation thriller with effective horror elements.
James McAvoy delivers an incredible performance, communicating both menace and anguished vulnerability. The rest of the ensemble, particularly Anya Taylor-Joy in one of her breakthrough roles, is equally strong. Like *The Black Phone*, *Split* showcases a typically restrained lead actor in an unconventional horror setting, mining deep reserves of terror through a bitter struggle for survival.
—
### It (2017) & It Chapter Two (2019)
The 2017 Andy Muschietti-directed adaptation of Stephen King’s *It* transforms the innocence-shattering tragedy of the novel into a massive blockbuster while honoring the existential terror at its core. Bill Skarsgård stars as Pennywise, the shapeshifting malevolent entity terrorizing the kids of Derry one year after the murder of young Georgie Denbrough.
Featuring an excellent ensemble cast including Jaeden Martell, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, and others, this dark, nostalgia-tinged crowd-pleaser became the highest-grossing horror film of all time, surpassing the iconic 1990 miniseries.
*It* carries over King’s themes and atmosphere, with powerful emotional depth and iconic moments. The 2019 sequel, while less well-rounded, remains essential viewing for fans of the first.
Much like *The Black Phone*, *It* evokes overwhelming fear and steely self-preservation in a group of small-town kids besieged by unimaginable terror.
—
### Sinister (2012)
Before *The Black Phone*, Scott Derrickson was already established as a horror A-lister with films like *The Exorcism of Emily Rose* and *Sinister*. Of these, *Sinister* is particularly noteworthy as an aesthetic precursor to *The Black Phone*.
A gem from the found-footage horror heyday, *Sinister* stars Ethan Hawke as Ellison Oswalt, a struggling true crime writer who discovers a box of Super 8 snuff films depicting gruesome family murders. Obsessed, Ellison’s life—and that of his family—starts unraveling as the horrors close in.
Derrickson utilizes the Super 8 films as mini horror shorts within the movie, allowing his imagination to run wild. This relentless parade of scares has dubbed *Sinister* one of the scariest films ever made, and a direct lead-in to the style and tone of *The Black Phone*.
—
### Barbarian (2022)
The feature directorial debut of Zach Cregger, who later found great success with *Weapons, Barbarian*, is one of the 2020s indie horror highlights.
The film follows Tess (Georgina Campbell), a woman arriving in Detroit for a job interview who finds her Airbnb double-booked. She spends the night with the other occupant, Keith (Bill Skarsgård), but a twisted, shocking series of events transforms the experience into a waking nightmare.
*Barbarian* is best experienced knowing as little as possible about its plot. It’s one of the most original, effective, and unpredictably exhilarating American horror films in recent years.
Its formal classicism, tone, foreboding set design, and detailed inner mythology make it a perfect recommendation for fans of *The Black Phone*. Both films embrace a current trend of horror that blends unbridled fun with elegant composition and nerve-racking technique.
—
### Oculus (2013)
American director Mike Flanagan has become an ambassador for neoclassical horror in recent years, blending vintage scaremongering elements with deeply emotional, character-driven storytelling.
*Oculus*, an adaptation of Flanagan’s earlier short film, exemplifies this approach. The story unfolds across two timelines—2002, when a family moves into a haunted house with a cursed mirror, and 2013, when the now adult siblings (Brenton Thwaites and Karen Gillan) confront their traumatic past.
Connected thematically and stylistically to *The Black Phone*, *Oculus* is a taut, stylish, and deeply affecting horror film that expertly uses old-school techniques.
—
### The Strangers (2008)
*The Strangers*, written and directed by Bryan Bertino, remains one of the purest, most nerve-racking 21st-century horror films.
Its simple yet genius premise revolves around a couple (Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman) staying at a remote vacation home. They soon realize the house is infiltrated by three masked strangers (Gemma Ward, Kip Weeks, and Laura Margolis) with indecipherable intentions.
Based on a true story, the film’s minimalism—from masks to setting—yields relentless survival horror. Its pacing and mood offer a lesson in sustained terror, akin to Scott Derrickson’s calibrated approach in *The Black Phone*.
—
### Longlegs (2024)
Echoing *The Black Phone*’s 1970s setting and analog atmosphere, *Longlegs*, directed by Osgood Perkins, is a crime procedural chiller in the vein of *The Silence of the Lambs*.
It follows rookie FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) investigating a series of murder-suicides involving family annihilation and satanic references signed by an entity called “Longlegs.” The antagonist, played by Nicolas Cage, delivers a chilling, scandalous performance reminiscent of Ethan Hawke’s Grabber.
*Longlegs* is one of the most atmospheric horror films in recent memory, exploring suburbia’s hidden violence and senseless evil with compelling mood and tone.
—
### 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
As a sidequel to the hit found-footage creature horror *Cloverfield*, Dan Trachtenberg’s *10 Cloverfield Lane* tells an entirely new story within the same universe.
Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wakes up chained in an underground bunker after a car accident, with its owner Howard (John Goodman) claiming he kidnapped her to save her from an apocalyptic attack outside. As Michelle’s injury heals, tension mounts with Howard and fellow captive Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.).
Although not a pure horror film, *10 Cloverfield Lane* shares *The Black Phone*’s claustrophobic, white-knuckle suspense. Trachtenberg’s precise direction and standout performances—especially John Goodman’s—make this a must-watch. Interestingly, creepy horror antagonists seem to bring out the best in ‘90s actors like Goodman, Hawke, and Cage.
—
### Cobweb (2023)
An underrated horror film, *Cobweb* shares *The Black Phone*’s elegant approach and filters its terror through a child’s perspective.
Eight-year-old Peter (Woody Norman) is suffocated by his overprotective parents Carol (Lizzy Caplan) and Mark (Anthony Starr). When he begins hearing mysterious sounds from his bedroom wall, his parents dismiss his claims, leading to escalating tension and suspicion that dark family secrets hide beneath the surface.
The screenplay by Chris Thomas Devlin explores the terrifying idea of losing childhood trust in one’s parents, making *Cobweb* a worthy addition to child-centric horror films about lost innocence. Its gloomy, orange-tinted color palette also makes it perfect for Halloween viewing.
—
### Insidious (2010)
James Wan’s *Insidious* became a cultural phenomenon, spawning an expansive franchise and iconic horror imagery.
The story follows a married couple (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) whose son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) falls into a mysterious coma. Paranormal investigator Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) attempts to rescue him from malevolent spirits in a nether realm.
Like *The Black Phone*, *Insidious* centers on a family battling supernatural forces. It blends horror with deep familial anxieties and delivers them with confident, high-quality filmmaking.
—
### The Ring (2002)
*The Black Phone*’s titular rotary phone as a life-saving yet eerie device invites comparison to 2002’s *The Ring*, adapted from the 1998 Japanese classic.
In *The Ring*, a cursed VHS tape dooms viewers to die within seven days unless they make a copy and pass it on. Journalist Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) investigates the mystery, blending engrossing mystery with folklorish dread.
Director Gore Verbinski and Watts craft a tense, atmospheric horror film that set the tone for supernatural horror in the 21st century.
—
### Us (2019)
Jordan Peele’s follow-up to *Get Out*, *Us* is even more ambitious and densely imaginative.
The film opens with a young Adelaide Wilson (Madison Curry) traumatized by an encounter with her doppelgänger. Three decades later, adult Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) and her family are terrorized by exact doubles of themselves.
*Us* brims with mythology, subtle details, and political subtext, but above all is a tense, spine-tingling, and morbidly compelling thriller. Its drama, family focus, and survival urgency make it a great companion to *The Black Phone*.
Lupita Nyong’o’s powerful performance as a menacing villain stands alongside those of Ethan Hawke, James McAvoy, Nicolas Cage, and John Goodman as some of the decade’s best horror portrayals.
—
If you loved *The Black Phone*, exploring these films will deepen your appreciation for horror’s blend of suspense, emotion, and atmospheric storytelling. Each offers unique thrills while echoing the creative spirit and intensity that make Derrickson’s film so memorable. Happy watching!
https://www.looper.com/2007882/best-movies-like-the-black-phone/