Honestly, for a long time, if you were looking for a hindi horror new movie, you were basically choosing between two things: a low-budget flick with questionable CGI or a "horror" movie that was mostly just a musical with a ghost in the background. But things have shifted. Hard.
We aren't just seeing one-off jump-scares anymore. The industry has basically cracked the code on how to blend Indian folklore with actual, bone-chilling atmosphere. It’s a wild time to be a fan of the macabre.
Just look at the start of 2026. We’ve already had The Raja Saab hit theaters on January 9, featuring Prabhas in a role that’s a massive departure from his usual "action hero" persona. It’s a horror-comedy, sure, but the stakes feel different when you’ve got someone like Boman Irani and Sanjay Dutt in the mix. People were skeptical, but it’s proving that the "pan-India" horror wave is a real thing.
The Maddock Effect and the Shift to Folklore
You can't talk about a hindi horror new movie today without mentioning the Maddock Supernatural Universe. It’s the elephant in the room. Or maybe the Munjya in the room?
Ever since Stree basically reinvented the wheel in 2018, Dinesh Vijan and his team have been on a tear. We just came off the back of Thamma in late 2025, which brought Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna into the fold. It wasn't perfect—some critics on Reddit actually called it a "blasphemy to the genre"—but it did its job by introducing the legend of Betaal.
Now, everyone is looking toward Shakti Shalini. This one is set for a December 24, 2026 release. It features Aneet Padda, and the buzz is that it’s going to be the "mother of all" entries in this cinematic universe.
Why does this matter for the average viewer?
🔗 Read more: Love Island UK Who Is Still Together: The Reality of Romance After the Villa
Basically, it means the budget is there. We aren't looking at "man in a bedsheet" anymore. We’re looking at high-end visual effects and scripts that actually care about rural Indian legends. It’s authentic. It’s ours.
What’s Actually Worth Watching Right Now?
If you missed the theatrical runs, a few 2025 titles just landed on OTT platforms this week. Nikita Roy and The Book of Darkness, starring Sonakshi Sinha and Paresh Rawal, just dropped on JioHotstar on January 12. It’s a weird one—Sonakshi plays a skeptical author who tries to debunk supernatural claims until her brother dies in a way that logic can't explain.
It didn't do great at the box office (it only pulled in about ₹1.5 crore against a ₹20 crore budget), but as a psychological thriller-horror hybrid, it’s actually better than the numbers suggest.
Then you have the more "prestige" horror. Baramulla, produced by Aditya Dhar, is currently streaming on Netflix. People are calling the second half "heart-wrenching." It’s that slow-burn, atmospheric style that movies like Tumbbad pioneered.
Upcoming Releases: Mark Your Calendars
If you’re hunting for a hindi horror new movie to watch in the coming months, the schedule is surprisingly packed.
- Mayasabha - The Hall of Illusion (Jan 30, 2026): Directed by Rahi Anil Barve (the genius behind Tumbbad), this stars Jaaved Jaaferi. If it’s even half as atmospheric as Barve’s previous work, we’re in for a treat.
- Haunted 3D: Ghosts of the Past (Feb 6, 2026): Vikram Bhatt is returning to the franchise that basically defined 2010s Indian horror. It’s nostalgic, sure, but will it hold up against the new "folk-horror" wave?
- Bhooth Bangla (May 15, 2026): This is the big one. Akshay Kumar is reuniting with Priyadarshan after 14 years. It’s being billed as a "slapstick horror-comedy" set in a haunted mansion. With Tabu and Rajpal Yadav in the cast, the comedy is guaranteed, but the horror side remains a mystery.
The Survival and Psychological Trend
There’s also this growing interest in "survival horror." We saw it with the English-Hindi crossover 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which hit theaters recently.
💡 You might also like: Gwendoline Butler Dead in a Row: Why This 1957 Mystery Still Packs a Punch
But for pure Hindi content, the shift is moving toward Khauf (streaming on Prime Video) and Vash Level 2. These aren't just about ghosts jumping out of closets. They’re about hypnosis, mental breaking points, and the "horror of the real."
Vash Level 2 is particularly disturbing because it follows the thread of the original—a young girl trying to break out of a cruel person's hypnotic control. It’s the kind of horror that makes you want to look away but keeps you glued to the screen.
Why Most People Get It Wrong
People often think horror in India is just about "Bhoots" and "Churels."
Actually, the best hindi horror new movie examples lately are leaning into the "unease" of our own history. Look at Baramulla—it uses political trauma and atmospheric tension rather than just loud noises.
The industry has finally realized that fear isn't just a jump-scare; it's a feeling of doom that stays with you after you leave the theater.
The box office for horror has been a mixed bag lately. While Thamma crossed the ₹100 crore mark, smaller films like The Bhootnii flopped hard. It seems audiences are getting pickier. They want the spectacle, but they also want a story that doesn't treat them like they're five years old.
📖 Related: Why ASAP Rocky F kin Problems Still Runs the Club Over a Decade Later
Actionable Insights for the Horror Fan
If you want to keep up with the best of the genre without wasting your time on "B-grade" flops, here is how to navigate the current scene:
Track the Director, Not Just the Actor
If you see names like Rahi Anil Barve or Amar Kaushik, the movie is likely going to have high production value and a decent script. If it’s a random release with no marketing, it’s probably a skip.
Check the "Universe" Connections
Maddock’s films are now interconnected. If you plan on watching Shakti Shalini later this year, you’ve basically got to catch up on Thamma and Stree 2 first, or you’ll miss the post-credit setups.
Keep an Eye on OTT Exclusives
Some of the best horror is skipping the big screen entirely. Series like Khauf or the psychological thriller Baramulla are finding their true audience on Netflix and Prime Video where they don't have to worry about "mass appeal" songs.
Watch for the 3D Revival
With Haunted 3D: Ghosts of the Past coming in February, we might see a brief return to gimmick-based horror. It's fun for a date night, but don't expect the depth of a folk-horror epic.
The landscape of the hindi horror new movie is officially evolving. We’re moving past the era of cheesy masks and entering a time where our own myths and legends are being treated with the respect (and the budget) they deserve.
To stay ahead, focus on the upcoming February releases like Haunted 3D if you want thrills, or wait for Mayasabha if you want something that actually makes you think. The genre isn't just surviving; it's finally finding its own voice in the global market.
Next Steps for Your Movie Night:
- Stream "Nikita Roy" on JioHotstar if you want a quick mystery-horror fix this weekend.
- Catch "The Raja Saab" in theaters now if you want to see how Prabhas handles the supernatural.
- Pre-book for "Bhooth Bangla" in May if you’ve been missing the classic Priyadarshan-Akshay Kumar chemistry.