9 Mother’s Day Horror and Thriller Movies on Netflix in May 2024

Mother’s Day this year is on May 12th. Instead of sending flowers or going out for brunch, why not watch some scary movies with the moms in your life? There’s no better way to say both “thank you” and “I’m sorry” than with an artfully curated marathon of horror and thriller movies featuring mothers who are dealing with the many and varied struggles of motherhood in extraordinary circumstances. This list will get you started on making that Mother’s Day marathon with nine movies available to stream on Netflix throughout May 2024.

If you’re looking for even more horror movies about mothers, check out our list of 23+ Scary Mothers: The Best and Worst Moms in Horror Movies.

Director: Ravi Udyawar | Runtime: 138 minutes

For viewers who enjoy: Bollywood, crime thrillers, revenge

Mom is about a stepmother who takes it upon herself to deal with the men who brutally assaulted her stepdaughter when the law fails to bring them to justice. Revenge begets retaliation, leading to tense confrontations and intense emotions. Just how far will a mother go when she sees her daughter in pain? Very far.

Director: Grant Sputore | Runtime: 113 minutes

For viewers who enjoy: science fiction, post-apocalyptic movies, AI thrillers

For years, the artificially intelligent robot called “Mother” has raised a human child called only “Daughter.” They live together in a sealed bunker meant to repopulate the world after an apocalyptic scenario. As Daughter grows older and more curious about what’s outside the bunker, a mysterious woman arrives and causes Daughter to begin questioning everything Mother has taught her.

Director: Zack Snyder | Runtime: 148 minutes

For viewers who enjoy: zombies, action horror, Ella Purnell

If you haven’t seen Army of the Dead yet, we won’t spoil how a mother is involved in the story. But rest assured that the motherhood witnessed in Zack Snyder’s zombie/sci-fi/heist/action extravaganza is as pivotal as it is strange.

Director: Fajar Nugros | Runtime: 115 minutes

For viewers who enjoy: pregnancy horror, Indonesian films, folk horror

As Wulan struggles mentally and monetarily to deal with an unplanned pregnancy, she finds help in the form of an older couple. They bring Wulan into their home and help take care of all of the medical and physical needs of a mother-to-be. But they seem to be a little too helpful, and Wulan begins to get a bad feeling about her benefactors.

Director: Jennifer Kent | Runtime: 93 minutes

For viewers who enjoy: psychological horror, the supernatural, children’s story horror

The Babadook is the kind of horror movie that powerfully explores topics that many people might be uncomfortable or unwilling to discuss. Depression, resentment, anger, and more are all present in this story of a widowed single mother, her young son, and a supremely creepy children’s book titled Mister Babadook.

Director: Albert Pintó | Runtime: 109 minutes

For viewers who enjoy: survival movies, Spanish films, lost at sea movies,

Mia attempts to flee her country to find a better life for herself, her husband, and her unborn child. But hiding in a shipping container proves to be fateful decision when she is first separated from her husband, then becomes lost at sea when a storm tosses the container off the ship and into the open ocean. Then her baby is born, and Mia, now a brand-new mother, is in the most desperate fight for survival.

Director: Susanne Bier | Runtime: 124 minutes

For viewers who enjoy: apocalyptic movies, ensemble casts, cosmic horror

Bird Box shows how motherhood can come in many different forms. The film begins with Malorie (Sandra Bullock) as a stern and demanding mother figure for an unnamed boy and girl. All three of them are trying to survive in a world overrun with creatures that destroy the minds of people who look at them, so being strict to the point of anger isn’t entirely unreasonable. Then, through flashbacks, we see how this unique family unit came together.

Director: Kevin Ko | Runtime: 111 minutes

For viewers who enjoy: folk horror, found footage, movies about curses

Incantation is a found-footage film that is presented as a video put together by a mother trying to find help for her daughter. The mother, Li Ronan, did something in her past that brought a curse which is now affecting her daughter. The film actively engages the viewer, inviting them to protect themselves as they watch Ronan and her daughter’s story unfold. Not only is Incantation uniquely engaging, but it’s also a very good found-footage movie that delves into folk horror and supernatural ideas.