2025 will stand as a benchmark for horror, as it was loaded with everything from Oscar-caliber box office smash hits to universally-acclaimed independent films. While Sinners and Weapons may be the titles that everyone remembers long-term, smaller-scale hits like Companion, Clown In A Cornfield, and Heart Eyes set the tone before we got into peak spring and summer movie season.
2026 is already off to a strong start as far as critical scores are concerned, as January will see the release of We Bury the Dead, Primate, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and Sam Raimi’s return to horror in Send Help. While Send Help may still fit the bill, none of the January releases has qualified as a major box office success.
That could change in February, as one horror movie on the docket seems poised to be a breakout hit in the way the aforementioned early 2025 releases were. 20th Century Fox is set to debut Psycho Killeron February 20th, which could be the box office sleeper hit that truly kicks off 2026’s horror run.
Psycho Killer Has All The Ingredients For A Surprise Hit
Psycho Killer‘s gritty, intriguing first trailer provided a look at what could be the next great serial killer movie. Unlike Longlegs or The Black Phone, there is no major star hiding behind the depravity to entice audiences. Instead, there are a multitude of factors all working together that could make it a sleeper hit if word-of-mouth catches on.
First off, the movie stars Georgina Campbell, who is quickly becoming a mainstay of the horror industry. Campbell is likely most-known for starring in Zach Cregger’s Barbarian, which would be the blueprint that Psycho Killer aims for as far as surprising impact. On top of Barbarian, Campbell has starred in several other horror/thrillers, making her a great fit for the movie. Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Halloween) will also have a role that is yet undisclosed.
Psycho Killer was written by Andrew Kevin Walker, whose impressive filmography includes classics like Se7en, 8mm, and Sleepy Hollow, along with the acclaimed David Fincher-directed The Killer from 2023. Walker has the credentials in the horror, thriller, and serial killer subgenres that should get any moviegoer excited.
His involvement gets even more exciting when you consider what we know about the plot. Psycho Killer will follow a police officer (Campbell) whose husband is killed in front of her, sending her on a journey to find his killer. She soon finds herself on the trail of a sadistic, Satanic serial killer with far grander ambitions than random murder. It’s an exhilarating concept, especially in Walker’s hands.
Psycho Killer Looks Like Early Evidence Of Another Strong Year For Horror
Psycho Killer is one of a long, long list of highly-anticipated horror movies that will release in 2026. It’ll be admittedly hard to follow up 2025, but a series of high-profile sequels including Scream 7, Ready or Not: Here I Come, Scary Movie 6, and Evil Dead Burn are certainly going to give it a run for its money.
Psycho Killer could be the next in a long line of original movies that surprise at the box office, following in the footsteps of Barbarian, Longlegs, and Weapons. If the potent combination bringing Psycho Killer to life—along with the excellent first trailer—are any indication, it could be one of 2026’s more memorable horror offerings.
- Release Date
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February 20, 2026
- Director
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Gavin Polone
- Writers
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Andrew Kevin Walker
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Georgina Campbell
Jane Thorne
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Dutchess Cayetano
Female News Reporter
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James Preston Rogers
Psycho Killer
