Timeline of Horror Movies' Released in May

Below you will find ParaHouse Magazine's Timeline of Horror Movies Released in May which is a curated list of notable horror movies released worldwide in the month of May across various years, focusing on theatrical releases where possible.

• May 1961

  • The Curse of the Werewolf (May 1, UK release)

    • Directed by Terence Fisher, this Hammer Horror film stars Oliver Reed as a young man cursed with lycanthropy. A classic in the werewolf subgenre.

• May 1968

  • The Vengeance of She (May 1, UK release)

    • A sequel to the 1965 film She, this Hammer production blends horror and adventure with supernatural elements, following a woman possessed by an ancient spirit.

• May 1980

  • The Shining (May 23, USA release)

    • Directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on Stephen King’s novel, this iconic psychological horror film stars Jack Nicholson as a writer descending into madness at the haunted Overlook Hotel.

  • Friday the 13th (May 9, USA release)

    • Directed by Sean S. Cunningham, this slasher film introduced Jason Voorhees (though he’s not the main killer yet) and became a cornerstone of the slasher genre.

• May 1981

  • The Funhouse and My Bloody Valentine (May 7, London double-bill release)

    • While not their initial premieres (The Funhouse debuted March 1981, My Bloody Valentine February 1981), this double-bill in London is a notable horror event for May 7. Tobe Hooper’s The Funhouse involves teens trapped in a carnival, while My Bloody Valentine is a Canadian slasher set in a mining town.

• May 1987

  • Creepshow 2 (May 1, USA release)

    • A horror anthology directed by Michael Gornick, based on stories by Stephen King and George A. Romero, featuring segments like “Old Chief Wood’nhead” and “The Raft.”

• May 2009

  • Drag Me to Hell (May 29, USA release)

    • Directed by Sam Raimi, this supernatural horror film follows a loan officer cursed by a gypsy after a fateful decision. Known for its blend of scares and dark humor.

• May 2017

  • Alien: Covenant (May 19, USA release)

    • Directed by Ridley Scott, this sci-fi horror sequel to Prometheus follows a colony ship encountering deadly xenomorphs. A return to the Alien franchise’s horror roots.

• May 2018

  • The Strangers: Prey at Night (May 4, UK release; March 9 in USA)

    • Directed by Johannes Roberts, this sequel to The Strangers (2008) follows a family terrorized by masked killers at a trailer park. While the US release was in March, the UK release aligns with May.

• May 2023

  • The Boogeyman (May 31, limited release; wide release June 2, USA)

    • Directed by Rob Savage and based on Stephen King’s short story, this supernatural horror film follows a family haunted by a malevolent entity after a tragic loss.

• May 2024

  • Tarot (May 3, USA release)

    • Directed by Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg, this horror thriller involves college students unleashing an evil force through a cursed tarot deck.

  • I Saw the TV Glow (May 3, USA release)

    • Directed by Jane Schoenbrun, this A24 psychological horror film explores two teens whose obsession with a TV show blurs the lines between reality and fiction.

  • The Strangers: Chapter 1 (May 17, USA release)

    • Directed by Renny Harlin, this reboot of The Strangers follows a couple attacked by masked intruders during a road trip. The first of a planned trilogy.

  
  

  Although the month of May is not traditionally a peak month for horror releases (October dominates due to Halloween of course), the list is shorter than for other months. Some years lack notable May horror releases.

  
  

  Check back with ParaHouse Magazine next month to see our horror movie timeline for June.