Very few horror movies earn the distinction of “best” in the genre, but an unsuspecting 2010s horror film managed to do just that. A masterclass in horror filmmaking that completely turns the genre on its head, that movie finally returned to streaming just in time for Halloween – and it has a surprising connection to Marvel.
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As of September 1st, HBO Max subscribers can now stream Drew Goddard’s hit 2011 horror film The Cabin in the Woods. The movie features a pre-Thor Chris Hemsworth alongside a cast that also includes Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, and Jesse Williams as a group of college friends who embark on a getaway to a remote forest cabin only to find themselves part of a much larger story that has them facing off against an onslaught of horrors. Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Amy Acker, and Sigourney Weaver also star in the film, which was produced by Joss Whedon, who brought the first two Avengers films to the MCU, and written by Whedon and Goddard.
Why You Should Watch The Cabin in the Woods
The Cabin in the Woods is both a celebration and a critique of horror. The film completely deconstructs the horror genre by analyzing and subverting horror movie tropes and clichés, all while serving as a love letter to horror, with Goddard and Whedon showcasing a deep appreciation and knowledge of the genre. Driven by a narrative that initially seems like a run-of-the-mill slasher before it turns things completely on its head with mind-bending twists, combined with a stellar cast, The Cabin in the Woods stays with you long after the end credits roll and is one of the most innovative entries into the genre.
More than a decade after its release, The Cabin in the Woods remains a modern horror classic and one of the most celebrated deconstructions of horror. The movie holds a coveted “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes with a 92% critics’ score. Its audience rating sits at 74%. The Cabin in the Woods was released in. Despite those high numbers, The Cabin in the Woods was not a box office hit, but the film did manage to gross a modest $66.5 million worldwide against a $30 million budget. The movie also won the Saturn Award for Best Horror or Thriller Film.
Other Horror Movies Now on HBO Max
The Cabin in the Woods is one of several horror movies newly streaming on HBO Max. Evil Dead II, Misery, Mystery Street, and Se7en started streaming on the platform on September 1st.
HBO Max’s September 2025 content lineup is pretty light on new horror arrivals, but the streamer already boasts a massive horror library. Other titles currently streaming on the platform include It Follows, Companion, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Midsommar, The Silence of the Lambs, and Evil Dead Rise, as well as The Conjuring franchise. Both It and It: Chapter Two are also available to stream on HBO Max ahead of the upcoming Welcome to Derry series.
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