10 Most Rewatchable Anime Horror Movies, Ranked (2025)

Anime and horror are a match made in heaven. The anime medium's inherent flexibility means that creatives can bring whatever horrors the deepest, darkest recesses of their mind can conjure to the screen. Because of this, anime history is full of excellent horror films, from tense psychological dramas to shlocky monster movies dripping with B-movie charm.

However, horror is a genre built on suspense and fear of the unknown, meaning many horror films become much less enjoyable when you know how they end. Thankfully, many anime horror films buck this trend, as due to their unique stories, memorable visuals, or deep symbolism, the fifth watch is just as mesmerizing as the first.

10 The Empire of Corpses

A Modern Take On Victorian Horror Classics

Produced by Wit Studio and directed by Ryoutarou Makihara, 2015's The Empire of Corpses is based on the novel written by Project Itoh. The story is set in an alternative 18th-century Britain, where Victor Frankenstein discovered a method to resurrect the dead in a way that retained their souls, allowing them to freely think and speak. However, after this discovery, Frankenstein vanished, and no one else has recreated his success. This led to the invention of the Necroware, an artificial soul that allows the corpse to return to life. But a corpse with a Necroware can't think for itself, meaning they are used as mindless labor.

After illegally creating his own Necroware to resurrect his friend Friday, medical student John Watson sets out to learn Frankenstein's secret, throwing him head-first into a global conspiracy. However, while the film has fantastic visuals and a lot of fascinating ideas, the nature of the story means it's not a film viewers will come back to after watching it once, putting it at the back of the pack.

The Empire Of Corpses

After breaking the law of reanimating human corpses, young Watson has to either work for the government or face punishment. He has to go on a secret mission, to find the notes of Viktor Frankenstein, who reanimated the first human corpse.

9 Bio Hunter

The Hunt For A Mysterious Virus Grows Slowly More Complex And Terrifying

1995's Bio Hunter was animated by Madhouse and based on Fujihiko Hosono's manga. It follows Komada and Koshigaya, two molecular biologists studying demon viruses. These mysterious pathogens cause people infected with them to transform into horrific monsters and start craving human flesh. However, while investigating these demon viruses, the pair end up embroiled with Sayaka Murakami, a mysterious woman who may be linked to the situation.

Bio Hunter combines action and horror into an exciting package overflowing with 1990s anime charm. Plus, the central mystery is well handled, meaning viewers will be guessing until the end. Because of this, the show is perfect for horror fans and those who love the '90s anime aesthetic, even if the pacing is slightly lacking in some places.

8 King of Thorn

Sleeping Beauty Is Given A Unique Sci-Fi Horror Twist

Based on Yuji Iwahara's manga, King of Thorn was animated by Sunrise and arrived on screens in 2010. The film is set in a sci-fi world where a strange virus called Medusa has swept across the globe. As part of a plan to save humanity, several people are selected to be put into cold sleep so they can be woken up once scientists have discovered a cure for the disease.

When the group wakes up, they find that the Cold Sleep Capsule Center is surrounded by strange thorns, and weird monsters are lurking in the shadows, waiting for their moment to strike. So, the group is forced to fight for survival while also trying to work out what happened while they were sleeping. However, as they explore, several long-buried secrets will come to light, straining their relationship to breaking point.

7 GYO: Tokyo Fish Attack!

A Classic Monster Movie With A Fishy Twist

Gyo is based on the Junji Ito manga series that was serialized in Big Comic Spirits between 2001 and 2002. The 2012 OVA version was animated by Ufotable and directed by Takayuki Hirao. The story follows Kaori Sawahara, a college student who takes a seaside vacation with her friends to escape her stressful life for a while. Alas, this trip goes wrong when the local fish grow legs and come onto land, killing anyone they encounter.

Even worse, a strange smell has filled the air, causing people to act erratically. Unfortunately, the movie version of Gyo heavily deviates from the original manga and loses some of Junji Ito's trademark atmosphere. Despite this, it remains a memorable film packed with stunning body horror, meaning it will stick in viewers' minds long after it ends.

GYO: Tokyo Fish Attack

The friends Kaori, Erika and Aki are on a vacation to celebrate their upcoming graduation, when suddenly an infestation of mysterious walking fish forces them to reevaluate everything they care about in order to stay alive.

6 Demon City Shinjuku

A Young Man Tries To Clear The Sins Of His Father

Based on the novel written by Hideyuki Kikuchi, the Demon City Shinjuku OVA was animated by Madhouse and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Genichirou Izayoi is forced to battle with Levih Rah, an evil man who has become possessed while trying to enact his world domination plan. Alas, Levih Rah wins the battle and levels Shinjuku with a powerful earthquake, turning the area into a demon-energy-infested wasteland.

Ten years after the battle, Levih Rah returns and attacks the prime minister. Realizing he is the only one who can help, Genichirou's son ventures into Shinjuku and tries to do what his father couldn't. Demon City Shinjuku's visuals are the highlight, featuring some excellently atmospheric environments and well-designed characters. Alas, the film's plot loses a lot of suspense when the viewer knows what's coming, making it less rewatchable than other movies in the genre.

5 Wicked City

Protecting The Frail Truce Between Demons And Humans

Released in 1987 and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Wicked City is based on Hideyuki Kikuchi's novel series. It is set in a universe where the human world and the Black World (a world populated by demons and monsters) live peacefully side-by-side, to the point that most humans don't know the Black World exists. Thankfully, a group of secret agents called the Black Guards exists to police this divide and maintain harmony.

Despite looking like a regular salaryman, Renzaburō Taki is one such Black Guard. When he is tasked with protecting Giuseppe Mayart, a mystic who signed the treaty between the human and demon worlds, he soon finds himself targeted by a group of radicals who want to start a war between the worlds. A supremely entertaining film, Wicked City is packed with gripping visuals, memorable characters, and fun action sequences. However, the story's lack of depth means that other films are more fun to rewatch, so it sits in the middle of the pack.

Wicked City

While protecting a signatory to a peace treaty between their peoples, a male human and a female demon discover that their mutual attraction may be the key to unifying their worlds.

4 Blood: The Last Vampire

A Retro Vampire Hunting Drama With A Unique Twist

Directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo and produced by Production I.G, Blood: The Last Vampire was released in 2000. The story follows Saya, a katana-wielding girl who hunts Teropterids, vampire-like creatures that love to feed on human blood. After a successful mission, Saya is sent to the American-operated Yokota Air Base, as it has been discovered that a Teropterid has been able to infiltrate the base's staff and likely plans to feed on the assembled service members.

In a bid to work out which person is the Teropterid, Saya joins the nearby school. However, she soon finds that her mission is much trickier than she first thought, as not only does she struggle to blend in at school, but she soon begins to suspect that the Teropterid problem may be bigger than she was told.

3 Vampire Hunter D

A Retro-Future Vampire Epic

Based on the series of novels written by Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano, 1985's Vampire Hunter D film was produced by Ashi Productions and directed by Toyoo Ashida. The film takes place in 12,090 AD and shows viewers a world where monsters roam freely and people, despite having futuristic technology, live like historical peasants.

After getting bitten and infected by the evil vampire Count Magnus Lee, Doris Lang seeks out and hires D, a mysterious vampire hunter, hoping he can kill the Count before she turns. Vampire Hunter D is a cult classic anime famous for its excellent visuals and gripping atmosphere, making it a must-watch anime for both vampire fans and general fans of the medium.

Vampire Hunter D

When Doris Lang is chosen as the next bride for the vampire Count Magnus Lee, she will hire a mysterious vampire hunter known only as D in an attempt to escape her ill-gotten fate.

2 Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek

A Children's Game With A Dark Twist

Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek is a 2005 short film animated by YamatoWorks and directed by Shuhei Morita, who had previously worked on the fan-favorite anime Tokyo Ghoul. The film follows a group of children who have gathered at an abandoned area to play a game of hide-and-seek, despite local legends saying that any children who play there will be spirited away by demons.

Despite its short length, the film tells a gripping story packed with twists and turns that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats the entire time. Plus, the film is full of clever foreshadowing, meaning that the film takes on a very different feel when watched a second time. Combine this with some excellent visuals and a palpable creepy atmosphere, and it's easy to see why Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek has become a cult classic.

1 Perfect Blue

A Twisted Psychological Thriller That Only Becomes More Relevant With Time

Directed by the legendary Satoshi Kon and arriving on screens in 1997, Perfect Blue follows Mima Kirigoe. Mima is a member of the popular idol group CHAM! But, feeling unfulfilled, she decides to quit the group and become a full-time actress. However, her decision angers many of the group's fans, leading to her getting stalked. This stalking, combined with the stresses of her new job, leads to Mima slowly unraveling. As time progresses, Mima finds it increasingly hard to differentiate fantasy and reality and is haunted by visions of a copy of herself that declares itself "the real Mima."

Perfect Blue is a masterpiece combining gripping writing, beautiful visuals, and chilling social commentary that has become more relevant as technology has become increasingly central in our lives. Because of this, viewers who return to the film will find something new to appreciate every time they watch it, making Perfect Blue the best and most rewatchable anime horror movie ever made.

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Perfect Blue

A pop singer gives up her career to become an actress, but she slowly goes insane when she starts being stalked by an obsessed fan and what seems to be a ghost of her past.