There's something in the air, and you definitely don't want to breath it in. Horror movies about viruses and diseases are particularly frightening, because they are among the most plausible situations that could actually happen in real life. This list ranks the scariest movies about virus outbreaks that infect large groups of people.
It can be a bit tricky to distinguish virus outbreak horror movies from zombie films, because often times zombies are birthed from some kind of airborne virus or disease. However, most of the virus horror movies on this list are more about the contagions infecting people than they are the result of the disease. Examples of these films include Viral, Quarantine, and The Happening.
It Follows is probably the best horror movie about a disease. It's kind of tricky to explain the plot if you haven't seen it, so just go ahead and watch the film if it has somehow evaded you up to this point- you definitely won't be disappointed.
1
4595428 Days Later
Cillian Murphy, Christopher EcclestonReleased: 2002
Directed by: Danny Boyle
28 Days Later is a 2002 British post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle. The screenplay was written by Alex Garland. The film stars Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Megan... more2
3568728 Weeks Later
Rose Byrne, Idris ElbaReleased: 2007
Directed by: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
28 Weeks Later is a 2007 British-Spanish post-apocalyptic science fiction horror film, structured as a sequel to the 2002 critical and commercial success, 28 Days Later. 28 Weeks Later was co-written... more- 330167
The Crazies
Danielle Panabaker, Timothy OlyphantReleased: 2010
Directed by: Breck Eisner
The Crazies is a 2010 American horror film directed by Breck Eisner, with a screenplay by Scott Kosar and Ray Wright. The film is a remake of the 1973 film of the same name by George A. Romero, who... more - 423454
Contagion
Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate WinsletReleased: 2011
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Contagion is a 2011 medical thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Marion Cotillard, Bryan Cranston, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law,... more - 526074
Outbreak
Morgan Freeman, Kevin SpaceyReleased: 1995
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Outbreak is a 1995 American medical disaster film directed by Wolfgang Petersen and based on Richard Preston's non-fiction book The Hot Zone. The film stars Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, and Morgan... more - 6333125
World War Z
Brad Pitt, Matthew FoxReleased: 2013
Directed by: Marc Forster
This film is a 2013 American apocalyptic action horror film directed by Marc Forster. The screenplay by Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard, and Damon Lindelof is from a screen story by Carnahan... more - 7322121
I Am Legend
Will Smith, Emma ThompsonReleased: 2007
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
I Am Legend is a 2007 American post-apocalyptic science fiction horror film directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Will Smith. It is the third feature film adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954... more - 8280102
Resident Evil
Milla Jovovich, Michelle RodriguezReleased: 2002
Directed by: Paul W. S. Anderson
Resident Evil is a 2002 German-British-French science fiction horror film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. The film stars Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez. It is the first... more - 922778
REC
Manuela Velasco, Javier BotetReleased: 2007
Directed by: Paco Plaza, Jaume Balagueró
REC is a 2007 Spanish horror film, co-written and directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza. The film was shot in Barcelona, Spain and the title is an abbreviation of the word "record", as it... more - 1020770
The Stand
Stephen King, Rob LoweReleased: 1994
Directed by: Mick Garris
The Stand (ABC, 1994) is an American horror miniseries directed by Mick Garris, and based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. The remaining survivors after a deadly plague split into two... more - 11250100
Quarantine
Dania Ramirez, Jennifer CarpenterReleased: 2008
Directed by: John Erick Dowdle
Quarantine is a 2008 American science fiction horror film directed by John Erick Dowdle and starring Jennifer Carpenter, Jay Hernandez, Columbus Short, Greg Germann, Steve Harris, Dania Ramirez, Rade... more - 1220497
Cabin Fever
Eli Roth, Cerina VincentReleased: 2002
Directed by: Eli Roth
Cabin Fever is a 2002 American black comedy horror film directed by Eli Roth and starring Rider Strong, Jordan Ladd, James DeBello and Giuseppe Andrews. It was produced by Lauren Moews & Evan... more - 1315288
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Milla Jovovich, Iain GlenReleased: 2004
Directed by: Alexander Witt
Resident Evil: Apocalypse is a 2004 British-Canadian apocalyptic fiction action horror film directed by Alexander Witt, from a screenplay written by producer Paul W. S. Anderson. It is the second... more - 14153102
Resident Evil: Extinction
Milla Jovovich, Ali LarterReleased: 2007
Directed by: Russell Mulcahy
RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION is again based on the wildly popular video game series and picks up where the last film left off. Alice (Milla Jovovich), now in hiding in the Nevada desert, once again... more - 1513586
Contracted
Najarra Townsend, Caroline WilliamsReleased: 2013
Directed by: Eric England
Contracted is a 2013 horror thriller film directed and written by Eric England. It was first released on November 23, 2013, in the United States and stars Najarra Townsend as a young woman that finds... more - 1613287
Planet Terror
Bruce Willis, Rose McGowanReleased: 2007
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Planet Terror is a 2007 American action horror science-fiction film directed by Robert Rodriguez, about a group of people attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with... more - 1712583
Resident Evil: Retribution
Milla Jovovich, Ali LarterReleased: 2012
Directed by: Paul W. S. Anderson
Resident Evil: Retribution is a 2012 American-Canadian-German science fiction action horror film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. It is the fifth installment in the Resident Evil film... more - 1812284
Dreamcatcher
Morgan Freeman, Timothy OlyphantReleased: 2003
Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan
Dreamcatcher is a 2003 science fiction horror film adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. It was directed by Lawrence Kasdan, and co-written by Kasdan and screenwriter William Goldman.... more - 1910569
Splinter
Jill Wagner, Paulo CostanzoReleased: 2008
Directed by: Toby Wilkins
Splinter is a 2008 horror film directed by Toby Wilkins. It had a limited theatrical release on October 31, 2008 and stars Shea Whigham, Paulo Costanzo, and Jill Wagner. It was filmed near Oklahoma... more - 20158120
It Follows
Maika Monroe, Keir GilchristReleased: 2014
Directed by: David Robert Mitchell
It Follows is a 2014 supernatural psychological horror film written and directed by David Robert Mitchell. After carefree teenager Jay (Maika Monroe) sleeps with her new boyfriend, Hugh (Jake Weary),... more - 219362
The Omega Man
Charlton Heston, Anthony ZerbeReleased: 1971
Directed by: Boris Sagal
The Omega Man is a 1971 American science fiction film directed by Boris Sagal and starring Charlton Heston. It was written by John William Corrington and Joyce Corrington, based on the 1954 novel I... more - 229666
Doomsday
Rhona Mitra, Malcolm McDowellReleased: 2008
Directed by: Neil Marshall
Doomsday is a 2008 science fiction action film written and directed by Neil Marshall. When the virus is found in London, political leaders send a team led by Major Eden Sinclair to Scotland to find... more - 239771
Carriers
Emily VanCamp, Chris PineReleased: 2009
Directed by: Àlex Pastor, David Pastor
Carriers is a 2009 American post-apocalyptic horror film written and directed by Àlex and David Pastor. It stars Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine, Piper Perabo and Emily VanCamp as four people fleeing a... more - 2404
In the Earth
Joel Fry, Reece ShearsmithReleased: 2021
Directed by: Ben Wheatley
In the Earth is a 2021 British horror film written and directed by Ben Wheatley. As the world searches for a cure to a disastrous virus, a scientist and park scout venture deep in the forest for a... more - 259673
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Milla Jovovich, Ali LarterReleased: 2010
Directed by: Paul W. S. Anderson
Resident Evil: Afterlife is a 2010 Canadian-German 3D science fiction action horror film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. It stars Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Kim Coates, Shawn Roberts,... more
