Spoilers ahead for the movies listed
Like remakes, horror sequels aren't always a good idea. Many horror movie franchises are full of duds, but sometimes you get a good follow-up, like The Conjuring 2, Evil Dead 2, Aliens, Smile 2, and more.
The last couple of years have brought us many fantastic new horror movies, and several of them would work great as the start of a new and exciting franchise. Here are a few recent horror films we'd love to see continue.
Companion (2025)
Companion is set in a world where people can purchase companion robots. Sophie Thatcher plays one named Iris, the "girlfriend" of Jack Quad's character Josh. When a weekend getaway goes awry, Iris learns she is artificial intelligence and jail breaks her system to obtain free will. The movie culminates in a violent showdown between Iris and Josh, with Iris killing him and escaping. Companion ends with Iris embracing her newfound freedom.
A sequel could follow Iris potentially trying to help other companion robots like herself. After suffering an injury, Iris' synthetic skin is exposed on her arm, revealing the robotic infrastructure beneath. So, she's no longer hiding the fact she is a robot. In the movie's final scene, Iris waves her robo-hand at another robot like herself. It's a reach, but that one moment suggests Iris is open to showing other robots that they, too, can have free will.
Longlegs (2024)
The ending of Longlegs is quite ambiguous, leaving viewers with many questions about the serial killer's overall game plan and the strangeness surrounding the mysterious dolls. Even though Longlegs himself is dead by the end, having killed himself by brutally beating his head into a desk, I think many of us would enjoy seeing what's next for Maika Monroe's character, FBI agent Lee Harker.
I'm even okay with leaving most Longlegs questions unanswered, as I enjoy the ambiguity and theorizing. But I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Lee trying to solve another case and maybe getting hints and easter eggs that tie back to the first film.
Abigail (2024)
Out of all of the movies on this list, Abigail might do the best job at setting up for a potential sequel. For starters, this movie is technically a Universal Monster movie, as it started as an adaptation of Dracula's Daughter, and Dracula himself is introduced at the end, played by Matthew Goode.
Joey (Melissa Barrera) survives and has forged a fragile alliance with the violent vampire Abigail, who convinces her father to let Joey go free after Joey and Abigail work together to kill Frank. There are plenty of ways a sequel could work, potentially expanding Dracula's role and even seeing Abigail call on Joey for assistance to take down her father or working together to face a new threat.
Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
After spending the movie murdering people to give her resurrected boyfriend new body parts, Lisa almost gets arrested until she comes up with an idea to escape forever.
She has The Creature kill her by using a tanning bed, and the movie ends with a resurrected Lisa, now very similar to The Creature. She and him seem to be happy together now in their undead life. A sequel could follow Lisa and The Creature trying to find a way to "live" again or maybe even meeting other undead characters.
Heart Eyes (2025)
Heart Eyes also sets up a small stinger at the end of the movie that could hint at more in the future. The horror rom-com has a happy ending, with Jay and Ally getting engaged at the drive-in theater.
But their romantic moment is interrupted by a chilling phone call seemingly from the Heart Eyes killer—except it's actually just Ally's best friend Monica pranking them. Or is it? Monica's call with Ally is cut off suddenly as if someone else is listening in or interfering. Perhaps another Heart Eyes killer is waiting in the wings.