15 Horror Movies Like The Hunt: Are You The Thing They’re Chasing?

The Hunt is a modern take on a old story, but it made for quite the splash when it was delayed from its original release date and eventually dropped in 2020. It’s a heart pounding slash-thriller that features a group of people being hunted.

If you’ve already seen it, enjoyed it, and are looking for something new to add to your must-watch list, check out these horror movies like The Hunt. Some have gore, others have chase and thrill, and a few combine them all. What are you going to watch next?

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Best movies like The Hunt

1. Ready or Not (2019)

Hide and seek is a classic children’s game, and Ready or Not puts a real adult-only twist on it. Grace (Samara Weaving) and Daniel (Adam Brody) have just been married, but to make it family-official his family makes her play in a seemingly innocent game. Except that it’s not as innocent as she thinks.

The game quickly turns into a bloody, sinister mess, and gives her a look into her in laws that she probably didn’t want to see (there’s literally no way she would have said yes!). It’s Grace versus a weird family, and she needs to figure out how to survive the night.

This definitely fits the movies like The Hunt motif on a much smaller scale. It’s a one-versus-many scenario in a smaller, enclosed space. Think close combat, anything can happen. It’s a wild ride.

2. Escape Room (2019)

Six people from all walks of life are here to win $10,000 – which seems like a small amount considering what happens. The competition: get out of the escape room. Only, it’s not the escape room they advertise on Facebook.

Escape Room is more focused on suspense then jump-scares, though there are a few. However, the plotline has been described as predictable (but what plotline hasn’t, right?). I like that it combines the “mysterious invitation” angle you find in House on Haunted Hill and Clue, with the trapped-in-a-space with a clock angle.

I will disclose this isn’t my favorite escape room themed horror film. In 2017, a film I often refer to as the “worst film I’ve ever seen,” also called Escape Room, came out – I watch it a few times a year. Same concept, different cast, worse acting…. but more fun!

3. The Purge (2013)

The Purge was a wild idea when it came out, but now they’re like 5 movies and a TV show in so it’s lost a little bit of its steam. However, the first one is where its at. It’s another one of those movies like The Hunt that’s on a smaller scale, but has a really interesting plot.

In The Purge, all crime is legal for 12 hours once a year. All emergency services are suspended and people can do whatever they want without any repercussions. The movie follows a family as they’re besieged by home invaders during the Purge.

It’s an interesting concept that’s been done in a few different ways (the most recent being Ready or Not), but The Purge is the OG.

4. Hush (2016)

Hush is a one-on-one version of the idea behind The Hunt. Maddie is deaf and mute, and there’s a scary stalker outside her house. He’s already killed her next door neighbor and he’s gearing up to do away with her as well. She’s completely alone and has to figure out how to defend herself.

Hush is a great example of a movie that doesn’t rely on jump scares or special effects. The whole movie is just tense as hell, and you’re never quite sure what’s going to happen next. It’s one of those movies where the less you know going in, the better.

5. You’re Next (2011)

If you want a movie like The Hunt that’s more slasher than suspense, You’re Next is for you. Aubrey and Paul invite their family to their fancy (but remote) estate to celebrate their wedding anniversary. However, it quickly becomes apparent that someone is out to kill them all.

You’re Next is another one of those movies where the less you know going in, the better. It’s full of twists and turns, and just when you think you have it figured out, something else happens. It’s a great example of a movie that takes the classic slasher formula and puts a bit of a spin on it.

6. Nerve (2016)

Who doesn’t love a good game of truth or dare? High school student Vee (Emma Roberts) does, but she ends up getting caught in one the movie Nerve that challenges her to perform life-threatening tasks. And there’s seemingly no way out.

Described as a techno-thriller, it’s one of those movies like The Hunt that ‘s less focused on the scares and more on the suspense. If you’re looking for a movie that will keep you guessing, Nerve is a great choice.

Not sure about this flick, but still want something game themed? There’s a whole collection of stuck-in-a-game thrillers you should check out.

7. Saw (2004)

Saw is a film that I don’t do very well since it’s all gore, all-the-time.

However, it does have similar elements to other movies like The Hunt, with a bit more of an escape room vibe. Two men (played by Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell) find themselves in a room with no idea how they got there. The only way to escape is to complete a series of deadly tasks.

While there is suspense in this film, it’s way more focused on blood, guts and gore, and it’s 100% not for the faint of heart. In fact, while there are a lot of movies that feature gore on this list (it is horror), this is probably one of the most gory – so be warned.

7. The Invisible Man (2020)

The Invisible Man could be a triggering movie if you’ve been in an abusive relationship, so I’ll say skip it right up front if that’s the case.

However, it’s a wild, modern update to the classic science-fiction novel by H.G. Wells. In this rendition, the “mad scientist” is Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), ex-boyfriend and abuser of Cecelia Kass (Elizabeth Moss).

After inventing an invisible suit and being left by his girlfriend, Griffin uses his invisible suit to stalk her. He continues to terrorize her after he’s “gone” and she comes off as completely insane. That is until she starts to fight back.

The Invisible Man is a suspenseful movie that does a great job of building tension and making you question what’s really going on. If you can handle the subject matter, it’s definitely worth a watch.

8. Vacancy (2007)

Vacancy was one of my favorite scary movies when I was younger. I still, to this day, scream once or twice when I watch it, despite the fact that I could probably recite it alongside the characters. A couple (played by Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) are on the verge of divorce when they get stuck at a secluded motel until they can get their car fixed.

It’s not long before they start to notice video cameras in their room, and realize that they’re being filmed for a snuff film. They need to figure out how to escape, or they’ll unwittingly end up as the stars of the show. If you’re looking for a suspenseful movie with plenty of gut-wrenching twists and turns, Vacancy is a great choice.

9. A Quiet Place (2018)

A Quiet Place is one of those movies like The Hunt where they’re being hunted by monsters instead of people. In this 2018 film, a family is forced to live in complete silence to avoid being killed by creatures that hunt using sound.

If you’re looking for a suspenseful movie that will have you on the edge of your seat, A Quiet Place is a great choice. This is really more of an elevated horror film then a standard cheese-and-scream fest (I personally prefer the latter), but when the first one was released, it was highly regarded.

10. Freaky (2020)

I LOVE a good dark comedy, and Freaky hits that note on the head. This comedic slasher finds a teenager Millie (Katheryn Newton) and serial killer, the Butcher (Vince Vaughn) swap bodies. It has fast action and a little gore, but I find it to be mostly a humor-filled story.

Vaughn does a killer job (pun intended) of playing a teenager girl trapped inside a middle aged man’s body, and Newton is hilarious as the Butcher trying to navigate high school. If you’re looking for a funny movie with a few suspenseful moments, Freaky is a great choice.

11. Wrong Turn (2003)

Wrong Turn is a little bit more of a classic “being hunted” story. Chris is on his way to a job interview when his car collides with a group of 5 friends. Unable to fix the issue, the group of them are stranded in the middle of woods when they learn they’re being hunted by a family of cannibals.

This movie is pretty gory, and not for the faint of heart. It’s a very classic kill-or-be-killed horror, done in the early 2000s – which means it fits the more “serious” horror movie motif than the elevator or humorous versions you see coming out today. If you’re looking for suspense with a side of gore, Wrong Turn is a great choice.

12. Turkey Shoot (1982)

Get ready for a real bad 80s vibe, because Turkey Shoot is all about it. This cheesy horror flick tells the tale of a group of captured rebels that are offered freedom if they can survive as prey in a hunt. It ‘s full of over the top acting, bad dialogue, and even worse hair.

But if you’re looking for a suspenseful movie with more than a few laughs, Turkey Shoot is definitely worth a watch. It’s one of those so-bad-it’s-good movies that’s just a ton of fun to watch.

13. Circle (2015)

Circle is a unique movie that sees kidnapped 50 strangers facing execution, only they don’t know who their captors are, they don’t know why they’re there and they don’t know what’s happening. It’s a mind-boggling story that legitimately takes place all in a single room.

This script is unique because it’s entirely dialogue based, and while it’s a horror film there’s no real gore – there was legitimately a single drop of blood that I noted towards the beginning of the film. Instead, it has a more experimental air to it – a real “let’s see what happens” vibe when a group of people are locked together and forced to chose who lives and dies.

14. Becky (2020)

Becky is spunky and rebellious, and she’s trying to reconnect with her father at a weekend getaway when they pair are targeted by convicts on the run. The tables quickly turn and Becky has to put her survival skills to the test as she becomes the hunter rather than the prey.

This movie is full of suspense, but it also has a lot of heart. You genuinely root for Becky throughout the film, and her relationship with her father is believable and touching. If you’re looking for a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but also leave you with a warm feeling afterwards, Becky is a great choice.

15. Revenge (2017)

Revenge is a dish best served steaming hot while on a guys weekend by a mistress – oh, is that not how the saying goes? Jen and her wealthy boyfriend are on a romantic getaway when his two gross and sleezy friends show up, unannounced, for a “hunting” trip. The situation runs sour quickly, and she ends up being left for dead.

Unfortunately for the trio of gross dudes, she doesn’t die. Instead, she comes back for revenge in one of the most satisfying ways possible. This movie is brutal, gory, and unapologetic in its violence. If you’re looking for a film that’s all about payback, Revenge is a great pick.

What is The Hunt?

The Hunt is a modern retelling of the short story The Most Dangerous Game (1924) by Richard Connell.

This original plotline has been retold a number of times, but in this particular version a group of 12 strangers wakes up in a clearing. They don’t know each other, they don’t know where they are, and they don’t know how they got there.

It turns out, they’re being hunted by a group of elitists for sport. Unfortunately, for the rich people in the story, their plan goes south when Crystal, one of those being hunted, ends up being a bigger challenge then they expected.

There was A LOT of controversy surrounding this film when it was first released, and I was pretty excited to see it. I’m bummed to say that it didn’t meet my expectations. To clarify, I did enjoy it, it just wasn’t as good as I was expecting it to be.

Final Thoughts: Movies Like The Hunt

I’m not going to lie, I was slightly disappointed by The Hunt, probably because it was hyped up so much. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good film, but it wasn’t as crazy as the haters made it out to be.

If you want a movie really similar to The Hunt, I recommend The Purge – basically ANY film from that series will do. It has a very similar “they’re after us vibe” and the first one is a legitimately good film.

But another film that caught me off surprise giving off a similar vibe was Circle – this film is SCARY as shiznit, probably because you don’t understand what’s going on. I’d HIGHLY recommend checking it out.