Horror fans, mark your calendars: Mike Flanagan's Oculus is officially joining the Netflix lineup on September 24, 2026. The announcement comes just weeks before Flanagan's highly anticipated Carrie reboot premieres on Prime Video, making it the perfect time to revisit the director's roots.
Before Carrie and long before his acclaimed series like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, Flanagan made a name for himself with Oculus, his second feature-length horror film. Released in theaters in 2014 after debuting at TIFF in 2013, it was his first major commercial success—and it's still considered one of his most underrated gems.
The film stars Karen Gillan and Brenton Thwaites as siblings Kaylie and Tim Russell, who are haunted by the violent deaths of their parents. Kaylie is convinced that an antique mirror, the Lasser Glass, is responsible for the tragedy. As she sets out to prove it, the siblings fall under the mirror's malevolent spell, which twists their perceptions and reality. The cast also includes Annalise Basso and Garrett Ryan Ewald as the younger versions of the siblings, with Katee Sackhoff and Rory Cochrane as their parents.
Oculus was a box office hit, grossing around $44 million worldwide on a modest $5 million budget. It also holds a solid 75% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, a testament to its enduring appeal as a psychological horror story built on mounting dread rather than gore.
For those who haven't seen it, Oculus is a masterclass in tension and mind-bending horror. It's the kind of film that rewards repeat viewings, and its arrival on Netflix is a perfect excuse to dive in—or revisit it—just in time for Halloween.
Netflix is also adding A Different World and House at the End of the Street on the same day, so there's plenty to stream. And if you're in the mood for more horror, check out Alien and Aliens landing on Netflix this month, or Daniel Radcliffe's gothic horror on Paramount+.
Flanagan's Carrie series is set to premiere on Prime Video in early October, and it's already generating buzz. But before that, Oculus gives us a chance to see where his signature style began. It's a must-watch for any horror fan.
So set your reminders: September 24 is the day Oculus finally creeps onto Netflix. And if you're looking for more streaming picks, Prime Video's top weekend picks might have something for you.
