15 Movies Like When a Stranger Calls
It’s spooky season, which means it’s time to start thinking about what horror movies you want to watch this Halloween. While everyone’s into these new fancy streaming service flicks, I happen to LOVE me a great early 2000s teen scream.
When a Stranger Calls is by-far one of my favorite creepy flicks and I’m not ashamed to admit it. It’s the perfect balance of suspense, fear, and mystery. But, if you’ve already seen it, you might be looking for something slightly different to watch.
Here are 15 movies like When a Stranger Calls that are sure to give you nightmares:
Best movies like When a Stranger Calls
1. When a Stranger Calls (1979)
The obvious pick is the 1979 version of the same flick, also titled When a Stranger Calls.
In this version of the film, teenage babysitter Carol Anne is watching kids for a local rich family when she begins to receive spooky-as-hell calls. She eventually calls the police, and what do ya know but the calls are coming from inside the house.
This film has a pretty strong cult following, many believe the first 15-to-20 minutes are some of the scariest in horror history. If you’ve seen the remake but never the original, you should check it out!
2. The Strangers (2008)
The Strangers has a similar unknown assailant premise but they start off outside the house.
Featuring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, this early 2000s thriller is about a young couple that’s terrorized by three assailants in masks who break into their secluded vacation home.
The Strangers is one of those “why didn’t I see this sooner” type of films. It’s not the scariest on this list, but it’s definitely one of the most suspenseful and will have you jumping at every little sound.
3. Prom Night (2008)
The 2008 film Prom Night is a slasher-horror movie like When a Stranger Calls, only it’s about a group of high school students. It features a few famous faces you might recognize, including Idris Elba and Brittany Snow. And tells the story of the teens who are stalked and killed by a masked killer on their prom night.
It follows the students as they make their way to the prom, are attacked by the killer, and attempt to survive. The film has some twists and turns, and is ultimately a pretty suspenseful ride. If you’re looking for a horror movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then Prom Night is definitely worth checking out.
4. Hush (2016)
Hush is a 2016 horror film directed by Mike Flanagan. The film stars Kate Siegel as a woman who is deaf and mute, and John Gallagher Jr. as her assailant.
The film follows Maddie, a woman who is deaf and mute, as she attempts to defend herself against an attacker who breaks into her home. Maddie must use her wits and resourcefulness to survive the assault.
5. Vacancy (2007)
David and Amy Fox are on the verge of a divorce and their car brakes down forcing them to spend the night at a creepy motel.
When the couple realizes there are cameras all over their room they try to flee the hotel, only to find out they’re about to be the next victims of the manager’s homemade snuff films.
Vacancy was one of mine and my sisters favorite horror flicks growing up. But I will say that while Vacancy is scary, Vacancy 2: The First Cut is not.
6. House of Wax (2005)
Remember when Paris Hilton was in a horror movie? That movie was House of Wax, and it is the ultimate teen drama.
A group of college kids are on their way to a football game in Louisiana when they stop the night and the fanbelt in their truck gets cut. The group ends up in an abandoned town with a wax museum in it.
This film is a remake of a (lose) remake. If you want to watch the earlier versions, check out House of Wax (1953) and Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933).
7. It Follows (2014)
It Follows is a filmmaker horror favorite.
This psychological thriller is about a woman who is stalked by a supernatural being after a sexual encounter. It somewhat reminds me of the Ring where you need to pass it along.
For her to get rid of the creepy creature, she needs to have sex with someone else to get rid of it. It’s a creepy flick, and if you haven’t seen it, you should definitely give it a go.
8. One Missed Call (2008)
I put One Missed Call on my movies like When a Stranger Calls list because it features some freaky phone business. In this horror flick Beth witnesses the deaths of her two friends and she knows it’s more than a freaky coincidence.
Right before they both died, they both received a phone call of their own deaths. And Beth’s phone has the same eerie ringtone. Now she has to solve the mystery and stop the deaths before it’s too late.
9. The Stepfather (2009)
The Stepfather is a 2009 psychological thriller film sees college kid Michael (Penn Badgley) becomes suspicious of his new stepfather, David Harris (Dylan Walsh).
Michael begins investigating David and discovers that he has a dark past involving the murder of his previous wife and her family. It’s a weird stalker-is-in-the-house-and-we-know-him teen scream. If you haven’t seen it yet, you should probably watch it.
10. Sorority Row (2009)
When a prank goes wrong at their sorority house, the friends responsible decide to cover it up. One year later, they’re being haunted by videos of the night Megan died and are being stalked by a deadly killer. They must come to terms with what happened and find a way to stop the stalker before it’s too late.
Sorority Row is a great college horror movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s full of cheesy suspense, shocks, and twists that you won’t see coming. If you’re looking for a good horror movie to watch with your friends, this is the perfect choice.
11. Black Christmas (2019)
In Black Christmas, a group of students at Hawthorne College are targeted by a killer during the Christmas season.
With few students around, the left behind sorority sisters are ready to deck the halls when a mysterious cloaked figure starts to leave a trail of victims on the campus.
Refusing to become hapless victims, Riley and her friends decide to band together and fight back against the psychotic Christmas killer.
12. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Las summer, Julie and their friends ran over a man while they were driving and then disposed of his body in the water.
A year later, Julie receives an anonymous letter that says “I know what you did last summer” and she realizes that their crime was witnessed.
But as they try to get away from whoever’s stalking them, the body count starts to rise. I Know What You Did Last Summer is a classic summer teen thriller that you need to see at least once.
13. He Knows You’re Alone (1980)
It’s an ’80s horror film and Tom Hanks is the bad guy (I kid you not). He Knows You’re Alone is a slasher film that follows a bride-to-be that’s stalked before her wedding… by Tom Hanks (who’s character’s name is Elliot).
This film is described as being one of the first to be inspired by the success of Halloween (which came out 2 years earlier). If you want to see the first screen appearance of one of America’s most beloved actors, this is where you’ll find it.
14. The Last House on the Left (2009)
In The Last House on the Left, Mari and her friends plan to go on holiday to the Collingwood lake house, but instead they’re kidnapped by an escaped convict and his crew.
The group is later left for dead, but she manages to find her way back home where her mom unwittingly offers shelter to the bad dudes. It’s a wild tale that’s perfect for a teen horror night scream.
15. The Final (2010)
If you’re looking for movies like When a Stranger Calls, The Final is for you.
In this horror film, a group of friends are terrorized by a psychopath and his team of misfits that have a serious vendetta during their senior year of high school.
This horror film has all the suspense and scares that you could want in a horror movie, and it’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
What is When a Stranger Calls?
Never seen When a Stranger Calls? You’re missing out!
Loosely based on a true story, this teen scream follows the story of babysitter Jill who’s watching kids at a hella rich house. Suddenly, she starts receiving creepy phone calls from a stranger.
As the calls become more and more intense, she realizes that she is not alone in the house with the children and must take action to save them. The film is based on the 1979 horror classic of the same name.
Final Thoughts: Movies Like When a Stranger Calls
I know it’s cheesy, but When A Stranger Calls is probably one of my favorite teen screams that I often re-watch while I’m working away at my desk. It encompasses everything I need in a scary move – a remote house, no one around except two kids who really can’t help, and a stranger that can’t be seen.
The good news is that if you’re like me and you’re looking for something similar, there’s PLENTY to choose from. I personally like something freaky like The Strangers or teen scream like Sorority Row. But if you’re looking for scary and cinematic, check out It Follows.
