Netflix Is Releasing One Of Mike Flanagan's Best Horror Movies Next Month

TheNews2/Cover Images Published Aug 21, 2026, 10:40 AM EDT Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Netflix is releasing one of Mike Flanagan's best horror movies next month. The streaming service has confirmed the release of the movie as Flanagan prepares to release his next big TV series. Flanagan's previous work with Netflix included releasing a number of high-profile streaming series, including The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher. Under his new deal with Amazon, Flanagan is now producing new projects for the studio, including Prime Video's upcoming Carrie TV show. But that hasn't stopped his projects from being available to stream on Netflix. This includes his movies, and one upcoming film that will soon be available: Oculus. Released in 2013, the movie follows two siblings who grow convinced that an antique mirror in their home is responsible for a number of terrible occurrences during their childhood involving death and other horrifying events. It was both a critical and box office success, earning its place as one of Flanagan's best movies. And, soon enough, it's going to be available to watch on Netflix for anyone to see. Oculus Is Mike Flanagan's Most Underrated Horror Movie Image via MovieStillsDB According to What's on Netflix, Flanagan's Oculus will be available to stream starting Thursday, September 24. This means the movie's arrival on the platform is just one month away, adding to the collection of the horror filmmaker's work that is already there. Oculus earned positive reviews from critics upon its release, scoring a Certified Fresh 75% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 156 reviews. However, the movie's box office doesn't fully reflect its success, as it earned $44.4 million against a $5 million budget. While the movie was a success in theaters, it also wasn't seen by that large an audience. It also hasn't earned much traction following its release, despite it being one of Flanagan's earlier works of note. This makes it a rather underrated gem among his horror movies, since it didn't make as big an impact as films like Ouija: Origin of Evil or Hush. However, its story of two siblings broken by what they've experienced at the hands of childhood trauma serves as a compelling tale, with plenty of twists and turns to make it all the more horrifying. Mike Flanagan & Netflix Have A Good History The movie's arrival on Netflix reflects Flanagan's good history with the studio, especially apparent in the numerous original movies and TV shows he produced for them. Everything from Gerald's Game to The Midnight Club offered up some chilling yet important stories that made a lasting impression on many viewers. While Flanagan is no longer working with Netflix for his future projects, the ones he has produced for them showcase how well he and the streamer worked together in the past. As for the future, Flanagan is focused not only on productions for Amazon via Prime Video, but more theatrical releases as well. He's a co-writer for the DCU's upcoming Clayface movie, while also serving as director and writer for The Exorcist: Martyrs. As for Oculus, its Netflix arrival means viewers can more easily see one of his very first movies, showcasing where his filmmaking began, and outlining a trajectory for where it's gone since.