Blumhouse Productions is a film studio most associated with horror movies and that might make folks who don’t like the genre avoid them. However, Blumhouse actually has a diverse portfolio of films covering all sorts of genres. After all, they’re the studio behind the likes of Whiplash, Lawless, and The Hunt.
Their bread and butter is indeed horror, though, and people who aren’t into that genre will want to avoid the Paranormal Activity, Halloween, and Insidious franchises. That said, there are several horror movies by Blumhouse Productions that even non-horror fans should watch. Some aren’t too scary while some are just fantastic films you need to check out.
The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
The premise of The Purge franchise is rooted in horror but skews more towards action in later entries. While the first film is a contained horror/thriller, the first sequel, The Purge: Anarchy, sees a story told out in the city, as all crime is legal for one night.
Sure, there are horror elements in The Purge: Anarchy, but following characters like LAPD sergeant Leo (Frank Grillo) allowed the action to move to the forefront. That means that those who want to avoid something scary can still enjoy this film.
Unlike 2013’s The Purge, this installment also focuses on several different characters throughout the city, meaning it can tell various stories, which helps make it more accessible. The entries after this are also more on the side of action than horror, so the franchise works for everyone.
Unfriended: Dark Web (2018)
In 2018, Searching managed to make waves by telling a compelling story only using computer screens and smartphones, which has become a more popular trope in the years since. However, Unfriended is one of the first films to pull that off and it did it successfully.
The movie, told almost entirely through MacBook screens, centers on a group of high school friends on a Skype call when a haunting begins to impact them. Non-horror fans tend to avoid the supernatural so they might be more inclined to check out the sequel, Unfriended: Dark Web.
This installment again focuses on a group of friends on a call together, only to learn that they’re being watched by criminal hackers. These criminals terrorize them in unsettling ways, and while there are certainly scares in this film, it doesn’t go far enough to turn away too many viewers.
M3GAN (2022)
One of the most popular Blumhouse movies ever made is M3GAN, which became a viral sensation upon its arrival in 2022. The film centers on an artificial intelligence doll designed to be a companion for a young child, only to turn sentient and violent.
M3GAN became so popular because the doll was perfect for things like quick dance videos that could captivate audiences on TikTok and in short commercials. While the premise of M3GAN is in the realm of horror, there’s certainly a comedic aspect to it all.
While the titular doll is killing people, you can’t help but laugh as she starts to dance before doing it. The film holds an impressive 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is great for non-horror fans. The same goes for the over-the-top sequel that arrived in 2025.
Cam (2018)
While M3GAN is very well-known, Cam sits as one of the less famous Blumhouse Productions films. This underrated Netflix original horror movie has an intriguing premise as it follows a camgirl who suddenly finds herself replaced online by a doppelgänger.
Cam is written by Isa Mazzei, who pulled from her own experiences as a camgirl to pen the screenplay. The film might be rooted in horror but it’s more of a psychological thriller than anything, meaning non-horror fans can watch it with no issues.
Although it wasn’t a huge movie, Cam remains a hidden gem for Blumhouse. It was met with very strong reviews from critics who praised the atmosphere, Daniel Goldhaber’s direction, and the lead performance of Madeline Brewer.
Creep (2014)
When people see Mark Duplass, they likely don’t associate him with the horror genre. He’s most known for a slew of great indie flicks, a supporting role on Apple TV+’s The Morning Show, and in the hilarious comedy series The League.
However, Duplass might be at his very best in the underrated Creep film series. The found footage film centers on Duplass’s Josef, a man who hires a videographer to record him doing various things as something to show his unborn child since he’s dying of a brain tumor.
The psychological horror aspect of the tale comes into play when it is revealed that Josef isn’t who he seems. He makes the videographer uncomfortable and grows more unhinged as time passes, resulting in a slow-burning horror that isn’t overly scary but does leave its mark.
The Invisible Man (2020)
Over the years, there have been several takes on H.G. Wells’ 1897 novel, The Invisible Man. The most recent is Blumhouse’s 2020 film, which was initially meant to be part of their Dark Universe before that flopped and the movie ended up as a standalone project.
That proved to be for the better as The Invisible Man worked well as its own thing rather than trying to incorporate anything else. It was also boosted by the incredible performance of Elisabeth Moss in the lead role, as she is terrorized throughout and you feel it every step of the way.
What also worked for The Invisible Man was that it avoided going the horror route. Instead, this is more of a sci-fi/thriller take as Moss’ Cee has her life ruined by her abusive ex, who uses technology made by his company to make himself invisible.
Split (2016)
In the early 2000s, it was difficult to find a more notable filmmaker than M. Night Shyamalan after his hit films The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs. However, his reputation declined with several poorly received releases to the point where he stopped getting big budgets from studios.
So, Shyamalan personally funded his next project, the much smaller The Visit, which was well-received and distributed by Blumhouse. He followed that success up with Split, which centers on a man with dissociative identity disorder who kidnaps three girls and imprisons them.
James McAvoy gives a must-see performance as the man with over a dozen personalities that fight to control his body. Watching him move from one personality to another is masterful and any fan of cinema can appreciate it, regardless of the genre.
Upgrade (2018)
Leigh Whannell worked with horror master James Wan as a writer and producer on various films in the genre like the Saw franchise, the Insidious franchise, and Dead Silence. Whannell made his directorial debut with the third Insidious film before branching out with horror subgenres.
Among those are the aforementioned sci-fi horror The Invisible Man and the action horror Upgrade. This 2018 film follows a technophobe who gets paralyzed after a mugging but is implanted with a chip that lets him regain control of his body. With these new abilities, he goes on a hunt for revenge.
Although Upgrade is categorized as an action horror movie, it really leans way more into the action than the horror. There really isn’t anything scary in the film, yet the action sequences and fight scenes are fantastic.
Hush (2016)
Mike Flanagan has kind of cemented himself as a master of horror. He’s directed Stephen King adaptations like Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep, while also serving as showrunner on incredible TV series like The Haunting of Hill House and The Fall of the House of Usher.
One of his best movies is the little-seen Hush, which is still a horror movie but it avoids anything relating to monsters or supernatural entities. Instead, it tells the story of a woman who can’t hear or speak being tormented by a killer trying to invade her home.
Yes, that’s still a harrowing horror story but it feels more like a story of survival. It’s incredibly engaging, no matter your genre preference, to watch as the protagonist (played by Kate Siegel) tries everything in her power to survive a situation where she’s overmatched in a handful of ways.
Get Out (2017)
There’s no doubt that Get Out is a horror movie and it was a big hit at that. The film centers on Chris, a Black man who meets the family of his white girlfriend only to learn that they are harboring some vile secrets and plot to do unspeakable things to him.
Even if you’re someone who wants to avoid horror movies at all costs, though, Get Out is a must-see film. The buildup of the tension is remarkable and Jordan Peele has one of the best debuts for a director in recent memory. On top of that, Get Out was incredibly well-received.