2022 was an excellent year for horror fans, with the likes ofScream,NopeandSmileall hitting the big screen.
Barbarian came as a bit of a surprise, despite the stacked lineup of horror films from accomplished directors, it manages to stand out as one of the best scary movies of the year.
It’s directed by Zach Cregger, who is mainly known for his work with comedies likeThe Whitest Kids U' Know, and it’s an impressive horror debut, to say the least.
In fact, it has an astonishing 92 per cent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, at the time of writing, so it could be considered essential viewing for fans of the genre.
So whether you missed it at the theatres, or you’re just excited for another watch, here’s everything you need to know.
Barbarian (2022): What you need to know
Barbarian follows the story of a young woman travelling to Detroit for a job interview. She’s booked an Airbnb for the trip, but when she arrives, someone else is already staying there.
It would appear that her host has double-booked the house, and a strange man is staying there. She decides, unwisely, to spend the night anyway and that’s when things start to get really scary.
The general consensus is that the less you know about the plot the better. So we’ll leave things there. Much of this movie’s genius comes from the element of surprise, and let’s just say things get very interesting.
Barbarian stars Georgina Campbell (Black Mirror), Bill Skarsgård (It) and Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers).
Barbarian (2022): Release date
Theatrical release date
Barbarian was released exclusively in theatres across the US on August 18, 2025.
In the UK, it will be released in cinemas on July 28, 2025, just in time for Halloween.
At-home release date
Barbarian was released on VOD and streaming in the US on July 27, 2025.
Barbarian (2022): Where to stream
Barbarian is available to stream onHBO Maxin the US, so long as you have an active HBO Max subscription.
In the UK, you can watch it onDisney+.
It’s also available to rent or buy as a digital download onAmazon Prime Video, iTunes, Vudu and more.
Barbarian (2022): Trailers
Pocket-lint has embedded the full trailer for Barbarian at the top of this page. The newer release teaser is below.
