FANGORIA's 2025 Chainsaw Awards nominees have been revealed, and voting is now open! With voting taking place from July 9th - 20th, you'll have plenty of time to vote for your favorite nominees across categories you might expect from an entertainment awards show.... but where else are you going to be able to vote on your favorite creature FX, makeup FX, and public domain resurrection movie? You can vote now or learn more and check out the nominees list below:
[From the Press Release] FANGORIA, the iconic horror magazine and genre authority, has announced the nominees for the 2025 Chainsaw Awards, recognizing standout achievements in horror across film, television, and gaming. Voting opens July 9 and runs through July 20 at fangoria.com/vote, putting the power in fans’ hands to crown the best in blood.
Ready to see who made the cut? The full list of the 2025 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards nominees awaits below. Scroll to the bottom of this release to view every category and contender.
Cast Your Vote: https://fangoria.com/vote
Highlights from this year’s nominee slate include genre-defying films like The Substance and Sinners, standout lead performances by Willa Fitzgerald (Strange Darling) and Hunter Schafer (Cuckoo), and some highly anticipated sequels in the video game category like Death Stranding 2 and Silent Hill 2 Remake.
Nominees were selected by a nominating body of over 150 industry tastemakers, creators, and professionals, drawing from the most impactful releases between July 2024 and June 2025.
“This year we continue the new tradition of pitting the second half of last year with the first half of this year in a cage match of cinematic carnage. Like the Grammys, but gorier,” says FANGORIA Editor-in-Chief Phil Nobile Jr. “It's made for a rather chaotic list of nominees, and we expect the voting to be vicious and voluminous."
Launched in 1992, the FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards remain the genre’s premier fan-powered celebration, recognizing bold, visionary work while championing artists often overlooked by traditional awards. Categories include Best Wide Release, Best Streaming Premiere, Best Director, Best Kill, Best Creature FX, and more.
“One of the most exciting aspects of putting this show together each year is knowing that it all comes down to the fans. Until the votes are cast, there’s always an element of the unknown,” said Michael Varrati, Writer and Director of the Chainsaw Awards. “This year’s nominees represent a wide and diverse range of stories and artistry from across the genre. I encourage horror fans to vote,
because their voice, their love of a film, could be the thing that makes all the difference.”
Winners will be revealed in October 2025 during the FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards broadcast on Shudder.
Official Nominees for the 2025 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards
Nominees are presented alphabetically by category, and alphabetically within each category. The order may be calm, but the competition is chaos.
BEST WIDE RELEASE
BEST LIMITED RELEASE MOVIE
BEST STREAMING PREMIERE
BEST INTERNATIONAL MOVIE
BEST FIRST FEATURE
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
BEST DIRECTOR
BEST SCREENPLAY
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
BEST SCORE
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
BEST MAKEUP FX
BEST CREATURE FX
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
BEST NON-FICTION TV SERIES OR MINISERIES
BEST SERIES
BEST VIDEO GAME
BEST PUBLIC DOMAIN RESURRECTION
About The FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards
Launched by FANGORIA over 30 years ago, the FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards are a cornerstone of horror culture, spotlighting genre-defining performances and uniting fans and filmmakers across the globe. Past winners include Wes Craven, George A. Romero, Lupita Nyong’o, Elisabeth Moss, Mia Goth, and Jordan Peele. Today, the Chainsaw Awards serve as both a time capsule and a launchpad for horror’s most unforgettable moments.
About FANGORIA
Founded in 1979, FANGORIA has evolved from a cult-favorite print magazine into a global horror entertainment force spanning editorial, digital media, podcasting, merchandise, live events, and original film/TV under FANGORIA Studios. From Sundance-lauded films in production to a ravenous fan community, FANGORIA continues to honor horror’s legacy while shaping its future. FANGORIA’s mission is rooted in one belief: Everyone screams in the same language.
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