Meta horror is a subgenre of horror movies that are self-referential to the genre and depict filming or the making of a film. These films break the fourth wall and nod to the audience, revitalizing the genre by utilizing the meta nature of horror. Meta horror movies creatively explore what makes the genre tick and can be stretched sometimes too far into parody. The concept of meta can be seen in different ways in these movies, such as:

• Self-awareness: These films become self-referential, hearkening back to tropes and conventions of the horror genre to crack jokes, make points, and enhance the story being told on screen.

• Twists on tropes: Some meta horror movies twist tropes and force the audience to realign them, such as Tucker and Dale vs. Evil.

• Exploration of horror: Other meta horror movies explore the effect of horror on those who create it, such as New Nightmare.

Some of the best-known meta horror movies include the Scream franchise, Cabin in the Woods, Shaun of the Dead, and Rubber. These movies creatively break the fourth wall and nod to the audience, revitalizing the genre by utilizing the meta nature of horror.