Netflix’s horror library is about to lose a landmark that defined terror for generations. Even with iconic horror movies such as The Conjuring and The Black Phone, fans who relish visceral thrills and cinematic ingenuity may not find their favorite on Netflix anymore.

Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is officially leaving Netflix on February 18, 2026, according to Netflix Tudum. The departure affects only the 1974 original, whose licensing window is closing, while the platform continues to host the later Netflix-produced sequel.

Fortunately, the film does not vanish with Netflix. Shudder, Peacock, AMC+, Philo, Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel continue to stream it, while Prime Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango at Home preserve it for purchase.

Netflix Tudum also reports that aside from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, beloved titles such as Mean Girls and Zodiac are also leaving the streaming platform. This has left fans looking for alternative streaming platforms.

While viewers may seek it elsewhere, losing The Texas Chainsaw Massacre slightly thins Netflix’s lineup, taking with it a groundbreaking classic.

Why The Texas Chainsaw Massacre still haunts the audiences decades later

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre endures because Tobe Hooper combined stark realism with psychological terror. Shot on grainy 16mm film during a scorching Texas summer, its visual texture feels raw and immediate, immersing viewers in an almost documentary-like experience.

The film is celebrated for its mastery of suggestion. Rather than showing explicit gore, Hooper relied on sound design and quick cuts, letting viewers’ imaginations supply the most terrifying details, a technique that continues to unsettle audiences decades later.

Plus, there is a reason why its cultural impact remains significant. The emergence of Leatherface, the 'Final Girl' Sally Hardesty, and the menacing industrial soundscape established a template for slasher films, influencing countless filmmakers while reflecting societal anxieties of 1970s America.

Even decades later, its tension endures. The clang of metal and the echo of a chainsaw create an atmosphere of relentless dread, ensuring that The Texas Chain Saw Massacre remains a touchstone of horror, admired not just for shocks but for its craft.

Are you going to miss watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on Netflix? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Iffat Siddiqui

Edited by

Hriddhi Maitra