Spooky season is here, so it seemed like the perfect time to look back on what I consider to be the best horror movies ever made. Of course, I’m just one man, and am incapable of watching everything, so this probably shouldn’t be considered a comprehensive list. And even if it were, everyone’s tastes are different, so we probably won’t agree. Some of you probably won’t even agree with me classifying some of these films as horror. But that’s half the fun of these kinds of things, so feel free to let me know what you think of my rankings and tell me what I’ve missed in the comments and in the meantime maybe you’ll find a new favorite or two of your own in the recommendations here!
PS. And remember that you can access the movies listed on Kanopy or Hoopla with your library card!
100. An American Werewolf in London
1981 / R / DIR. JOHN LANDIS / STARS: DAVID NAUGHTON, GRIFFIN DUNNE
Mixing humor, horror, and genuine heart, John Landis’ 1981 hit may be the best werewolf movie yet made, with a transformation scene still hasn’t been beat, no matter how much CGI modern filmmakers deploy trying to do so.
99. Friday the 13th
1980 / R / DIR. SEAN S. CUNNINGHAM / STARS: BETSY PALMER, ADRIENNE KING, KEVIN BACON
[SPOILER ALERT] Sure, Jason’s barely in it, but the original Friday the 13th still ranks as the best. The desolate, pre-season Summer Camp vibes are perfectly eerie, the cast is surprisingly good for an 80’s slasher (and features a pre-fame Kevin Bacon), and the kills are vicious. For simple horror fun, this one is hard to beat.
98. The Strangers
2008 / R / DIR. BRYAN BERTINO / STARS: LIV TYLER, SCOTT SPEEDMAN, GEMMA WARD
There’s not much scarier than the idea of being attacked by, ahem, strangers simply because “you were home.” Ruthlessly effective with some of the most hair-raisingly chilling scenes ever put to film.
97. Final Destination 2
2003 / R / DIR. DAVID R. ELLIS / STARS: ALI LARTER, A.J. COOK, MICHAEL LANDES, TONY TODD
Literally everyone who has ever seen this movie avoids flatbed trucks hauling timber because of the opening sequence. That alone should earn this movie a spot here, that it’s also a grimly fun ride for the remainder of its runtime only helps.
96. La Llorona
2019 / NR / DIR. JAYRO BUSTAMANTE / STARS: MARÍA MERCEDES COROY, SABRINA DE LA HOZ
Using the trappings of ghost stories to indict the former Guatemalan regime of Monteverde and its genocide of native Mayans in the early 1980s, director Jayro Bustamente reminds us that no matter how creepy a haunting might be, humanity is often capable of far greater horrors.
95. It
2017 / R / DIR. ANDY MUSCHIETTI / STARS: BILL SKARSGÅRD, JAEDEN MARTELL, FINN WOLFHARD, SOPHIA LILLIS, JEREMY RAY TAYLOR, JACK DYLAN GRAZER
Chapter 2 can’t quite keep up the momentum this first part establishes, but as far as adapting one of Stephen King’s most beloved novels goes, this first outing pretty much nails it. The kids are perfectly cast, the vibes are on point, and the funhouse chills are highly effective.
94. Skinamarink
2022 / NR / DIR. KYLE EDWARD BALL / STARS: LUCAS BALL, DALI ROSE TETREAULT
I’ve never seen a movie so perfectly capture the feeling of being a scared kid alone in the dark, trying to make out what might be lurking in the shadows. This may be too minimal for some, but it had me feeling genuinely unnerved.
93. It Follows
2014 / R / DIR. DAVID ROBERT MITCHELL / STARS: MAIKA MONROE, KEIR GILCHRIST
In his second feature film, writer / director David Robert Mitchell takes STDs to horrific new heights. With a talented young cast, chilling imagery, disorientingly odd production design choices, and a killer Disasterpeace soundtrack, this is one of 2010s indie cinema’s most memorable films.
92. Get Out
2017 / R / DIR. JORDAN PEELE / STARS: DANIEL KALUUYA, ALLISON WILLIAMS, CATHERINE KEENER, BRADLEY WHITFORD, CALEB LANDRY JONES, LAKEITH STANFIELD, LIL REL HOWERY
It’s a little bit lighter on actual scares than I would like, but it’s still a very smart satire of modern American race relations with some chilling scenes and a perfect ending.
91. No One Will Save You
2023 / PG-13 / DIR. BRIAN DUFFIELD / STARS: KAITLYN DEVER
Almost completely free of dialog, this extraterrestrial thriller keeps viewers on the edge of their seat throughout, only occasionally pausing to add some extra emotional wallop to its story.
90. Late Night with the Devil
2023 / R / DIR. CAMERON CAIRNES & COLIN CAIRNES / STARS: DAVID DASTMALCHIAN, LAURA GORDON, INGRID TORELLI
The filmmakers expertly recreate a retro TV talk show to ensure we are fully bought-in as escalating supernatural threats begin to appear. David Dastmalchian gives a typically superb performance as the host who sees his past actions come back to haunt him (literally) in this chillingly fun film.
89. Tremors
1990 / PG-13 / DIR. RON UNDERWOOD / STARS: KEVIN BACON, FRED WARD, FINN CARTER, MICHAEL GROSS, REBA MCENTIRE
When mixed together just right, horror and comedy can make for a delectable blend, as evidenced by this B-movie homage featuring giant sandworms terrorizing a desert town. Kevin Bacon makes his second appearance on this list as part of another better-than-usual (or necessary) cast. Few other movies blend genuine laughs and thrills as well as Tremors.
88. The Evil Dead
1981 / NC-17 / DIR. SAM RAIMI / STARS: BRUCE CAMPBELL
Director Sam Raimi and star Bruce Campbell both burst into the mainstream thanks to this over-the-top horror hit that remains one of the most imaginatively grisly genre efforts ever made. A solid reminder that sometimes you really can judge a book by its cover.
87. The Others
2001 / PG-13 / DIR. ALEJANDRO AMENÁBAR / STARS: NICOLE KIDMAN, FIONNULA FLANAGAN, CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON
This may be the epitome of the “classic” ghost story. Beautifully staged with a strong performance by Nicole Kidman holding it all together, if it weren’t for the Oscars’ general bias against horror movies this would have been showered with nominations (at least the BAFTA’s threw 2 its way).
86. The Omen
1976 / R / DIR. RICHARD DONNER / STARS: GREGORY PECK, LEE REMICK
Plenty of parents have periodically wondered if their children might not be Satan’s spawn, but this movie posits that they have no idea how good they actually have it. As Gregory Peck’s ambassador Thorn gradually learns that he really IS raising the Devil, people around him begin to die in increasingly elaborate ways.
85. Night of the Living Dead
1968 / R / DIR. GEORGE A. ROMERO / STARS: JUDITY O’DEA, DUANE JONES
Basically invented the zombie as we know it. Some of the special effects could charitably be described as “quaint”, but the sociopolitical commentary still rings unfortunately true, ensuring that the shambling undead aren’t the only thing scary in this story.
84. Terrified
2017 / NR / DIR. DEMIÁN RUGNA / STARS: MAXI GHIONE, NORBERTO GONZALO
Few movies dare to give themselves a title they hope will describe the state of the viewer as they watch, but Argentinian chiller Terrified decided to go for it. Launching the career of scare master Demián Rugna, this one truly lives up to its name.
83. The Invisible Man
2020 / R / DIR. LEIGH WHANNELL / STARS: ELISABETH MOSS, ALDIS HODGE, OLIVER JACKSON-COHEN
Updating H.G. Well’s classic novel about an insufferable narcissist for the 21st century proved an easy task for Leigh Whannell (co-creator of Saw and Insidious). Anchored by an always excellent Elisabeth Moss this one really goes for the jugular and shows that when it comes to men-in-power, some things never change.
82. Dawn of the Dead
1978 / NR / DIR. GEORGE A. ROMERO / STARS: DAVID EMGE, KEN FOREE
There’s nothing “quaint” about Romero’s second zombie outing, which traps a group of outbreak survivors in an American mall (consumer culture commentary anyone?) and features some truly unforgettable gore effects by master of the trade Tom Savini.
81. V/H/S/2
2013 / R / DIR. SIMON BARRETT, JASON EISENER, GARETH EVANS, GREGG HALE, EDUARDO SÁNCHEZ, TIMO TJAHJANTO, ADAM WINGARD
This found-footage anthology franchise has proven to be surprisingly long-lived (the ninth installment just dropped on Shudder), but the second film in the series still remains the high-water mark. Featuring directors Eduardo Sánchez (The Blair Witch Project), Simon Barrett (You’re Next), Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs. Kong), Timo Tjahjanto (May the Devil Take You), Gareth Evans (The Raid), Jason Eisener (Hobo with a Shotgun), and Gregg Hale even the weakest entries in part 2 are well worth a watch. And the best parts are legendary.
80. The Shining
1980 / R / DIR. STANLEY KUBRICK / STARS: JACK NICHOLSON, SHELLEY DUVALL, DANNY LLOYD, SCATMAN CROTHERS
Stephen King is notoriously not a fan of Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of his novel, and he does raise some valid points, but this is still such a stylishly eerie movie that the complaints are easy to overlook. It loses some suspense on repeat viewings, but that first time is truly one of the tensest viewing experiences imaginable.
79. Jurassic Park
1993 / PG-13 / DIR. STEVEN SPIELBERG / STARS: SAM NEILL, LAURA DERN, JEFF GOLDBLUM, RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH
Effectively a haunted house movie with a remote island subbing for the house and genetically engineered dinosaurs serving as the carnivorous ghosts. Few other filmmakers have Spielberg’s knack for thrilling set pieces, and this is the director at his most purely spectacular.
78. Opera
1987 / R / DIR. DARIO ARGENTO / STARS: CRISTINA MARSILLACH, IAN CHARLESON, DARIA NICOLODI
Italian horror master Dario Argento makes full use of Parma’s stunning Teatro Regio in this twisted and convoluted giallo. He once again deploys his keen stylistic eye to create tension, pulling off some truly bravura shots. No one can mix high art and trash quite like he can.
77. Green Room
2015 / R / DIR. JEREMY SAULNIER / STARS: ANTON YELCHIN, IMOGEN POOTS, PATRICK STEWART, ALIA SHAWKAT, JOE COLE, CALLUM TURNER, MACON BLAIR
Nazi skinheads would seem like logical horror villains, so it’s a surprise they aren’t deployed more often. Maybe if this intensely chilling movie had been a bigger hit they would have been, but as it stands Patrick Stewart’s Darcy Banker should still populate many nightmares.
76. Climax
2018 / R / DIR. GASPAR NOÉ / STARS: SOFIA BOUTELLA
Don’t do drugs kids, lest you want to befall the same fate as this highly talented dance crew whose Winter retreat descends into chaotic, violent madness.
75. Gremlins
1984 / PG / DIR. JOE DANTE / STARS: ZACH GALLIGAN, PHOEBE CATES, COREY FELDMAN, JUDGE REINHOLD
I can’t think of any other movies that start out so cute before turning so violent. Certainly at least partially responsible for the creation of the PG-13 rating, this surprisingly mean-spirited “family” “Christmas” movie is a perfect way to transition from one Holiday season to another.
74. Crimson Peak
2015 / R / DIR. GUILLERMO DEL TORO / STARS: MIA WASIKOWSKA, JESSICA CHASTAIN, TOM HIDDLESTON, CHARLIE HUNNAM
Guillermo del Toro deploys his fantastic imagination to create a stunning gothic tale. All of the tropes are dialed to 11 and the resulting symphony is impossible to tune out, or forget.
73. The Mist
2007 / R / DIR. FRANK DARABONT / STARS: THOMAS JANE, MARCIA GAY HARDEN, LAURIE HOLDEN, ANDRE BRAUGHER, TOBY JONES
This adaptation of a Stephen King story serves as both an homage to classic B-horror films and a critique of America in microcosm, ably succeeding at both on its way to a stunningly bleak finale.
72. Stopmotion
2023 / R / DIR. ROBERT MORGAN / STARS: AISLING FRANCIOSI, STELLA GONET, TOM YORK
A relatively simple story is elevated by some of the most uniquely crafted imagery in horror history. The stop motion segments generate real fear that then permeates every bit of the film’s reality to great effect.
71. She Dies Tomorrow
2020 / R / DIR. AMY SEIMETZ / STARS: KATE LYN SHEIL, JANE ADAMS, KENTUCKER AUDLEY, KATIE ASELTON, CHRIS MESSINA, TUNDE ADEBIMPE, JOSH LUCAS, ADAM WINGARD, MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ
Can an idea spread like a virus? When Amy’s matter-of-fact insistence that she knows she is living her last day on Earth begins to spread through her friend group, darkly comic chaos and existentialist terror take hold.
70. You’re Next
2011 / R / DIR. ADAM WINGARD / STARS: SHARNI VINSON, JOE SWANBERG, AJ BOWEN, AMY SEIMETZ, TI WEST, BARBARA CRAMPTON, LARRY FESSENDEN, SIMON BARRETT
Take one part darkly comic family drama and one part home invasion horror and you get this viciously entertaining romp. As twisty as it is twisted, this one is perfect Halloween party viewing.
69. The Ring
2002 / PG-13 / DIR. GORE VERBINSKI / STARS: NAOMI WATTS, MARTIN HENDERSON, DAVID DORFMAN, BRIAN COX, AMBER TAMBLYN, DAVEIGH CHASE
Inescapable threats that spread like viruses seem to be a common theme on this list, but few other movies deployed the idea as well as this one. Based on the Japenese Ringu, it follows Rachel (Naomi Watts) as she tries to keep herself and her son from befalling the violent end that is promised after watching a disturbing videotape. It’s more mystery than horror for much of its runtime, but the shocking conclusion serves as strong argument against reviving the VHS format.
68. Smile
2022 / R / DIR. PARKER FINN / STARS: SOSIE BACON, JESSIE T. USHER, KYLE GALLNER, KAL PENN
See above. This time it’s a twisted, smiling face that spreads the madness, which allows for the creation of some genuinely nightmarish imagery.
67. Cloverfield
2008 / PG-13 / DIR. MATT REEVES / STARS: MIKE VOGEL, JESSICA LUCAS, LIZZY CAPLAN, T.J. MILLER, MICHAEL STAHL-DAVID
Allegedly we will one day get a sequel to this found footage kaiju movie that used the conventions of the format to make giant monsters more frightening than they’d been in years. The weird, bat-faced monster and its minions wreaking bloody havoc on New York City helped in that regard as well.
66. The Sixth Sense
1999 / PG-13 / DIR. M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN / STARS: BRUCE WILLIS, HALEY JOEL OSMENT, TONI COLLETTE, DONNIE WAHLBERG, MISCHA BARTON
This is another one that relies heavily on not knowing where it’s headed to truly appreciate, but with masterful plotting and strong performances it’s still highly watchable even when the by-now-well-known twist is no longer a surprise.
65. Trick ‘r Treat
2007 / R / DIR. MICHAEL DOUGHERTY / STARS: ANNA PAQUIN, DYLAN BAKER, BRIAN COX, LESLIE BIBB, QUINN LORD
Such a fun horror anthology as to be practically required viewing each Halloween season. The loosely connected stories play with nearly every trope of the holiday, toying with viewer expectations. Often funny but not afraid to go dark and featuring a character that has become a Spirit Halloween staple despite the movie’s poor initial box office performance.
64. King Kong
2005 / PG-13 / DIR. PETER JACKSON / STARS: NAOMI WATTS, JACK BLACK, ADRIEN BRODY, THOMAS KRETSCHMANN, COLIN HANKS, ANDY SERKIS, JAMIE BELL, KYLE CHANDLER
Kong himself may not be the most frightening movie monster, but there are plenty of other thrills and frights to be found in Peter Jackson’s epic take on the first true American kaiju. That we as a species still haven’t taken the story’s warnings about the exploitation of nature to heart might be the scariest thing about it.
63. Us
2019 / R / DIR. JORDAN PEELE / STARS: LUPITA NYONG’O, WINSTON DUKE, ELISABETH MOSS, TIM HEIDECKER, YAHYA ABDUL-MATEEN II, ANNA DIOP
The social messaging may not be as strong in Jordan Peele’s follow-up to Get Out, but he proves that he can stage some truly bone-chilling scares this time around. And Lupita Nyong’o should have been nominated for an Oscar for her dual role here (not the only mention on this list that was egregiously snubbed by the Academy).
62. Pulse
2001 / R / DIR. KIYOSHI KUROSAWA / STARS: HARUHIKO KATÔ, KUMIKO ASÔ, KOYUKI
An evil travels the globe via our ubiquitous electronic devices, instilling a haunting malaise in those infected before making them fade away into blackness. Despite being light on action this one manages to spread its visceral sense of dread directly into viewers, leaving them feeling possibly infected themselves when it ends.
61. A Nightmare on Elm Street
1984 / R / DIR. WES CRAVEN / STARS: HEATHER LANGENKAMP, ROBERT ENGLUND, JOHNNY DEPP, JOHN SAXON
Wes Craven’s supernatural slasher classic takes the urban legend that one dies for real when dying in a dream and creates some truly nightmarish imagery along with one of horror’s most iconic villains in Freddy Kreuger. Later installments would lean too heavily into wisecracking comedy, but it was all fear in part 1.
60. Shin Godzilla
2016 / PG-13 / DIR. SHINJI HIGUCHI & HIDEAKI ANNO / STARS: HIROKI HASEGAWA, YUTAKA TAKENOUCHI, SATOMI ISHIHARA
Come for the giant monster, stay for the satirical look at Japanese bureaucracy. Even being unfamiliar with the ins and outs of a foreign government the humor lands, and directors Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi take some bold swings with the design of the world’s most famous monster that pay off in spectacular fashion. Who says you can’t teach an old kaiju new tricks?
59. The Autopsy of Jane Doe
2016 / R / DIR. ANDRÉ ØVREDAL / STARS: EMILE HIRSCH, BRIAN COX
Emile Hirsch and Brian Cox kill it in this relentlessly tense two-hander about a seemingly cursed corpse that arrives at their family funeral home. A simple concept well-executed is sometimes all that’s needed to generate real fear, as is so capably demonstrated here.
58. Paranormal Activity
2007 / R / DIR. OREN PELI / STARS: KATIE FEATHERSTON, MICAH SLOAT
Possibly the best usage of the found footage style to date, director Oren Peli uses the technique to create the sense of watching an actual haunting transpire. One would be hard pressed to find another movie that so effectively startled so many people by showing them so little.
57. Longlegs
2024 / R / DIR. OSGOOD PERKINS / STARS: MAIKA MONROE, NICOLAS CAGE, BLAIR UNDERWOOD, ALICIA WITT, KIERNAN SHIPKA
Nic Cage is in full crazy mode as the villain in this dark and grimy police procedural that uses disturbing imagery and off-kilter performances to build towards a deeply messed-up finale. One of those movies that makes the viewer feel dirty for just having watched it.
56. The Girl with the Needle
2024 / NR / DIR. MAGNUS VON HORN / STARS: VIC CARMEN SONNE, TRINE DYRHOLM
Punishingly bleak and loosely inspired by true events, this Danish film follows a wet nurse at an underground adoption agency who begins to suspect that there is something sinister going on at her job. Superbly acted, artfully staged, and genuinely upsetting.
55. Death of a Unicorn
2025 / R / DIR. ALEX SCHARFMAN / STARS: PAUL RUDD, JENNA ORTEGA, WILL POULTER, RICHARD E. GRANT, TEÁ LEONI
Sure, the movie’s satirical “eat the rich” messaging is a little on the nose, but that doesn’t make it any less effective or entertaining. Putting its game cast in increasingly absurd situations, many involving carnivorous unicorns, this is a truly wild ride.
54. Let the Right One In
2008 / R / DIR. TOMAS ALFREDSON / STARS: KÅRE HEDEBRANT, LINA LEANDERSSON, PER RAGNAR
More haunting than scary, though occasionally leaning towards the latter, this story of a pair of disaffected youth (one of whom happens to be a vampire) finding companionship in each other is a sweetly tragic masterpiece.
53. Re-Animator
1985 / R / DIR. STUART GORDON / STARS: JEFFREY COMBS, BRUCE ABBOTT, BARBARA CRAMPTON, DAVID GALE
So over-the-top as to feel as if it were made on a dare, this loose adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft tale consistently finds ways to reach deeper and deeper levels of depravity as it goes, doing it with a lascivious smile. Certainly not for the squeamish, but beloved by those who can stomach it.
52. Braindead (a.k.a. Dead Alive)
1992 / R / DIR. PETER JACKSON / STARS: TIMOTHY BALME, DIANA PEÑALVER, ELIZABETH MOODY
One of Peter Jackson’s first movies, Braindead (released stateside as Dead Alive) follows a lonely man living with his domineering mother who begins to turn into a zombie after she is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. Things quickly spiral from there as Jackson turns the young man’s home into a blood-soaked, grand guignol spectacle. One of the most truly insane things ever put to film.
51. Saw
2004 / R / DIR. JAMES WAN / STARS: CARY ELWES, LEIGH WHANNELL, TOBIN BELL, DANNY GLOVER, MONICA POTTER, KEN LEUNG, SHAWNEE SMITH, DINA MEYER
Despite its grisly reputation (which doesn’t really become true until the sequels), this is more of a Se7en style dark mystery. That said, it is VERY dark and what it doesn’t show you is all too easily filled in by your own imagination, making it a harrowing watch with a gut punch of an ending.
50. Misery
1990 / R / DIR. ROB REINER / STARS: KATHY BATES, JAMES CAAN, RICHARD FARNSWORTH, LAUREN BACALL, FRANCES STERNHAGEN
The story. The setting. The performances. The sledgehammer. This ranks as one of the best King adaptations of all time for good reason.
49. Knock at the Cabin
2023 / R / DIR. M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN / STARS: DAVE BAUTISTA, JONATHAN GROFF, BEN ALDRIDGE, NIKKI AMUKA-BIRD, RUPERT GRINT, ABBY QUINN, KRISTEN CUI
Not quite as bleak as the Paul Tremblay novel it’s based on, but still more than bleak enough, especially for a Shyamalan film. It does remove Tremblay’s trademark ambiguity from the finale, for better or worse, but it’s still a nerve-wracking look at a classic ethical dilemma.
48. Audition
1999 / R / DIR. TAKASHI MIIKE / STARS: RYÔ ISHIBASHI, EIHI SHIINA
Beginning with a widower holding a fake casting session in an attempt to find a new wife, this tale takes its misguided attempt at dating to surprisingly dark places. The less said beforehand the better, as this Japanese import is filled with unexpected turns.
47. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
1975 / R / DIR. JIM SHARMAN / STARS: TIM CURRY, SUSAN SARANDON, BARRY BOSTWICK, RICHARD O’BRIEN, MEAT LOAF, PATRICIA QUINN
More offbeat musical comedy than horror movie (despite the title), enough bad things befall the characters for me to say it belongs here. Tim Curry gives one of his most memorable performances as the mad scientist / alien transvestite Dr. Frank-N-Furter who rules over a delightfully odd castle. Beloved for a reason, and not just because it provides several excuses to throw food at the screen.
46. Midsommar
2019 / R / DIR. ARI ASTER / STARS: FLORENCE PUGH, JACK REYNOR, WILLIAM JACKSON HARPER, WILL POULTER
On the other end of the spectrum, this recent folk horror outing is almost entirely devoid of humor, instead using its subgenre trappings to examine grief, entitlement, and toxic relationships. Hypnotic and unsettling.
45. A Quiet Place
2018 / PG-13 / DIR. JOHN KRASINSKI / STARS: EMILY BLUNT, JOHN KRASINSKI, MILLICENT SIMMONDS, NOAH JUPE
Minor plot holes aside, Office star John Krasinski proves himself a talented horror director with this unremittingly tense creature feature. You’ll find yourself as afraid to make a sound as the imperiled characters on the screen before the movie’s over.
44. Scream
1996 / R / DIR. WES CRAVEN / STARS: NEVE CAMPBELL, COURTENEY COX, DAVID ARQUETTE, ROSE MCGOWAN, MATTHEW LILLARD, SKEET ULRICH, JAMIE KENNEDY, DREW BARRYMOORE, LIEV SCHREIBER, HENRY WINKLER
By the time Scream came out the slasher subgenre was in desperate need of revitalization, so director Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson’s fresh, meta take on the material proved a welcome breath of bloody air. The mystery was well thought out and the kills violent and scary. Plus, the now iconic mask guaranteed that a new franchise would be born.
43. The Witch
2015 / R / DIR. ROBERT EGGERS / STARS: ANYA TAYLOR-JOY, RALPH INESON
Not a lot of movies can leave me as truly unsettled as this period-accurate folk horror tale. After being forced out of their colony in 1630s New England, a devoutly religious family faces intense struggles when a supernatural being sets its sights on them. There aren’t any jump scares to be found, but the overall mood frightens more than any sudden shocks ever could.
42. [•REC]
2007 / R / DIR. JAUME BALAGUERÓ & PACO PLAZA / STARS: MANUELA VELASCO
A reporter and her cameraman become trapped in a Spanish apartment building as it is locked down due to the strange events happening inside. Expertly utilizing its first-person perspective, shocks are strategically placed throughout as the tension carries towards an ending that has now almost become a horror cliche but which is still genuinely terrifying to behold.
41. Poltergeist
1982 / PG / DIR. TOBE HOOPER / STARS: JOBETH WILLIAMS, CRAIG T. NELSON, DOMINIQUE DUNNE, HEATHER O’ROURKE, ZELDA RUBINSTEIN
Not as scary as an adult as it was when I was a kid, but this funhouse ride through a suburban home that turns nightmarish due to its having been built above a cemetery probably caused more sleepless nights among my peers than any other. Most of the then-groundbreaking special effects still hold up as does the emotionally true feeling story at its center.
40. Prey
2022 / R / DIR. DAN TRACHTENBERG / STARS: AMBER MIDTHUNDER
I’ll probably get hate for making this recent prequel the only inclusion of the Predator franchise here, but taking the story back to the 1700s proves a genius move that allows the horror elements to shine through more so than they did in the more action-focused original.
39. Verónica
2017 / TV-MA / DIR. PACO PLAZA / STARS: SANDRA ESCACENA
A young woman is terrorized by demonic forces while looking after her younger siblings in this pulse-pounding Spanish film.
38. Barbarian
2022 / R / DIR. ZACH CREGGER / STARS: GEORGINA CAMPBELL, JUSTIN LONG, BILL SKARSGÅRD, MATTHEW PATRICK DAVIS, KATE BOSWORTH
The less you know about this one going in the better, but suffice it to say that you will never guess where the movie winds up based on how it starts. Fun and frightening in equal measure.
37. The Descent
2005 / R / DIR. NEIL MARSHALL / STARS: SHAUNA MACDONALD, NATALIE MENDOZA, ALEX REID
Utilizing the underground cave system it’s set in to its full potential, this creature feature freakout is almost unbearably tense but impossible to look away from.
36. Smile 2
2024 / R / DIR. PARKER FINN / STARS: NAOMI SCOTT, ROSEMARIE DEWITT, LUKAS GAGE, KYLE GALLNER, DREW BARRYMORE
Basically the same story as the original, but bigger and more inventively staged, with a powerhouse performance by Naomi Scott as struggling pop star Skye Riley at its center. A stunner of a film.
35. Alien: Romulus
2024 / R / DIR. FEDE ÁLVAREZ / STARS: CAILEE SPAENY, DAVID JONSSON, ARCHIE RENAUX, ISABELA MERCED, SPIKE FEARN
Mashes together ideas from other installments of the series to create one of its scariest entries. David Jonsson gives another impressive performance as cyborg Andy and Cailee Spaeny makes for a compelling heroine, but it’s the often-spectacular visuals and full-on freak-out of a finale that linger.
34. Nope
2022 / R / DIR. JORDAN PEELE / STARS: DANIEL KALUUYA, KEKE PALMER, BRANDON PEREA, STEVEN YEUN, TERRY NOTARY
Jordan Peele makes another appearance on the list with his third feature, the visually stunning extraterrestrial monster tale Nope. Suspenseful, smart, and just plain fun, with moments that will forever become etched in your memory.
33. Watcher
2022 / R / DIR. CHLOE OKUNO / STARS: MAIKA MONROE, KARL GLUSMAN
Maika Monroe stars in this simple and effective thriller as a woman who finds herself feeling increasingly isolated in a foreign country and begins to suspect a neighborhood man of being a serial killer. Turns feelings of loneliness and alienation into pure nightmare fuel and looks great doing it.
32. Talk to Me
2022 / R / DIR. MICHAEL PHILIPPOU & DANNY PHILIPPOU / STARS: SOPHIE WILDE, ALEXANDRA JENSEN, JOE BIRD, MIRANDA OTTO
I don’t know that I would use the supernatural item at the center of this possession tale, but I’m glad these characters do as it allowed debut filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou to craft one of the most shocking and frightening movies of the 2020’s. Never forgetting that a compelling emotional story is key to crafting effective horror, this one packs a wallop in more ways than one.
31. 28 Days Later
2002 / R / DIR. DANNY BOYLE / STARS: CILLIAN MURPHY, NAOMIE HARRIS, BRENDAN GLEESON, CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON
Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting) and screenwriter Alex Garland (Civil War, Ex Machina) revitalized and reinvented the zombie movie for the new millennium with this intense feature in 2002. Effectively one long chase sequence, it’s nigh impossible to avoid being left breathless by this masterful film.
30. Se7en
1995 / R / DIR. DAVID FINCHER / STARS: MORGAN FREEMAN, BRAD PITT, GWYNETH PALTROW, KEVIN SPACEY
From the moment the darkly stylish opening credits arrive on screen, set to a harsh, electronic Nine Inch Nails remix, you know you’re in for something special. What follows is the hunt for a sadistic serial killer across several of the rainiest days in history. Masterful director David Fincher takes the audience on a twisted journey into the darkest recesses of the human mind heading towards an ending that has become a permanent part of our pop culture consciousness.
29. mother!
2017 / R / DIR. DARREN ARONOFSKY / STARS: JENNIFER LAWRENCE, JAVIER BARDEM, ED HARRIS, MICHELLE PFEIFFER, DOMHNALL GLEESON, KRISTEN WIIG
Jennifer Lawrence is riveting as a woman whose life spirals out of control as her husband repeatedly fills her new home with thoughtless strangers, ignoring her pleas for sanity. The relentless, nerve-jangling madness that Darren Aronofsky throws onto the screen is almost unbearable in the best way possible.
28. Train to Busan
2016 / NR / DIR. YEON SANG-HO / STARS: GONG YOO, KIM SU-AN
Heavy on action and full of heart, this South Korean zombie disaster movie takes the speedy undead of 28 Days Later in truly thrilling directions. Don’t let the subtitles keep you away from this near-perfect film.
27. The Devil’s Bath
2024 / R / DIR. SEVERIN FIALA & VERONIKA FRANZ / STARS: ANJA PLASCHG, MARIA HOFSTÄTTER, DAVID SCHEID
From my original review: “The fear comes from the very real way that society at the time mistreated its female members… This is a brilliant but profoundly upsetting movie, anchored by one of the year’s most committed and memorable performances, that uses the past to speak loudly to our world today.”
26. Requiem for a Dream
2000 / NC-17 / DIR. DARREN ARONOFSKY / STARS: ELLEN BURSTYN, JARED LETO, JENNIFER CONNELLY, MARLON WAYANS
I’ll probably get some flak for categorizing this as a horror movie, but Darren Aronofsky’s portrayal of drug addiction presents it as one of the scariest fates that could befall a person. Brilliantly performed and packed with increasingly jarring moments, it’s a movie that is guaranteed to ruin your day.
25. Candyman
1992 / R / DIR. BERNARD ROSE / STARS: VIRGINIA MADSEN, TONY TODD, XANDER BERKELEY, KASI LEMMONS, VANESSA WILLIAMS
His output may not rival Stephen King’s in volume (few can), but Clive Barker remains responsible for some of the most indelible horror tales ever created. This adaptation of his story of a folk horror legend that inhabits Chicago’s notorious Cabrini Green housing project (now demolished) is one of the most stunning fright flicks ever filmed. Sad and scary in equal measure with striking cinematography, solid performances, and a haunting Philip Glass score, by the end you won’t want to be in the same building as someone who dares utter the name Candyman anywhere near a mirror.
24. Shaun of the Dead
2004 / R / DIR. EDGAR WRIGHT / STARS: SIMON PEGG, NICK FROST, KATE ASHFIELD, LUCY DAVIS, PENELOPE WILTON, BILL NIGHY, MARTIN FREEMAN, MATT LUCAS, RAFE SPALL
So funny and so scary throughout most of its runtime that it leaves one totally unprepared for the surprisingly effective emotional moments that stack up near the end. Not many other movies can pull off so many different tones, but this one handles them all masterfully and announced filmmaker Edgar Wright as a major talent.
23. Godzilla Minus One
2023 / PG-13 / DIR. TAKASHI YAMAZAKI / STARS: RYUNOSUKE KAMIKI, MINAMI HAMABE, YUKI YAMADA, MUNETAKA AOKI
Takes Japan’s most famous lizard back to his horror roots, removing any sense of the creature being a friend to humanity. Here he is once again an unstoppable force of nature, brought about by mankind’s hubris, and attacking Japan as it struggles to rebuild in the aftermath of World War II. Beautifully made, poignant, and thrilling, this is as good as a Godzilla movie has ever been.
22. Aliens
1986 / R / DIR. JAMES CAMERON / STARS: SIGOURNEY WEAVER, CARRIE HENN, MICHAEL BIEHN, PAUL REISER, LANCE HENRIKSEN, BILL PAXTON
James Cameron’s sequel to Ridley Scott’s original Alien took the series in a decidedly more action-oriented direction, but it still remembers to scare its audience whenever possible. Making it clearer that the Wayland-Yutani Corporation is the real villain, he couches a compelling anti-capitalist message in a bloody interspecies battle.
21. The Cabin in the Woods
2011 / R / DIR. DREW GODDARD / STARS: KRISTEN CONNOLLY, FRAN KRANZ, CHRIS HEMSWORTH, JESSE WILLIAMS, BRADLEY WHITFORD, RICHARD JENKINS, AMY ACKER, SIGOURNEY WEAVER
Hailed by some as the horror film to end all horror films, thankfully that didn’t turn out to be the case. Still, this behind-the-scenes look at the “real” force behind all of our favorite fright flicks is an unforgettable ride that deliberately starts out relatively rote before growing increasingly bonkers as it nears the finale.
20. Nosferatu
2024 / R / DIR. ROBERT EGGERS / STARS: LILY-ROSE DEPP, NICHOLAS HOULT, SKARSGÅRD, AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON, WILLEM DAFOE, EMMA CORRIN, RALPH INESON
Director Robert Eggers trains his keen eye on Dracula and creates one of the most visually stunning modern movies in any genre. It’s a beautiful nightmare of a film that is dripping with blood and style in equal measure, anchored by several strong performances, and a story that is widely held to be a classic for a reason.
19. Bring Her Back
2025 / R / DIR. DANNY PHILIPPOU & MICHAEL PHILIPPOU / STARS: SALLY HAWKINS, BILLY BARRATT, SORA WONG, JONAH WREN PHILLIPS
The Philppou brothers prove that the success of Talk to Her was no fluke with their even better follow-up. Not content to only terrify us with some of the most viscerally upsetting imagery ever put on film, they also rip out our hearts with one of the year’s most emotionally devastating stories.
18. The Silence of the Lambs
1991 / R / DIR. JONATHAN DEMME / STARS: JODIE FOSTER, ANTHONY HOPKINS, SCOTT GLENN, TED LEVINE
There’s a few reasons this psychological thriller nabbed a Best Picture Oscar, a rarity for genre films. Firstly, it features some of the most memorable characters in cinema history, not the least of which is the erudite Hannibal Lecter, who isn’t even the villain despite being chillingly portrayed by Anthony Hopkins. And perhaps even more importantly director Jonathan Demme generates genuine tension throughout, especially in the night-vision framed final confrontation.
17. Hellraiser
1987 / R / DIR. CLIVE BARKER / STARS: ASHLEY LAURENCE, CLARE HIGGINS, DOUG BRADLEY, ANDREW ROBINSON, SEAN CHAPMAN
Adapting his own novel, Clive Barker brings his BDSM-tinged vision of Hell to life. Shocking on many levels and featuring some truly unsettling imagery, no one else has ever been able to recreate the unique tone or style of this dark masterwork.
16. Donnie Darko
2001 / R / DIR. RICHARD KELLY / STARS: JAKE GYLLENHAAL, JENA MALONE, JAMES DUVAL, DREW BARRYMORE, BETH GRANT, MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, MARY MCDONNELL, HOLMES OSBORNE, NOAH WYLE, KATHERINE ROSS, PATRICK SWAYZE, DAVEIGH CHASE, SETH ROGEN
Perhaps more “dark sci-fi” than “horror”, it contains enough scary elements for me to include it here. Halloween vibes basically ooze out of every scene as our title character (played by a young Jake Gyllenhaal) embarks on a metaphysical journey that leads him to believe only he can save his friends and family. There’s nothing else quite like it and I don’t think there ever will be again. Just make sure to avoid the “Director’s Cut”, as it overexplains some key elements of the story, sapping them of their ambiguous appeal.
15. Weapons
2025 / R / DIR. ZACH CREGGER / STARS: JULIA GARNER, JOSH BROLIN, ALDEN EHRENREICH, AUSTIN ABRAMS, BENEDICT WONG, AMY MADIGAN, CARY CHRISTOPHER
From my review: “…featuring some of 2025’s most memorable imagery this film manages to stand out in what has already proven to be a great year for horror. With its unique premise and a smart script that offers up just the right amount of answers while keeping the audience on edge for its entire two-hour runtime, this will be remembered as an instant genre classic.” I firmly stand by that assessment.
14. The Substance
2024 / R / DIR. CORALIE FARGEAT / STARS: DEMI MOORE, MARGARET QUALLEY, DENNIS QUAID
Using body horror to comment on society’s cruel beauty standards, Coralie Fargeat proves herself to be a vital voice in horror and a master of staging. Even at its grossest this movie is consistently gorgeous to look at. Add in stunning performances by Margaret Qualley and Demi Moore (she was robbed of that Oscar) and an off-kilter electronic score by Raffertie and it’s easy to see why this movie made such a gory splash when it debuted.
13. Halloween
1978 / R / DIR. JOHN CARPENTER / STARS: JAMIE LEE CURTIS, DONALD PLEASANCE, P.J. SOLES
It may not technically be the first slasher, but it is hands down the best and is largely responsible for the subgenre’s subsequent success. With its “less is more” story, a starmaking turn by Jamie Lee Curtis, director John Carpenter’s simple but effective score, and the menacing presence of Michael Myers this movie basically defined fear for an entire generation and continues to thrill to this day.
12. Hereditary
2018 / R / DIR. ARI ASTER / STARS: TONI COLLETTE, ALEX WOLFF, GABRIEL BYRNE, MILLY SHAPIRO, ANN DOWD
Greif and fear walk hand in hand in this terrifying look at a family being undone by trauma, both fresh and passed down. Toni Collette basically bares her soul on camera as writer / director Ari Aster puts her and her family through the wringer in every sense of the word. Gets under your skin in a way that few other movies can.
11. Psycho
1960 / R / DIR. ALFRED HITCHCOCK / STARS: ANTHONY PERKINS, JANET LEIGH, VERA MILES, JOHN GAVIN
Anthony Perkins’ Norman Bates will forever be remembered as one of cinema’s great villains and the notorious shower scene will likewise also live on. It’s a shame that now we anticipate it, because Alfred Hitchcock’s story structure has it happen so unexpectedly that it’s easy to see how it would have shocked audiences who had gone in blind. Despite the film’s pop culture ubiquity effectively serving as a giant spoiler, it’s still a well-crafted and enjoyable watch whose influence continues to reverberate through the decades.
10. Suspiria
1977 / R / DIR. DARIO ARGENTO / STARS: JESSICA HARPER, STEFANIA CASINI, UDO KIER, ALIDA VALLI, JOAN BENNETT
Dario Argento’s masterpiece, this tale of witches in a German dance school uses vibrant colors and dream logic to weave a spell on the audience. Some of what transpires doesn’t make much sense, but it doesn’t have to, as the illogic only serves to make the proceedings scarier. I never get tired of watching this movie and the recent 4K transfer highlights just how stunning it really is.
9. When Evil Lurks
2023 / NR / DIR. DEMIÁN RUGNA / STARS: EZEQUIEL RODRÍGUEZ, DEMIÁN SALOMÓN
Deploying extreme gore and sudden shocks to spin a tale of contagious evil, Demián Rugna establishes himself as a true master of terror with this vicious little film. Almost unbearably tense at times, the scares can be so extreme as to cause PTSD in the viewer. After Terrified and this (and his segment in Satanic Hispanics), I will watch anything Rugna makes.
8. Sinners
2025 / R / DIR. RYAN COOGLER / STARS: MICHAEL B. JORDAN, HAILEE STEINFELD, MILES CATON, JACK O’CONNELL, WUNMI MOSAKU, DELROY LINDO
Couching powerful narratives about American race relations and the power of art in a vampire story, Ryan Coogler has crafted a tale that transcends its genre while also being a strong example of it. Sinners looks and sounds fantastic, has one of the strongest ensemble casts in years, and fully immerses you in its story and time period. Its existence is almost miraculous on several levels and I’m grateful for it.
7. Martyrs
2008 / R / DIR. PASCAL LAUGIER / STARS: MORJANA ALAOUI, MYLÈNE JAMPANOÏ
Existentialist horror may well be the scariest kind of horror and this French-Canadian shocker handles it well. With a plot that moves from set piece to set piece with reckless abandon, this is another one that is impossible to predict. What is true? Who is evil? Where will it end up? There’s only one way to find out and it’s a bloody journey well worth taking.
6. The Exorcist
1973 / R / DIR. WILLIAM FRIEDKIN / STARS: ELLEN BURSTYN, LINDA BLAIR, JASON MILLER, MAX VON SYDOW, LEE J. COBB
Perfectly calibrated to shock and disturb, this takes fear to a whole other level. Decades after it debuted, there still hasn’t been a better, or even equally good, exorcism movie despite countless attempts. Chilling imagery abounds as the characters and the audience are repeatedly forced to question everything they think they know.
5. Pan’s Labyrinth
2006 / R / DIR. GUILLERMO DEL TORO / STARS: IVANA BAQUERO, SERGI LÓPEZ, MARIBEL VERDÚ, DOUG JONES
Even in a world in which the supernatural (maybe) exists, it’s man who is the real monster. Set during the Franco dictatorship of Spain in 1944, a young girl escapes into what is either a magical realm or her imagination to escape the horrors of her reality. Beautiful but bleak, Guillermo del Toro devastates the very soul of those who watch.
4. Jaws
1975 / PG / DIR. STEVEN SPIELBERG / STARS: ROY SCHEIDER, ROBERT SHAW, RICHARD DREYFUSS, LORRAINE GARY, BRUCE
You may still go in the water after watching Jaws, but you’ll be at least a little uneasy about it. Steven Spielberg turned himself into a household name with this one, a perfectly paced man vs. beast saga that effectively invented the Summer blockbuster.
3. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
1974 / R / DIR. TOBE HOOPER / STARS: MARILYN BURNS, GUNNAR HANSEN
It’s not nearly as bloody as most remember it (in fact there is barely any on screen blood at all), but that’s a testament to director Tobe Hooper’s skill at generating suspense as well as the budget-necessitated but ultimately wise decision to let our imaginations fill in the gaps. The grimy sets, disturbed family of villains, and realistic feel make this seem like something you aren’t supposed to see, and it remains one of the scariest films ever made.
2. Alien
1979 / R / DIR. RIDLEY SCOTT / STARS: SIGOURNEY WEAVER, TOM SKERRITT, VERONICA CARTWRIGHT, HARRY DEAN STANTON, JOHN HURT
Accurately referred to as a “haunted house movie in space”, Ridley Scott’s original Alien is one of the most effective cinematic thrill rides ever constructed. Whereas the typical haunting film at least leaves an opportunity for escape, the poor crew of the Nostromo have no such luxury, being trapped aboard the doomed ship with a seemingly unstoppable killing machine. In space no one can hear you scream, but in a movie theater or your living room they definitely can.
1. The Thing
1982 / R / DIR. JOHN CARPENTER / STARS: KURT RUSSELL, KEITH DAVID, WILFORD BRIMLEY
Whereas several of the movies at the top of this list opted not to reveal the full horror of their antagonists and the violence they caused on screen, often due to budgetary and/or technical constraints, John Carpenter’s legendary Antarctic gorefest showed no such restraint. Featuring unforgettable effects work by the esteemed team of Stan Winston and Rob Bottin, this adaptation of John W. Campbell Jr.’s 1938 novella Who Goes There? was poorly received when it first debuted in 1982 but has since gone on to be recognized as the masterpiece it is. Paranoid, ghastly, and tense, this will rank at or near the top of every horror fan’s lists.
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Cover photo by Kyle Johnson on Unsplash.
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Good list, even if I don’t agree with every placement this is still a well put-together list. Also I felt the need to comment cos the current only other comment is needlessly very rude.
Thank you! Even I probably won’t agree with every placement in a few months time, which is the tricky thing about these kinds of things. I’ll revisit and revise it next October and see where things wind up.
One of the better horror lists I’ve seen. Thx! Got about 60% in my own top 100. Glad you avoided the classics from the 1920’s & 1930’s. They were relevant back in the day, but they’re a bit silly nowadays. Have a look at the Korean movie “The Wailing”. Instant modern horror classic imo.
Thanks! I plan on updating this annually, so there is a decent shot that might make an appearance next Fall.