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Prepare to delve into the depths of fear, as we explore the 100 Greatest Horror Films of All Time, ranked by the collective insights of film enthusiasts and critics from all over the internet. From bloodcurdling classics to modern creepfests, each entry on this list has earned its place through a combination of critical acclaim, audience adoration, and its ability to evoke sheer, bone-chilling dread.
Among these, you’ll navigate the winding corridors of a secluded hotel, confront the unsettling realities of society’s deepest fears in a suburban nightmare, and witness a descent into madness amidst the sun-drenched fields of a seemingly idyllic commune.
As we countdown 100 of the best Horror movies ever made, brace yourself to confront your deepest fears and grapple with your darkest nightmares. Whether you’re a seasoned horror aficionado or a curious newcomer to the genre, this collection promises to send shivers down your spine and linger in your subconscious for nights to come.
Disclaimer: These films are not solely ranked by their level of scariness or their status as “quintessential horror”. (That’s a bit too subjective, even for us.) Instead, they represent the highest-rated films within the horror genre.
Click below to delve deeper into our rating system and learn all about the inner workings of our algorithm.
Top10nerScore70.728 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Tobe Hooper
WRITERS: Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais, Mark Victor
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Matthew F. Leonetti
STARRING: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O’Rourke, Zelda Rubinstein, Dominique Dunne, Oliver Robins
GENRE: Supernatural Horror, Haunted House
While living an an average family house in a pleasant neighborhood, the youngest daughter of the Freeling family, Carol Anne, seems to be connecting with the supernatural through a dead channel on the television.
Poltergeist remains a chilling triumph in horror cinema, blending supernatural terror with familial warmth. Its iconic scenes and eerie atmosphere unsettle, showcasing horror’s power to evoke primal fears through clever storytelling and spine-tingling suspense.
Top10nerScore70.730 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Alan Parker
WRITERS: Alan Parker
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Michael Seresin
STARRING: Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet, Charlotte Rampling
GENRE: Neo-Noir, Mystery, Thriller, Psychological Horror, Southern Gothic
Down-and-out private detective Harry Angel is ordered by the mysterious Louis Cyphre to go on a mission to find a missing person. His routine failure soon leads to a bloody spar with himself, as he goes on a supernatural journey into his own soul.
Angel Heart delivers a chilling blend of noir and horror, weaving a gripping tale of intrigue and supernatural suspense. Mickey Rourke’s haunting portrayal and the atmospheric New Orleans setting immerse viewers in a world where every shadow hides a dark secret.
Top10nerScore70.736 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Jordan Peele
WRITERS: Jordan Peele
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Hoyte van Hoytema
STARRING: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, Michael Wincott, Brandon Perea, Keith David
GENRE: Giant Monster, Alien Invasion, Horror
Two siblings running a horse ranch in California discover something wonderful and sinister in the skies above, while the owner of an adjacent theme park tries to profit from the mysterious, otherworldly phenomenon.
NOPE delivers a spine-tingling experience, blending societal fears with supernatural suspense. Jordan Peele’s masterful direction creates an eerie atmosphere, enhanced by haunting cinematography and unnerving sound design, making it a must-see in modern horror.
Top10nerScore70.797 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Jeremy Saulnier
WRITERS: Jeremy Saulnier
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Sean Porter
STARRING: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Patrick Stewart, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, Callum Turner
GENRE: Thriller, Siege Film, Horror
A punk rock band becomes trapped in a secluded venue after finding a scene of violence. For what they saw, the band themselves become targets of violence from a gang of white power skinheads, who want to eliminate all evidence of the crime.
Green Room delivers relentless tension and visceral scares. The claustrophobic setting and ruthless antagonists create an atmosphere that grips you from start to finish. Its raw intensity and stark realism redefine modern horror, leaving an unforgettable impact.
Top10nerScore70.924 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Gerald Kargl
WRITERS: Gerald Kargl, Zbigniew Rybczyński
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Zbigniew Rybczyński
STARRING: Erwin Leder, Robert Hunger-Bühler
GENRE: Psychological Thriller, Psychological Horror, Home Invasion, Crime
A troubled man gets released from prison and starts taking out his sadistic fantasies on an unsuspecting family living in a secluded house.
Angst delivers a chilling exploration of psychological horror, plunging viewers into a nightmarish descent with its relentless suspense and unsettling atmosphere. Its raw portrayal of fear and desperation lingers, fueled by a haunting score and visceral cinematography.
Top10nerScore71.090 / 100
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DIRECTOR: J. A. Bayona
WRITERS: Sergio G. Sánchez
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Óscar Faura
STARRING: Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep, Mabel Rivera, Montserrat Carulla
GENRE: Haunted House, Mystery, Drama, Psychological Horror, Gothic
A woman brings her family back to her childhood home, which used to be an orphanage, intent on reopening it. Before long, her son starts to communicate with a new invisible friend.
The Orphanage skillfully weaves haunting atmosphere with emotionally resonant storytelling. J.A. Bayona’s adept handling of suspense, coupled with strong performances, elevates this psychological horror into a poignant exploration of maternal love and loss.
Top10nerScore71.166 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Erle C. Kenton
WRITERS: Waldemar Young, Philip Wylie
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Karl Struss
STARRING: Charles Laughton, Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams, Bela Lugosi, Kathleen Burke
GENRE: Horror, Science Fiction
An obsessed scientist conducts profane experiments in evolution, eventually establishing himself as the self-styled demigod to a race of mutated, half-human abominations.
Island of Lost Souls is a captivating adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel, showcasing innovative makeup effects by Charles Gemora. Kenton skillfully explores moral dilemmas, and Laughton’s performance as Dr. Moreau adds a chilling complexity to this classic horror gem.
Top10nerScore71.232 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Bob Clark
WRITERS: Roy Moore
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Reginald H. Morris
STARRING: Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon, Marian Waldman, Andrea Martin
GENRE: Slasher, Christmas, Canuxploitation
It’s time for Christmas break, and the sorority sisters make plans for the holiday. But the strange anonymous phone calls are beginning to put them on edge, and it’s only the beginning…
Black Christmas innovatively blends suspense and terror, crafting a chilling atmosphere through its unnerving phone calls and eerie cinematography. Its pioneering use of point-of-view shots heightens the horror, ensuring lasting nightmares with its haunting, unseen villain.
Top10nerScore71.337 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Julia Ducournau
WRITERS: Julia Ducournau
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ruben Impens
STARRING: Agathe Rousselle, Vincent Lindon, Garance Marillier, Lais Salameh
GENRE: Body Horror, New French Extremity, Psychological Drama
Alexia is a dancer who, after being injured in a car accident as a child, has a titanium plate fitted into her head. Amidst a series of brutal and unexplained murders, her path crosses with Vincent, a firefighter desperately searching for his long-missing son, changing their lives forever.
Titane electrifies with its unflinching exploration of body horror, blending visceral effects with a chilling narrative. Its audacious vision challenges conventional genre boundaries, delivering a thrilling experience that lingers in the psyche, pushing the limits of what horror can achieve.
Top10nerScore71.415 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Hideo Nakata
WRITERS: Hiroshi Takahashi
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Junichiro Hayashi
STARRING: Nanako Matsushima, Miki Nakatani, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rikiya Otaka, Yuko Takeuchi, Hitomi Sato, Rikiya Ōtaka
GENRE: J-Horror, Mystery, Digital Horror, Psychological Horror
A mysterious video has been linked to a number of deaths, and when an inquisitive journalist finds the tape and views it herself, she sets in motion a chain of events that puts her own life in danger.
Ring reshapes horror conventions with chilling simplicity. Its eerie atmosphere and understated terror linger in the mind, emphasizing primal fears over jump scares. The haunting visuals and suspenseful pacing ensure an unsettling experience that transcends time.
Top10nerScore71.530 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Gaspar Noé
WRITERS: Gaspar Noé
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Benoît Debie
STARRING: Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic, Souheila Yacoub, Kiddy Smile, Claude Gajan Maull, Giselle Palmer
GENRE: Dance Film, Psychological Horror, Chamber Film
Young dancers gather in a remote and empty school building to rehearse on a cold and wintry night. The all-night celebration soon turns into a hallucinatory nightmare when they learn that their sangria is laced with LSD.
Climax delivers a chilling descent into chaos, blending dance and horror into a nightmarish cocktail. Noé’s unflinching direction and the pulsating soundtrack amplify the terror, making every scene an adrenaline rush. It’s a haunting exploration of human psyche gone awry.
Top10nerScore71.574 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Jacques Tourneur
WRITERS: Curt Siodmak, Ardel Wray, Inez Wallace
CINEMATOGRAPHY: J. Roy Hunt
STARRING: Frances Dee, James Ellison, Tom Conway, Christine Gordon, Edith Barrett, James Bell
GENRE: Mystery, Supernatural Horror, Zombie, Voodoo Zombie, Psychological Drama, Gothic
A Canadian nurse, Betsy, arrives on a Caribbean island to tend to an invalid woman who appears to suffer from an unexplained paralysis. The horrific truth soon emerges, however—amid the haunting rhythms of the voodoo drums.
I Walked with a Zombie is a haunting exploration of supernatural forces in the Caribbean, blending eerie ambiance with cultural mystique. Its atmospheric cinematography and haunting soundtrack immerse viewers in a chilling tale where the line between life and death blurs.
Top10nerScore71.608 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Terence Fisher
WRITERS: Jimmy Sangster
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jack Asher
STARRING: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, Carol Marsh
GENRE: Vampire, Gothic Horror
After Jonathan Harker attacks Dracula at his castle, the vampire travels to a nearby city, where he preys on the family of Harker’s fiancée. The only one who may be able to protect them is Dr. van Helsing, Harker’s friend and fellow-student of vampires, who is determined to destroy Dracula, whatever the cost.
Dracula mesmerizes with its captivating performances, atmospheric cinematography, and groundbreaking portrayal of the iconic vampire. Fisher’s direction breathes new life into the classic tale, delivering a timeless horror experience that continues to haunt and inspire.
Top10nerScore71.805 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza
WRITERS: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza, Luiso Berdejo
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Pablo Rosso
STARRING: Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano, Pablo Rosso
GENRE: Zombie, Found Footage Horror, Epidemic
A television reporter and cameraman follow emergency workers into a dark apartment building and are quickly locked inside with something terrifying.
[REC] ingeniously blends found footage with chilling realism, plunging viewers into a relentless nightmare. Its claustrophobic setting and relentless pacing intensify the terror, crafting a gripping experience that lingers in your thoughts, ensuring sleepless nights.
Top10nerScore71.930 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Julia Ducournau
WRITERS: Julia Ducournau
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ruben Impens
STARRING: Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait, Laurent Lucas, Joana Preiss
GENRE: Coming-of-Age, Cannibal, Body Horror, New French Extremity
In Justine’s family everyone is a vet and a vegetarian. At 16, she’s a gifted teen ready to take on her first year in vet school, where her older sister also studies. There, she gets no time to settle: hazing starts right away. Justine is forced to eat raw meat for the first time in her life. Unexpected consequences emerge as her true self begins to form.
Raw artfully navigates the boundaries of horror and coming-of-age genres, delivering a visceral and thought-provoking experience. Ducournau’s direction, coupled with Marillier’s captivating performance, explores taboo themes with unflinching authenticity.
Top10nerScore71.974 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Francis Ford Coppola
WRITERS: James V. Hart
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Michael Ballhaus
STARRING: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Richard E. Grant, Cary Elwes
GENRE: Vampire, Gothic Horror, Romance
When Dracula leaves the captive Jonathan Harker and Transylvania for London in search of Mina Harker, the reincarnation of Dracula’s long-dead wife Elisabeta, obsessed vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing sets out to end the madness.
Dracula resurrects horror with its chilling atmosphere and gothic allure. The film’s visceral imagery and haunting score plunge viewers into a nightmarish realm where love, lust, and terror intertwine, ensuring a spine-tingling experience that lingers in the shadows of memory
Top10nerScore72.189 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Rouben Mamoulian
WRITERS: Samuel Hoffenstein, Percy Heath
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Karl Struss
STARRING: Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, Rose Hobart, Holmes Herbert, Halliwell Hobbes
GENRE: Gothic Horror, Drama, Science Fiction, Psychological Horror
Dr. Henry Jekyll believes that there are two distinct sides to men – a good and an evil side. He believes that by separating the two, man can become liberated. He succeeds in his experiments with chemicals to accomplish this and transforms into Hyde to commit horrendous crimes. When he discontinues use of the drug, it is already too late.
The 1931 adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde redefines horror through its chilling transformation scenes and eerie atmosphere. Its portrayal of the dual nature of humanity lingers with haunting visuals and a sense of impending dread, marking it as a landmark in early horror cinema.
Top10nerScore72.250 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña
WRITERS: Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña, Alejandra Moffat
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña
STARRING: Amalia Kassai, Rainer Krause
GENRE: Stop-Motion, Surrealism, Experimental, Psychological Horror, Psychological Drama
María, a girl from Colonia Dignidad, in Chile —a kind of sectarian community, tyrannically mastered by the ruthless Paul Schäfer, a German madman, religious fanatic and child predator, who would end up turning the place into a torture center at the service of the military dictatorship ruled by Augusto Pinochet—, is punished for having lost three pigs, so she decides to run away and take refuge in an abandoned house hidden in the forest.
The Wolf House transforms horror into an immersive art form, using eerie stop-motion animation and surreal storytelling to evoke a chilling atmosphere. Its unsettling blend of innocence and darkness lingers, crafting a narrative that challenges and terrifies in equal measure.
Top10nerScore72.293 / 100
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DIRECTOR: George A. Romero
WRITERS: George A. Romero
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Michael Gornick
STARRING: Lori Cardille, Joseph Pilato, Terry Alexander, Jarlath Conroy, Anthony Dileo, Richard Liberty, Sherman Howard
GENRE: Zombie, Post-Apocalyptic, Splatter, Horror, Epidemic
Trapped in a missile silo, a small team of scientists, civilians and trigger-happy soldiers battle desperately to ensure the survival of the human race. However, the tension inside the base is reaching a breaking point, and the zombies are gathering outside.
Day of the Dead is a chilling testament to horror’s visceral power. Its relentless tension and haunting imagery immerse viewers in a claustrophobic nightmare. The film’s unflinching portrayal of societal breakdown and primal fear cements its status as a genre classic.
Top10nerScore72.459 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Richard Donner
WRITERS: David Seltzer
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Gilbert Taylor
STARRING: Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Harvey Stephens, David Warner, Billie Whitelaw
GENRE: Supernatural Horror, Thriller
Immediately after their miscarriage, the US diplomat Robert Thorn adopts the newborn Damien without the knowledge of his wife. Yet what he doesn’t know is that their new son is the son of the devil.
The Omen remains a chilling exemplar of horror, weaving a sinister tale of ominous prophecies and supernatural malevolence. Its haunting atmosphere and unnerving soundtrack amplify its spine-tingling suspense, leaving an enduring impression of primal fear and dread.
Top10nerScore72.516 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Alejandro Amenábar
WRITERS: Alejandro Amenábar
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Javier Aguirresarobe
STARRING: Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston, Alakina Mann, James Bentley
GENRE: Haunted House, Mystery, Psychological Horror, Gothic
Grace is a religious woman who lives in an old house kept dark because her two children, Anne and Nicholas, have a rare sensitivity to light. When the family begins to suspect the house is haunted, Grace fights to protect her children at any cost in the face of strange events and disturbing visions.
The Others artfully weaves a haunting atmosphere, skillfully blending psychological suspense with supernatural elements. Kidman’s compelling performance anchors this atmospheric thriller, while Amenábar’s crafts a captivating narrative, leaving audiences spellbound.
Top10nerScore72.622 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Herk Harvey
WRITERS: Herk Harvey, John Clifford
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Maurice Prather
STARRING: Candace Hilligoss, Frances Feist, Sidney Berger, Art Ellison
GENRE: Psychological Horror, Supernatural Horror, Mystery
Mary Henry mysteriously survives a car wreck. In an effort to put this traumatizing incident behind her, Mary moves to Utah to take a job as a church organist. However, her fresh new start is interrupted by the haunting, relentless presence of a strange man who seems to follow where ever she goes.
Carnival of Souls captivates with its eerie ambiance, innovative cinematography, and Mary Henry’s haunting performance. Her journey through the surreal becomes a cinematic exploration, leaving an indelible mark on horror, influencing the genre for decades.
Top10nerScore72.826 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Shinya Tsukamoto
WRITERS: Shinya Tsukamoto
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Shinya Tsukamoto, Kei Fujiwara
STARRING: Tomorowo Taguchi, Kei Fujiwara, Shinya Tsukamoto
GENRE: Body Horror, Surrealism, Cyberpunk, Experimental, Techno-Horror
A “metal fetishist”, driven mad by the maggots wriggling in the wound he’s made to embed metal into his flesh, runs out into the night and is accidentally run down by a Japanese businessman and his girlfriend. The pair dispose of the corpse in hopes of quietly moving on with their lives. However, the businessman soon finds that he is now plagued by a vicious curse that transforms his flesh into iron.
Tetsuo is a visceral horror experience, blending flesh and metal into a nightmarish vision. Its relentless pace and disturbing imagery create a surreal, industrial nightmare that plunges viewers into the terrifying transformation of body and mind, evoking pure dread.
Top10nerScore72.843 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Tod Browning
WRITERS: Tod Browning, Louis Bromfield, Garrett Fort, Frederick Stephani, Louis Stevens, Dudley Murphy
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Karl Freund
STARRING: Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, Helen Chandler, David Manners, Edward Van Sloan
GENRE: Vampire, Gothic Horror
The solicitor Renfield enters castle Dracula to finalize the transferral of Carfax Abbey in London to Count Dracula. Once in England Dracula turns his attention to virtuous young Mina Seward, daughter of Dr. Seward who then calls in a specialist, Dr. Van Helsing.
Dracula captivates with Bela Lugosi’s iconic portrayal, set design, and atmospheric cinematography. Its impact on the horror genre endures, showcasing an enduring blend of suspense and macabre charm that laid the foundation for future cinematic interpretations.
Top10nerScore73.081 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Rupert Julian
WRITERS: Elliott J. Clawson, Winifred Reeve
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Milton Bridenbecker, Virgil Miller, Charles Van Enger
STARRING: Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry, Arthur Edmund Carewe
GENRE: Gothic Horror, Melodrama
A grotesquely disfigured composer known as “The Phantom” haunts Paris’ opera house, where he’s secretly grooming Christine Daae to be an opera diva. Luring her to his remote underground lair, The Phantom declares his love. But Christine loves Raoul de Chagny and plans to elope with him. When The Phantom learns this, he abducts Christine.
Julians’s The Phantom of the Opera enthralls with its eerie atmosphere and unsettling visuals. Lon Chaney’s haunting portrayal of the deformed Phantom and the chilling catacombs make this a quintessential horror film that continues to send shivers down your spine.
