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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.
Click below to delve deeper into our rating system and learn all about the inner workings of our algorithm.
[+] Top10nerScore78.260 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Peter Medak
WRITERS: William Gray, Diana Maddox
CINEMATOGRAPHY: John Coquillon
STARRING: George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, Melvyn Douglas, John Colicos, Barry Morse
GENRE: Mystery, Gothic Horror
THEME: Haunted House
After a tragic event happens, composer John Russell moves to Seattle to try to overcome it and build a new and peaceful life in a lonely big house that has been uninhabited for many years. But, soon after, the obscure history of such an old mansion and his own past begin to haunt him.
An atmospheric triumph of Gothic horror, The Changeling chills with its tale of grief and ghostly vengeance. Its sprawling, creaky mansion becomes a haunting stage for spine-tingling suspense, as meticulous pacing and eerie sound design evoke a creeping, unshakable dread.
[+] Top10nerScore78.467 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Clive Barker
WRITERS: Clive Barker
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Robin Vidgeon
STARRING: Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman, Andrew Robinson, Doug Bradley, Oliver Smith, Grace Kirby
GENRE: Supernatural Horror, Body Horror, Dark Fantasy
Hedonist Frank Cotton finds a mysterious puzzle box that summons the Cenobites, who open the doors to a dominion where pain and pleasure are indivisible.
Hellraiser is a visceral journey into terror, weaving dark aesthetics with grotesque body horror. Barker’s twisted vision unites forbidden desires and infernal torment, crafting a hellish labyrinth of pain and pleasure. Its Cenobites remain horror icons, haunting both flesh and psyche.
[+] Top10nerScore78.535 / 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: Mystery, Drama, Psychological Horror
THEME: Haunted House, 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 crafts a haunting tale steeped in gothic atmosphere, where the eerie coastal setting mirrors a mother’s anguish. With its ghostly apparitions, heart-wrenching suspense, and a poignant narrative, it weaves a chilling exploration of grief and the supernatural.
[+] Top10nerScore78.578 / 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: Body Horror
THEME: Coming-of-Age, Cannibal
MOVEMENT: 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.
[+] Top10nerScore78.589 / 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.
[+] Top10nerScore78.617 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Jennifer Kent
WRITERS: Jennifer Kent
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Radek Ładczuk
STARRING: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney, Daniel Henshall, Barbara West
GENRE: Psychological Horror, Psychological Drama
THEME: Haunted House
A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.
The Babadook is a chilling exploration of grief and motherhood, using its oppressive setting and unnerving imagery to craft a psychological horror that lingers in the mind. Kent’s sharp direction and Davis’s haunting performance make this a standout in modern atmospheric horror.
[+] Top10nerScore78.650 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Charles Crichton, Robert Hamer, Alberto Cavalcanti, Basil Dearden
WRITERS: John Baines, Angus MacPhail, T. E. B. Clarke
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Douglas Slocombe, Stanley Pavey
STARRING: Mervyn Johns, Roland Culver, Mary Merrall, Googie Withers, Frederick Valk, Anthony Baird, Sally Ann Howes, Robert Wyndham
GENRE: Anthology Film, Psychological Horror
Architect Walter Craig, seeking the possibility of some work at a country farmhouse, soon finds himself once again stuck in his recurring nightmare. Dreading the end of the dream that he knows is coming, he must first listen to all the assembled guests’ own bizarre tales.
Dead of Night is a chilling anthology that expertly weaves together supernatural horror with psychological tension. Set in an eerie, dreamlike hotel, its unsettling atmosphere is amplified by its stark visuals and surreal twists, cementing its status as a cornerstone of British horror.
[+] Top10nerScore78.653 / 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, Psychological Drama
THEME: Zombie, Voodoo Zombie, 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.
[+] Top10nerScore78.668 / 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, Crime, Psychological Horror
THEME: Home Invasion
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.
[+] Top10nerScore78.716 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Neil Marshall
WRITERS: Neil Marshall
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Sam McCurdy
STARRING: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, MyAnna Buring, Saskia Mulder, Nora-Jane Noone
GENRE: Horror
THEME: Survival
After a tragic accident, six friends reunite for a caving expedition. Their adventure soon goes horribly wrong when a collapse traps them deep underground and they find themselves pursued by bloodthirsty creatures. As their friendships deteriorate, they find themselves in a desperate struggle to survive the creatures and each other.
The Descent is a relentless horror experience, combining claustrophobic cave exploration with primal terror. Its haunting atmosphere amplifies the suffocating dread as unseen horrors lurk. Tension builds through sharp direction, creating a visceral, unsettling nightmare.
[+] Top10nerScore78.714 / 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
THEME: 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.
[+] Top10nerScore78.772 / 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.
[+] Top10nerScore78.991 / 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
THEME: Christmas
MOVEMENT: 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.
[+] Top10nerScore79.220 / 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.
[+] Top10nerScore79.226 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Jean Epstein
WRITERS: Luis Buñuel, Jean Epstein
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jean Lucas, Georges Lucas
STARRING: Jean Debucourt, Marguerite Gance, Charles Lamy, Fournez-Goffard
GENRE: Gothic Horror
THEME: Haunted House
MOVEMENT: French Impressionist Cinema
A stranger called Allan goes to the House of Usher. He is the sole friend of Roderick Usher, who lives in the eerie house with his sick wife Madeleine. When she dies, Roderick does not accept her death, and in the dark night, Madeleine returns.
The 1928 adaptation of The Fall of the House of Usher is a hauntingly atmospheric silent film that skillfully captures Edgar Allan Poe’s eerie essence. With evocative cinematography and a haunting score, it stands as a captivating early exploration of gothic horror.
[+] Top10nerScore79.236 / 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: Gothic Horror, Romance, Dark Fantasy
THEME: Vampire
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
[+] Top10nerScore79.339 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Kaneto Shindō
WRITERS: Kaneto Shindō
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Kiyomi Kuroda
STARRING: Kichiemon Nakamura, Nobuko Otowa, Kiwako Taichi, Kei Satô, Rokkô Toura, Taiji Tonoyama
GENRE: Kaidan, Supernatural Horror
Two women are raped and killed by samurai soldiers. Soon they reappear as vengeful ghosts who seduce and brutally murder the passing samurai.
Kuroneko is a haunting blend of horror and folklore. Its chilling atmosphere and eerie visuals create a spine-tingling experience. The spectral vengeance of the ghostly women, set against a backdrop of feudal Japan, crafts an unforgettable horror narrative.
[+] Top10nerScore79.400 / 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
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.
[+] Top10nerScore79.728 / 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: Gothic Horror
THEME: Vampire
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.
[+] Top10nerScore79.855 / 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.
[+] Top10nerScore79.930 / 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, Techno-Horror, Drama
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.
[+] Top10nerScore79.943 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Ari Aster
WRITERS: Ari Aster
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Pawel Pogorzelski
STARRING: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, Will Poulter, Ellora Torchia, Archie Madekwe
GENRE: Folk Horror, Psychological Horror, Psychological Drama
Several friends travel to Sweden to study as anthropologists a summer festival that is held every ninety years in the remote hometown of one of them. What begins as a dream vacation in a place where the sun never sets, gradually turns into a dark nightmare as the mysterious inhabitants invite them to participate in their disturbing festive activities.
Midsommar shines as a chilling exploration of human psyche amid scenic horror. Aster marries unsettling rituals with gorgeous landscapes, crafting a visceral experience. Its psychological depth and relentless tension linger, ensuring it haunts viewers well beyond the screen.
[+] Top10nerScore79.982 / 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.
[+] Top10nerScore80.063 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Dan O’Bannon
WRITERS: Dan O’Bannon, John A. Russo, Russell Streiner, Rudy Ricci
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jules Brenner
STARRING: Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Linnea Quigley, Thom Mathews, Beverly Randolph, John Philbin, Jewel Shepard, Miguel A. Núñez
GENRE: Black Comedy, Horror, Horror Comedy
THEME: Zombie
When a bumbling pair of employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to re-animate as they go on a rampage seeking their favorite food: brains!
The Return of the Living Dead captivates with its genre-defying blend of horror and humor. A cult classic, its inventive narrative, engaging characters, and memorable soundtrack showcase a unique take on the zombie genre, leaving a lasting impression on horror enthusiasts.
[+] Top10nerScore80.064 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Jacques Tourneur
WRITERS: Charles Bennett, Hal E. Chester
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Edward Scaife
STARRING: Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins, Niall MacGinnis, Maurice Denham, Athene Seyler
GENRE: Supernatural Horror, Psychological Horror
Dr. John Holden ventures to London to attend a paranormal psychology symposium with the intention to expose devil cult leader, Dr. Julian Karswell.
Night of the Demon captivates with its atmospheric tension, deftly blending psychological horror and supernatural elements. Tourneur skillfully crafts a chilling narrative, supported by Andrews’ compelling performance and the film’s enduring influence on the horror genre.
