Horror Movies and TV The Greatest Horror Films of All Time  

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Originally by Ranker Community
764.7k votes 25.7k voters 583.9k views 922 items

List Rules Vote up the best movies in the Horror genre.

Horror movies, ranked by adrenaline junkies worldwide. Anyone can vote on this CrowdRanked list, and can even add your own favorite chiller to these rankings. Ghosts, zombies, monsters or maybe just the quiet guy down the street who straps on a hockey mask for kicks; these are the movies that scare the pants off you. What are the greatest horror films ever made?

Great horror films have a long and storied history in cinema. From the earliest horror movies like 1922's 'Nosferatu,' to modern classics like the 'Saw' series, scary movies have always had a special place in the collective, twisted hearts of movie goers. Each year, new horror movies come out that are designed to terrify, with evil characters bent on death and destruction. Will they all wind up on a list of the scariest horror movies ever made? Probably not, but not for a lack of trying.

Many of the best horror films are haunted house movies, relying on the setting as a huge, spooky selling factor. Other excellent horror films rely on nausea-inducing tactics, making us recoil in terror, totally disturbed by whatever we're watching on screen. Start with all of the ones on this list, and of course, feel free to add any that might be missing.

Enjoy this list of great horror films, and remember: You can rerank this list in any order you like. Boo!

1
10,142 3,727
The Shining is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Shining Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers The Shining is a 1980 British-American psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-written with novelist Diane Johnson, and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, ...more

2
8,320 3,896
Halloween is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Halloween Jamie Lee Curtis, Kyle Richards, Donald Pleasence Halloween is a 1978 American independent slasher horror film directed and scored by John Carpenter, co-written with producer Debra Hill, and starring Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis in her ...more

3
10,071 2,611
The Exorcist is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Exorcist Max von Sydow, Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair The Exorcist is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapted by William Peter Blatty from his 1971 novel of the same name. The book, inspired by the 1949 ...more

4
7,644 2,961
A Nightmare on Elm Street is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
A Nightmare on Elm Street Johnny Depp, Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp A Nightmare on Elm Street is a 1984 American supernatural slasher horror film written and directed by Wes Craven, and the first film of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. The film stars ...more

5
6,680 3,009
Psycho is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Psycho Alfred Hitchcock, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins Psycho is a 1960 Psychological thriller and horror film written by Joseph Stefano and directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

6
7,007 3,454
Alien is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Alien Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, Ian Holm Alien is a 1979 science-fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott, and starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto. ...more

7
6,915 2,797
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Gunnar Hansen, Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American slasher film, directed and produced by Tobe Hooper, who cowrote it with Kim Henkel. It stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim ...more

8
5,906 2,941
Friday the 13th is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Friday the 13th Kevin Bacon, Tom Savini, Betsy Palmer Friday the 13th is a 1980 American slasher film directed by Sean S. Cunningham and written by Victor Miller. The film concerns a group of teenagers who are murdered one by one while attempting ...more

9
6,158 2,533
Poltergeist is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Poltergeist Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Heather O'Rourke Poltergeist is a 1982 American supernatural thriller film, directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written and produced by Steven Spielberg. It is the first and most successful entry in the Poltergeist ...more

10
8,417 1,919
The Silence of the Lambs is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Silence of the Lambs Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Chris Isaak The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 American thriller film that blends elements of the crime and horror genres. Directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, and Scott ...more

11
5,848 3,460
The Thing is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Thing Kurt Russell, Keith David, John Carpenter The Thing is a 1982 American science fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter, written by Bill Lancaster, and starring Kurt Russell. The film's title refers to its primary antagonist: a ...more

12
6,486 2,985
Jaws is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Jaws Steven Spielberg, Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's novel of the same name. The prototypical summer blockbuster, its release is regarded as a ...more

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13
4,875 3,687
Scream is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Scream Drew Barrymore, Rose McGowan, Courteney Cox Scream is a 1996 American slasher film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Drew Barrymore, and David Arquette. Released on ...more

14
4,740 2,595
Night of the Living Dead is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Night of the Living Dead George A. Romero, Duane Jones, Bill Hinzman Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent zombie horror film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and ...more

15
6,182 2,269
It is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
It Tim Curry, Seth Green, John Ritter It is a 1990 psychological horror/drama miniseries based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. The story revolves around an inter-dimensional predatory life-form, which has the ability to ...more

16
5,439 2,445
Carrie is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Carrie John Travolta, Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie Carrie is a 1976 American supernatural horror film based on Stephen King's first major 1974 novel of the same name. The film was directed by Brian De Palma and written by Lawrence D. Cohen. The ...more

17
4,803 2,231
The Omen is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Omen Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner The Omen is a 1976 British/American supernatural horror film directed by Richard Donner. The film stars Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Harvey Spencer Stephens, Billie Whitelaw, Patrick ...more

The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time

18
4,093 2,817
Dawn of the Dead is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Dawn of the Dead Tom Savini, Ken Foree, James A. Baffico Dawn of the Dead is a 1978 Italian-American horror drama film written and directed by George A. Romero. It was the second film made in Romero's Living Dead series, but contains no characters or ...more

19
4,217 2,703
Rosemary's Baby is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Rosemary's Baby Mia Farrow, Tony Curtis, John Cassavetes Rosemary's Baby is a 1968 American psychological horror film written and directed by Roman Polanski, based on the bestselling 1967 novel of the same name by Ira Levin. The cast includes Mia ...more

20
4,721 2,363
The Evil Dead is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Evil Dead Bruce Campbell, Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi The Evil Dead is a 1981 American horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi and executive produced by Raimi and Bruce Campbell, who also stars alongside Ellen Sandweiss and Betsy Baker. The ...more

21
4,223 2,423
Hellraiser is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Hellraiser Doug Bradley, Andrew Robinson, Ashley Laurence Hellraiser is a 1987 British horror film written and directed by Clive Barker, based upon his own novella The Hellbound Heart. The film spawned a series of sequels.

22
5,092 2,528
The Ring is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Ring Naomi Watts, Pauley Perrette, Brian Cox The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring, which was based on the novel Ring ...more

The Most Horrifying Found-Footage Movies

23
3,303 2,603
Child's Play is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Child's Play Brad Dourif, Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon Child's Play is a 1988 American horror film directed by Tom Holland, written by Tom Holland, Don Mancini, and John Lafia, and starring Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Alex Vincent, and Brad ...more

24
4,544 1,965
Pet Sematary is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Pet Sematary Stephen King, Fred Gwynne, Denise Crosby Pet Sematary is a 1989 American horror film adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. Directed by Mary Lambert and written by King, the film features Dale Midkiff as Louis Creed, ...more

25
4,418 1,802
The Amityville Horror is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Amityville Horror James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger The Amityville Horror is a 1979 American supernatural horror film, directed by Stuart Rosenberg, based on Jay Anson's bestselling 1977 novel of the same name. It is the first film in the ...more

26
4,586 2,165
Saw is listed (or ranked) 26 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Saw Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Shawnee Smith Saw is a 2004 horror film written by Leigh Whannell and directed by James Wan, in Wan's directorial debut. In the film, Adam (Whannell) and Lawrence (Cary Elwes) awaken chained in a large ...more

27
4,231 2,466
Aliens is listed (or ranked) 27 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Aliens Sigourney Weaver, Bill Paxton, Michael Biehn Aliens is a 1986 American science-fiction action horror film written and directed by James Cameron, produced by his then-wife Gale Anne Hurd, and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael ...more

The Greatest Fictional Singers

28
4,491 2,401
The Sixth Sense is listed (or ranked) 28 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Sixth Sense Bruce Willis, Mischa Barton, Haley Joel Osment The Sixth Sense is a 1999 American supernatural thriller film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film tells the story of Cole Sear, a troubled, isolated boy who is able to see and ...more

29
4,514 2,263
28 Days Later is listed (or ranked) 29 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
28 Days Later Cillian Murphy, Christopher Eccleston, Naomie Harris 28 Days Later is a 2002 British post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle. The screenplay was written by Alex Garland. The film stars Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, ...more

30
4,829 1,310
The Conjuring is listed (or ranked) 30 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
ChangesDownClub added The Conjuring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Joey King The Conjuring is a 2013 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga star as Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were American paranormal investigators and ...more

31
4,138 1,642
Insidious is listed (or ranked) 31 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Insidious Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey, Patrick Wilson Insidious is a 2011 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan, written by Leigh Whannell, and starring Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne and Barbara Hershey. It is the first installment ...more

32
3,218 2,568
An American Werewolf in London is listed (or ranked) 32 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
An American Werewolf in London Jenny Agutter, Frank Oz, Rik Mayall An American Werewolf in London is a 1981 horror comedy film written and directed by John Landis, and starring David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, and Griffin Dunne. The film starts with two young ...more

The Dumbest Moves Made By Every Horror Movie Victim

33
3,460 2,049
The Hills Have Eyes is listed (or ranked) 33 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Hills Have Eyes Emilie de Ravin, Vinessa Shaw, Ted Levine The Hills Have Eyes is a 2006 American horror film and remake of Wes Craven's 1977 film The Hills Have Eyes. Written by filmmaking partners Alexandre Aja and Grégory Levasseur of the ...more

34
3,882 1,766
Misery is listed (or ranked) 34 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Misery Lauren Bacall, Kathy Bates, James Caan Misery is a 1990 American psychological thriller film based on Stephen King's 1987 novel of the same name and starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall, Richard Farnsworth, and Frances ...more

35
3,002 2,372
Evil Dead II is listed (or ranked) 35 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Evil Dead II Bruce Campbell, Kassie DePaiva, Ted Raimi Evil Dead II is a 1987 American horror comedy film directed by Sam Raimi and a parody sequel to the 1981 film The Evil Dead. The film was written by Raimi and Scott Spiegel, produced by Robert ...more

36
3,051 1,868
Candyman is listed (or ranked) 36 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Candyman Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, Vanessa A. Williams Candyman is a 1992 American horror film written and directed by Bernard Rose, based on the short story "The Forbidden" by Clive Barker, though the film's scenario is switched from ...more

37
2,425 2,419
Frankenstein is listed (or ranked) 37 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Frankenstein Boris Karloff, John Boles, Colin Clive Frankenstein is a 1931 horror monster film from Universal Pictures directed by James Whale and adapted from the play by Peggy Webling, which in turn is based on the novel of the same name by ...more

The Worst Things You Can Make Jokes About

38
3,279 2,089
The Lost Boys is listed (or ranked) 38 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Lost Boys Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim The Lost Boys is a 1987 American teen horror film starring Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland, Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest, Edward Herrmann, Alex Winter, Jamison Newlander, ...more

39
2,908 2,046
The Birds is listed (or ranked) 39 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Birds Alfred Hitchcock, Tippi Hedren, Suzanne Pleshette The Birds is a 1963 suspense/horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, loosely based on the 1952 story "The Birds" by Daphne du Maurier. It depicts Bodega Bay, California, which is, ...more

40
2,353 2,345
Nosferatu is listed (or ranked) 40 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Nosferatu Max Schreck, John Gottowt, Alexander Granach Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens is a 1922 German Expressionist horror film, directed by F. W. Murnau, starring Max Schreck as the vampire Count Orlok. The film, shot in 1921 and released ...more

41
2,901 1,600
Children of the Corn is listed (or ranked) 41 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Children of the Corn Linda Hamilton, Peter Horton, R. G. Armstrong Children of the Corn is a 1984 supernatural horror film based upon the 1977 short story of the same name by Stephen King. Directed by Fritz Kiersch, the film stars Peter Horton and Linda ...more

42
3,390 1,661
Jeepers Creepers is listed (or ranked) 42 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Jeepers Creepers Justin Long, Eileen Brennan, Victor Salva Jeepers Creepers is a 2001 American horror film written and directed by Victor Salva. The film takes its name from the 1938 song "Jeepers Creepers", which is featured in the film.

The Most Terrifying Japanese Horror Movies of All Time

43
2,585 2,332
The Fly is listed (or ranked) 43 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Fly Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, David Cronenberg The Fly is a 1986 American science fiction horror film directed and co-written by David Cronenberg. Produced by Brooksfilms and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the film stars Jeff Goldblum, ...more

44
2,670 1,662
Halloween II is listed (or ranked) 44 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Halloween II Jamie Lee Curtis, Dana Carvey, Kyle Richards Halloween II is a 1981 slasher horror film directed by Rick Rosenthal, and written and produced by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. It is the second installment in the Halloween series and is a ...more

45
2,736 1,788
Dawn of the Dead is listed (or ranked) 45 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Dawn of the Dead Ving Rhames, Ty Burrell, Kevin Zegers Dawn of the Dead is a 2004 American horror film directed by Zack Snyder in his feature film directorial debut. A remake of George A. Romero's 1978 film of the same name, it is written by James ...more

46
2,878 1,931
Bram Stoker's Dracula is listed (or ranked) 46 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Bram Stoker's Dracula Monica Bellucci, Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder Bram Stoker's Dracula is a 1992 American horror film directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. It stars Gary Oldman as Count Dracula, Winona Ryder ...more

47
3,050 1,737
The Cabin in the Woods is listed (or ranked) 47 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Cabin in the Woods Chris Hemsworth, Sigourney Weaver, Amy Acker The Cabin in the Woods is a 2012 American horror comedy film directed by Drew Goddard in his directorial debut, produced by Joss Whedon, and written by Whedon and Goddard. The film stars Kristen ...more

48
2,687 2,399
The Blair Witch Project is listed (or ranked) 48 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Blair Witch Project Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American found footage horror film written, directed and edited by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production ...more

49
2,606 1,726
The Others is listed (or ranked) 49 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
The Others Nicole Kidman, Christopher Eccleston, Michelle Fairley The Others is a 2001 horror-thriller film written, directed and scored by Alejandro Amenábar. It stars Nicole Kidman and Fionnula Flanagan. It won eight Goya Awards, including awards for ...more

50
2,118 1,858
Fright Night is listed (or ranked) 50 on the list The Greatest Horror Films of All Time
Fright Night Christopher Lee, Roddy McDowall, Chris Sarandon Fright Night is a 1985 American horror comedy film written and directed by Tom Holland and produced by Herb Jaffe. It stars William Ragsdale, Chris Sarandon, Roddy McDowall and Amanda Bearse. ...more