Graveyard Shift The Best Horror Movies for Date Night

16.6k votes 1.8k voters 156.3k views 64 items

List Rules Horror films and psychological thrillers that are good to watch on dates.

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Are you hoping for the perfect horror movie pick for a night of cuddling? Horror movies can sometimes make the best choice for a date night, causing couples to cling together in fright, and giving them a great topic for discussion after the movie. Browse through this list of the best horror movies for date night to see which horror movies were voted the most popular horror movie for date night by other couples. Ranked in order of the most popular horror movie for a date night to the least popular, if you’re looking for a quick idea, simply pick from the top of the list and see for yourself if you agree with the voting or not.

You can also vote for your own favorite date night horror movies to see them get raised higher on the list. If you don’t see a particular favorite horror movie that you especially enjoyed with your partner, simply add it to the list so that others can try it as well.

Some horror movies are a perfect choice for a date night. Whether they are a psychological thriller, a frightening horror movie or a scary movie with a touch of comedy, couples are sure to find a favorite pick that they both can enjoy. Instead of taking a chance on an unknown horror movie, use this list to help you make a wise choice for your date night with a top-voted horror movie, then sit back and enjoy the night of fright.

list ordered by

1
653 195

The Conjuring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Joey King The Conjuring is a 2013 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan and the first installment in the Conjuring series. Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) are ...more

2
348 152

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
387 188

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

4
277 119

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 taken out one by one while attempting ...more

5
361 176

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

6
325 154

The Prodigy Taylor Schilling, Colm Feore, Brittany Allen The Prodigy is a 2019 American horror thriller film directed by Nicholas McCarthy. A mother (Taylor Schilling) is concerned about her young sons disturbing behavior and begins to believe that ...more

7
299 137

Velvet Buzzsaw Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Zawe Ashton Velvet Buzzsaw is a 2019 American horror thriller film directed by Dan Gilroy. After a series of paintings by an unknown artist are discovered, a supernatural force enacts revenge on those who ...more

8
320 157

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

9
325 161

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

10
322 159

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

11
390 205

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

12
266 134

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.

13
279 147

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Gunnar Hansen, Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal This movie 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 Siedow and Gunnar ...more

14
255 131

Escape Room Logan Miller, Deborah Ann Woll, Taylor Russell Escape Room is a 2019 American psychological horror-thriller film directed by Adam Robitel. Six strangers find themselves in circumstances beyond their control, and must use their wits to

15
265 142

The Strangers Liv Tyler, Gemma Ward, Scott Speedman The Strangers is a 2008 American horror film written and directed by Bryan Bertino and starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman as a young couple who are terrorized by three masked assailants, who ...more

16
222 111

Psycho Alfred Hitchcock, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins Psycho is a 1960 American horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film centers on an encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane, who ends up at a secluded motel after taking money from ...more

17
225 116

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

18
283 171

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

19
164 91

dee123 added 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

20
231 146

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

21
162 98

The Descent Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid The Descent is a 2005 British adventure horror film directed by Neil Marshall. Six women enter an unmapped cave system, become trapped, and are hunted by flesh-eating subterranean humanoids.

22
151 93

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

23
188 125

Paranormal Activity Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Randy McDowell Paranormal Activity is a 2007 American supernatural horror film written, co-produced, photographed, edited, and directed by Oren Peli. The film centers on a young couple, Katie and Micah, who ...more

24
158 100

Dawn of the Dead Tom Savini, Ken Foree, James A. Baffico This film is a 1978 Italian-American horror drama film written and directed by George A. Romero. It was the second film made in Romero's series, but contains no characters or settings from them, ...more

25
155 98

dee123 added Sleepy Hollow Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Christopher Walken Sleepy Hollow is a 1999 American fantasy horror adventure film directed by Tim Burton. It is a film adaptation loosely inspired by the 1820 short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington ...more

1 653 195 The Conjuring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Joey King The Conjuring is a 2013 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan and the first installment in the Conjuring series. Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) are ...more

2 348 152 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

3 387 188 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

4 277 119 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 taken out one by one while attempting ...more

5 361 176 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

6 325 154 The Prodigy Taylor Schilling, Colm Feore, Brittany Allen The Prodigy is a 2019 American horror thriller film directed by Nicholas McCarthy. A mother (Taylor Schilling) is concerned about her young sons disturbing behavior and begins to believe that ...more

7 299 137 Velvet Buzzsaw Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Zawe Ashton Velvet Buzzsaw is a 2019 American horror thriller film directed by Dan Gilroy. After a series of paintings by an unknown artist are discovered, a supernatural force enacts revenge on those who ...more

8 320 157 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

9 325 161 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

10 322 159 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

11 390 205 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

12 266 134 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.

13 279 147 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Gunnar Hansen, Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal This movie 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 Siedow and Gunnar ...more

14 255 131 Escape Room Logan Miller, Deborah Ann Woll, Taylor Russell Escape Room is a 2019 American psychological horror-thriller film directed by Adam Robitel. Six strangers find themselves in circumstances beyond their control, and must use their wits to

15 265 142 The Strangers Liv Tyler, Gemma Ward, Scott Speedman The Strangers is a 2008 American horror film written and directed by Bryan Bertino and starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman as a young couple who are terrorized by three masked assailants, who ...more

16 222 111 Psycho Alfred Hitchcock, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins Psycho is a 1960 American horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film centers on an encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane, who ends up at a secluded motel after taking money from ...more

17 225 116 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

18 283 171 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

19 164 91 dee123 added 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

20 231 146 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

21 162 98 The Descent Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid The Descent is a 2005 British adventure horror film directed by Neil Marshall. Six women enter an unmapped cave system, become trapped, and are hunted by flesh-eating subterranean humanoids.

22 151 93 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

23 188 125 Paranormal Activity Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Randy McDowell Paranormal Activity is a 2007 American supernatural horror film written, co-produced, photographed, edited, and directed by Oren Peli. The film centers on a young couple, Katie and Micah, who ...more

24 158 100 Dawn of the Dead Tom Savini, Ken Foree, James A. Baffico This film is a 1978 Italian-American horror drama film written and directed by George A. Romero. It was the second film made in Romero's series, but contains no characters or settings from them, ...more

25 155 98 dee123 added Sleepy Hollow Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Christopher Walken Sleepy Hollow is a 1999 American fantasy horror adventure film directed by Tim Burton. It is a film adaptation loosely inspired by the 1820 short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington ...more

not on the list? add item #65 List Rules: Horror films and psychological thrillers that are good to watch on dates.