The 50 Best Horror Movies With R Ratings

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Updated August 30, 2023 2.6K votes 247 voters
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The 50 Best Horror Movies With R Ratings
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Add your favorite movie to the list if it's missing, but only if it's the correct rating.
Latest additions: Consecration
Most divisive: The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist

List of R-Rated horror movies, ranked from best to worst with movie trailers when available. These horror movies are all R-Rated, so if you want a more broad look at the genre check out The Best horror Movies of All Time. This list takes the best R-Rated horror movies and pits them against each other to see once and for all what the greatest R-Rated horror movie of all time is. This list of popular R-Rated horror movies includes information like who directed the film, when it was released and which actors starred in the movie. If you think the top R-Rated horror movie isn't as high as it should be then be sure to vote it up so it can take its rightful place among the other great R-Rated horror films on this list. If you're trying to find a specific R-Rated horror film you can search this list and filter to find what you're looking for.

List ranges from Paranormal Activity to Final Destination 2 and more.

If you're trying to find out "What are the best R-Rated horror movies?" and "What are the most famous R-Rated horror movies?" then this list is the perfect resource for you. Use this list if you're looking for some new horror movies that are rated R. Between Netflix, Hulu and other services there are thousands of great horror movies rated R, so get out there and start watching.

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Alfred Hitchcock and Ridley Scott have both directed a Horror R film, as have other really creative and talented directors.

Ranked by
  • Scream
    1

    Scream

    Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox
    11 votes
    • Released: 1996
    • Directed by: Wes Craven
    Scream, a quintessential horror film, masterfully combines suspense and dark humor. Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is a high school student in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California. Her life takes a horrifying turn when she becomes the target of a mysterious killer known as Ghostface (Roger Jackson), who is inspired by classic horror movies. As the body count rises, Sidney and her friends must unmask the killer before it's too late. Directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, Scream cleverly subverts genre conventions while offering thrilling scares, making it a modern classic in horror cinema.
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street
    2

    A Nightmare on Elm Street

    John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, Heather Langenkamp
    48 votes
    • Released: 1984
    • Directed by: Wes Craven
    In the chilling horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street, Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) finds herself tormented by a monstrous figure in her dreams. This spectral menace, known as Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), wears a bladed glove and leaves a trail of terror in his wake. As teens in her town start dying mysteriously, Nancy realizes the peril is not confined to her nightmares. Directed by Wes Craven, this film weaves a web of psychological terror that blurs the lines between dream and reality. The movie was so impactful that it spawned a franchise of sequels, solidifying its place in horror cinema history.

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  • The Exorcist
    3

    The Exorcist

    Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow
    39 votes
    • Released: 1973
    • Directed by: William Friedkin
    In the heart-stopping horror classic The Exorcist, Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair), a young girl, becomes inexplicably ill. After all medical explanations are exhausted, her mother Chris (Ellen Burstyn) seeks help from two priests. Father Karras (Jason Miller), a troubled cleric wrestling with his faith, and veteran exorcist Father Merrin (Max von Sydow) step in to confront an evil beyond their understanding. The film, directed by William Friedkin, is recognized for its chilling portrayal of possession and exorcism. It won two Academy Awards and remains one of the most influential horror films to this day.

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  • The Shining
    4

    The Shining

    Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd
    32 votes
    • Released: 1980
    • Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
    In the chilling film The Shining, Jack Torrance (portrayed by Jack Nicholson) takes on a winter caretaker role at Colorado's secluded Overlook Hotel. His aim is to overcome his writer's block, and he brings along his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd). A unique aspect of this narrative is Danny's psychic abilities, which lead him to experience unnerving premonitions. The movie unfolds as Jack grapples with a stagnant writing process and Danny's visions grow increasingly alarming. The crux of the plot lies in Jack uncovering the hotel's sinister past, an event that triggers a terrifying transformation within him towards violence against his own family.
  • Halloween
    5

    Halloween

    Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Kyes
    47 votes
    • Released: 1978
    • Directed by: John Carpenter
    In the iconic horror film Halloween, directed by John Carpenter, the tranquil town of Haddonfield, Illinois is thrown into a state of terror. The menace arrives in the form of Michael Myers (Nick Castle), an escaped mental patient with a chilling past. The film's protagonist, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), finds herself in Myers's crosshairs on Halloween night. As she and her friends become targets, Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence), Myers's psychiatrist, races against time to stop his murderous rampage. Unpredictable yet relentless, Halloween weaves a tale of suspense that won't soon be forgotten.

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  • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
    6

    The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

    Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Allen Danziger
    44 votes
    • Released: 1974
    • Directed by: Tobe Hooper
    In the heart of rural Texas, a horrendous tale unfolds. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, a chilling horror film directed by Tobe Hooper, tells the story of Sally Hardesty (Marilyn Burns) and her friends, who unwittingly stumble upon a family of cannibals during their trip to an old homestead. Among them lurks Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), a monstrous figure wielding a chainsaw, whose terrifying presence dominates the film. As their peaceful journey spirals into a nightmarish chase for survival, viewers are left on the edge of their seats. Despite its low-budget production, the movie has gained cult status and is widely regarded as one of the most influential horror films in cinema history.

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