The 65+ Best R-Rated Slashers

Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The 65+ Best R-Rated Slashers
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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: Scream 6
Most divisive: Halloween

List of R-Rated slasher movies, ranked from best to worst with movie trailers when available. This list takes the best R-Rated slasher movies and pits them against each other to see once and for all what the greatest R-Rated Slasher movie of all time is. This list of popular R-Rated slasher 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 Slasher 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 Slasher films on this list. If you're trying to find a specific R-Rated Slasher film you can search this list and filter to find what you're looking for.

List contains movies like Psycho and Halloween.

If you're trying to find out "What are the best R-Rated slasher movies?" and "What are the most famous R-Rated slasher movies?" then this list is the perfect resource for you.

Use this list if you're looking for some new slasher movies that are rated R. Between Netflix, Hulu and other services there are thousands of great slasher movies rated R, so get out there and start watching.

Don't forget to share this list on your social networks so that more great movies can hit the top ranks. {#nodes}

What kind of directors have worked on R Slasher movies in the past? Clint Eastwood and Quentin Tarantino both have, as have other great directors.

Ranked by
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street
    1
    John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, Heather Langenkamp
    75 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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  • Halloween
    2
    Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Kyes
    84 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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  • Friday the 13th Part 2
    3
    Amy Steel, John Furey, Adrienne King
    54 votes
    • Released: 1981
    • Directed by: Steve Miner
    Friday the 13th Part 2, a chilling sequel in the renowned horror franchise, reintroduces us to the sinister world of Camp Crystal Lake. This time, the story orbits around a group of camp counselors-in-training, including the determined Ginny Field (Amy Steel). Five years after the blood-curdling events of the first film, they find themselves stalked by an unseen force. The relentless antagonist, shrouded in mystery and dread, is revealed to be Jason Voorhees (Warrington Gillette), thought drowned decades ago. Directed by Steve Miner, this film weaves a terrifying narrative that deepens the mythology of Crystal Lake while delivering heart-stopping scares.

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  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
    4
    Heather Langenkamp, Patricia Arquette, Craig Wasson
    50 votes
    • Released: 1987
    • Directed by: Chuck Russell
    In A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, the infamous Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) returns to torment the youths of Springwood, Ohio. This time, his victims are a group of troubled teens at a psychiatric hospital. The narrative spotlights a young woman, Kristen Parker (Patricia Arquette), who possesses a unique ability to draw others into her dreams. She and the other patients band together under the guidance of returning character Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp). They form the titular Dream Warriors, using their dream powers to battle Krueger in his own realm. This horror flick is known for its inventive dream sequences and creative special effects, adding an extra layer of surreal terror to this third installment of the popular franchise.

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  • Friday the 13th Part 3: 3D
    5
    Dana Kimmell, Paul Kratka, Tracie Savage
    41 votes
    • Released: 1982
    • Directed by: Steve Miner
    The third installment in the "Friday the 13th" series picks up on the day after the carnage with homicidal maniac Jason Voorhees (Richard Brooker) stealing some clothes and killing a local store owner. Meanwhile, Chris (Dana Kimmell) and her sometimes boyfriend, Rick (Paul Kratka), are hosting a group of teenage friends at Chris' lake house. Despite a run-in with a local biker gang, they enjoy an amiable weekend together -- that is, until Jason begins knocking off kids and bikers alike.

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  • Scream
    6

    Scream

    Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette
    15 votes
    • Released: 2022
    • Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
    The 2022 American slasher film Scream, also referred to as Scream 5, follows the story of Sam Carpenter, played by Melissa Barrera, who is compelled to return to her hometown after her younger sister, Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega), falls victim to Ghostface's attack. Alongside her boyfriend Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid), she reunites with Tara's friend group and begins to piece together their troubling links to the original Ghostface killers. As the new Ghostface commences his attacks once more, these connections force Sam and her friends into a horrific game of survival. Their journey becomes significantly more challenging when they are coerced into confronting past traumas and family secrets, building up to a thrilling climax as they unmask the new Ghostface.

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