List Rules Horror slashers films about teenagers in high school or college
List of the best teen slasher movies. Almost as long as there have been horror movies, there have been teen slasher films. The genre got a huge surge in the late 70s and 80s when nearly every new horror movie featured a group of teenagers getting slaughtered by a mysterious and terrifying killer. Although the genre died off a little, it has recently gotten a huge resurgence with 80s horror remakes and new tales. These stories range from groups of hikers running from a mystifying monster with a chainsaw to high school students dying off one by one. These films are popular because they don’t just include horror elements, but also themes of romance, friendship and endurance.
Many of the films on this list have the same sort of characters: the innocent female, the jokester sidekick, the ditzy popular girl, the jock and the nerd, all playing at the same stereotypical roles. However, the concepts of each movie can be wildly different, from traditional horror to a campy take on the genre.
What are the best teen slasher movies ever made? This list features masked killers that will haunt you in your sleep for years to come, gruesome deaths and badass fighters you will never forget. Vote for your favorite.
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ScreamDrew 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
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867 212
HalloweenJamie 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
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672 198
Friday the 13thKevin 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
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807 195
A Nightmare on Elm StreetJohnny 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
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681 219
Scream 2Sarah Michelle Gellar, Courteney Cox, Heather Graham Scream 2 is a 1997 American slasher film created and written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jamie ...more
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693 238
I Know What You Did Last SummerJennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Anne Heche I Know What You Did Last Summer is a 1997 American slasher film based on the 1973 novel of the same name by Lois Duncan. The film changes many aspects of the book, which was not a slasher novel. ...more
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573 199
The Texas Chain Saw MassacreGunnar 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
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633 196
Final DestinationAli Larter, Seann William Scott, Devon Sawa Final Destination is a 2000 American horror film directed by James Wong. It is the first installment of the Final Destination series. The screenplay was written by James Wong, Glen Morgan, and ...more
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522 246
Bottoms Up added The Cabin in the WoodsChris 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
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493 232
Scream 3Courteney Cox, Jenny McCarthy, Carrie Fisher Scream 3 is a 2000 American slasher film and the third installment in the Scream franchise. Directed by Wes Craven and written by Ehren Kruger, the film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and ...more
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592 260
Scream 4Hayden Panettiere, Kristen Bell, Courteney Cox 10 years after the third movie. Courteney Cox and David Arquette return as Gale Weathers Riley and Deputy Dewey Riley. Neve Campbell also returns as Sidney Prescott. A killer is after a new ...more
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Urban LegendJared Leto, Tara Reid, Alicia Witt Urban Legend is a 1998 slasher film starring Jared Leto and Alicia Witt. The film is based on the premise that a killer is using the methods of death described in certain urban legends as a ...more
sarawalchak added SawDanny 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
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386 218
I Still Know What You Did Last SummerJennifer Love Hewitt, Jack Black, Brandy Norwood I Still Know What You Did Last Summer is a 1998 slasher film and a sequel to the 1997 film I Know What You Did Last Summer. Directed by Danny Cannon, the film was written by Trey Callaway, and ...more
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424 167
The FacultySalma Hayek, Usher, Famke Janssen The Faculty is a 1998 science fiction horror film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film stars Josh Hartnett, Elijah Wood, Shawn Hatosy, Jordana Brewster, Clea ...more
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360 168
Final Destination 2Ali Larter, A. J. Cook, Sarah Carter Final Destination 2 is a 2003 supernatural American horror film directed by David R. Ellis. The screenplay by J. Mackye Gruber and Eric Bress was from a story by Gruber, Bress, and series ...more
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376 192
DisturbiaShia LaBeouf, Viola Davis, Carrie-Anne Moss Disturbia is a 2007 drama and thriller film directed by D. J. Caruso.
dee123 added The Last House on the LeftMartin Kove, Steve Miner, Fred J. Lincoln The Last House on the Left is a 1972 American exploitation-horror film written, edited, and directed by Wes Craven and produced by Sean S. Cunningham. The story is inspired by the 1960 Swedish ...more
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Prom NightJamie Lee Curtis, Brittany Snow, Leslie Nielsen Prom Night is a 1980 Canadian slasher film directed by Paul Lynch, based on a story by Robert Guza, Jr., and starring Leslie Nielsen and Jamie Lee Curtis. The story concerns a group of high ...more
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but chickens double d added Halloween IIJamie 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
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337 179
Final Destination 3Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Cory Monteith, Tony Todd Final Destination 3 is a 2006 American horror film, and the third installment of the Final Destination franchise. It was directed and co-written by James Wong, who also directed and co-wrote the ...more
House of WaxParis Hilton, Elisha Cuthbert, Jared Padalecki House of Wax is a 2005 American-Australian horror film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and stars Chad Michael Murray, Elisha Cuthbert, Brian Van Holt, Paris Hilton, Jared Padalecki, Jon Abrahams, ...more
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210 147
MikkelKl added Final Destination 5David Koechner, Tony Todd, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood Final Destination 5 is a 2011 American horror film written by Eric Heisserer and directed by Steven Quale. It is the fifth installment of the Final Destination franchise. It stars Nicholas ...more
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217 140
My Bloody ValentineDon Francks, Cynthia Dale, Helene Udy My Bloody Valentine is a 1981 slasher film directed by George Mihalka and written by John Beaird. The film tells the story of a group of teenagers who decide to throw a Valentine's Day party ...more
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dee123 added Sleepaway CampMike Kellin, Katherine Kamhi, Robert Earl Jones Sleepaway Camp is a 1983 exploitation slasher film written and directed by Robert Hiltzik who also served as executive producer. The film is about the killings of teen campers at a summer camp. ...more
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280 213
Jennifer's BodyMegan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Chris Pratt Jennifer's Body is a 2009 black comedy horror film written by Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama. The film stars Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, and Adam Brody. Fox portrays a ...more
A Nightmare on Elm StreetRooney Mara, Connie Britton, Katie Cassidy A Nightmare on Elm Street is a 2010 American slasher film directed by Samuel Bayer and written by Wesley Strick and Eric Heisserer as a remake of Wes Craven's 1984 film of the same name, which ...more
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243 153
When a Stranger CallsCamilla Belle, Katie Cassidy, Tessa Thompson When a Stranger Calls is a 2006 American horror thriller film directed by Simon West and written by Jake Wade Wall. The film stars Camilla Belle, Tommy Flanagan, Katie Cassidy and Clark Gregg. ...more
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158 137
The HitcherJennifer Jason Leigh, Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell The Hitcher is a 1986 action horror film directed by Robert Harmon and written by Eric Red. The film stars Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jeffrey DeMunn.
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sarawalchak added The CraziesDanielle Panabaker, Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell The Crazies is a 2010 American horror film directed by Breck Eisner, with a screenplay by Scott Kosar and Ray Wright. The film is a remake of the 1973 film of the same name by George A. Romero, ...more
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sarawalchak added Children of the CornLinda 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
CandymanVirginia 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
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A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's RevengeRobert Englund, Hope Lange, Clu Gulager A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge is a 1985 American slasher horror film and the second film in the Nightmare on Elm Street film series. The film was directed by Jack Sholder and ...more
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sarawalchak added OrphanVera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Margo Martindale Orphan is a 2009 American psychological thriller film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. It stars Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard and Isabelle Fuhrman. The film centers on a couple who, after the ...more
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Prom NightIdris Elba, Brittany Snow, Jana Kramer Prom Night is a 2008 American slasher film from Screen Gems directed by Nelson McCormick. The film is primarily a remake of the 1980 Canadian slasher film of the same name which starred scream ...more
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Halloween ResurrectionTyra Banks, Jamie Lee Curtis, Busta Rhymes Halloween: Resurrection is a 2002 American horror film and eighth installment in the Halloween film series. Directed by Rick Rosenthal, who had also directed Halloween II in 1981, the film ...more
The StepfatherTerry O'Quinn, Shelley Hack, Jill Schoelen The Stepfather is a 1987 American thriller slasher starring Terry O'Quinn in the title role. It is loosely based on the life of mass murderer John List, although the plot is more commonly ...more
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151 157
Black ChristmasMichelle Trachtenberg, Lacey Chabert, Mary Elizabeth Winstead Black Christmas is a 2006 Canadian-American slasher film written and directed by Glen Morgan and starring Katie Cassidy, Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Oliver Hudson, Lacey ...more
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230 128
Sorority RowCarrie Fisher, Jamie Chung, Audrina Patridge Sorority Row is a 2009 American slasher film directed by Stewart Hendler and starring Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, Rumer Willis, and Carrie Fisher. Based on the script for the 1983 horror film The ...more
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100 158
sarawalchak added Seed of ChuckyJennifer Tilly, Martha Stewart, Redman Seed of Chucky is a 2004 comedy horror film and the fifth installment in the Child's Play series. The film was written and directed by Don Mancini, who created Child's Play and has written all ...more
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Piranha 3DKelly Brook, Elisabeth Shue, Christopher Lloyd Piranha 3D is a 2010 American 3D horror comedy film and a remake of the 1978 film Piranha. It was directed by Alexandre Aja and has an ensemble cast featuring Steven R. McQueen, Jessica Szohr, ...more
dee123 added Sleepaway Camp 2Walter Gotell, Renée Estevez, Pamela Springsteen Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers also known as Nightmare Vacation II is a 1988 horror-comedy film and a sequel to the movie Sleepaway Camp, written by Fritz Gordon and directed by Michael A. ...more
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Disturbing BehaviorKatie Holmes, James Marsden, Nick Stahl Disturbing Behavior is a 1998 thriller science fiction film starring James Marsden, Katie Holmes, and Nick Stahl. The screenplay, written by Scott Rosenberg, follows a group of high school ...more
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122 137
Urban Legends: Final CutEva Mendes, Jennifer Morrison, Rebecca Gayheart Urban Legends: Final Cut also known as Urban Legend 2 is a 2000 American slasher film and sequel to the 1998 film Urban Legend. It is the sole directorial feature of John Ottman, who also edited ...more
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Cherry FallsBrittany Murphy, Jay Mohr, Michael Biehn Cherry Falls is a 2000 American slasher comedy film written by Ken Selden and directed by Geoffrey Wright. The film stars Brittany Murphy, Jay Mohr, and Michael Biehn.
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farahsaab added The RoommateNina Dobrev, Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly The Roommate is a 2011 American thriller film directed by Christian E. Christiansen and starring Minka Kelly, Leighton Meester, Cam Gigandet, Danneel Harris, Matt Lanter, and Aly Michalka. It ...more
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liplip added Night of the DemonsLinnea Quigley, Cathy Podewell, Amelia Kinkade Night of the Demons is a 1988 American supernatural horror film written and produced by Joe Augustyn and directed by Kevin S. Tenney. The film tells the story of ten high school seniors having a ...more
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bigcraig added Eden LakeMichael Fassbender, Kelly Reilly, Jack O'Connell Eden Lake is a 2008 British thriller film written and directed by James Watkins and starring Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender and Jack O'Connell.
