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.
1
1,349 277
Scream1996 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
2
966 227
Halloween1978 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
745 220
Friday the 13th1980 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
4
878 212
A Nightmare on Elm Street1984 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
770 259
I Know What You Did Last Summer1997 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
6
736 250
Scream 21997 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
7
640 219
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre1974 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
705 215
Final Destination2000 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
9
568 277
Bottoms Up added The Cabin in the Woods2012 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
10
529 266
Scream 32000 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
11
496 201
Urban Legend1998 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
12
635 296
Scream 42011 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
13
411 214
sarawalchak added Saw2004 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
14
424 247
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer1998 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
15
394 181
Final Destination 22003 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
16
465 189
The Faculty1998 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
17
414 212
Disturbia2007 Disturbia is a 2007 American thriller film directed by D. J. Caruso. The film follows a teenager (Shia LaBeouf) who is placed on house arrest and begins to spy on his neighbors, thinking one of ...more
18
260 107
but chickens double d added Halloween II1981 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
19
305 183
Prom Night1980 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
20
302 145
dee123 added The Last House on the Left1972 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
21
365 194
Final Destination 32006 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 Wax2005 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
24
231 165
MikkelKl added Final Destination 52011 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
25
240 154
My Bloody Valentine1981 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
26
199 144
dee123 added Sleepaway Camp1983 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
27
308 235
Jennifer's Body2009 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
28
212 157
sarawalchak added Children of the Corn1984 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
29
177 149
The Hitcher1986 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.
30
268 165
When a Stranger Calls2006 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
31
323 168
A Nightmare on Elm Street2010 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
32
253 160
Candyman1992 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
33
202 146
sarawalchak added The Crazies2010 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
34
212 147
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge1985 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
35
231 134
sarawalchak added Orphan2009 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
36
231 185
Prom Night2008 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
37
163 197
Halloween Resurrection2002 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
38
166 145
The Stepfather1987 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
39
161 170
Black Christmas2006 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
40
110 174
sarawalchak added Seed of Chucky2004 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
41
241 140
Sorority Row2009 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
42
130 131
Disturbing Behavior1998 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
43
143 194
Piranha 3D2010 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
44
86 140
dee123 added Sleepaway Camp 21988 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
45
133 150
Urban Legends: Final Cut2000 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
46
67 15
1516485061868 added Jeepers Creepers2001 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.
47
60 75
farahsaab added The Roommate2011 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
48
61 81
liplip added Night of the Demons1988 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
49
112 154
Cherry Falls2000 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.
50
61 86
bigcraig added Eden Lake2008 Eden Lake is a 2008 British thriller film written and directed by James Watkins and starring Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender and Jack O'Connell.
