If you're looking for a horror movie to bring on the chills, you must start with the classics. Yes, there are some amazing modern horror movies, but there is something about the staying power of the classics and their ability to scare generations with practical effects and jaw-dropping performances. This isn't to say there aren't new horror movies that have become instant classics, too. Over the years, our collective definition of scary movies has evolved, from the old-school Universal creature features to modern social and psychological thrillers like Jordan Peele's Get Out. If you consider yourself a true horror fan, you'll appreciate everything the genre has.
Whether you're looking for monster movies, iconic slashers, terrifying serial killer movies, sci-fi scares, or even genre-defying horror comedies, we've rounded up all the old reliables in the genre worth watching. Many of these are considered classic Halloween movies—but be warned, the titles on this list include jump scares, gore, and creepier tones than the spooky season films even scaredy cats can watch. Here are some of the best, most classic horror movies of all time that any self-respecting scary movie buff needs to see.
The Best Early Horror Movies
From popular black-and-white monster movies to incredible Alfred Hitchcock films, these films laid the groundwork for horror.
'The Birds' (1963)
Hitchcock has gone down in history as the master of horror, and for good reason. In 1963's The Birds, regular, average, not-monstrous birds turn on a whole town, viciously attacking them. It will make you scared to go outside for weeks.
'Bride of Frankenstein' (1935)
If for no other reason than to truly understand the slew of pop culture references it spawned, Bride of Frankenstein should be required viewing for all film buffs.
'The Haunting' (1963)
One of the original haunted house stories and based on one of Shirley Jackson's most beloved novels, The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting is just as terrifying today as it was in the '60s.
'Nosferatu' (1922)
It doesn't get much more "classic" than this. Nosferatu is a scare-fest from 1922 that set the standard for vampire movies for the next century. It may be a silent film, but this take on Dracula will send shivers up your spine.
'Psycho' (1960)
When you think of classic horror, what's the first image that comes to mind? If it's the raised knife of Psycho's famous shower scene, you're not alone. More than 50 years later, this Hitchcock film is still thoroughly terrifying.
'Rosemary's Baby' (1968)
Adulting is scary enough on its own without adding demonic elements, like giving birth to the literal spawn of Satan. That's the premise of 1968's Rosemary's Baby—which is as horrifying as it sounds.
The Best Classic Horror Movies
By the '70s, the slasher movie was born, filmmakers specializing in the genre began to emerge, and horror evolved into what we know it to be today. We consider films from this era and into the '80s and '90s certified classics.
'Alien' (1979)
In space, no one can hear you scream. That becomes an issue when your spaceship is overtaken by a ruthless killing machine hellbent on taking out your entire crew, one by one.
'An American Werewolf in London' (1981)
Werewolf movies are hard to get right, but that's part of what makes 1981's An American Werewolf in London such an achievement.
'The Blair Witch Project' (1999)
This low-budget phenomenon changed the game in scary movies, set box office records, and paved the way for the found-footage genre.
'Candyman' (1992)
This cult classic about the Candyman, a man covered in bees who appears when you say his name five times, was way ahead of its time with its smart commentary on race and gentrification.
'Carrie' (1976)
Stephen King's supernatural horror novel became a classic scary movie helmed by Brian De Palma when it was released in 1976. Considered to be a feminist horror movie, it highlights the horrors of adolescence, puberty, and high school in general.
'Child's Play' (1988)
If dolls give you the heeby-jeebies, stay clear of Child's Play. It's centered around a murderous doll, possessed by the spirit of a serial killer. Even still, this freaky franchise is full of camp.
'The Evil Dead' (1981)
If you've ever wondered where the "group of young people are attacked at a remote cabin in the woods" trope gained popularity, you should watch The Evil Dead.
'The Exorcist' (1973)
The Exorcist might be the scariest movie of all time. William Friedkin's satanic film is full of bonkers practical effects and performances that'll leave you stunned. Linda Blair stars in the film as Regan, a young girl possessed by a demon who needs an exorcism to rid herself of it.
'Final Destination' (2000)
How can you escape when the thing chasing you is death itself? For the most part, you can't. And when you try, death gets very creative about murdering you—at least according to this franchise about a group of friends who cheat death and then find themselves hunted down one by one by it.
'The Fly' (1986)
This David Cronenberg movie stars Jeff Goldblum as a scientist who invents a teleportation device and tests it out—not realizing that a fly is also along for the ride. A horrifying transformation follows, as he becomes part fly, part man.
'Friday the 13th' (1980)
Summer camp was never the same after the release of this slasher classic.
'Halloween' (1978)
When it comes to slasher flicks, it doesn't get much more classic than the original Halloween. John Carpenter's film looked at how eerie suburbia can be, made the idea of a masked murderer the gold standard in scary movies, and crowned Jamie Lee Curtis the Scream Queen.
'Hellraiser' (1987)
Hellraiser is not for the faint of heart. Clive Barker’s twisted body horror movie sees the fallout of how one man with a habit of satisfying his sexual fetishes opened a portal to Hell. It’s full of sadistic demons from another realm called Cenobites who are guaranteed to infiltrate your nightmares long after the runtime.
'I Know What You Did Last Summer' (1997)
Few horror movies lean into camp better than I Know What You Did Last Summer. The teen scream follows a group of friends being stalked by a hook-handed killer after covering up an accidental murder they committed during a hit-and-run.
'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1956)
The best horror sci-fi asks a terrifying "what if" and then answers it in a way that haunts us. In Invasion of the Body Snatchers, people are horrified to find that their loved ones have been taken away and replaced by emotionless, lookalike alien invaders.
'Jaws' (1975)
Steven Spielberg made one of the scariest movies of all time—and it's entirely set in the daylight. The filmmaker created an iconic movie monster in a blood-thirsty shark terrorizing a Cape Cod beach; you may be more hesitant to dip your toes in the water after your next watch.
'Misery' (1990)
In Misery, we get a look at fanatic devotion gone very, very wrong. The movie, adapted from a Stephen King novel, focuses on an author who is left seriously injured after a car crash and rescued by a retired nurse who's one of his biggest fans. She brings him home to bring him back to health—and to keep him prisoner forever.
'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984)
A monstrous murderer who comes for you in your dreams and kills you in your sleep? It's a real nightmare and, appropriately, the premise for the '80s classic helmed by the legendary Wes Craven.
'The Omen' (1976)
Sometimes the antichrist doesn't come through your womb. Sometimes you inadvertently adopt him. That's the premise of The Omen, one of the earliest (and scariest) "terrifying child terrorizes a family" movies.
'Poltergeist' (1982)
There are haunted house movies and then there's Poltergeist, which will leave you researching your neighborhood to ensure it wasn't built on top of any graveyards or sacred burial grounds. Plus, reading about the franchise's infamous "curse" will send you down an internet rabbit hole all on its own.
'Scream' (1996)
Scream was Wes Craven's meta look at horror movies that horror fans had been waiting for—but also a pitch-perfect scary movie in its own right. The '90s hit became an instant classic, and even as it satirized horror sequels, remains one of the best franchises.
'The Shining' (1980)
All work and no play makes people lose their minds and attempt to murder their families—at least, that's the lesson in 1980's The Shining. The Stanley Kubrick adaptation of Stephen King's book is a psychological mind trip—in the best and scariest of ways.
'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991)
If you're a psychological horror fan, you have to see The Silence of the Lambs. The procedural puts the psychological aspect front and center, via iconic, cannibalistic villain Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) and his conversations with FBI profiler Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster).
'Suspiria' (1977)
Dario Argento’s giallo film is set at a school for dance in Germany where newcomer Susie (Jessica Harper) begins noticing increasingly odd occurrences. While it may be shot with a splashy color palette and look visually stunning, that just means the blood and scares are all the brighter. (Luca Guadagnino remade the movie in 2018, giving its witchy elements a feminist update.)
'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974)
If slashers are your thing, then this 1974 classic is a must-see. The brutal film, which inspired countless of genre tropes, is centered around a group of young people who loiter on the wrong rural property—becoming the next meal and playthings for a sadistic family.
'The Thing' (1982)
The scariest horror movies explore what it's like to be trapped with a monster—and in The Thing, Antarctica provides the horrifying remote setting for a series of attacks from a shape-shifting beast.
'Videodome' (1983)
Long live the new flesh and long live David Cronenberg! This bonkers, erotic body horror film follows a TV executive in his search for the truth behind a series that showcases torture on-air after his girlfriend (Debbie Harry) is interviewed on the show and disappears.
'Wicker Man' (1973)
Wicker Man is what one would categorize as folk horror. When a detective (Edward Woodward) travels to a remote island off the British isle to investigate the case of a missing child, he discovers a community shrouded in mystery and consumed by pagan rituals. If you’re a fan of Midsommar, know that the Ari Aster film takes heavy inspiration from this creepy ‘70s tale.
The Best Modern Horror Classics
Horror has seen a renaissance in recent years, with more "elevated" concepts and rising directors leading the charge. Though these contemporary films only came out in recent years, we consider them to be instant classics.
'The Babadook' (2014)
A young widow (Essie Davis) and her son (Noah Wiseman) are terrorized by a monster from a mysterious picture book in this psychological flick praised as one of the best horror films of the 2010s.
'Cabin in the Woods' (2012)
You might think you know what you're getting into with Cabin in the Woods, but trust us, you don't. The movie deconstructs many genre cliches—and raises some existential questions about good and evil in the process.
'The Conjuring' (2013)
This modern classic from James Wan about a family who moves into an isolated farmhouse is scary enough to have spawned a bunch of spin-offs. While the films are fictionalized, they're inspired by the real case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.
'The Descent' (2005)
If you’re at all claustrophobic, stay clear of this one. If you’re brave enough to descend into a spelunker’s worst nightmare, then prepare for a wild journey. The dark 2005 adventure film sees a group of hikers exploring caves where they come across humanoid creatures who are more than a little bloodthirsty.
'Don't Breathe' (2016)
In this flipped home invasion film, a group of thieves get the surprise of their lives when they target a blind man (Stephan Lang) who's not as helpless as he seems.
'Get Out' (2017)
Classics can be released at any time. Case in point: Jordan Peele's game-changing social thriller Get Out, which achieved instant classic status when it was released in 2017.
'A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night' (2014)
Ana Lily Amirpour made one of the most innovative feminist horror movies with her feature directorial debut. The film toys with vampire clichés to flip the concept of how a girl walking home alone is said to be in danger. Here, men in a desolate Iranian town are in danger, as an unnamed, bloodlust woman lurks through the night on her skateboard, looking for company and to fill her cravings.
'Happy Death Day' (2017)
If you ever wondered what Groundhog Day would be like as a slasher, this movie is your answer.
'Hereditary' (2018)
After the matriarch of the Graham family dies, the clan begins to discover what sinister secrets she was hiding (and passed down).
'It' (2017)
The Stephen King classic will reinforce every clown fear you've ever had while managing to be a compelling coming-of-age story.
'It Follows' (2014)
Maika Monroe became an instant scream queen in this breakout film from David Robert Mitchell. While it’s unclear what exactly “it” is, the invisible entity haunts a teenager named Jay (Monroe) after she has sex. With its smart concept and indie sensibilities, It Follows set a precedent for all the “elevated horror” movies that followed.
'Let the Right One In' (2008)
This Swedish vampire movie is a must-see for anyone who considers themselves a connoisseur of horror classics. It expertly blends classic themes with sophisticated psychological thrills.
'Midsommar' (2019)
Ladies, never, never, follow your crappy boyfriend when he wants to study an isolated cult in the middle of nowhere. It will only end badly.
'Paranormal Activity' (2009)
An update on the found-footage trope using home security cameras, watch Paranormal Activity and you'll never look at your Nest or Ring camera the same way again.
'The Purge' (2013)
A new cult classic that helped put the production house Blumhouse on the map, The Purge takes place in an alternate-universe America where all crime, including murder, is legal for one night.
'A Quiet Place' (2018)
What would you do in a world where making any noise at all meant certain death? That's the surprisingly terrifying premise behind John Krasinski's A Quiet Place.
'The Ring' (2002)
For many millennials, this 2002 classic (adapted from a just as great Japanese movie) was our first experience of being really and truly scared out of our minds. Naomi Watts stars as reporter Rachel Keller, whose niece dies grotesquely after watching a videotape. Rachel watches the videotape, as do her estranged partner and kid... and the rest is horror movie history.
'Saw' (2004)
Every once in a while, a movie comes along that reinvents its entire genre. Saw was that movie for horror.
'Train to Busan' (2016)
Commuters on a South Korean bullet train have to survive a zombie apocalypse when the infection starts spreading through the train. It's a great choice if you want to scream and cry and have a penchant for Korean horror movies.
'Us' (2019)
What if a version of you, living underground your whole life, decides they want to take your place? Jordan Peele's second film strikes a new terrifying chord.
'The Witch' (2015)
A secluded Puritan family living in the woods? Supernatural forces? Demonic-like goats? Sign us up for this terrifying flick starring Anya Taylor-Joy.
