These 15 Horror Masterpieces Will Keep You Awake at Night

The Hollywood film industry offers a wide variety of movie genres. From romance and comedy to drama and mystery, there's typically stories for everyone. But the horror genre offers a whole host of subgenres like psychological, slasher, haunted house, zombie, and monster!

Many of these have managed to stand the test of time, becoming timeless horror classics that continue to scare audiences, whether through their compelling stories, incredible performances, or innovative special effects. And when it comes to horror films, audiences love a good scare.

To determine 15 timeless horror classics that continue to scare audiences, 24/7 Tempo reviewed thousands of movies on IMDb, paying close attention to their scores. (For more great horror films,click here for the best horror movies of all time.)

This post was updated on September 19, 2025 to clarify subgenres of horror, specific initial release dates, why The Man Who Laughs is now considered horror, and the earliest zombie films.

• Director: Alfred Hitchcock
• IMDb score: 8.5 / 10
• Tomatometer: 97%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 95%

The first film on our list is the 1960 horror classic, Psycho, starring Anthony Perkins. This chilling movie continues to captivate audiences and has inspired many other films. Psycho was released in the United States on June 16, 1960, and is based on the novel of the same name by Robert Bloch.

The popularity of the movie and novel led to several remakes, sequels, and even a TV series.

• Director: F.W. Murnau
• IMDb score: 7.9 / 10
• Tomatometer: 97%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 87%

In 1922, a terrifying silent film debuted on the big screen. Nosferatu, a German production starring Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, and Gustav von Wangenheim, was released in Germany on March 4, 1922.

Nosferatu is the story of Thomas Hutter, a real estate agent who travels to Transylvania to meet a new client, the eerie vampire Count Orlok. Count Orlok, with his frightening presence, eventually starts to prey on Thomas and his wife.

• Director: Paul Leni
• IMDb score: 7.6 / 10
• Tomatometer: 100%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 87%

The Man Who Laughs is another silent film that makes our list. This is one of the most incredible early horror movies, alongside Nosferatu.

The film is adapted from Victor Hugo's novel of the same name, and stars Mary Philbin, Conrad Veidt, and Cesare Gravina. It was released in the United States on November 4, 1928.

It is primarily a romantic melodrama and not originally intended as horror. It has been retroactively grouped with horror due to Conrad Veidt's appearance, particularly Gwynplaine's grotesque grin. This creepy smile is enough to bring goosebumps and shivers!

• Director: Georges Franju
• IMDb score: 7.6 / 10
• Tomatometer: 97%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 87%

No list of the most disturbing classic horror movies would be complete without Eyes Without a Face, released on March 2, 1960, in France. The film was later released in the U.S. in October of 1962 under the title The Horror Chamber of Dr. Faustus. Despite almost no gore, this unusual horror film is deeply disturbing. Just a still image of the main character is enough to send chills down your spine.

Eyes Without a Face starred Pierre Brasseur, Alida Valli, Juliette Mayniel, and Edith Scob.

• Director: Tod Browning
• IMDb score: 7.4 / 10
• Tomatometer: 94%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 82%

Even though Dracula may not be the most highly rated classic horror film, it deserves a spot on the list. Released on February 14, 1931, in the United States, the movie is about 75 minutes long.

The film stars Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners, and Edward Van Sloan. Dracula tells the story of the Count Dracula, a vampire who uses his charming demeanor and strange powers to terrorize characters like Renfield and Mina.

• Director: George A. Romero
• IMDb score: 7.8 / 10
• Tomatometer: 95%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 87%

Night of the Living Dead is often credited as one of the earliest and most influential zombie films. This masterpiece redefined the genre into what we now recognize as the modern zombie flick. Earlier "zombie" films (White Zombie, 1932) portrayed voodoo-style zombies, instead of the flesh-eating ghouls we know and love today. The groundbreaking special effects and makeup were ahead of its time, contributing to its success. Despite its low budget, the film grossed over 250 times its production cost.

Night of the Living Dead was released on October 4, 1968, in the United States and has a run time of about 96 minutes.

• Director: Karl Freund
• IMDb score: 7.0 / 10
• Tomatometer: 89%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 72%

The Mummy is the story of Imhotep, an ancient Egyptian high priest who is revived and awakened. He disguises himself as Ardath Bey while searching for his lost love.

This classic fantasy horror film was released by Universal Studios on December 22, 1932, in the United States. The film starred Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, Edward Van Sloan, and Noble Johnson.

• Director: Robert Wise
• IMDb score: 7.4 / 10
• Tomatometer: 87%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 82%

The Haunting, released on August 21, 1963, in the United States, initially only received moderate success but has since become a fan favorite. This terrifying film stars Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn.

This eerie supernatural film centers around the mysterious and tragic Hill House. From the outset, viewers learn about its dark history of death, beginning with the owner's first wife.

• Director: James Whale
• IMDb score: 7.8 / 10
• Tomatometer: 94%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 87%

The story of Frankenstein is familiar to many. Based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel of the same name, Frankenstein is a timeless horror classic that has inspired numerous adaptations and sequels, including The Bride of Frankenstein.

Frankenstein premiered on November 21, 1931, released by Universal Pictures in the United States. The film stars Colin Clive, Boris Karloff, Mae Clarke, and Edward van Sloan. Although known for its great storytelling, the film is also recognized for its remarkable character design and makeup.

• Director: Jack Clayton
• IMDb score: 7.8 / 10
• Tomatometer: 97%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 73%

One of the most unsettling classic horror films is The Innocents, which was released on December 15, 1961, in the United States. This thrilling psychological horror leaves viewers wondering whether the house is truly haunted, or if something more sinister is involved.

This adaptation (screenplay by William Archibald & Truman Capote) is based on Henry James's The Turn of the Screw, and stars Deborah Kerr, Peter Wyngarde, Megs Jenkins, Michael Redgrave, Pamela Franklin, and Martin Stephens.

• Director: Stanley Kubrick
• IMDb score: 8.4 / 10
• Tomatometer: 83%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 93%

The Shining is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest horror movies ever made. Starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers, the film's iconic imagery has become ingrained in popular culture.

While not as old as some classics on this list, The Shining is too unforgettable and essential not to include. Released on May 23, 1980, in the United States, the film is based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, although there are major differences between the movie and the book.

• Director: Michael Powell
• IMDb score: 7.6 / 10
• Tomatometer: 95%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 85%

One of the creepiest films ever made, Peeping Tom debuted in 1960. This odd film starred Carl Boehm, Moira Shearer, Anna Massey, and Maxine Audley. Initially controversial due to its disturbing themes, the film is now a highly rated film, from both critics and viewers alike.

The movie focuses on Mark Lewis, an aspiring filmmaker, who follows and kills women while filming the act, attempting to capture the terrified expressions.

• Director: Wolf Rilla
• IMDb score: 7.3 / 10
• Tomatometer: 93%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 78%

One of the most chilling horror films ever made is Village of the Damned, which premiered on December 7, 1960, in the United States after an earlier U.K. release. This distinctive British sci-fi horror stars George Sanders, Barbara Shelley, and Michael Gwynn.

This unusual movie is adapted from John Wyndham's novel, The Midwich Cuckoos. In the British village of Midwich, a mysterious event causes everyone to lose consciousness for approximately four hours. Two months later, all the women and girls of child-bearing age in the village find themselves pregnant. As the children born from this bizarre event grow up, they are cold, but highly intelligent and have special powers.

• Director: James Whale
• IMDb score: 7.0 / 10
• Tomatometer: 97%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 71%

The Old Dark House was released on October 20, 1932, in the United States and was directed by James Whale. Based on the novel, Benighted, the film stars Boris Karloff, Melvyn Douglas, Gloria Stuart, and Charles Laughton.

While it has horror elements, this funny movie is widely considered a gothic comedy thriller rather than a straight horror movie. It revolves around a group of people taking refuge from a fierce storm in an old mansion owned by Horace Femm and his sister Rebecca. Throughout the movie, the guests try to survive the night while navigating encounters with Morgan, a volatile heavy drinker, and Saul, a crazed pyromaniac.

• Director: Alfred Hitchcock
• IMDb score: 7.6 / 10
• Tomatometer: 94%
• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 83%

Who knew innocent-looking seagulls could be so scary? In this Hitchcock classic, flocks of birds suddenly begin attacking people, leaving many dead and injured, including several supporting characters. What adds to the horror is that the audience never learns the reason behind the bird attacks or when they will stop.

The Birds debuted in the United States on March 28, 1963, and has been terrifying movie audiences ever since.