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The Greatest Horror Movies in Cinematic History

The Greatest Horror Movies in Cinematic History

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The Greatest Horror Movies in Cinematic History

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

50. The Others (2001)

Courtesy of Miramax

49. Cat People (1942)

Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

48. Possession (1981)

Courtesy of Limelight International

47. The Old Dark House (1932)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

46. Martin (1977)

Courtesy of Libra Films

45. Poltergeist (1982)

Courtesy of MGM/UA Entertainment Company

44. Fright Night (1985)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

43. House of Wax (1953)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

42. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

Courtesy of Kino Lorber

41. The Omen (1976)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

40. It (2017)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

39. The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

38. Pearl (2022)

Courtesy of A24

37. Carrie (1976)

Courtesy of United Artists

36. The Conjuring (2013)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

35. Eraserhead (1977)

Courtesy of Libra Films

34. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Courtesy of Bryanston Distributing

33. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

32. Re-Animator (1985)

Courtesy of Empire Pictures

31. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Courtesy of United Artists

30. 28 Days Later (2002)

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

29. The Uninvited (1944)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

28. An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

27. Dracula (1931)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

26. The Fly (1986)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

25. The Tenant (1976)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

24. The Exorcist (1973)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

23. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

22. The Evil Dead (1981)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

21. A Quiet Place (2018)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

20. The Birds (1963)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

19. Train to Busan (2016)

Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment

18. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures

17. The Thing (1982)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

16. Evil Dead II (1987)

Courtesy of Rosebud Releasing Corporation

15. Get Out (2017)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

14. Halloween (1978)

Courtesy of Aquarius Releasing

13. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Courtesy of Continental Distributing

12. The Shining (1980)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

11. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

10. King Kong (1933)

Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

9. Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Courtesy of United Film Distribution Company

8. Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

7. Frankenstein (1931)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

6. Let the Right One In (2008)

Courtesy of Magnet Releasing

5. Jaws (1975)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

4. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Courtesy of Picturehouse

3. Alien (1979)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

2. Psycho (1960)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

The Greatest Horror Movies in Cinematic History
50. The Others (2001)
49. Cat People (1942)
48. Possession (1981)
47. The Old Dark House (1932)
46. Martin (1977)
45. Poltergeist (1982)
44. Fright Night (1985)
43. House of Wax (1953)
42. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
41. The Omen (1976)
40. It (2017)
39. The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
38. Pearl (2022)
37. Carrie (1976)
36. The Conjuring (2013)
35. Eraserhead (1977)
34. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
33. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)
32. Re-Animator (1985)
31. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
30. 28 Days Later (2002)
29. The Uninvited (1944)
28. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
27. Dracula (1931)
26. The Fly (1986)
25. The Tenant (1976)
24. The Exorcist (1973)
23. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
22. The Evil Dead (1981)
21. A Quiet Place (2018)
20. The Birds (1963)
19. Train to Busan (2016)
18. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
17. The Thing (1982)
16. Evil Dead II (1987)
15. Get Out (2017)
14. Halloween (1978)
13. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
12. The Shining (1980)
11. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
10. King Kong (1933)
9. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
8. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
7. Frankenstein (1931)
6. Let the Right One In (2008)
5. Jaws (1975)
4. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
3. Alien (1979)
2. Psycho (1960)
1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

The Greatest Horror Movies in Cinematic History

The Hollywood film industry has a rich assortment of genres, ensuring there's something to captivate every audience. From drama and comedy to action and adventure, the choices are plentiful. However, few genres captivate viewers quite like horror. Since the dawn of motion pictures, horror films have held a special place in cinematic history, with the genre's roots tracing back to 1896 when the first horror film, Le Manoir du Diable (The House of the Devil) was made in France.

The genre has gone through quite a change since then, with a range of fear-inducing tactics utilized that run the gamut from psychological to zombie to supernatural to monster and more. One of the earliest classic movies, Nosferatu, is often considered the first full-length horror film, a classic vampire movie so influential, that its style and narrative are still used today (a new version hits theaters in December 2024.)

To determine the 50 most brilliant horror movies of all time, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, weighting all ratings equally. We only considered horror films with at least 10,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes.

This post was updated on September 18, 2025 to clarify synopses and add "best known for".

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