Everyone loves a good horror movie now and then. Whether it's to revel in excessive practical effects or feel that familiar tingle in our spine, there's a horror movie for just about every mood. But between horror comedies and even horror-themed romances, there's one thing the genre does best: delivering scares. Sometimes, all you need out of a horror movie is a good scare. Ever since the genre's inception, tales of the macabre, stories of the supernatural, and all other kinds of paranormal happenings have made us cower behind our couches and sleep with nightlights on. But with so many horror movies available at our fingertips, how can we find a movie that's guaranteed to chill our blood?
We've found it helpful to compile some of the scariest films in history in one place for your convenience; they may not be the most artistically perfect horror films (for that, check out the best horror movies ever made), but they are some of the scariest, and there's some overlap. Zombies, ghouls, ghosts, and more will collide in some of the scariest horror movies ever made.
Updated on August 11, 2023, by Sean Shuman: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
20 Begotten (1989)
It's difficult to describe Edmund Merhige's Begotten, as breaking down what literally happens in the film seemingly goes against its intended purpose. On the surface, Begotten is an experimental film that sees a man wandering a barren landscape until his repeated encounters with a group of nomads end with his grisly death. But underneath this literal interpretation, however, is a sea of symbolic imagery and horrifying implications.
Begotten is infamous for its incredibly distorted cinematography, lack of dialogue, and otherwise alien presentation. It's a film whose disturbing content feels "wrong" to witness as if the audience is peering into a horrifying alternate reality. It certainly doesn't help that Begotten was prominently bootlegged sometime after its original release, meaning you could've found it sitting on the same shelves as other classic horror films in 1995. It's easily one of the most disturbing film experiments of the past few decades.
19 The Witch (2015)
Robert Eggers' directorial debut, The Witch, raised plenty of eyebrows when it was initially released in 2015. Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie, along with Anya-Taylor Joy in her feature debut, star in this folk-horror film set in the 1630s. Exiled from their previous community, a New England family takes refuge in a secluded forest, unaware that the presence of a supernatural witch may lead to their undoing.
A critical and commercial success, The Witch is an excellent debut from both Joy and Eggers. It's also an incredibly cerebral film, focusing more on building an incredibly isolating atmosphere made more frightening by the family's growing paranoia. Being an Eggers film, you can also expect a lack of jump scares, with more emphasis placed on natural lighting and clever camera tricks to convey the horror.
18 Sinister (2012)
Ethan Hawke would become the next big "scream king" with his role in 2012's Sinister. Playing a true-crime author, Hawke moves his family into what should've been their dream home in the heart of Pennsylvania. It would've been, at least, if the previous family hadn't been murdered there. When Hawke discovers a box of Super 8 film reels in the house's attic, he views them in order to piece together what really happened to the house's previous occupants, only to realize that they hold a horrifying secret.
Let's just say that a certain scene involving a human head and a lawnmower stopped our hearts for a second. Sinister is remembered fondly by many, not just for how terrifying the Super 8 sections are, but for how convincing Hawke's performance was. Scott Derrickson, the director of Sinister, would even re-enlist Hawke for a villain role in the 2021 horror film The Black Phone.
17 A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
While Freddy Krueger would be cemented as a murderous jokester in later Nightmare on Elm Street films, his debut in the original A Nightmare on Elm Street is easily the character's most terrifying outing. Led by Robert Englund and Heather Langenkamp, this 1984 horror classic sees a classic slasher setup turned on its head, as a group of teenagers is targeted by a murderous monster. The caveat, however, is that he can only attack from within the teens' dreams.
As funny as Krueger's gory one-liners would be later on, his debut appearance is surprisingly light on jokes, trading them for an extra degree of malicious sadism. A Nightmare on Elm Street remains one of the most inventive slasher films to date, with some of the most terrifyingly iconic moments in horror history.
16 The Wailing (2016)
After debuting with the brilliant 2008 thriller The Chaser, director Na Hong-jin would return in 2016 with The Wailing. Kwak Do-won (Asura: The City of Madness) leads this Korean horror film as a police officer named Jong-goo. He lives a quiet life in a rural South Korean village until a series of murders rocks the townsfolk.
When Jong-goo is sent to investigate, a mysterious woman insists that the local Japanese man in the village is actually an evil spirit, influencing others to violently attack the village's residents. What follows is a supernatural mystery that never skimps away from the drama, wrenching out every ounce of misery it can until it reaches a terrifying conclusion. Half slow-burn horror, half The Exorcist, The Wailing is a bloodcurdling Korean film that you can't afford to miss.
15 Black Christmas (1974)
As a classic slasher film released a full four years before John Carpenter's Halloween, Black Christmas is a rare example of a slasher film that feels genuinely intimidating. Set in a sorority house, Olivia Hussey stars as Jess Bradford, a typical college student who finds herself tormented by a series of obscene phone calls. Unbeknownst to her and the rest of the sorority's sisters, however, the calls are coming from a murderous invader skulking throughout the premises.
Remade twice in a little over a decade, Black Christmas is easily one of the most important horror films in history, bolstered by a genuinely unsettling atmosphere set in the middle of the holiday season. Not only is it an essential film for horror fans, it still holds up in terms of scariness almost half-a-century later.
14 In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
Sure, John Carpenter's The Thing is one of the greatest horror movies ever made. But, you could argue that In the Mouth of Madness, the middle entry in Carpenter's "Apocalypse Trilogy," takes the cake as one of his scariest films. Starring an unhinged Sam Neill, In the Mouth of Madness sees a simple insurance investigator tasked with solving the disappearance of a horror author in a quiet town. However, when fiction and reality seemingly blur together, the limits of sanity will be tested in this harrowing tale.
While you won't see Lovecraft abominations in this terrifying adventure, what you'll find instead is a film whose influence can be felt in the modern day. Setting the stage for reality-defying horror in the 2010s and 2020s, In the Mouth of Madness has since been re-evaluated as one of Carpenter's most influential — and downright terrifying — films to date.
13 Lake Mungo (2008)
While Skinamarink drew significant attention for its unique approach to horror, you could argue that Lake Mungo set the stage for its release fifteen years prior. Through a combination of found footage, mock interviews, and documentary elements, this terrifying psychological film presents a family grieving after the unfortunate death of their daughter. Though her remains lie within Lake Mungo, the family can still feel their daughter's presence through a series of supernatural events that plague their lives.
A perfect example of low-budget filmmaking, Lake Mungo overcomes its financial limitations in presenting a somber ghost story that'll stick with you long after the credits roll. It's an examination of grief through the lens of a horror film, meaning you won't find obnoxious jump scares or other tired horror tropes throughout.
12 The House That Jack Built (2018)
One of the more approachable films made by Lars von Trier is The House That Jack Built, originally released in 2018. That's not to suggest that it's tame, however. Matt Dillon plays a self-reflective serial killer named Jack as he wanders through the nine circles of Hell with Virgil (Bruno Ganz) at his side. As the two descend deeper into Hell, we're treated to a series of flashbacks that illustrate Jack's murderous escapades for all of us to see.
A horrifying series of incidents from an unreliable narrator, The House That Jack Built certainly goes places with its art-house premise. Even though it features the most gruesome imagery put to screen in recent years, which even prompted a complaint from the MPAA, the film itself never shows Jack's actions in a positive light. Every horrifying vignette is sandwiched between Jack's futile attempts to defend his actions to Virgil, before ultimately succumbing to a fate that feels appropriate for how monstrous his character was.
11 Us (2019)
While Jordan Peele's Get Out earned him an easy place in horror history, his sophomore film is a bit more overt in its ability to scare. Us, released in 2019, starts out innocently enough with a family trip to a beach house. But once the sun sets, their night of blissful peace is disturbed when a group of mysterious doppelgängers in red jumpsuits invade their domicile.
Us is a terrific horror film in that it works on multiple levels. On the surface, it's a serviceable invasion thriller that can be enjoyed for its popcorn scares. But, underneath this premise, layers and layers of interpretation can be unraveled when examining Us' themes of xenophobia and exploitation. Combined with some genuinely unsettling antagonists, Us is still a brilliant outing from Peele before he would dazzle audiences once more with 2022's Nope.
10 Martyrs (2008)
Martyrs is certainly a contentious film. While some have lumped it into the New French Extremity movement, others have labeled it as one of the greatest horror films ever created. A non-linear horror film filmed in Canada, Martyrs starts out as a typical revenge story framed around a horrifying home invasion. However, as more and more revelations are made, the torturous motivations of a mysterious organization are unearthed, with their violent methodology being given a terrifying purpose.
Directly inspired by Eli Roth's Hostel, Martyrs faced a significant amount of controversy on multiple fronts. It was found to be so repulsive, its initial content rating in France placed it in the same category as pornographic films. The planned theatrical release in the US was even ultimately canceled in favor of going straight to DVD. But, if you have the stomach for it, what you'll find in Martyrs is an engaging amalgamation of horror and philosophy with plenty of gnarly effects.
9 It (2017)
Tim Curry was terrified and entertained in equal measure in the 1990 version, but Bill Skarsgård's spin on the monstrous clown Pennywise in 2017's It takes the cake. Based on the gargantuan Stephen King novel, It sees a small town in Maine ravaged by the heinous influence of an interdimensional monster. When a group of seven outcast kids finds themselves under the beast's influence, they must band together in order to fight off the makeup-caked creature.
A phenomenon during its original theatrical run, It had every reason to fail. But miraculously, all the pieces came together. A convincing cast of younger actors, a brilliant reinterpretation of Pennywise via Skarsgård, and one of the most harrowing cold opens in horror history all coalesce into the more effective half of the two-part It remake.
8 Hellraiser (1987)
Horror author Clive Barker's filmography is a mixed bag, to say the least. But that's not necessarily due to incompetence. If Hellraiser demonstrated anything, it's that he has more than enough talent to scare the pants off us in multiple mediums. Based on his novella, The Hellbound Heart, Hellraiser tells a harrowing story of pain and pleasure, all centered around an innocent-looking puzzle box.
When Frank Cotton solves the box, his sudden disappearance leads to deceit, buckets of viscera, and the silver-screen introduction of the "cenobites" — interdimensional sadomasochists with a penchant for pain, led by the brilliant Doug Bradley. The first film in what would be a monolithic franchise, Hellraiser remains the best of the bunch. It's a brilliant film that combines grisly effects and overt sexuality in one of the best horror debuts thus far. Just be sure to give the sequels a wide berth.
7 [REC] (2007)
![Manuela Velasco in [REC] (2007)](https://static1.moviewebimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/manuela-velasco-in-rec-2007.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Found footage films get a bad rap. While everyone remembers the standouts, everything in-between often gets lost in the shuffle. But the 2007 Spanish film [REC] — remade in the United States as Quarantine — is an incredible exception. As a television reporter and camera operator film a piece on the local fire department, an impromptu visit to an apartment complex may ultimately lead to their terrifying demise.
[REC] has all the right pieces for a brilliant horror film: a compelling cast, a single location, satanic possession, and one of the most inventive twists on zombies in recent memory. Even our camera operator gets in on the action, playing just as significant a role as the rest of our isolated cast. While its ending is somewhat predictable, the build-up leading to it will have you trembling in your seat.
6 Audition (1999)
Cited by Eli Roth as an inspiration for his film Hostel, Takashi Miike's Audition is a movie remembered not-so-fondly for its absolutely horrifying ending. Releasing around the turn of the millennium, the film follows a widower who stages an "audition" to find a new romantic interest. But after he hits things off with a strange woman named Asami, her erratic behavior leads him down a rabbit hole he may not be able to crawl out of.
A deliberately subdued film throughout most of its runtime, Audition gradually grinds out tension until a finale that'll linger long after the credits roll. Split between critics for how it approached its themes, Audition is also an excellent starter film into the wild, varied filmography of Takashi Miike.
5 Jacob's Ladder (1990)
A film that would lead to the creation of the Silent Hill franchise, Jacob's Ladder comes to us from the same director of Flashdance and Fatal Attraction, Adrian Lyne. When Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) returns home from Vietnam, his life is plagued with strange hallucinations and fragmented visions of his experiences. When it all becomes too much to handle, he finds himself turning to others to cure his ailments.
Equally frightening and depressing, Jacob's Ladder has left an undeniable influence in the horror genre. While some may not appreciate the film's loose narrative and restrained scares, the few times Jacob's Ladder really lets loose makes for some absolutely terrifying moments. Couple that with its dense atmosphere and ominous soundtrack, and you have a perfect Silent Hill movie before Silent Hill was even a thing.
4 Videodrome (1983)
Cronenberg movies could've made up this entire collection: The Fly, Dead Ringers, Scanners, and The Brood are all equally disgusting and frightening. But Videodrome easily tops the rest in terms of grossness and weirdness. The president of a failing TV channel relies on "Videodrome," a show dedicated to extreme violence, in order to reel in viewers. But after the sudden disappearance of his girlfriend, an investigation into the show's origins goes in a horrifyingly-fleshy direction.
Starring James Woods, Videodrome originally failed at the box office but would see critical acclaim for its makeup effects, surreal atmosphere, and science-fiction elements. It's a film that isn't afraid to "go there," offering up ample amounts of grotesque body horror and some of the most nightmarish sequences ever put into film. The gallons of fake blood and glistening latex only amplify the unsettling atmosphere found throughout.
3 The Ring (2002)
The Ring is arguably responsible for the influx of popularity of Japanese horror remakes throughout the early to mid-2000s. Being a remake, it follows the same rough plot beats of the original Ring film but with much more stunning visuals: when Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) accidentally watches a cursed videotape, she realizes that she's destined to die in seven days. Keller faces a race against time to prevent her untimely death, lest she face the wrath of the creepy ghost girl found in the tape.
Ringu is "the" Japanese horror film, and chances are it's the first thing that comes to mind whenever you need an example from the genre. Thankfully, Gore Verbinski's efforts to both adapt and add to this classic horror flick amount to a terrific film in its own right. While the sequels to The Ring are, for lack of a better word, "garbage," the first film still stands tall as a pop culture icon.
2 Possession (1981)
After making its streaming debut on Shudder earlier in the year, the 1981 horror film Possession is easily one of the most striking fright-fests of the early 80s. Set in the middle of Cold War-era Berlin, a government spy returns home to find his wife requesting a divorce. Over the course of the story, their relationship gradually spirals into madness as fantasy and reality freely intermingle, leaving us to question what's real and what's nothing more than a terrifying metaphor.
Possession is a film that doesn't neatly fall into a single genre, leading to its initial failure in the United States after being heavily edited. But with films being more accessible than ever, it's never been easier to see some of the greatest performances by Sam Neill and Isabelle Adjani to date.
1 The Exorcist (1973)
It's practically a tradition to place William Friedkin's The Exorcist in collections like this. But it's for good reason. At the time of its release in 1973, it was undoubtedly one of the scariest films ever conceived, leaving a lasting impact on the horror genre that can be felt even to this very day. And it all stems from a simple premise: when a young girl named Reagan (Linda Blair) starts exhibiting odd behavior amid other phenomena in Georgetown, her family turns to a troubled priest (Jason Miller) for some spiritual aid.
Simply a fantastic festival of dread from start to finish, The Exorcist's controversial legacy earns it the title of the scariest movie of all time. It's a film with some of the most heart-wrenching stakes imaginable, all while producing some of the most iconic moments in horror history. We'd quote some, but they're a bit... colorful.