Top 25 Horror Films Of All Time

It is thrilling to get scared, to scream and cry at the space in front of you, to experience the tension and fear building inside you. Even when you know you’re going to cry your eyes out being scared still you sign up to see horror films. That is the power that horror movies hold on you, especially the best horror films of all time.

Through the years’ horror films have been made in different genres, they can be paranormal, supernatural, or spiritual. And all these have got their audience hooked up at the sight of shadows, ghosts, and blood. From bloody murderers to creepy psychos, and spiritual rituals to looming ghosts, here are the top 25 horror films of all time.

Psycho (1960)

The all-time greatest movie, ‘Psycho‘ is one of the masterpieces of director Alfred Hitchcock. The movie follows Marion, who disappears after stealing money from her employer. Marion’s lover and sister try to follow finally reaching the infamous Bates Motel and they meet Norman Bates. Their lives change in this remote motel.

The Exorcist (1973)

Directed by William Friedkin, ‘The Exorcist‘ is the adaptation of the book of the same name. The story revolves around a young girl Regan who is possessed by a demonic entity after playing with the Ouija Board. Chris, her mother, and the actor seek help from two priests to get rid of the entity. The movie had ten nominations at the Academy Awards and also became the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

The Shining (1980)

Jack’s family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father to lose sanity, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future. The movie is so horrifying that the impact stays long after the film is over. ‘The Shining‘ is based on Stephen King’s book of the same name. This is one of the scariest movies ever created.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Directed and written by Tobe Hooper, the movie is based on a series of murders and abductions. The main plotline of the movie is fixed on Sally, Franklin, and their friends who run out of gas while on a trip to their grandparent’s house. Stuck midway the teenagers are tormented and killed by the chainsaw-wielding murderer and his psychopathic family.

Nosferatu: A Symphony Of Horror (1922)

Scary silent film of all time. The impact felt by the movie is so much that the movie is still on the list of evergreen horror films. The 1922 black and white movie have the vampire as its villain. Hutter is sent by his master to finalize a deal with Count Orlok. However, he soon learns that Orlok is a vampire who has his eyes set on Hutter’s wife, Ellen.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

This 1999 horror movie, ‘The Blair Witch Project‘, caused quite havoc as to whether it was true due to the relatively modern way in which the film was shot. The film revolves around three students who decide to investigate the Blair Witch incidents and goes to the Maryland backwoods to uncover the mystery. they lose their maps and things get out of hand.

The Cabinet Of Caligari (1920)

This movie hit the screens a hundred years back in 1920. Francis and Alan meet the crazed physician, Dr. Calgari at a carnival in Germany. Caligari’s somnambulist Caesare predicts into future and tells about Alan’s death. The death takes place the next morning, putting Caesar as a prime suspect. An array of truth unfurls as the movie moves forward. The film was directed by Robert Wiene and written by Carl Mayer and Hans Janowitz.

Scream (1996)

The 1996 horror-mystery movie begins as there start to be more deaths after Sidney’s mom’s death over the year. Sidney thinks that every death is related and tries to find out the suspect. The movie won the MTV Movie and TV Awards for Best Movie.

Dawn Of The Dead (2004)

A Zack Synder movie, ‘Dawn of Dead‘ is written by George A. Romero and James Gunn. The film is about a group of survivors of an epidemic, which infects the people and turns them into flesh-eating zombies. The scenes develop as they try to protect themselves from the undead while finding a solution. The film hit the screens in 2004.

Diabolique (1955)

The French psychological horror thriller movie, ‘Diabolique‘ was directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot and was adapted from the book ‘The Woman Who Was No More’. A loathed school principal, Michel Delasalle is murdered by his wife and mistress. The body was dumped in a neglected swimming pool. But when the pool is drained the body is nowhere to be found. The spine-chilling movie won the Edgar Award for Best Foreign Film.

Poltergeist (1982)

A movie by Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg, ‘Poltergeist’ revolves around a Californian suburban family whose dream house becomes a horror house as their daughter gets possessed by evil entities. The movie was nominated for Academy Awards for its visual effects and music. It went on to win the BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects.

The Bride Of Frankenstein (1935)

The movie is directed by James Whale and inspired by the writings of Mary Shelley and Robert Florey. Released in 1935, the story revolves around the bride of Frankenstein who is kidnapped by Dr. Pretorius. Now Frankenstein decides to make a new creature too to save his wife. The classic Frankenstein movies have all been widely accepted as the best of horror and sci-fi.

Paranormal Activity (2007)

Every horror movie fan would have seen the Paranormal Activity chain of movies. This American horror movie franchise consists of eight films and other additional video clips. The heavy footsteps, thumps, screams, and gruesome cries are all enough to make the audience scared to death.

The Strangers (2008)

This is a psychological thriller written and directed by Bryan Bertino. The movie won the Teen Choice award that year. The 2008 premiered film revolved around Kristen McKay and her partner James Hoyt at a getaway home in a remote place, then a chain of events takes place that turns their lives around.

The Conjuring (2013)

Horror movie fans are well acquainted with ‘The Conjuring‘ franchise. The 2013 horror- thriller is said to be inspired by true events. The perron family has moved into their new house and started to experience paranormal phenomena. Thus they contact Ed and Lorraine Warren to investigate these unusual happenings. The movie won the People’s Choice Award for favorite Horror movie that year.

The Ring (2002)

Premiered in 2002, the horror-thriller is directed by Gore Verbinski with Naomi Watts and Daveigh Chase in lead roles. Racheal, a young journalist, investigates a mysterious videotape that kills its viewers after a week of watching it. The film is a remake of a Japanese film that was inspired by the happenings in 16th-century Japan.

Let The Right One In (2008)

Directed by Tomas Alfredson, the Swedish film focuses on the string of local murders that are connected to the mysterious girl Eli. she is the new neighbor to timid Oskar and they develop a close bond. That’s when Eli discloses her deep secrets. the movie had Lina Leandersson and Kare Hedebrant in the lead.

Hereditary (2018)

A manipulative horror movie that wouldn’t have missed. The ‘Hereditary‘ directed by Ari Aster, focuses on the series of strange events that take place, after the death of Annie’s mother. These events finally lead to the death of all the family members except one. The movie had Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, and Milly Shapiro among its lead.

Sinister (2012)

Directed by Scott Derrickson, the movie is all about a crime writer who moves into a house that has witnessed some gruesome murders with his family. After much research that leads him to some eerie footage, things take a different turn altogether. Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, and Fred Tompson were all part of the cast.

Halloween (1978)

This is a John Carpenter-directed horror thriller movie of the late 1970s. The plot revolves around a boy named Michael Myers who brutally killed his 16-year-old sister on a Halloween day. He escapes prison 21 years later and leaves for his hometown in Illinois in search of his next victim.

The Thing (1982)

Do you think that aliens are cute little creatures with big eyes and small faces? Then it’s time to change these perceptions. ‘The Thing’ directed by John Carpenter is about an alien that can take the shape of its victims and hunts down the researchers that he had been found by.

Night Of The Living Dead (1968)

The horror-science fiction movie depicts the dead that has to awaken due to the radiation from a fallen satellite and are using humans as food. Written and directed by George A. Romero, the movie is always among the scariest horror films.

The House Of The Devil (2009)

Ti West’s ‘The House of The Devil‘ revolves around a college student who decided to take up a babysitting job. But she is informed that there is no baby to look after but the mother. With the mention of the lunar eclipse, it is understood that the owners, Mr. Ulman, and his wife are going to use Samantha, the college student for executing a plan dead or alive.

Vampyr (1932)

The horror-fantasy 1932 movie, Vampyr was directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer and written by Sheridan La Fanu. Nicolas Gunzburg and Rena Mandal played lead roles in the movies. A traveler obsessed with supernatural beings visit an old inn and is intrigued by the presence of vampire there.

Peeping Tom (1960)

This horror movie was directed by Michael Powell and starred Moira Shearer, Karlheinz Bohm, and Anna Masey. A psychologically ill filmmaker, Mark documents the dying moments of the women he kills. Helen, his neighbor becomes curious about the documentaries and watches one.