Top 40 best horror movies of all time
Halloween might be far, far away, but any time is a good time for a scary movie. With so much to choose from, we’ve whittled down a list of the top 40 best horror films of all time.
Stephen King once described the three categories of horror. There’s the “gross-out… the sight of a severed head tumbling down a flight of stairs; it’s when the lights go out and something green and slimy splatters against your arm.”
There’s the “horror… the unnatural, spiders the size of bears, the dead waking up and walking around.” Finally, there’s the “terror… when the lights go out and you feel something behind you, you hear it, you feel its breath against your ear, but when you turn around, there’s nothing there.”
That’s the beauty of the genre: there’s something for everyone, making your pulse pound and whitening your knuckles. Sometimes, a good scare is a perfect escape from life when it becomes too crazy. “We all go a little mad sometimes.” Here are the 40 best horror movies that encapsulate all these concepts.
40. X (2022)
A24What it’s about: A group of actors set out to make an adult film in rural Texas under the noses of their reclusive hosts, but when the elderly couple catches their young guests in the act, the cast finds themselves in a desperate fight for their lives.
What we think: As one of the newest movies on this list, X has already made a major impact on horror. The first of a currently unfinished trilogy, X puts a new spin on the sexy slasher flick. With characters you can empathize with — even the killers themselves — X knows how to pull on your sense of understanding as well as your revulsion, making for a very memorable movie.
Where to stream: Paramount+ with Showtime
Author: Lucy-Jo Finnighan
39. Krampus (2015)
UniversalWhat it’s about: Krampus is a horrific twist on Santa Claus based on the ancient legend about a pagan creature who punishes children on Christmas. And a warring family who have forgotten the true meaning of the holiday is about to find out about him in this brilliant Christmas horror movie.
What we think: Mike Dougherty’s Krampus uses creepy lore, a snowstorm setting, and witty family dynamics in this excellent horror-comedy. What would have been straight-to-DVD trash in someone else’s hands is a wildly creative festive nightmare in his, with a cruel sense of humor and wicked mythology.
Where to stream: TNT or Prime Video
Author: Trudie Graham
38. Jurassic Park (1993)
UniversalWhat’s it about: Bringing dinosaurs back to life stands among the greatest of Spielberg’s achievements. Along the way, the filmmaking wizard manages to wrap up a tense, gory slice of survival horror in what seems like a family adventure. The visitors trapped in the eponymous park narrowly avoid velociraptors and a T-Rex, though some aren’t so lucky.
What we think: Some cognitive dissonance is created by John Williams, whose soaring themes embrace the wondrousness of science. There’s a lot to admire about Isla Nublar, not least that Spielberg managed to make something so entertaining out of Michael Crichton’s much drier novel. But if one thing is clear by the end, it’s that we’re better off leaving dino fossils at the museum.
Where to stream: Prime Video
Author: Anthony McGlynn
37. House of Wax (1953)
Warner Bros.What it’s about: Set in 1900s New York, House of Wax follows a talented yet vengeful sculptor. After a fiery betrayal leaves him disfigured, he rebuilds his wax museum with startlingly lifelike statues. As the city grapples with mysterious disappearances, a dark secret behind the museum’s eerily realistic exhibits is revealed.
What we think: House of Wax is a cinematic jewel that melds horror with artistry, bolstered by the fact it was one of the first movies filmed in 3D. Its rich atmospheric setting, combined with hauntingly detailed wax figures, offers a chilling exploration of the boundary between life and art. Alongside 1900s New York as its backdrop, the film’s macabre allure is amplified by Vincent Price’s impeccable performance.
Where to stream: Prime Video
Author: Daisy Phillipson
36. The Ring (2002)
DreamWorks PicturesWhat it’s about: After a supposedly cursed videotape leads to the death of her niece, a reporter decides to investigate exactly what happened. She watches the film, and moments later she receives an ominous warning over the phone: “Seven days.”
What we think: Gore Verbinski’s US adaptation of Hideo Nakata’s chiller is one of the best translations of a foreign text not just in horror, but cinema as a whole. The grimly infectious tape, the reckoning call of “You’re gonna die in seven days”, the deft use of VFX in bringing Samara and her curse to life. An artful, mainstream remake.
Where to stream: Paramount+ and MGM+
Author: Cameron Frew
35. It Follows (2014)
NetflixWhat it’s about: When Jay decides to have sex for the first time, she ends up the unwitting recipient of a deadly curse passed on by her boyfriend. Stalked by a relentless and ever-changing presence that only she can see, Jay must either pass on the curse or find a way to defeat it.
What we think: It Follows is one of the finest modern horrors, and a severely underrated horror movie at that. Director David Robert Mitchell creates an unbearable tension through the second-hand paranoia the audience feels watching Jay’s experience unfold. From striking, nightmarish visuals, to a truly epic score, and inch-perfect production design, It Follows is a technical masterclass, and offers a fascinating allegory for the anxieties of teenage life.
Where to stream: Prime Video
Author: Jakob Barnes
34. The Babadook (2014)
Umbrella EntertainmentWhat it’s about: A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.
What we think: The Babadook was arguably the first in the 2010s trend of ‘elevated’ horror. With a supernatural entity encapsulating grief and depression, the movie managed to become a horror that audiences could empathize with. In the decade it’s been out, The Babadook has become an iconic movie monster, with some even calling them an LGBTQ+ icon, which has only further popularized the flick.
Where to stream: Hulu and AMC+
Author: Lucy-Jo Finnighan
33. The Strangers (2008)
Universal PicturesWhat it’s about: A couple in an isolated vacation home are tormented by three strangers in the depths of the night. Why? Because “they were home.”
What we think: Horror can be flamboyant, otherworldly, fantastical, but it can also be nerve-rattlingly simple. The Strangers taps into one fear: what if there was a malicious intruder in your home, and you didn’t even know it? As one masked killer emerges from the shadows and then simply disappears, your chin will remain attached to your shoulder.
Where to stream: Netflix and AMC+
Author: Cameron Frew
32. The Descent (2005)
PathéWhat it’s about: A group of women embark on a caving expedition, which goes horribly wrong then they find themselves trapped underground and at the mercy of bloodthirsty monsters.
What we think: The dark has always been the impetus of many horror movies. But when you’re in the dark, trapped miles underground, with a group of expert predators on your tail, the terror seems even greater. Claustrophobic to the point of distress, The Descent is truly a trip into Hell.
Where to stream: Hulu
Author: Jessica Cullen
31. Alien (1979)
20th Century StudiosWhat it’s about: The crew of a spacecraft, Nostromo, intercepts a distress signal from a planet and sets out to investigate it. However, to their horror, they are attacked by an alien which later invades their ship.
What we think: If you haven’t reenacted a supernatural creature bursting from your chest, you haven’t lived. Sigourney Weaver is Sigourney-ing hard in the most iconic role of her career, with the thrill of the chase leaving her co-stars being picked off one by one. The final scene is true heart-in-mouth goodness, prompting a horror that’s really the survival of the fittest. The film is so good that it continues to spawn spinoffs and sequels to this day, with Alien: Romulus on the way this year.
Where to stream: Disney+
Author: Jasmine Valentine
30. Ichi the Killer (2001)
Media BlastersWhat it’s about: In the seedy underbelly of Tokyo, sadomasochistic yakuza Kakihara searches for his missing boss and encounters Ichi, a deranged killer with a penchant for ultra-violence.
What we think: A man’s entire back melted off by a pan of bubbling tempura oil; another slowly slicing off his tongue with a samurai sword; real semen oozing out of a potted plant – this is Takashi Miike’s grotesque world and we’re just living in it. His hilarious yet brutal tour de force, based on Hideo Yamamoto’s manga of the same name, is unlike any conventional yakuza film. With its unflinching portrayal of sadomasochism, psychological turmoil, and moral ambiguity, Ichi the Killer is certainly not to everyone’s taste. But for those who can stomach it, the film’s mesmerizing and unapologetic exploration of humanity’s darker instincts makes it a definitive cult classic in the annals of transgressive cinema. But I’d still recommend having the sick bucket close by… just in case.
Where to stream: Peacock
Author: Daisy Phillipson
29. Child’s Play (1988)
MGMWhat it’s about: Dying murderer Charles Lee Ray uses black magic to put his soul inside a doll named Chucky – which Karen Barclay then buys for her young son, Andy. When Chucky kills Andy’s babysitter, the boy realizes the doll is alive and tries to warn people, but he’s institutionalized.
What we think: The founding moment for when Chucky became Chucky, and talking dolls became a must-have in horror. Originally banned in the UK for appearing too close to home to a real-life murderer, this horror classic is an all-out 80s romp that paved the way for a new kind of scary originality.
Where to stream: Max
Author: Jasmine Valentine
28. The Witch (2015)
A24What it’s about: A zealous Puritan family is banished from their village and is forced to confront an unspeakable and profane evil living in the woods near their new home.
What we think: A diabolical slow burn, The Witch doesn’t rely on jump scares or monsters to terrify its audience. Instead, through subtle character work, impressive sound design, and the bleak reality of 17th-century living, it builds a sinister, unsettling, and oppressive atmosphere of dread that’ll have you desperate to strike a deal with Satan to escape.
Where to stream: Kanopy
Author: Tom Percival
27. Poltergeist (1982)
MGMWhat it’s about: When their young daughter is abducted by ghosts in their home, two parents’ American suburban dream turns into a nightmare.
What we think: The pairing of director Tobe Hooper and writer Steven Spielberg is Poltergeist’s magic sauce. Hooper’s knack for bone chills is met by Spielberg’s enamoring sense of wonder and family unit drama. The result is a unique and timeless concoction of what’s cozy and familiar mixed with the desperate terror of the unknown.
Where to stream: Apple TV+
26. Kill List (2011)
Optimum ReleasingWhat it’s about: An out-of-work hitman takes a job on the promise of big money, only to be sucked into a maelstrom of paranoia, mystery, and ancient rituals.
What we think: Kill List is the ultimate rugpull. On first appearances, you might think Ben Wheatley crafted a gritty British gangster thriller. But as its dark and sinister tension takes hold, the exceptional sound design enveloping viewers with a sense of dread, the familiar trappings of crime cinema give way to a nightmarish tableau of a cult-led horror. The violence is sparing, which you’ll be thankful for when you witness Wheatley’s unique brand of brutality, and there’s some unexpected but welcome humor throughout, all of which builds up to a climax that’ll have you fast-tracking your next therapy session.
Where to stream: Shudder
Author: Daisy Phillipson
25. Don’t Look Now (1973)
British Lion FilmsWhat it’s about: A couple mourning the death of their daughter travels to Venice to save their marriage. While healing those wounds they meet a psychic who sees more tragedy in their future, and repeatedly glimpses a figure that looks like their little girl.
What we think: Based on the short story of the same name by Daphne Du Maurier, Don’t Look Now is an emotionally charged examination of grief. But as sightings of that mysterious figure become more frequent, director Nic Roeg packs the film with disturbing imagery that’s pure nightmare fuel, building up to the infamous finale, which will stop your heart, while at the same time breaking it.
Where to stream: Pluto
Author: Chris Tilly
24. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
United Film DistributionWhat’s it about: In Dawn of the Dead, George A Romero picks up right where Night of the Living Dead left off, showing the widespread chaos of desolation. Police and the army are gunning through cities now crawling with the undead, and their efforts are increasingly useless. Four stragglers – two news producers and two SWAT officers – jump into a helicopter for salvation. They find an abandoned shopping mall, safely nestling themselves in the warm embrace of consumerism.
What we think: Romero underscores the end times with a potent satire of capitalism, zombies mindlessly clamoring towards the one thing they remember: buying more crap they don’t need. The dead are reanimated as bloody, grey corpses through the magic of Tom Savini. It would be funny if it wasn’t so apocalyptic and ceaselessly relevant.
Where to stream: Prime Video
Author: Anthony McGlynn
23. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
New Line CinemaWhat it’s about: A suburban nightmare, the story unravels in a seemingly peaceful town, but beneath its calm surface lurks a malevolent force: Freddy Krueger, a disfigured boogeyman with razor-sharp claws. As the line between dreams and reality blurs, the town’s youth find themselves hunted in their nightmares, desperately seeking a way to escape Freddy’s deadly grasp.
What we think: One, two, Freddy’s coming for you… this is where it all began. Wes Craven knows a thing or two about creating horror icons, and Freddy Krueger is one of his best. A hand like a knife rack, a devilish smile, and an uncanny ability to haunt his victims’ nightmares – it’s these elements that make A Nightmare on Elm Street a timeless classic, accelerated by the wicked charisma of Robert Englund and Craven’s masterful direction. It’s fun, it’s freaky, and it’s well worth a revisit.
Where to stream: Max
Author: Daisy Phillipson
22. It Chapter One (2017)
Warner Bros.What it’s about: Based on the novel by Stephen King, It Chapter One follows a group of outcast kids in Maine as they face off against an ancient evil spirit masquerading as a clown who comes out of hiding every 27 years to eat children.
What we think: While King has a lot of scary movies under his belt, It Chapter One takes his work and cranks it up a thousand notches. Pennywise is absolutely frightening in this film and you can truly feel how scared the kids are as he preys on their fears. Very chilling indeed.
Where to stream: Max
Author: Kayla Harrington
21. Carrie (1976)
United ArtistsWhat it’s about: Based on Stephen King’s first novel, Carrie is about a young girl who, while being relentlessly bullied, realizes that she has supernatural powers and uses those powers to seek revenge on her enemies.
What we think: While Carrie isn’t a traditional horror movie as it doesn’t have too many scares, seeing her completely murder her classmates still hits hard decades after its release. This King adaptation definitely highlights more mental horror as it depicts what happens when someone is pushed to their limits.
Where to stream: Max and Hulu
Author: Kayla Harrington
20. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Continental DistributingWhat it’s about: Something is bringing the dead back to life, so a rag-tag band of survivors barricade themselves in a farmhouse to try and outlast the zombie apocalypse.
What we think: George A. Romero is the godfather of gore, and Night of the Living Dead set a new benchmark for what was acceptable in terms of movie violence. Especially during a scene where a young girl chows down on her mom. But as well as being a scary horror movie, Night of the Living Dead is also a powerful political statement about the grim state of race relations in America at the time. One that kicked off maybe the most interesting trilogy in horror history, with Dawn of the Dead satirizing consumerism, and Day of the Dead going after the military industrial complex.
Where to stream: Prime Video
Author: Chris Tilly
19. Seven (1995)
New Line CinemaWhat it’s about: Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) takes on a new partner, David Mills (Brad Pitt) for his final case. On the hunt for a dreadful serial killer, each victim embodies one of the deadly sins in the most horrid way possible. They must stop the killer before all the sins are completed.
What we think: While not tagged as a horror, as such, Seven encompasses the grit and grime of late ’90s crime thrillers. Above all, the movie’s concept of the seven deadly sins gives its serial killer antagonist a horribly twisted ideal. When I first watched the movie, the Lust sin left me with chills over its brutality. The wicked ways of the killer only got worse by the finale, leaving me stunned beyond belief at his lack of humanity.
Where to stream: Hulu
Author: Gabriela Silva
18. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
ParamountWhat it’s about: When Rosemary and her husband move into an idyllic New York City apartment building, she soon finds herself driven insane by the idea that those around her have ulterior motives for her and her unborn child.
What we think: Rosemary’s Baby is an expert depiction of gaslighting and suspicion, all framed around the ever-unnerving subject of female bodily autonomy. There’s little gore compared to some of her counterparts on this list, but that’s what makes the creeping, foreboding atmosphere all the more powerful.
Where to stream: Paramount+
Author: Jessica Cullen
17. The Wicker Man (1973)
British Lion FilmsWhat it’s about: A deeply religious police officer visits an island off the coast of Scotland to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. But the locals claim she never existed, and block his efforts to find her at every turn.
What we think: That’s the set-up for The Wicker Man, where the residents of Summerisle couldn’t be more strange, and their customs couldn’t be more creepy. But The Wicker Man is all about pay-off, and the film’s climax is one of the most shocking in all of cinema. Edward Woodward has never been better as the pious policeman in question, while Christopher Lee is a walking, talking nightmare as man-with-the-plan Lord Summerisle.
Where to stream: Tubi, Pluto, and Freevee
Author: Chris Tilly
16. The Thing (1982)
Universal PicturesWhat it’s about: A group of researchers in Antarctica discovers an ancient extraterrestrial life form buried in the snow — and it’s capable of assuming the form of any being it touches.
What we think: “Man is the warmest place to hide”, an idea that defines the nauseous, chilly paranoia of John Carpenter’s The Thing. Its domino effect is a merciless marvel, with explosive, grotesque effects crashing against the icy current of menace. Close encounters have never been so vicious.
Where to stream: AMC+
Author: Cameron Frew
15. The Conjuring (2013)
Warner Bros.What it’s about: In 1970, paranormal investigators and demonologists Lorraine and Ed Warren are summoned to the home of Carolyn and Roger Perron. The Perrons and their five daughters have recently moved into a secluded farmhouse, where a supernatural presence has made itself known.
What we think: Fans love fictional Ed and Lorraine so much (yes, they were real people) that we’ve now had an entire horror franchise dedicated to them. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s chemistry is off the charts, with the film’s modern supernatural film moving away from old stereotypes.
Where to stream: Max
Author: Jasmine Valentine
14. Suspiria (1977)
20th Century FoxWhat it’s about: Suzy is an American dancer who enlists at a German ballet academy but feels out of place and uncomfortable in her new environment. Eventually, she realizes that she’s stumbled into a world of horrific murder, satanic rituals, and witchcraft.
What we think: Dario Argento is one of the best horror filmmakers of all time, and Suspiria is his masterpiece. A surrealist nightmare complete with piercing sound design, graphic violence, and technicolor terror, Suspiria will chill you to the bone. It’s artistic, experimental, and incredibly visceral, and it’s everything a horror movie should be.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Author: Jakob Barnes
13. The Fly (1986)
20th Century FoxWhat it’s about: An ambitious but unconfident scientist trying to invent teleportation accidentally fuses his DNA with a common housefly and undergoes a horrifying and humiliating transformation.
What we think: A haunting metaphor for disease and the corruption of one’s own flesh The Fly is director David Cornenberg’s sticky monument to the grotesque. Yet beneath the ooze and viscera of The Fly’s awe-inspiring practical effects lies a haunting romantic tragedy about the power of love and redemption.
Where to stream: Apple TV+
Author: Tom Percival
12. Halloween (1978)
Compass International PicturesWhat it’s about: Fifteen years after being locked away in a mental asylum, Michael Myers escapes and returns home to Haddonfield just in time for Halloween, where he hones in on his next victims – including Laurie Strode.
What we think: Peering behind a bush, standing between wafting bedsheets, observing an impaled teen on a wall; the pastel-white inhumanity of Michael Myers – he’s even referred to as The Shape – makes him an apex on-screen predator, stalking us in our safest spaces. John Carpenter forged one of the tensest, most influential horrors of all time, with a killer soundtrack to boot.
Where to stream: Shudder
Author: Cameron Frew
11. Jaws (1975)
Universal PicturesWhat it’s about: The killer shark tale that started it all. When a giant white shark fatally attacks swimmers on the shores of Amity Island, Chief Martin Brody teams up with a marine biologist and a local fisherman to hunt down the creature.
What we think: Yes, the animatronics aren’t amazing – but when you’re five years old being forced to watch Jaws by your cousins, the nightmares last for a lifetime. Packed with rousing speeches, suspenseful moments, and chum-tastic explosions, Jaws is a timeless horror classic that can never be rewatched too many times.
Where to stream: Netflix
Author: Jasmine Valentine
10. Psycho (1960)
Paramount PicturesWhat it’s about: A Phoenix secretary goes on the run after stealing a huge amount of money from her employer. She spends the night at Bates Motel, whose owner seems to have a highly controlling mother.
What we think: Psycho, which is considered by some to be Alfred Hitchcock’s best work, has shaped cinema as we know it. Even if you’ve never seen it, you’ve no doubt seen its iconography. It mastered the art of both the second and third act twists, and there’s no topping Bernard Herrmann’s theme. Just don’t watch the Vince Vaughn remake.
Where to stream: Prime Video
Author: Lucy-Jo Finnighan
9. Hellraiser (1987)
Entertainment Film DistributorsWhat it’s about: While on a trip abroad, sexual deviant Frank (Sean Chapman) tinkers with a strange puzzle box and unleashes other dimensional beings called Cenobites who can’t differentiate between pain and pleasure. All led by their fearless leader, Pinhead.
What we think: While having watched the movie well into my teenage years, Hellraiser was one of the few horror movies I was too scared to finish. It took a few tries to become invested in its magnitude of bloody horror and its grotesque villains. The gruesome methods of murder are haunting and keep you awake well into daybreak after watching. It’s one of the few vile monsters I know I could never survive.
Where to stream: Prime Video
Author: Gabriela Silva
8. Martyrs (2008)
Wild BunchWhat it’s about: A young woman seeks vengeance against her childhood tormentors, leading her and a fellow abuse survivor on a haunting odyssey into the depths of human cruelty.
What we think: Some call it torture porn, but I say it’s a ferocious paragon of French horror, one that challenges audiences to look beyond the visceral intensity to consider profound existential questions. Don’t get me wrong: Martyrs is about as brutal as you can get. But the film offers something more than your run-of-the-mill horror, promoting deep philosophical inquiry that confronts uncomfortable truths about suffering, the search for transcendence, and the lengths to which people will go to understand the unknown. And if you don’t agree with the above, one thing’s for certain: you won’t be forgetting this movie in a hurry.
Where to stream: Prime Video
Author: Daisy Phillipson
7. The Blair Witch Project
Summit EntertainmentWhat it’s about: Three student filmmakers venture into the Black Hills near Maryland’s Burkittsville to make a documentary about an urban legend: the Blair Witch.
What we think: Local folklore and spooky bedtime stories are the bedrock of our horror lives. Therein lies the allure of The Blair Witch Project, a found-footage masterpiece that dares to wander into the woods; one so convincing, that many believed it to be real. The film’s unfiltered “what the f*ck was that?” hysteria makes it entirely authentic. “I’m scared to close my eyes, I’m scared to open them.”
Where to stream: Paramount+
Author: Cameron Frew
6. The Exorcist
Warner Bros.What it’s about: As a young girl’s strange behavior becomes increasingly unhinged, her mother seeks the help of a priest, who soon realizes that she’s been possessed by a demon.
What we think: The Exorcist carries a blood-curdling legacy, but its elemental power compels you without the summon of Christ. Even after 47 years, it’s the definitive possession movie, with ghastly make-up, petrifying imagery, and a truly scary story, one to make any pure soul cower from Pazuzu.
Where to stream: Max
Author: Cameron Frew
5. The Shining
Warner Bros.What it’s about: The Shining sees a man bring his young son and wife to a snow-in hotel to work as a winter caretaker. While in the hotel, his son experiences psychic visions while the man becomes homicidal as he uncovers more of the hotel’s dark secrets.
What we think: The Shining has stood the test of time because of its ability to make audiences feel uneasy from start to finish. Watching a family fall apart is always hard to watch, but add in violence and dreams of murder, and you’re in for one hell of a scary movie.
Where to stream: Max
Author: Kayla Harrington
4. Get Out
Universal PicturesWhat it’s about: Chris, an African-American man, decides to visit his Caucasian girlfriend’s parents during a weekend getaway. Although they seem normal at first, he is not prepared to experience the horrors ahead.
What we think: Marking Jordan Peele’s first foray into filmmaking, Get Out was quick to receive wide critical acclaim — and rightly so. Toeing the balance between flat-out horror and shrewd psychological thriller, Get Out is a thrilling story that will stick in your head for a lifetime. Not only is Daniel Kaluuya haunting in his performance, but discovering the film’s midpoint isn’t what it seems is a cinematic moment to remember.
Where to stream: Netflix
Author: Jasmine Valentine
3. Scream (1996)
Dimension FilmsWhat it’s about: High school student Sidney Prescott finds herself the target of a gruesome killer wearing a Ghostface mask on the anniversary of her mother’s murder, with anyone close to her as a possible target to get to her.
What we think: The 1996 movie spawned a horror franchise that became a cult classic for generations to come. When it comes to Scream, there’s no denying that it’s on my must-watch list all year. What makes the movie horror gold are its jump-scares, not shying away from excessive use of gore, and the overall mystery of who Ghostface is. Scream’s dynamic twist reveal is one I still think about and can’t help but put the pieces together as I watch.
Where to stream: Max
Author: Gabriela Silva
2. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Bryanston Distributing CompanyWhat it’s about: Five friends traveling across rural Texas stumble upon an abandoned house and unwittingly become the prey of a family of cannibals.
What we think: “Who will survive and what will be left of them?” A harrowingly apt tagline for the king of slashers. Leatherface’s first appearance, like a klaxon of doom across the sticks, sums up the film’s “mad and macabre” horror in seconds: its power is more than what we see.
Where to stream: Peacock, Shudder, and AMC+
Author: Cameron Frew
1. Hereditary
A24What it’s about: In the wake of their secretive, “difficult” matriarch’s death, a sinister force drives the Graham family towards unimaginable terrors.
What we think: During my screening of Hereditary, my fiancée openly wept for three quarters of the film, and multiple couples, shielding their sight, leaped for the doors in the final act. To the eyes that just rolled, let me assure you: it is that scary, but sacrificing your sleep will pale next to the film’s rewards. It’s a once-in-a-generation nightmare machine, with Toni Collette giving the best performance in all of horror. Say it once, say it again: hail.
Where to stream: Max
Author: Cameron Frew
So, there you have it, the 40 best horror movies of all time! Now that you’ve explored this list, here are 12 horror movies to get excited for in 2024. We’ve also got the lowdown on new movies heading your way soon, like Longlegs, A Quiet Place: Day One, and M3GAN 2.0. And, we’ve got a list of the best 1980s horror movies, and the best horror movies that changed the genre.
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