Top 10 Award Winning Horror Movies

This groundbreaking horror comedy came from the mind of John Landis, the man behind popular lighthearted movies like “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and “The Blues Brothers.” It was a gamble to produce, with potential investors believing it was too scary for comedy and too funny for horror. However, “American Werewolf” was released to great critical and commercial acclaim. A huge draw to the film was the graphic transformation sequence, featuring special effects by Rick Baker. In addition to winning the Saturn Award for Best Horror Film, as well as nominations for Best Actress and Best Writing, it also won the very first Academy Award for Best Makeup.

With a budget under $15 million, Darren Aronofsky’s psychological horror film is considered an indie movie, making all the acclaim only more impressive. It was a massive box office success, as well as a hit with audiences and critics. It’s placed on numerous Top 10 Movie lists for the decade, and it was the American Film Institute’s pick for Film of the Year in 2010. Some aspects that received repeated praise were Aronofsky’s direction, Natalie Portman’s portrayal of the obsessive ballerina Nina Sayers, Matthew Libatique’s cinematography, and Andrew Weisblum’s editing. In the end, “Black Swan” garnered a total of 188 award nominations and 61 wins.

Although contemporary critical reviews of this supernatural thriller were mixed, it has since become a well-loved addition to the horror canon. Some critics saw “The Omen” as a ripoff of “The Exorcist,” but it quickly became one of the highest-grossing films of 1976. It even gained two Oscar nominations, winning one for Jerry Goldsmith’s original score. The acting and writing were also highly praised aspects of the movie, with several Best Screenplay nominations and multiple nominations for best actors. The surprise hit has spawned two wide-release movie sequels, one TV movie sequel, a TV show, and a remake. It also revitalized Gregory Peck’s career, ironically proving to be a good omen.

A loose remake of a 1958 film, David Cronenberg’s “The Fly” upped the ante for body horror and special effects. The movie was both a commercial and a critical success from its initial release and into the 21st century. It gained five Saturn Award nominations and won three of them, including Best Actor for Jeff Goldblum, Best Makeup for Chris Walas, and Best Horror Film. The incredible makeup even caught the eye of the Oscars, winning the Academy Award for that category. Many critics said that Goldblum was unfairly overlooked for a Best Actor Oscar nomination because the awards consistently lean toward non-horror movies. The legacy of “The Fly” extends well past the movie, too: it gave us the well-loved and often-parodied tagline “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”

Centering on an injured author being held captive by a rabid fan, “Misery” is a masterpiece of character-based psychological horror. The film hinges on Kathy Bates’ portrayal of the obsessive Annie Wilkes. She was a largely unknown actress at the time, but playing Annie catapulted her into stardom. It earned her several nominations for the role and won her the Oscar for Best Actress. “Misery” is considered one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King novel, and even the King himself has said that it’s one of his favorites. From Bates’s manic acting to the memorable “hobbling” scene, “Misery” is a taut thriller that isn’t likely to walk away from public consciousness any time soon.

Well-received upon release and decades later, this classic marked director and screenwriter Roman Polanski’s entrance into the U.S. film scene. Although the performances of all the actors were praised, Ruth Gordon’s portrayal of nosy Satanist neighbor Minnie Castevet was singled out to win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar and Golden Globe. “Rosemary’s Baby” has consistently ranked among the greatest and scariest movies of all time, and in 2014, the Library of Congress inducted it into the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The film also ushered in the era of popular Satanic and demonic-themed movies.

The directorial debut of Jordan Peele was a massive success with audiences, critics, and awards circuits. Eventually gaining 218 nominations and 88 awards, “Get Out” quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The racially and politically charged movie received widespread acclaim for Peele’s sharp writing and the cast’s excellent acting. It was even popular at the Academy Awards, with four nominations and a win for Best Original Screenplay. Peele was the first Black winner for the Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars. Then in 2021, the Writers Guild of America declared “Get Out” to have the best screenplay of the 21st century thus far.

Widely considered the first summer blockbuster, this movie was an immediate success, earning a record $7 million over its opening weekend. It was popular with awards committees as well, with three Oscar wins, the American Cinema Editors’ Award for Best Edited Feature Film, and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Film. One of the most memorable aspects of “Jaws” is the iconic score by John Williams. The tense theme won a Grammy, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and a British Film Academy Award. Despite the budget troubles and lack of star power, the movie enraptured audiences upon release and continues to inspire today.

The wild box office success of “The Exorcist” is a well-known accomplishment. Beyond being both a massive hit and major controversy with audiences, the movie also did very well at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. It marks the first horror movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, and it gained nine other nominations as well. At the Golden Globes, it won four of the seven awards it was nominated for. The movie forgoes shlock in favor of realism, leading many critics to credit it with legitimizing the horror genre in the eyes of audiences and awards committees.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

A Milestone in Sci-Fi & Horror that Won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects

This Movie Changed the Way We See Vampire Films & Even Won Three Oscars

Inspiring a Wave of Horror Focused on Old Women, This Movie Earned Multiple Awards & Nominations

Consistently Ranked as a Top Movie of the Year with Its Great Screenplay, Acting, & Sound Design

The First Horror Movie to Be Considered Oscar-Worthy, Winning Best Actor & Gaining Two More Nominations

As of 2023, only three movies won the “Big Five” Academy Awards. The most recent entry to that list is 1991’s “The Silence of the Lambs,” which is also the only horror film to win Best Picture. Blending psychological thriller and outright horror, it kept everyone on the edge of their seat. It didn’t seem like the type of movie to become a cultural phenomenon, but it ended up being number one at the U.S. box office for five weeks. It did very well with awards too, frequently winning Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Leading Actor, and Leading Actress. It has placed on countless international lists of the greatest movies of all time, not just for horror.