Top 10 Best Horror Movies of the Last Decade

Nothing really stays with you like a good scare at the movies. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Best Horror Movies of The Decade. For this list, we’ll be looking at the very best horror films released between 2010 and 2019, including movies from various subgenres of horror. However, we are excluding movies that are overt comedies or thrillers. To form our ranking, we’ll be taking into account the typical metrics by which a film is judged, including plot, performances, cinematography, as well as horror-specific considerations like the scare factor, the quality of the villains and/or supernatural threats, as well as the film’s originality.

Adapting the works of Stephen King is no small feat, but with 2017’s “It”, filmmaker Andy Muschietti did the source material proud. Bill Skarsgård was perfectly horrifying as Pennywise, bringing the infamous dancing clown to life with a sinister flair and manic energy to great effect. Though it relied on jumpscares, the film delivers on the horror front without compromise, and in no small part thanks to the looming sense of dread that Pennywise brings to the town of Derry. However, this horror film is also elevated by the excellent performances of its young ensemble cast. And that’s what really earns this film a spot on our list. Seriously though, clowns are still the stuff of nightmares...

Who could’ve guessed that the basic premise of “Groundhog Day” would translate so well to the horror genre? The thing is, with the “time loop” plot device in play, the filmmakers easily could’ve coasted by on this concept alone, churning out an otherwise painfully generic and uninspired film. But they didn’t! Far from being your run-of-the-mill teenage gorefest, “Happy Death Day” is a smart and self-aware slasher that does a remarkably solid job of deconstructing the genre. In this sense, it feels like a spiritual successor to “Scream”. There are plenty of laughs, but these thankfully don’t come at the cost of genuine scares. And while it might not be a perfect film, it scores a whole bunch of bonus points for creativity.

Yes… this film, at times, feels more comedic than overtly horrific, but we’d like to remind you that it’s still got some solid scary moments. What really earns this movie a spot on this list however, is how deftly it manages to subvert expectations. And really, isn’t that the hallmark of a great horror film? “The Cabin in the Woods” initially comes across like any old supernatural or slasher teen horror flick. But below this so-called “cabin” lies an elaborate government conspiracy - one that makes the whole thing not only feel like a brilliant love letter to the horror genre, but a few dozen different movies fighting one another for screen time. It’s chaotic, brilliantly crafted and just a whole lot of fun.

This past decade has felt like a renaissance for horror movies - especially those centering on the misadventures of teens. Rather than exploitative slashers with paper-thin plots, we’ve been treated to some carefully crafted and effective entries like “It Follows”. There’s still plenty of teenage lovemaking, sure, but there’s also deeper questions about the anxieties of teen sexuality and STIs. “It Follows” is a impressively-shot film featuring some creative wide-angle cinematography and a clear homage to horror filmmakers like John Carpenter. The movie is further amplified by Maika Monroe’s performance in the lead role. Ultimately, “It Follows” is just a really compelling horror film that operates on both a supernatural and psychological level. Plus, it has a great score.

Period piece horror films are hard to pull of. In order to really get under a viewer’s skin, we need to somehow relate to the setting and the experiences of the characters on screen. It’s safe to say that most cinemagoers aren’t a farming family living in New England in the 1630s.Yet filmmaker Robert Eggers managed to craft a deeply unnerving film - one that scares with ambience, psychological dread and off-screen threats rather than cheap scares. Simply put: “The Witch” is terrifying, captivating and impressive all at once. And with Eggers’ follow up film, “The Lighthouse”, similarly blowing critics away, this young director seems poised to bring us quality horror films for decades to come.

Who knew John Krasinski had it in him? Best known as the lovable Jim Halpert from “The Office”, Krasinski has proven himself to be quite versatile in the years since, but no move has been more surprising than his foray into directing horror. “A Quiet Place” takes a solid premise - a world overrun by blind monsters who hunt via heightened sense of hearing - and mines it for all its worth. The sound design is used masterfully, drawing you into the world of the film and making you fear the slightest pin drop. Krasinski and his cast, including his spouse Emily Blunt, all deliver committed performances that serve as the film’s beating heart. You grow attached to the Abbott family, and this attachment creates real and terrifying stakes.

Parenting can be a scary thing, especially when you’re doing it alone. But when trying to raise a child while simultaneously navigating the grief of losing a partner... well, that must be downright maddening. These are the core themes at work in this remarkable horror film written and directed by filmmaker Jennifer Kent. As single mother Amelia Vanek, Essie Davis does an incredible job conveying the deep exhaustion felt by her character. This is a thoughtful, provocative and thoroughly human horror film that also has one of the most original and unconventionally scary movie monsters in recent memory. Director William Friedkin, director of “The Exorcist” went so far as to say that he had (quote) “never seen a more terrifying film”.

After unleashing not one but two horror major franchises upon the world with “Saw” and “Insidious”, filmmaker James Wan delivered one of the greatest haunted house films in decades. Unlike most of the movies on our list, “The Conjuring” doesn’t necessarily feel like it pushes the boundaries of the genre. In fact, it’s decidedly old-school. What makes it so worthwhile, however, is its attention to detail. It’s an incredibly well-crafted and expertly paced film with well-developed characters that we really care about. Wan’s knack for building tension and breaking it with terrifying scares is a testament to his horror movie experience. In short, it’s the perfect supernatural horror film, one with superb scares and a whole lot of replay value.

This is the sort of movie that people were praising and warning each other about in the same breath. A deeply disturbing supernatural and psychological horror film, “Hereditary” follows a family haunted by the death of their grandmother; but it’s so much more than that. Not only is it extremely unsettling to watch, it’s also chock full of unforgettable moments that will most likely give you nightmares. It’s not a pleasant viewing experience, but there’s no denying that the film is a true work of art, both narratively and visually. While “Hereditary” might feel like the more focused film, director Ari Aster’s 2019 follow-up “Midsommar” is similarly effective. and deserves a nod for managing to be so deeply unnerving despite its more colorful setting.

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

“Under the Skin” (2013)

“You're Next” (2011)

“Halloween” (2018)

“Green Room” (2015)

“Raw” (2017)

“Suspiria” (2018)

We’re definitely witnessing a new generation of horror auteurs leaving their mark on the genre. But arguably no horror filmmaker working today is more exciting than Jordan Peele. His highly-anticipated second feature, “Us”, solidified his status as one of the most influential voices in the genre, but it’s his directorial debut, “Get Out”, that we believe to be the finest horror film of the decade. Wholly original, and terrifying in the most unexpected of ways,“Get Out” delivers scathing yet profound social critiques; it’s particularly effective at highlighting liberal racism. Not only that, but “Get Out” is also a tightly-crafted film - expertly shot and well-paced. Add to that a uniquely unnerving ambience, and great performances all around, and you’ve got a modern horror masterpiece.