Top 10 Terrifying Horror Movie Families

Top 10 Horror Film Families

The family that slays together, stays together. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Horror Film Families.

For this list, we'll be ranking the most infamous, memorable family units within the twisted world of horror cinema. We're limiting ourselves to families who are murderous, creepy or otherwise disturbing. Translation… the delightfully odd Munsters and Addams families need not apply. We’re also omitting the Bates family from the "Psycho" franchise, since Norman Bates’ mother is . . . well in no state to be deadly. A major SPOILER ALERT is definitely in order!

"Red State" (2011)
There's something extra disturbing about a villain who behaves in a repugnant manner, yet truly believes they're doing the right thing. This idea, in part, describes "Red State's" Abin Cooper, a church leader whose family sees nothing wrong with committing such acts as blackmail, kidnapping and murder, just so long as it's the "right" people who are victimized. In the Cooper's minds, these "right" people include homosexuals and blasphemers against God, and Abin and his wife Sarah take it upon themselves to act (as they believe) in God’s interest by attacking such individuals. Writer/director Kevin Smith channels Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church in his characterization of the Cooper Family; a chilling, real world reflection upon the moral fringe of religious society.

“Us” (2019)
Brothers and sisters from other mothers and misters, these doppelgangers are NOT. You might think it’d be fun meeting another version of yourself. Think of all the things you’d have in common! But as it turns out, the Tethered version of the Wilson family are not really fun house guests. After escaping a subterranean facility, they’re intent on killing their doubles, in order to “untether” their souls. While their leader, Red, is able to talk, the rest remain eerily silent, which just makes them all the creepier. “Us” left audiences afraid to enter a hall of mirrors ever again, and wondering if they had long lost twins out there of the absolute worst kind.

"You're Next" (2011)
The bond between brothers can be a truly beautiful thing, but not when it results in the murder of the rest of the family. In this 2011 black comedy horror thriller, a reunion is cut short when members of the Daveson family start getting picked off by animal-mask-wearing killers. As it turns out, however, their assailants are actually just hired guns. Brothers Felix and Crispian orchestrated the whole thing in order to secure an inheritance for themselves. Their motivations might not be the most original, but director Adam Wingard directs the film with style, getting the most out of the material, while the electronic score seriously ups the tension. And you thought your family get togethers were messy.

"The Last House on the Left" (1972)
Wes Craven's horror classic "The Last House on the Left" revolves around the Collingwood Family, whose youngest daughter, Mari, is allowed by her parents to venture into the city with a friend to attend a rock concert. Sadly, her evening out turns into a nightmare when they're waylaid by the vicious Krug Gang, who abduct, torture and murder the pair. After committing these horrible acts, the Krug gang seek refuge at a nearby house which, unbeknownst to them, is actually the Collingwood family home. Overhearing their daughters fate, The Collingwoods concoct an execute a brutal plan to avenge Mari and Phyllis. The Krug Gang did unforgivable things… and they paid the ultimate price.

"The Others" (2001)
There's an element of tragedy attached to the tale of our next family unit, the Stewarts. Writer/director Alejandro Amenabar crafted an old school, slow horror burn with his 2011 film "The Others," a story that follows Nicole Kidman's Grace Stewart and her two children in their haunted home. It isn't until we find out that the Stewarts are, in fact, dead themselves that the true nature of their lives is revealed, with Kidman realizing that she had actually smothered her two children and shot herself in a fit of madness. The Stewart family is both tragic and sympathetic, but it’s actually them doing the haunting.

"The Hills Have Eyes" (1977)
Wes Craven strikes twice on today’s list. His 1977 terror classic, "The Hills Have Eyes’, centers on two families, the vacationing Carter Family and the Jupiter Clan, who terrorize the Carters when their Winnebago crashes in the middle of the desert. The Jupiter Clan have made attacking and cannibalizing lost travelers a way of life, but their reign of terror finally ends when the Carters and their two dogs take a stand and fight back against their tormentors. "The Hills Have Eyes" went on to become a cult classic, even receiving a gory remake from director Alexandre Aja in 2006.

"Get Out" (2017)
Body snatching, kidnapping and racism are all part of the package for the Armitages - a liberal white family at the center of director Jordan Peele's 2017 horror film, "Get Out." The Armitages appear - on the surface, at least - to be a well adjusted (and well to-do) family, all set to meet their daughter's boyfriend Chris for the first time. In reality, however, the family habitually kidnaps and hypnotizes young black men to transfer the consciousness of aging and wealthy white people into their bodies. The process has apparently been going on for years, but this thankfully comes to an end when Chris successfully manages to break free and punish the Armitages for their terrible crimes.

"House of a 1000 Corpses" (2003), "The Devil's Rejects" (2005) & “3 from Hell” (2019)
Rob Zombie has a knack for creating charismatic villains in his films, to the point where they even gain a cult fan following. Case in point? The Firefly Clan from Zombie's "House of a 1000 Corpses." The Firefly Clan are disturbed carny folk who brutalize anyone unfortunate enough to cross their path. Despite these characters being the worst humanity has to offer, Zombie managed to get magnetic performances from his actors, to the point where the family are presented almost as antiheroes in the film's sequels, "The Devil's Rejects" and “3 From Hell”. Sid Haig in particular enjoys a rabid following for his portrayal of Firefly patriarch Captain Spaulding, proving that, sometimes, bad can be good.

"Friday the 13th" franchise (1980-)
There's just something unique about the bond between a mother and her son...especially when that "special little boy" happens to be Jason Voorhees. Indeed, Jason is a chip off the old block, taking the mantle of unstoppable slasher villain after his mother Pamela is dispatched at the end of 1980s classic, "Friday the 13th." Although the Voorhees Family is small, their mark upon horror history is massive. Generations of fans continue to be obsessed with the hockey mask wearing killer and his mother, four decades after director Sean Cunningham and crew first brought them to screens around the world.

Before we name our number one horror film family, here are a few frightening honorable mentions!

The Buckners
"Cabin in the Woods" (2012)

The Stones
"The Loved Ones" (2009)

The Largo Family
"Repo! The Genetic Opera" (2008)

The Robeson Family
“The People Under The Stairs” (1991)

The Le Domases
“Ready or Not” (2019)

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" franchise (1974-)
The saw is Family. The Sawyers know this, and have taken this motto to heart over a franchise that spans decades. For many, however, it's Tobe Hooper's original 1974 classic that’s untouchable in its grit and atmosphere, as it tells the tale of The Sawyers and their murderous, cannibal crimes. Although it's Leatherface who has haunted the dreams of most fans, the rest of the clan have also made their mark in the franchise, including chili cook champion Drayton, the deranged Chop-Top and, of course, good ol' Grandpa. In a genre full of memorable characters, the Sawyers stand tall as horror family royalty.