Top 30 Best Horror Movies of the Century (So Far)

Peer pressure can be killer - a fact Mia comes to know all too well. In “Talk to Me,” the protagonist and her best friend, Jade, learn about a strange new trend amongst their friend group. Although it initially seems like it may just be a fun party trick, it is soon revealed to be a terrifyingly real gateway to the undead, as Mia grabs hold of a hand and comes face to face with a corpse. Despite the horrifying implications, Mia becomes addicted to the thrill of possession, hoping that she can find her recently deceased mother amongst the crowd. Sophie Wilde is giving her all in the film’s lead role, pivoting from spine-chilling horror to devastating displays of grief with ease.

The prequel we didn’t know we needed! As the seventh film to be released in the “Predator” franchise, it’s understandable that some fans approached “Prey” with a healthy amount of skepticism. But the film’s dedication to melding franchise lore with historical authenticity led to it being one of the film series’ most beloved entries. Even the toothbrushes were meticulously crafted to be era-accurate! At a time when CG reigns supreme, “Prey” also opted to use practical effects for its iconic antagonist - and it paid off in a big way. The film has one of the franchise’s most fearsome depictions of The Predator, and the suit’s real-world physicality adds a layer of authenticity to the acting that can be lost in CGI-heavy productions.

Horror is one of the few genres where audience members walking out can be seen as a badge of honor. This movie didn’t just have people walking out, it apparently had some moviegoers leaving in ambulances! Made on a crowdfunded budget of $250,000, “Terrifier 2” was something of a passion project for Damien Leone, who had been developing its antagonist, Art the Clown, for close to two decades prior to its release. Clearly, the director’s dedication paid off, as the film became a surprise hit despite its polarizing gore and violence, earning over $15 million in profits. Actress Lauren LaVera played no small part in this mainstream success, providing the “Terrifier” franchise with its first fully fleshed-out Final Girl, Sienna Shaw.

Our next entry is a tense and chilling horror movie that might not be as graphic or action packed as other films on this list, but one that plays on our fears of humanity. “The Strangers” is a realistic movie about two everyday people being tormented for no reason whatsoever. It was also inspired by real events, including the Manson murders, lending it an even scarier degree of credibility. While ghosts and elaborate trap-making serial killers are fun, they take place outside of our everyday existence. “The Strangers” reminds us that darkness and depravity does exist, sometimes literally in our own backyards.

There’s no denying “Barbarian’s” dark sense of humor, but its well-crafted scares still place it firmly in the horror category. An Airbnb mix-up begins this sordid tale of decades-old secrets, and to say that travelers Tess and Keith are unprepared for what awaits them in their unexpectedly shared living arrangement is an understatement. A series of narrative twists and turns keeps the characters (and viewers) on their toes, as the film slowly unravels the barbaric truth behind the Brightmoor home. That the true monster is not the disfigured woman keeping people captive, but her relatively normal-looking father, is just one of many brilliant subversions by this clever modern horror.

Darren Aronofsky was already a veteran director in Hollywood by the time 2010 came around, but he really made his mark in the horror world with “Black Swan”. Exposing a more macabre side to the world of professional ballet, the film stars Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers, a young dancer with the New York City ballet company who shoulders the immense pressure of playing the dual role of both the black and white swan in a production of “Swan Lake”. As the stress of her position begins to chip away at Nina’s mental health, she becomes a danger to herself and others. It makes for an intoxicating and magical viewing experience, and an essential entry in 21st century horror.

As a South Korean horror film with a runtime approaching three hours, “The Wailing” may appear to be an intimidating watch to more casual moviegoers. Fortunately, this supernatural horror is so intense and tightly written that you won’t want to peel your eyes away. It focuses on the spread of an infection that causes people to harm those around them indiscriminately. Thought to be brought into Gokseong by a demon taking the form of a Japanese man, the disease leads to mistrust among the community as a series of motiveless murders pile up. At one point, an intense exorcism is even attempted to rid the protagonist’s daughter of the supposed infection… but it cannot stop the unrelenting horror brought by the red-eyed demon.

If you or any of your friends ever debated going spelunking into uncharted caves, 2005’s The Descent should provide some much needed discouragement. Upon the journey into the abyss... things go horribly wrong. It quickly becomes a struggle to survive against the abominations that are stalking them. ‘The Descent’, as a title, can be interpreted both literally and as descent into madness, with plenty of gore, a claustrophobic setting and more creepy crawlies than one’s sanity can handle. The fear of what lies beneath has since become a popular theme in horror, and we might have this British classic to thank for it.

It opens with a mystery. Father-son coroners Tommy and Austin have been tasked with finding out what happened to create the horrific crime scene in the film’s opening. Their first autopsy is more graphic than one you’d see on a primetime crime show, but otherwise fairly run of the mill. But when they start examining the Jane Doe, they begin to find anomalies. Dread begins to set in as more and more interior injuries fail to match up with the condition of the “corpse’s” body. By the time Tommy and Austin realize something supernatural is afoot, it’s already too late. The film’s horror concept is uniquely terrifying, and its open-ended final scene is sure to leave viewers on edge long after the credits roll.

In 2022, Ti West gave us two original horror films, “X” and “Pearl.” Part of a film series, also titled “X,” the movies had unique, well-rounded characters and aesthetics inspired by films of the past. While there is some debate as to which entry comes out on top, we tend to prefer the Technicolor terror that is “Pearl.” Taking cues from the Classic Hollywood era, particularly “The Wizard of Oz,” “Pearl” is a spine-chilling subversion of a visual style typically associated with screwball comedy and exaggerated melodrama. And, of course, the translation of Pearl from the murderous granny in “X” to a bright-eyed German immigrant with big dreams could not have been achieved without the trilogy’s star, Mia Goth. She absolutely kills it!

College can be an important time of transition and self-discovery. Unfortunately for Justine, her first week at veterinary school leads her to discover a taste for human flesh. The main character of “Raw,” Justine initially struggles against her newfound craving, before finally giving in to her desires in increasingly daring ways. The movie depicts this descent in gory, grotesque detail that is certain to make even the most seasoned horror fans squirm in their seats. The fact that “Raw” is the feature debut of its director, Julia Ducournau, only makes its skin-crawling horror all the more impressive. Following in the footsteps of David Cronenberg, Ducournau has brought back the body horror better than ever!

With Nordic noir thrillers on the rise, audiences were not surprised when John Ajvide Lindqvist, Sweden’s answer to Stephen King, became an overnight sensation. There was also no doubt that his screenplay, based on his own novel, was gonna be a hit. But it didn’t only become a hit; it took the world by storm. The big screen adaptation of his atmospheric tale of a young bullied boy who befriends a young vampire was an immense critical and box-office success, winning plenty of awards and immediately green-lighting an American remake. It plays less like a vampire movie and more like a snowy arctic fever dream, though it’s still got plenty of horror elements as well.

“Drag Me to Hell” saw the long-awaited return of Sam Raimi to the genre that gave him his humble beginnings with “Evil Dead.” The idea came from a script he’d been working on with his brother Ivan throughout the decade during which he was working on the “Spider-Man” trilogy. This morality tale follows a young loan officer who regrettably refuses an extension for an old gypsy woman, who in turn puts a curse on her so that she will be dragged into hell in three days. The director more than delivers all the nasty fun you’d expect from him.

If you’ve ever wondered how long you can hold your breath, try this ninety-minute horror on for size. While we don’t advise doing this literally, it may be hard to stop yourself as the palpable tension builds in “A Quiet Place.” In lieu of much spoken dialogue, this film relies on a thrilling score and expert sound design to build its apocalyptic world. This is because the film’s nameless alien antagonists use super hearing as their primary means of finding prey. While some films of this nature may have relied on the written word for communication between characters, “A Quiet Place” is notable for casting a deaf actress in a leading role and teaching its hearing cast to appear fluent in American Sign Language.

Wouldst thou like to live deliciously? Robert Eggers’ slow-burn horror might not be for everyone, but for those in tune with his dark aesthetic and sinister sensibilities, it's nothing short of a masterpiece. Set in 1600’s New England, “The Witch” focuses on an exiled family who become the victims of a series of devastating misfortunes, beginning with the death of their newborn child. Though it’s hard to believe given the plethora of top-notch performances she’s delivered afterwards, the film also starred Anya Taylor-Joy in her feature film debut as the family’s daughter, Thomasin. Eggers would later go on to highlight the talents of Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson in the tense psychological thriller, “The Lighthouse.”

Horror reboots can be extremely hit or miss. Most suck, but some, like “Evil Dead,” manage to successfully bring the story and characters to modern audiences. While the first “Evil Dead” delivered some genuine scares in 1981, this reboot completely does away with the original’s sense of humor, as it is interested solely in scaring and revolting its audience. Telling the story of a detox trip gone wrong, this brutally terrifying film will have you thinking twice about reciting random incantations from books found in mysterious cabins – if you were ever thinking about it. Seriously though, even for horror fans, “Evil Dead” is not for the faint of heart.

Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man are among Universal’s more recognizable classic monsters. Typically, The Invisible Man doesn’t get nearly as much love from the studio. So, it was interesting to see his story updated for a more contemporary crowd. Unlike the 1933 film, 2020’s “The Invisible Man” does not cast its titular character as the protagonist, opting instead to follow the deteriorating mental state of a woman who is terrorized by him. This radical perspective change allows for the movie to act as a metaphor for the horrifying reality of abuse and its traumatizing effects. It’s a whole new layer of depth to a once simplistic story of a man corrupted by power.

For her first feature-length film, Ana Lily Amirpour invites audiences into an enchanting black-and-white world that plays with societal ideas about vampires and womanhood. Its small crowdfunded budget forced Amirpour to be creative in the film’s construction, but didn’t hinder its stylish visuals or its strong feminist themes. She even shot the Iranian-set film in California to avoid any censorship of its content - which includes controversial subjects like sex work, drug use, and generational trauma. An eerie atmosphere haunts every moment of this slow-paced horror, adding a healthy dose of fear to its significant social messaging.

Amidst the slasher craze of the 2000s, New Line Cinema took it one step further, and turned Death himself into the antagonist. Based on an abandoned “X-Files” script idea, the twisted story follows a group of teens that narrowly escapes a fatal plane explosion. Well, Death is feeling cheated and decides to kill them off anyway in bizarre Rube Goldberg-like ways. With a villain you never see, a cruel moral to the story of never being able to escape death, and some of the most creative cinematic kills, this box office smash gets major props from the horror community.

Whether or not you see “The Babadook’s” titular antagonist as a metaphor for grief or depression (or both), there’s no denying its extraordinary take on the horror genre. Notably, it is a film that is as sympathetic as it is scary - a breath of fresh air in a sea of genre films eager to undermine their mentally unstable heroes. This makes it stand out from the crowd of not only its predecessors, but those who attempted to mirror its success with similarly analogous monsters. The delivery of the fearsome Babadook’s background is equally inspired, as the audience is introduced to his mythology through the unsettling illustrations in a children’s story.

During a decade that was drowning in terrible American remakes, this gem easily stood out, mostly because of the talent behind it. With the brilliant director who’d be behind the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise and future Oscar-nominated Naomi Watts in the lead role, you had a sure-fire hit. A psychological horror flick about a vengeful ghost who uses a videotape to kill her victims, this is a movie that took everything that was already great about the original and built upon it; more backstory, more human emotion, and more deadly thrills. In terms of influence, few films have had as pronounced effect on the horror genre as “The Ring”.

Having sex in a horror film is a recipe for disaster. In “Scream,” Randy even lists it as the first of three rules to surviving a horror movie. “It Follows” takes the trope up a notch, giving its characters the ability to pass their nightmarish stalkers on like STDs. Understandably opposed to transferring her fate over to an unsuspecting victim, Jay does everything in her power to try and kill off her ever-changing followers without hurting anyone else. Her quest plays out like a bad dream that’s impossible to wake up from, complete with an unclear sense of time and space. We’d hate to be a part of it, but we’d be lying if we said we didn’t want one of those shell phones!

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.

The one that started it all. Although torture porn became huge thanks to the “Saw” films, the original independent feature has little to do with its insanely bloody and unnecessarily complicated sequels. “Saw” was more detective thriller than torture porn; more psychological torture than bodily torture. The complex puzzle and mystery behind these two men stuck in a room with a dead body plays out more like a demented Samuel Beckett play. Still, there are tons of cringe-worthy moments, from a brilliant script that keeps you guessing to a jaw-dropping ending you will never forget. And, considering it birthed a franchise of more than 8 films, “Saw’s” legacy is basically as big as it gets.

Unless you’ve been living in the sewers this past decade, you’re likely aware of this 2017 Stephen King adaptation. Upon release, the film held the record for the R-rated film with the biggest theatrical opening, boasting over $200 million in profits. While some of this success can be attributed to the movie’s extensive marketing campaign, it also must be said that it’s just that good. Bill Skarsgård brilliantly brought life to Pennywise, striking fear into a new generation with updated scares and a whole new look, while the teen actors helped carry the film’s necessary emotional weight. Along with Skarsgård, Sophia Lillis received the brunt of the film’s praise - including several individual award nominations!

Like Stanley Kubrick before him, Danny Boyle is the kind of prolific director that likes playing with different genres. After the major successes of “Trainspotting” and “The Beach,” he set his eyes on horror, and boy did he leave his mark. A different take on the zombie film, “28 Days Later...” is an apocalyptic contagion masterpiece, with a brilliant narrative, haunting opening sequence, and devastating scenarios featuring the breakthrough performance of a young Cillian Murphy. While the virus in question is turning people into violent mutating creatures, it turns us into a blubbering mess behind the couch.

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 years. 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.

We’re starting to see a pattern: take an established theme, put it in some very talented hands, and watch something refreshing come to life. Rising Spanish horror directors Paco Plaza and Jaume Balaguero brought the found footage style to a zombie-virus outbreak and gave the world this dizzying roller-coaster ride in which we trail a news crew that has been following the fire department. It all seems like a boring night until they’re locked up in a tenement building where the residents are starting to get a little violent and a little undead. For it’s influence and legacy in the found footage subgenre, REC takes our number 3 spot.

After establishing himself as an actor and comedian, Jordan Peele made a surprising career turn with “Get Out.” Beginning as a darkly comedic psychological thriller, the film’s biggest antagonist initially appears to be racism. This is, of course, still the case by the film’s end, but its shocking last-act twist really brings the terror to a whole new level. With an instantly gripping script, and stellar performances, it should come as no surprise that “Get Out” became one of the few horror films to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Peele would follow this success up with the equally impressive “Us” and “Nope,” becoming one of the decade’s best (and most consistent) horror directors.

Annie is not okay. Following a sudden death in the family, the grieving mother begins lashing out at her son Peter and turning to supernatural means to communicate with the one she lost. The already horrific situation ramps up in intensity, culminating in a climax that still gives us nightmares. The film’s uniquely volatile portrayal of generational trauma was a smash hit for indie studio A24, and even heralded by one critic as the “scariest movie of 2018.” Director Ari Aster’s follow-up folk horror, “Midsommar,” took things up a notch in the shock department, but “Hereditary” remains his masterpiece and the gold standard for all horror films that follow in the next decade.




What horror movie release are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!