The Ultimate List of the 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time

If you're a fan of heart-pounding scares, spine-chilling suspense, and unforgettable cinematic terror, you've come to the right place. Horror movies have been a staple of cinema for decades, evolving from campy thrillers to psychological mind-benders that haunt audiences long after the credits roll. Whether you're looking for classic horror films, modern fright-fests, or underrated gems, this ultimate guide has something for everyone. Here is our curated list of the 100 best horror movies of all time.

Why These Are the Best Horror Movies

When compiling this list, we focused on movies that combine:

• Terrifying storylines – Movies that keep you on the edge of your seat.
  
  

• Memorable characters – From the relentless villains to the heroes who fight them.
  
  

• Atmospheric tension – Effective use of sound, lighting, and pacing.
  
  

• Cultural impact – Films that influenced the horror genre or inspired future filmmakers.
  
  

Whether you’re a newcomer or a die-hard horror enthusiast, these films are sure to give you chills.

Classic Horror Films (1–20)

1. Psycho (1960) – Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic thriller that redefined suspense.
   
   

2. The Shining (1980) – Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s masterpiece.
   
   

3. Halloween (1978) – John Carpenter introduced the world to Michael Myers.
   
   

4. Night of the Living Dead (1968) – George Romero’s zombie revolution.
   
   

5. Rosemary’s Baby (1968) – Polanski’s tale of paranoia and satanic horror.
   
   

6. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – Freddy Krueger haunts dreams and nightmares.
   
   

7. The Exorcist (1973) – A terrifying exploration of demonic possession.
   
   

8. Jaws (1975) – Spielberg’s thriller that made everyone afraid of the water.
   
   

9. Carrie (1976) – Stephen King’s debut horror story brought to life.
   
   

10. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) – Tobe Hooper’s gruesome classic.
    
    

11. Suspiria (1977) – Dario Argento’s visually stunning Italian horror.
    
    

12. The Omen (1976) – The sinister story of the Antichrist.
    
    

13. The Thing (1982) – John Carpenter’s chilling paranoia-fueled alien thriller.
    
    

14. Black Christmas (1974) – A pioneering slasher that inspired future horrors.
    
    

15. The Birds (1963) – Hitchcock’s suspenseful avian terror.
    
    

16. An American Werewolf in London (1981) – Perfect mix of horror and dark comedy.
    
    

17. Don’t Look Now (1973) – A psychological thriller with a shocking twist.
    
    

18. Videodrome (1983) – David Cronenberg’s body horror masterpiece.
    
    

19. Hellraiser (1987) – Clive Barker’s dark, twisted universe of pain and pleasure.
    
    

20. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) – A sci-fi horror classic with lasting influence.
    
    

Modern Horror Favorites (21–50)

21. Get Out (2017) – Jordan Peele’s brilliant social thriller.
    
    

22. Hereditary (2018) – A family horror film that redefined grief and terror.
    
    

23. It Follows (2014) – A unique modern horror with relentless suspense.
    
    

24. A Quiet Place (2018) – Silence has never been so terrifying.
    
    

25. The Conjuring (2013) – True story-inspired supernatural horror.
    
    

26. Insidious (2010) – Jump scares meet otherworldly evil.
    
    

27. The Babadook (2014) – Psychological horror that’s emotionally haunting.
    
    

28. Midsommar (2019) – Folk horror at its sunniest and creepiest.
    
    

29. It (2017) – Stephen King’s terrifying clown returns to the big screen.
    
    

30. The Witch (2015) – A slow-burn horror masterpiece steeped in folklore.
    
    

31. Sinister (2012) – A chilling tale of found footage and evil spirits.
    
    

32. Paranormal Activity (2007) – Modern found footage horror that became a franchise.
    
    

33. The Ring (2002) – A cursed videotape that changed horror in the 2000s.
    
    

34. Saw (2004) – The twisted game of survival horror begins.
    
    

35. The Descent (2005) – Underground terror with claustrophobic fear.
    
    

36. 28 Days Later (2002) – Modern zombie horror with high tension.
    
    

37. REC (2007) – Spanish found footage horror that terrifies globally.
    
    

38. Drag Me to Hell (2009) – Sam Raimi’s supernatural comedy-horror mix.
    
    

39. The Grudge (2004) – Japanese horror remake that brings the curse to the West.
    
    

40. It Chapter Two (2019) – The conclusion to Pennywise’s terror.
    
    

41. The Invisible Man (2020) – Sci-fi and horror blend into suspenseful brilliance.
    
    

42. Candyman (2021) – A contemporary retelling of the urban legend.
    
    

43. Doctor Sleep (2019) – Kubrick’s Shining meets modern horror.
    
    

44. The Lighthouse (2019) – Psychological horror in black-and-white brilliance.
    
    

45. Ready or Not (2019) – A darkly comedic modern horror thriller.
    
    

46. Fear Street Trilogy (2021) – A nostalgic horror trip through the decades.
    
    

47. Smile (2022) – Psychological horror that gets under your skin.
    
    

48. Prey for the Devil (2022) – Supernatural horror with religious undertones.
    
    

49. Barbarian (2022) – Twists and turns that defy expectations.
    
    

50. Terrifier (2016) – Art the Clown terrorizes in pure slasher style.
    
    

Cult and Underrated Horror Gems (51–75)

51. The House of the Devil (2009) – 1980s-inspired slow-burn horror.
    
    

52. Green Room (2015) – A tense thriller meets brutal horror.
    
    

53. Mother! (2017) – Darren Aronofsky’s allegorical nightmare.
    
    

54. Triangle (2009) – Mind-bending psychological horror.
    
    

55. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) – Supernatural mystery with creeping dread.
    
    

56. Creep (2014) – Found footage horror with unsettling tension.
    
    

57. Session 9 (2001) – Psychological horror inside an abandoned asylum.
    
    

58. The Orphanage (2007) – Spanish horror with heartbreaking scares.
    
    

59. The Devil’s Backbone (2001) – Guillermo del Toro’s ghostly masterpiece.
    
    

60. The Host (2006) – Korean monster horror with emotional depth.
    
    

61. Audition (1999) – Slow, unsettling Japanese psychological horror.
    
    

62. The Eyes of My Mother (2016) – Minimalist horror that lingers.
    
    

63. Raw (2016) – Body horror with a unique coming-of-age twist.
    
    

64. Under the Shadow (2016) – Middle Eastern horror with political undertones.
    
    

65. The Invitation (2015) – Tension builds to a shocking dinner party climax.
    
    

66. We Are Still Here (2015) – Haunted house horror with classic vibes.
    
    

67. The Strangers (2008) – Realistic home-invasion terror.
    
    

68. Housebound (2014) – Horror-comedy done right.
    
    

69. Lake Mungo (2008) – Mockumentary-style supernatural horror.
    
    

70. Kill List (2011) – Genre-bending horror and crime thriller.
    
    

71. Martyrs (2008) – French horror that pushes boundaries.
    
    

72. The Devil’s Rejects (2005) – Rob Zombie’s cult slasher sequel.
    
    

73. Let the Right One In (2008) – Swedish vampire horror with emotional depth.
    
    

74. Pontypool (2008) – Innovative linguistic virus horror.
    
    

75. Triangle of Sadness (2022) – Dark humor meets terrifying tension.
    
    

Slasher, Supernatural, and Creature Features (76–100)

76. Friday the 13th (1980) – Campy, classic, and terrifying.
    
    

77. Child’s Play (1988) – Chucky terrorizes in a killer doll masterpiece.
    
    

78. House of 1000 Corpses (2003) – Rob Zombie’s twisted debut.
    
    

79. Pet Sematary (1989) – Stephen King’s tale of death and resurrection.
    
    

80. It Lives Again (1990) – Continuing the body horror legacy.
    
    

81. Tremors (1990) – Giant underground creatures terrorize a small town.
    
    

82. Gremlins (1984) – Horror-comedy that blends laughs with scares.
    
    

83. The Fog (1980) – Ghostly vengeance arrives with the mist.
    
    

84. Phantasm (1979) – Surreal, bizarre, and terrifying.
    
    

85. Suspiria (2018) – Remake with a modern, darker twist.
    
    

86. The Mist (2007) – Creepy adaptation of Stephen King’s story.
    
    

87. The Evil Dead (1981) – Sam Raimi’s gore-filled supernatural classic.
    
    

88. Evil Dead II (1987) – Horror-comedy with iconic moments.
    
    

89. Cabin in the Woods (2012) – Meta-horror with clever twists.
    
    

90. House (1977) – Japanese horror that’s delightfully strange.
    
    

91. The Ring Two (2005) – Continuing the cursed videotape saga.
    
    

92. The Unborn (2009) – Demonic possession horror with modern flair.
    
    

93. Nightbreed (1990) – Clive Barker’s cult classic of monsters and humans.
    
    

94. Dark Water (2002) – Japanese horror with haunting imagery.
    
    

95. The Grudge 2 (2006) – Supernatural terror continues.
    
    

96. The Relic (1997) – Creature feature meets museum horror.
    
    

97. Jeepers Creepers (2001) – Iconic monster terrorizes unsuspecting victims.
    
    

98. The Ruins (2008) – Survival horror in a deadly jungle.
    
    

99. Slither (2006) – Horror-comedy with alien infestation.
    
    

100. The Faculty (1998) – High school meets alien horror.
     
     

Final Thoughts on the Best Horror Movies

Horror movies are more than just scares—they’re reflections of our deepest fears, cultural anxieties, and fascination with the unknown. From classic suspense to modern psychological thrillers, this list of the 100 best horror movies is designed to give you endless options for movie nights, binge-watching, or exploring the roots of the genre.

Whether you prefer jump scares, monster mayhem, or mind-bending psychological terror, there’s something on this list for every horror fan. So grab your popcorn, turn off the lights, and prepare for some of the most unforgettable scares cinema has to offer.