Scariest Movies of All Time: The Ultimate Top 100 Horror Films Ranked

When it comes to horror, fear is subjective—but some movies consistently terrify audiences across generations. Whether it’s psychological dread, supernatural evil, or brutal realism, the scariest movies of all time have one thing in common: they stay with you long after the credits roll.

This ultimate list ranks the 100 scariest movies of all time, covering classics, modern masterpieces, cult favorites, and international nightmares. If you’re searching for the most terrifying horror movies ever made, this list is your survival guide.

Let’s descend into the darkness.

What Makes a Movie Truly Scary?

Before we jump in, it’s worth defining fear. The scariest horror movies usually rely on one (or more) of the following:

• Psychological tension and atmosphere
  
  

• Supernatural or religious terror
  
  

• Realistic violence and human cruelty
  
  

• Unsettling sound design and imagery
  
  

• Fear of the unknown
  
  

Now, onto the list.

The 100 Scariest Movies of All Time

1–10: The Undisputed Nightmares

1. The Exorcist (1973) – Still widely considered the scariest movie of all time, thanks to its religious horror and disturbing realism.
   
   

2. Hereditary (2018) – A slow-burn descent into grief, cults, and unspeakable evil.
   
   

3. The Shining (1980) – Stanley Kubrick’s icy psychological horror remains endlessly unsettling.
   
   

4. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) – Raw, gritty, and terrifyingly realistic.
   
   

5. Sinister (2012) – Found footage done right, with some of the most disturbing scenes ever filmed.
   
   

6. Halloween (1978) – Michael Myers defined the slasher genre.
   
   

7. The Ring (2002) – Seven days. That’s all it takes.
   
   

8. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) – Courtroom drama meets demonic terror.
   
   

9. It Follows (2014) – A brilliant metaphor wrapped in relentless dread.
   
   

10. The Blair Witch Project (1999) – Proof that what you don’t see can be the scariest.
    
    

11–20: Psychological and Supernatural Terror

11. The Babadook (2014)
    
    

12. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
    
    

13. The Conjuring (2013)
    
    

14. Paranormal Activity (2007)
    
    

15. The Witch (2015)
    
    

16. The Omen (1976)
    
    

17. Insidious (2010)
    
    

18. Martyrs (2008)
    
    

19. The Sixth Sense (1999)
    
    

20. The Descent (2005)
    
    

These films thrive on atmosphere, paranoia, and creeping dread rather than cheap jump scares.

21–30: Brutal, Disturbing, and Unforgettable

21. Saw (2004)
    
    

22. Hostel (2005)
    
    

23. Eden Lake (2008)
    
    

24. Audition (1999)
    
    

25. Funny Games (1997)
    
    

26. Antichrist (2009)
    
    

27. Inside (2007)
    
    

28. Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
    
    

29. I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
    
    

30. Irreversible (2002)
    
    

These are not easy watches—but they earn their place among the scariest movies ever made.

31–40: Supernatural Classics and Cult Favorites

31. Poltergeist (1982)
    
    

32. Pet Sematary (1989)
    
    

33. Hellraiser (1987)
    
    

34. The Evil Dead (1981)
    
    

35. Candyman (1992)
    
    

36. The Others (2001)
    
    

37. Event Horizon (1997)
    
    

38. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
    
    

39. The Fog (1980)
    
    

40. Phantasm (1979)
    
    

41–50: Modern Horror Hits

41. Get Out (2017)
    
    

42. The Night House (2020)
    
    

43. Smile (2022)
    
    

44. The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
    
    

45. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
    
    

46. Lights Out (2016)
    
    

47. Oculus (2013)
    
    

48. The Lodge (2019)
    
    

49. Saint Maud (2019)
    
    

50. Terrifier (2016)
    
    

Modern horror has proven it can be just as terrifying as the classics.

51–60: Found Footage & Reality-Based Fear

51. REC (2007)
    
    

52. Creep (2014)
    
    

53. Hell House LLC (2015)
    
    

54. Lake Mungo (2008)
    
    

55. As Above, So Below (2014)
    
    

56. The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)
    
    

57. Grave Encounters (2011)
    
    

58. The Bay (2012)
    
    

59. Noroi: The Curse (2005)
    
    

60. The Last Exorcism (2010)
    
    

61–70: Monsters, Slashers, and Survival Horror

61. Alien (1979)
    
    

62. Jaws (1975)
    
    

63. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
    
    

64. The Fly (1986)
    
    

65. Friday the 13th (1980)
    
    

66. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
    
    

67. Wolf Creek (2005)
    
    

68. The Strangers (2008)
    
    

69. Don’t Breathe (2016)
    
    

70. Green Room (2015)
    
    

71–80: International Nightmares

71. Ringu (1998)
    
    

72. Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
    
    

73. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
    
    

74. Train to Busan (2016)
    
    

75. Pulse (2001)
    
    

76. The Medium (2021)
    
    

77. Impetigore (2019)
    
    

78. Baskin (2015)
    
    

79. High Tension (2003)
    
    

80. The Orphanage (2007)
    
    

81–90: Cult, Indie, and Underrated Horror

81. Possession (1981)
    
    

82. The House of the Devil (2009)
    
    

83. The Void (2016)
    
    

84. They Look Like People (2015)
    
    

85. Session 9 (2001)
    
    

86. The Invitation (2015)
    
    

87. The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
    
    

88. Bug (2006)
    
    

89. The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015)
    
    

90. Dead Silence (2007)
    
    

91–100: Deep Cuts That Still Terrify

91. The Changeling (1980)
    
    

92. Prince of Darkness (1987)
    
    

93. May (2002)
    
    

94. The Wailing (2016)
    
    

95. The Ritual (2017)
    
    

96. The House That Jack Built (2018)
    
    

97. Climax (2018)
    
    

98. Under the Skin (2013)
    
    

99. The Innocents (1961)
    
    

100. Salem’s Lot (1979)
     
     

Final Thoughts: What Is the Scariest Movie of All Time?

While fear is deeply personal, The Exorcist, Hereditary, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre consistently top lists when people debate the scariest movies of all time. Whether you prefer supernatural horror, psychological terror, or raw realism, this list covers the full spectrum of fear.

If you’re planning a horror marathon, you now have 100 reasons to sleep with the lights on.

👻