We all have our own opinions when it comes to some of our favorite horror movies. They’re ones we can watch over and over again, and still leave us glad to have experienced them. Horror is full of iconic terrors, spanning a century and more, and it’s during this time that fans have argued that some are more terrifying and enjoyable than others. And there are some that are just so much fun that we want to see them countless times.
As a horror lover since childhood, I have seen a great many of these films, far more than I could count myself.Across multiple genres and films from many different years, there were those legendary chillers that absolutely fascinated me, sparking multiple rewatches.The following is a list of horror movies and several trilogies that have terrified and amazed me, still to this day.
10’Dog Soldiers' (2002)
Take a squad of soldiers and pit themagainst flesh-hungry lycanthropes, and you get 2002’sDog Soldiers, a kick-ass, bullet-soaked action horror film, fromThe Descent’s directorNeil Marshall. StarringSean PertweeandLiam Cunningham, it follows a unit of British troops on a routine military exercise in the Scottish wilderness that becomes anything but routine when they become trapped in a lone farmhouse for the night by a vicious pack of werewolves.
It’s violent, bloody, and packed with action-packed shootouts and pulse-pounding explosions. Undoubtedly,Dog Soldiersis a terrifying blast of fun that’s every bit over-the-top as it is chilling. It may not be the most universally beloved or recognizable horror film these days, but it’s a great gem that’s endlessly exciting and more than enough to satisfy any of you werewolf fans out there.
9’The Creature from the Black Lagoon' (1954)
For good old-fashioned terror and excitement, there’s nothing quite like watching Universal’s Classic Monsters era. 1954’sThe Creature from the Black Lagoonis the one that marked the end of this iconic point in horror history, as it gave audiences one of its last iconic stories andthe most uniquely terrifying monster. In the darkest, deadliest reaches of the Amazon Rainforest, an ambitious team of scientists and explorers encounter a prehistoric half-human, half-amphibian creature that doesn’t like it when people trespass on its territory.
The Creature from the Black Lagoonis a thrilling watch, striking the right mix of action, adventure, and horror, all brought together in one exciting tale that’s still fun to watch all these years later.Don’t let its age or campy effects fool you; just give this one a chance, and it can amaze and terrify you from start to finish.
8’Poltergeist' (1982)
When it comes to haunted house terror, nothing tops a classic, and the 1982 originalPoltergeiststands asthe pinnacle of the subgenre. This iconic chiller, a collaboration betweenTobe HooperandSteven Spielberg,is legendary in horror and pop culture. It follows a suburban family who discover their home sits atop of a desecrated burial site.
This film pulls no punches and uses every trick in the book to scare viewers, despite initially having a whimsical, family feel in the first act. From ominous-looking trees, creepy dolls, and objects flying around to more hardcore moments like faces being ripped off and decaying skeletons rising up from the ground,Poltergeistis an intense horror classic that elevates with terror every moment.It expertly knows how to be scary and has remained so to this day, even after being seen multiple times.
7’Alien' (1979)
The ultimate in extraterrestrial terror,Sir Ridley Scott’sAlienis a nightmarish masterpiece that needs to be seen by those truly looking for something compelling and scary.Masterfully shot and perfectly timeless, it’s an instantly recognizable tale about a spaceship crew who, after being sent on a search mission on a desolate planet, encounter a vicious, near-invisible alien creature that picks them off one by one.
Alien is timeless not only because of its sci-fi visuals, but because of its story and incredible scaring ability. It’s a masterclass in suspense and tension being used to unsettle the audience, taking time to set up the story, layout, and characters, before the brunt of this story truly kicks off. Once the alien appears, it’s all well worth the wait, and the film kicks into high gear in a tense, nail-biting survival horror third act.Its ability to remain scary is what makes it so cherished and rewatchable these days, especially as it started a popular horror franchise that’s still going strong with the just recently releasedAlien EarthTV series.
6’Predator' (1987)
John McTiernan, the mastermind behindDie Hard, deliveredPredator, the 1987 sci-fi horror action classic that hasn’t dwindled in popularity over the years. A thrilling mix of different genres, all brought together to create one explosive story, it sees 1980s iconsArnold Schwarzenegger,Jesse Ventura,Shane Black, and the lateCarl Weathersin a plot that centers around an elite rescue, sent into the jungles of Central America, as they become stalked by an alien poacher.
A kick-ass, non-stop action-heavy horror masterpiece,Predatoris simply too much fun not to constantly rewatch. It’s thrilling, intense, at times unsettling, and gory, but above all else, it’sa blast of fun that can leave audiences smiling and cheering at how entertaining it is. It hasn’t lost that ability even after nearly four decades since its release.
From the wild and creepily creative mind of horror legendSam Raimicomes his greatest contribution to the genre,The Evil Deadtrilogy. Starring the now-legendaryBruce Campbell, the trilogy follows him as a wisecracking everyman, Ash Williams, who rises to the occasion to stop the hordes of evil conjured up by the Necronomicon, aka “The Book of the Dead.”
A fascinatingly over-the-top, wonderfully bizarre, and spectacularly gory franchise, it’s an essential part of horror history, one that continues to thrill and chill audiences. It’sone of the most compelling and terrifying horror trilogies ever, one with no weak entry; just one bloody, fantastic masterpiece after another.It’s an absolute delight to watch over and over again as a horror fan, and it can excite those looking for a right blend of horror and comedy.
4’Scream' (1996)
The film that changed horror for the better, the lateWes Craven’s 1996 slasher masterpieceScream, changed the landscape for the genre with its groundbreaking blend of horror and self-aware comedy. It’s quite an intelligent and horrifying story, which has just the right mix of comedy to make it fun and unique. StarringNeve CampbellandFriends’Courteney Cox, it follows a California high schooler as she and her friends are stalked by a mask-wearing serial killer with an unhealthy obsession with iconic horror movies.
Coming out at the right time to save slashers from the brink of obscurity,Screamwas a breath of fresh air that reinvigorated audiences' love for horror movies during a dark chapter in the late 1990s. It was perfectly written, greatly directed, had a decent mystery, and a legendary opening kill that’s remained ingrained in horror history.It’s a highly rewatchable masterpiece that’s endlessly entertaining and certainly able to leave audiences scared.
Arguably one of the most significant trilogies in cinematic history, the late greatGeorge A. Romero’s highly influential Dead Trilogy is the series that formed the modern zombie subgenre. A compellingly told and still frightening collection of bonafide classics, each one tells a deep, intense, and thought-provoking story about a small group of survivors struggling to work during a devastating zombie apocalypse.
Romero’s films,Night of the Living Dead,Dawn of the Dead, andDay of the Dead, continue to be revered today as some of the greatest horror movies ever made, and their legacy in the genre is enduring and will never be forgotten. It’s a must-watch trilogy that still feels exciting and frightening to experience multiple times. They never fail to thrill and will continue to have a lasting impact on the zombies that come out today.
2’The Thing' (1982)
If it’s pulse-pounding terror and claustrophobic suspense you enjoy, then you’re going to loveJohn Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi horror masterpieceThe Thing. A remake of a 1951 classic, this wonderful mix of mystery and body horror has become a significant part of horror, one that continues to be studied and watched for its chilling brilliance. It follows a U.S. research team as they fight for survival after their isolated Antarctic base is infiltrated by an alien able to copy their appearances.
The Thingcan scare just about anyone withits endless suspenseand cramped feel. Its inhospitable Antarctic setting perfectly encapsulates the feeling of impending doom as it shows the hopeless isolation the characters are in and how no one is coming to save them. It’s an exceptionally dark and brutal film, not just during the horrific body transformation scenes. It’s overall a masterpiece that’s unquestionably terrifying and nerve-racking. Truly, it gets even scarier with every watch.
1’Jaws' (1975)
At number one is a recognizable horror classic that’s come to define cinema. Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classicJawsis, plain and simple, one of the most enjoyable horror films ever made. A pulse-pounding and suspenseful film, featuring a great blend of horror, action, and adventure, it’s the timeless tale of a summer town rocked by a series of grisly shark attacks, leaving three men to set out on the open ocean to kill the ferocious beast before it strikes again.
Jawsis more than a film; it’s a phenomenon that’s still as popular today as it was fifty years ago. It’s still praised for its brilliant suspense and terror, compelling characters, and Spielberg’s unique direction. Truly,it’s a must-watch for even non-horror fans as it’s endlessly entertaining and certainly worth the time for investment.Overall,Jawstakes the top spot as a film that I, as a horror fan, watch the most.
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