Horror Films Everyone Should See At Least Once
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One of the best things about the horror genre is that there is something for everyone. To be honest, though, that can also be one of the worst things about the genre. Because there are so many films that fall into hundreds of subgenres, it can get overwhelming trying to figure out what you should watch. I have compiled a list of the ten horror films that I think everyone should see at least once. I have also included where you can watch them to hopefully make it a bit easier when choosing your next movie for movie night. (Side note: After finishing this article, I watched The Autopsy of Jane Doe on Netflix, and it definitely belongs somewhere on this list. If you want to watch one of the most fascinating and unique horror films of all time, then you need to check this one out!)
10. 'The Shining' (1980)
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The Shining should be on everyone's list of horror movies to see in their lifetime. The film is a masterpiece of writing, directing, and cinematography. Although there is a lot of controversy around the making of the film and the treatment of Shelley Duvall, it is still a film that needs to be seen. Jack Nicholson is a genius in this film with his portrayal of a man slowly losing his mind, and the ending of the film is one of the greatest twists in horror.
The Shining is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
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9. 'The Others' (2001)
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I feel like this is a film that most horror fans know of but many people haven’t seen. The film itself isn’t why I put it on the list. Nicole Kidman is phenomenal in this, and the cinematography is stunning, but the best thing about this film is the twist. You will never see it coming, and once you know the twist, you can’t help but want to watch it again to see what you missed. This is one of the few films where knowing the twist makes the second watch better because it completely changes the film and every shadow you see on the wall.
The Others is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
8. 'Poltergeist' (1982)
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Poltergeist is a classic, and for good reason. It is one of the best supernatural horror films of all time. You can watch this movie a hundred times and never get tired of it or get used to the jump-scares. The acting in this film is the best thing about it because you feel the fear that the family is feeling. The actors went above and beyond with their portrayals of the family and the scientists who came in to help. I would definitely recommend skipping the sequel, though, because it is horrible.
Poltergeist is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
7. 'Jaws' (1975)
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I do not consider Jaws a horror film because I love sharks, but I know that it technically is one, so I had to put it on this list. This film not only had a massive impact on the film industry by reigniting fans’ love of creature features, but it also changed the world. Unfortunately, the film led to many people becoming terrified of sharks and many sharks being murdered because of the film. However, the film also inspired many fans to become marine biologists, and it is one of the reasons that we have so many shark scientists today. The shark in this film is one of the best things about it because they chose to use an animatronic representation rather than CGI, which added to the scare factor of the film.
Jaws is available to stream on Netflix.
6. 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' (1984)
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A Nightmare on Elm Street is a classic for a reason. This film has everything you could want in a horror film and more. Robert Englund is a master at his craft, and when you put him and Wes Craven together, you are guaranteed to have a good time. Freddy is a terrifying villain, but the best thing about him is his one-liners. They always hit at just the right moment, and they add dark humor to the otherwise horrifying scene.
A Nightmare on Elm Street is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
5. 'Trick ‘r Treat' (2007)
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Trick ‘r Treat is one of the best horror films I have ever seen! It is structured like an anthology but strays away from that structure at the end of the film when it shows you how every single story is connected. The main character, Sam, is so cute and terrifying, but what makes him so great is that he never speaks! You form a bond with this character without ever hearing a word from him. The casting for this film is also spectacular, and it has just the right amount of jump scares and gore without going too far.
Trick ‘r Treat is available to stream on Max.
4. 'The Grudge' (2004)
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This is an American reimagining of the hugely popular Japanese film Ju-on: The Grudge. I have seen both the American and Japanese versions, and for once, the American version is better than the original film. This is a great introduction to foreign horror because while it was made in the US, it kept the Japanese actress for Kayako from the original film, is set in Japan, and has a writing and directing style that is more reflective of the Japanese style than the American horror genre we are accustomed to. The film is also great if you are looking for something with very little gore that is more unsettling than horrifying. This film explores domestic violence in a very real way, so I wanted to add a quick trigger warning for that.
The Grudge is available to stream on Peacock.
3. 'Creature From The Black Lagoon' (1954)
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This is not only my favorite classic horror film; it is my favorite classic film. I love classic movies, and this one has everything you could possibly want. The Creature’s costume in this film is mind-blowingly beautiful and realistic, especially taking into consideration when it was made. This film is smart, which is one of my favorite things about it. The characters are mostly scientists with decisions that are well thought out, and everything they do moves the plot forward. There is also no gore, so it is great for younger horror fans or anyone who just wants a good horror movie without the blood.
Creature from the Black Lagoon is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
2. 'Scream' (1996)
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If you have read many of my articles, then you know how much I love the Scream franchise! I feel like every film in the franchise, except for five, should be on this list, but if you are only going to watch one film from the franchise, it has to be the original. Yes, it is cheesy and goofy, but it is all done on purpose. This film was so important to the slasher genre and the horror genre as a whole because it came at a time when the genre was dying out. Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven created the perfect slasher film that made fun of the stupid rules woven into every slasher up to 1996 while also respecting the genre and creating the second-best slasher of all time. I could spend hours talking about why I love these movies so much!
Scream is available to stream on Max.
1. 'Halloween' (1978)
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The ultimate must-watch horror film for me is, of course, the original Halloween. This film is the definition of perfection. It has jump scares, unsettling atmosphere, humor, a little sex, and plenty of kills. Jamie Lee Curtis is not only introduced to us as an actress, but she also becomes the definition of what a modern-day scream queen should be. This film changed the horror genre forever, and it was done with a small budget and as a way for John Carpenter to show his skill set. This movie was made to act as a visual resume, and instead, it became the blueprint for the perfect slasher film. This is another film and franchise that I could spend hours talking about!
Halloween is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
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10 Horror Films That Are Worth The Hype
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We have already discussed horror films that are over and under-hyped, but that doesn’t mean that every horror film falls into one of these groups. There are plenty of fantastic horror films that get all the hype they truly deserve! For the finale of this series, let’s take a look at 10 horror films that are worth 100% of the hype that they get.
10. 'The Shining' (1980)
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This is one of the best horror films of all time, and it deserves all of the hype that it gets. While the making of this film had some serious issues, it does not take away from how outstanding the directing and acting are. This also has one of the best and most satisfying endings in any film ever.
The Shining is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
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9. 'Dracula' (1931)
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This is a timeless classic for a reason. While I prefer the 1992 film with Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder, there is no denying how influential this film was in the creation of the horror genre we have today. Bela Lugosi is a legend for a reason, and the swagger and charm that he brings to the film is why this character has stayed with fans for so long.
Dracula is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
8. 'The Blair Witch Project' (1999)
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This film deserves all of the hype that it gets and more. It not only had one of the best marketing campaigns of all time, but it also created the found footage horror genre that we know today. It wasn’t exactly ethical how they got such great performances from the actors, but it still gave us some of the best horror acting we have ever seen and gave us the best directing in a found-footage horror film.
The Blair Witch Project is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
7. 'IT' (2017)
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I mean absolutely no disrespect to Tim Curry and the original made-for-TV IT, but this film far exceeds the original. The young actors in this film are spectacular, the directing is amazing, and the atmosphere is perfect. This is one of my favorite horror films because of how terrifying it is even when you have seen it a hundred times.
IT is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
6. 'Late Night With The Devil' (2023)
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This film doesn’t get a ton of hype from mainstream horror fans, but it does get a ton from indie horror fans. It is ridiculous how little marketing this film got because if more people knew about it, it would be one of the most popular horror films of the last decade. The ending of this movie is terrible, but even that can’t take away from how amazing the rest of the film is. It feels like you are watching a documentary and a found footage film all in one which is not something I have ever seen before. The acting is amazing, and it has some of the best directing we have gotten in a long time.
Late Night with the Devil is available to rent on Apple TV.
5. 'Fear Street' Trilogy (2021)
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I grew up with these books, so I was ecstatic when it was announced that we were getting a trilogy. These films don’t only get hype from horror fans, but also from fans of the original novels. The decision to use the entire series of books as inspiration rather than focusing on just one book was pure genius. The writing and directing of these films are incredible, but it is really the acting of the young actors that makes them so great!
The Fear Street Trilogy is available to stream on Netflix.
4. 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' (1984)
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This film is a classic for a reason. Robert Englund created a character that is not only larger than life but one that will never be able to be portrayed by any other actor. The film itself is a masterclass of acting, writing, and directing, but it is Englund’s character that truly makes this film so great.
A Nightmare on Elm Street is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
3. 'A Quiet Place' (2018)
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It took me six years to watch this movie because I did not believe that it could possibly live up to all of the hype that it was getting online. I was so wrong! This film is absolutely spectacular and easily one of the best horror films of all time. It is a completely original idea which is rare in the horror genre these days, and the acting is spectacular. One of the best things though is the atmosphere and how it plays a vital role throughout the film.
A Quiet Place is available to stream on Paramount +.
2. 'Halloween' (1978)
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This is one of the best horror franchises of all time, and I am so glad that social media has helped it get even more hype than it already had. The acting and atmosphere of this film are really what make it so great, but you would be hard-pressed to find anything wrong with the film.
Halloween is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
1. 'Scream' (1996)
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This is not only the best horror franchise of all time, but it is also one of the best horror films. Not only did this film breathe new life into the dying slasher genre, but it also created an entirely new subgenre of slasher comedies. There is not enough space for me to list all of the things that I love about this film, but it is definitely worth all of the hype that it gets.
Scream is available to stream on Max.
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