Horror films are cinema’s greatest roller coasters—you buckle up, knowing that you may have a thrilling, pulse-pounding ride. Or a rough, disappointing journey you hate at the halfway point. For each terror-fraught classic that lingers in your mind for decades, there’s a complete misfire that leaves you wondering about the filmmakers’ life choices. But that’s half the fun—because whether you’re in it for the frights, the guffaws, or simply the popcorn, horror tends to linger with you. So, let’s get to the greatest and worst horror movies ever made—a combination of classics and flops—counting down from 10 to 1.
10. One Missed Call (2008) – The Call Nobody Wanted
At the very bottom of the list is this American reworking of a Japanese horror smash—and boy, did it get it wrong. With a legendary 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s the textbook example of how not to translate foreign horror. Lacking atmosphere, subtlety, and real frights, it’s evidence that sometimes the scariest aspect of a film is its lack of imagination.
9. Hereditary (2018) – Family Drama, Demonic Edition
Ari Aster’s disturbing feature debut pushes family pathology into supernatural horror realms. With Toni Collette turning in one of the most heartbreaking performances in horror history, the film is as much about creeping dread as it is about jump frights. This isn’t a movie you see—it haunts long after the lights return.
8. Halloween (1978) – The Birth of the Boogeyman
Suburbia was a dull, secure place before Michael Myers haunted our dreams. John Carpenter’s cult classic did the trick, forever altering that and unleashing the masked killer trope on the world, while making Jamie Lee Curtis horror royalty. Minimal ingredients—mask, knife, unforgettable theme—yielded one of horror’s longest-lasting icons.
7. Psycho (1960) – The Shower Scene That Changed Everything
Alfred Hitchcock didn’t simply create a horror film—he redefined suspense. The infamous shower scene alone is sufficient to make your skin crawl decades later. Norman Bates is one of the scariest villains in cinematic history, demonstrating that the scariest monsters can be impossibly ordinary.
6. Jaws (1975) – Fear of the Deep
Steven Spielberg’s killer shark thriller not only frightened film audiences—it scared them away from getting near the sea. With a faulty mechanical shark compelling the director to achieve the frights through tension rather than blood, Jaws was a masterclass in suspense. Sometimes what you can’t see is more terrifying than anything you see on screen.
5. The Exorcist (1973) – Possession That Shocked the World
This revolutionary movie made 1970s audiences faint, puke, and run for cover. Mixing religious horror with stunning effects and Linda Blair’s iconic performance, it’s one of the most unsettling—and influential—horror films ever. And courtesy of it, pea soup will never be the same again.
4. Alien (1979) – Sci-Fi Meets Terror
Ridley Scott served up a flawless blend of space travel and ur-fear. Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley was a new type of heroine, and H.R. Giger’s hellish alien design seared itself into popular culture. One moral here: don’t mess with weird eggs.
3. Scream (1996) – The Slasher with a Wink
Wes Craven’s clever, self-aware horror flick revitalized the genre by breaking—and mocking—its own rules. The Ghostface killer, razor-sharp dialogue, and a cast in on the joke made Scream a 1990s phenomenon. Pro tip: never say “I’ll be right back.”
2. The Ring (2002) – Seven Days to Doom
This chilling re-imagining of Japan’s Ringu had people unplugging their televisions. Naomi Watts stars in a gripping, spooky story about a cursed videotape, and demonstrates that unseen horror can be the most chilling of all. Following this, every ringing telephone became a portent of doom.
1. Psycho (1960) – The Masterpiece of Fear
Yes, it deserves two places—because Hitchcock’s Psycho is that great. Its impact is deep-seated, from contemporary thrillers to television shows. Norman Bates is not only a character, but he’s a pop culture icon. If you’re going to watch one horror movie in your entire life, make this your choice. Just possibly lock the bathroom door.
Horror isn’t all about screams and shadows—it’s a mirror of our fears, an artist’s playground for directors, and sometimes, a caution against remakes that do not need to be done. Be it a genre-defining masterpiece or a complete disaster, one thing is certain: horror films linger with you. Sometimes it’s a blessing. Sometimes. Not so much.