This movie was made memorable by the cutting-edge special effects work. Unlike some of the entries on this list, Poltergeist was an immediate success. In fact, it was the highest-grossing horror film of that year, bringing in over $76 million. It was nominated for three Academy awards, and the Chicago Film Critics Association named it the 20th scariest film ever made.
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This movie was a low-budget film by all standards. Even so, its concept was so original, compelling, and well-executed that it was still one of the biggest movies of its year. Most reviews for this film are positive, but none so much as Stephen King’s. He called the film the "most ferociously original film of the year," a quote that distributors would ultimately use in promotional pieces for the film.
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The iconic and murderous doll, Chucky, made his debut with this film—and it was quite an entrance. Child’s Play had perhaps one of the strangest plots for a horror film—a serial killer’s soul gets trapped in what is essentially a Cabbage Patch Doll—but that’s exactly what helped it stand out from the crowd. This initial entry would pave the way for six sequels, ample merchandising, and even comic books starring Chucky.
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Friday the 13th gave birth to one of the most iconic and prolific horror villains ever: Jason Voorhees. Jason would ultimately terrorize campers over the course of a dozen films and nearly three decades. Though many of the following films in this franchise were successful financially, none of them are remembered quite as fondly as this original entry.
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Of all the films on this list, this is likely the most well-known and well-received. Based on the 1977 Stephen King thriller of the same name, The Shining follows Jack Torrence and his family after he accepts the position as winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel. What makes this Stanley Kubrick film so iconic are the actors’ performances. Specifically, Nicholson’s performance as his character is pushed to insanity by the demons of this hotel’s horrific past.
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Hellraiser was the directorial debut for artist Clive Barker. Though it was considered great for a debut, the film divided critics because of its violent content. This film is most memorable for its iconic villain—even people who haven’t seen the film are familiar with the haunting appearance of its iconic Pinhead character. Hellraiser can be hard to find unless you buy or rent it, but you can catch it on Shudder.
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Many of the movies on this list are so iconic and well known, that even people who hadn’t seen them could tell you a little bit about them. Case in point? Gremlins. Both the monsters of the film (the iconic Mogwai), and their accompanying instructions (don’t feed them after midnight), are well-known by fans and non-fans alike.
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Many horror films make use of the “cat-and-mouse” trope, but possibly none as effectively as this film. The Hitcher uses this device conventionally in the first half of the film, but turns it on its head in the second. After being terrorized by a murderous hitchhiker, the film’s protagonist flips the script and decides to bring the fight to his former pursuer. He ultimately succeeds by following him, running him over, and then shooting him several times.
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A lot of films on this list contain scenes with creepy kids in them. This one, however, is made up almost exclusively of those scenes. Viewers pretty well knew what to expect with this one—the title pretty much explains the whole plot. Still, the concept of murderous children performing demonic rituals in a cornfield is memorable enough to earn it a spot on this list.
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Though it received poor reviews upon its release, this film, starring Kurt Russell, has come to be known as a classic. The film takes place in Antarctica and follows a team of researchers who witness a sled dog being shot at and pursued by a helicopter. They take the dog into their basecamp, but later discover that the “dog” is actually a violent creature that can assume the shape of its victims. Naturally, this spurs deep paranoia among the group, as they are picked off one by one, not fully knowing who to trust.
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A Nightmare on Elm Street was a pretty standard slasher in most regards, but its Freddy Krueger's aesthetic that set it apart. His heavily scarred face and fixed-blade gloves had him haunting dreams on and off-screen. As a result, he’s been a staple of horror films for the last three decades, with his latest appearance being a 2010 remake of the same name.
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It seemed like a Stephen King story was being made into a movie every year in the '80s! Silver Bullet is arguably the least memorable King adaptation on this list, but it’s truly iconic for its use of old school practical effects. So old school, in fact, that it led some critics to call them dated. Still, in a decade dominated by gory slashers, this simpler horror film offered uncomplicated nostalgia to many horror fans who sought just that.
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Strangely, 1981 seemed to be the year of werewolf movies, as three wolf-themed horrors were released within a five-month span. An American Werewolf in London, however, was the definite stand out. It’s convincing special effects would earn it high praise, as well as an Academy award. The movie is considered a cult classic today.
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Most of the horror movies on this list have some sort of killer or monster pitted against the protagonist of the film. In The Fly, however, the protagonist IS the monster. Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) starts the film as a scientist trying to master teleportation and ends up becoming a monstrous fly creature bent on fusing himself with his former lover. Pretty tragic. If you want to watch The Fly, you can stream it on Shudder.
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This film proves that sequels can work! Halloween 2 starts off exactly where the first installment ended. It also leans on the same techniques used in the original to keep audiences on their toes, like the simple but haunting music and the use of first-person perspectives. Though it received mixed reviews from critics, it remains a classic installment in one of the most well-known horror franchises ever. Shudder actually has most of the classic Halloween movies on it's streaming service.
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You could be forgiven for thinking that this movie was a comedy if you had the plot described to you. A movie about a sentient Plymouth Fury—a killer car? Well, it’s actually no joke and the movie is considered a cult classic today. Just one of the many blockbuster horror films in the 80s based on Stephen King story.
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This movie was set 13 years after the events of the first film and had about 13 times the gore. The bloody horror-comedy, like many others on this list, eventually garnered a cult following. This was, in large part, due to its iconic antagonist, Leatherface. The character most recently made an appearance in a 2017, limited-release prequel focusing on his origins.
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Pet Sematary follows the Creed family after moving to a rural town in Maine. There, they discover a burial ground that can restore life, though it causes severe changes in those buried there (they discover this by burying a deceased family pet there). After Louis Creed’s son dies, he buries him there, hoping to bring him back to life. In true Stephen King fashion, this, of course, has terrible consequences.
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Cannibal Holocaust was the '80s Blair Witch Project, but arguably more convincing. The practical effects in this film were so real (and often unethical), that many viewers thought that the murders and cannibalism they saw depicted in this found-footage film were real. This resulted in the film being banned in Australia, Italy, and several other countries. Cannibal Holocaust can be tough to find and watch, but Shudder has it in its catalog.
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This movie was proof that you don’t need a Freddy Krueger or a Jason Voorhees for a film to be scary—you just need a good story and some convincing special effects. With that, you can make even a blob into a horror icon. The 1988 version was a remake of the 1958 horror film of the same name. Both films would originally be met with lackluster reception but become cult classics years after their release.
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This Italian thriller is a must-see for any horror movie buff. It originally made its way to the United States in 1984—a full two years after its release abroad—but it was in a highly edited and heavily censored version titled Unsane. This cut received poor reviews and didn’t do justice to the thrilling story, which follows a murder mystery novelist who begins searching for someone he believes may have been inspired to kill by his latest novel. Fortunately, the fully restored version later became available to consumers. You can catch this version on Shudder.
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This late '80s horror-comedy was met with positive reviews and had a stellar cast. But it’s actually the cultural impact The Lost Boys had that makes it iconic. Before this movie, the vampire genre was very dated. This film is credited with shifting the image of vampires to something younger and more attractive.
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Max Renn (James Woods), CEO of a television station, stumbles upon a channel broadcasting what he assumes to be fake but gratuitous violence. In an attempt to find out more about the channel, he discovers it might actually be part of a large mind-control conspiracy. Though this film did poor commercially, it has been critically praised and become a cult classic.
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This psychological horror has been impressing people since its release but only recently gained cult status. The plot is deeply cerebral and gripping, and the acting is top-of-the-line. The plot follows an international spy who returns home to find his wife acting strange and wanting a divorce. From there, it spirals into madness, but it works so well due to the very human and fleshed out characters.
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This movie was a breath of fresh air for many critics, who felt that the horror market was saturated in the 80s. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer did this by showing audiences something they had seen before in a way that hadn’t been done. The filmmakers accomplished this by not showing the investigation surrounding the killings, but rather sticking with the killer and his perspective. This forced the audience to be uncomfortably stuck in the mind of the dangerous killer, making it unlike slasher movies before it.
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This black comedy horror didn’t fare too well in the box office. Critics weren’t huge fans either. But, it’s quirky and disturbing blend has gained the film—you guessed it—a cult following. The plot is equal parts straightforward and entertaining: a boy slowly discovers that his parents might be cannibals.
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This film is another revival of the vampire genre that came in the '80s. What’s unique about the movie is the blending of western movie themes and those of vampire movies. The result is a very unique and compelling film that critics absolutely loved.
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This film has aged very well, garnering more acclaim over the years and attaining cult status. Perhaps it’s the blend of horror, comedy, and science fiction that makes the film work so well. In it, scientist Herbert West creates a serum that can re-animate dead bodies, which he then uses to bring his dead professor back to life. Of course, this wouldn’t be a horror movie if this process didn’t have gruesome side-effects.
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It’s surprising when a sequel turns out as good as or even better than the first movie, but Aliens pulled it off. This is especially surprising given how high the bar was set by the initial installment (Alien, 1977). Nevertheless, the sequel was released to nearly universal acclaim and the same horrifying creatures from the first film didn’t fail to disappoint in their return to the big screen.
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The original 1980 version of The Fog is fantastic. It was directed and written by John Carpenter, and it’ll send chills up your spine. Not to mention, it features the queen of '80s horror, Jamie Lee Curtis. It follows the same plot as the remake, but it’s so much better.
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What’s better than a slasher film set at a camp? The film is low-budget and has a lot of the cheesy stuff you’d expect, but that doesn’t detract from how great it is. Plus, it has one of the creepiest endings we’ve seen in a long time.
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Maniac leaves you feeling uncomfortable and extremely disturbed – two things you want from a horror film. It’s about a loner who loves dressing up mannequins with scalps from his innocent victims. What a sweet hobby!
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Prince of Darkness is one of those films you’ll either love or hate. Some audiences find it pretty confusing, but when you understand what’s going on, it’s a masterpiece. What we like most is the music score because it seriously sets up every scene perfectly.
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Creepshow was inspired by E.C. Comics, which set up such a great foundation. Once it became a Stephen King-George A. Romero collab, it was going to be an obvious hit. Be forewarned that it’s a series of short stories rather than a full film, but if you’re a horror fan, you gotta check it out.
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You never know what you’re going to get with a stepfather, and this film plays on that so well that it made a whole generation of kids terrified. The Stepfather is about a guy who murders his family and remarries to begin his spree once again.
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We love haunted house tales, which was why The Changeling is one of our faves. Unlike tons of modern horror films, this film manages to scare you without cheap jump scares. One thing we do want to mention is that it doesn’t have a lot of blood and gore, but that doesn’t stop it from scaring the crap out of you.
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The Howling is about a woman with some seriously bad luck. After a terrifyingly strange encounter with a serial killer, she’s sent to a resort for some R&R. There's only one issue – the residents are werewolves. If you loved An American Werewolf in London, this is gonna be your next favorite movie.
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We’re going to be honest and say that Halloween 4 isn’t the best of the best in the series, but it’s pretty dang good. After Halloween III failed, the series came back hitting hard. Halloween 4 introduced Jamie, Myers’s niece. The ending is super dark and has a twist you’ll never see coming.
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Fright Night is a classic through and through. Some parts of it are super cheesy like many '80s horror films, but even that’s done so well that it comes off creepy rather than B-movie. Couple that with the fact that the actors took the roles and ran with it, and you have one of the best vampire movies ever made.
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