The 28 best horror movies of all time, from the scariest slashers to mind-bending psychological thrillers

Libby Torres,Eammon Jacobs,Caralynn MatassaJan 14, 2024, 02:55 IST

These are the horror movies you need to watch before you die.A24, Produzioni Atlas Consorziate, New Line Cinema, Everett Collection; Universal Pictures, Alyssa Powell/Insider

The horror genre consistently produces some of the most brilliant and cutting-edge films.
Insider has rounded up some of the best scary movies of all time.

Horror films can push the boundaries of the genre, offer incisive social commentary, and give us the creeps — all in one frightening, bloody feature.

Insider's resident horror experts have a lot of thoughts on scary movies — "Malignant" is a masterpiece! "The Witch" is for the girls! — so we decided to round up the best and scariest horror movies that you must watch before you die.

Warning: Demons, murderous biker gangs, evil twins, and more things that go bump in the night ahead. Read on if you dare!

"Night of the Living Dead" (1968)

Braaains...!Image Ten

"The Exorcist" (1973)

Split-pea soup, anyone?Warner Bros. Pictures

"Hausu" (1977)

"Hausu" is an absurdist classic.Janus Films

"Suspiria" (1977)

Let's just all agree to pretend no one ever tried to remake the masterful "Suspiria."International Classic

"Dawn of the Dead" (1978)

Maybe the real horror is American shopping malls.United Film

"The Evil Dead" (1981)

Peekaboo, it's a Deadite!New Line Cinema

"Possession" (1981)

"Possession" is utterly deranged, in the best way.Limelight International

"The Thing" (1982)

John Carpenter is a master of practical effects.Universal Pictures

"Videodrome" (1983)

Fans of cerebral horror will want to make sure "Videodrome" is on their list.Canadian Film Development Corp. / Universal

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984)

"One, two, Freddy's coming for you!"New Line Cinema

"The Fly" (1986)

Maybe Seth Brundle was just in desperate need of a good moisturizer.Twentieth Century Fox

"Hellraiser" (1987)

Pinhead wins the award for most straightforward name, if nothing else.New World Pictures

"Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992)

Oldman's Dracula is our favorite.Columbia Pictures

"Scream" (1996)

If only Drew had caller ID.Dimension Films

"Audition" (1999)

"Audition" might start off seeming like a romcom, but it's very much not.Basara Pictures/American Cinematheque

"28 Days Later" (2002)

Braaains (but faster)!20th Century Fox

"Shaun of the Dead" (2004)

Braaains (but funny)!Universal Pictures

"Saw" (2004)

Cary Elwes as Dr. Gordon in "Saw."Lionsgate

"Dawn of the Dead" (2005)

Braaains (redux)!Universal Pictures

"REC" (2007)

The found-footage style is particularly creepy in "REC."Sony Pictures Entertainment

"Green Room" (2015)

You've never seen Patrick Stewart like this.A24

"The Witch" (2015)

Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?A24

"Mandy" (2018)

Don't mess with Nic Cage.Image Entertainment

"Hereditary" (2018)

A24

"Midsommar" (2019)

Breakups are tough.A24

"Malignant" (2021)

"Malignant" might have the most unhinged twist of all time.Warner Bros.

"Deadstream" (2022)

Got your nose!Shudder

"Talk to Me" (2022)

Talk to the hand.Matthew Thorne/A24

Every single Tim Burton movie, ranked

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