It’s over one hundred years of spooktacular fun, and the genre is just getting started. Horror has been on a roll, creating some of its most terrifying, remarkable hits for more than a century now, providing nonstop terror and excitement each decade. Look no further than this genre, as it keeps chilling us with stories that we’ve come to now terrifyingly love.
In a century of terror, there are countless types of horror movies to choose from as the best. Yet, arguably, some of the most spine-chilling and memorable were the ones that delved into the supernatural. Other subgenres have generated plenty of scares, but stories of ghosts, demons, creatures of the night, and other bizarre Earthly phenomena just continue to be a driving force of terror these days, as it’s sparked our interest in things that science can’t explain. From vampires and ghouls to haunted houses and demonic possessions, these are the greatest supernatural horror movies of the last one hundred years.
10
‘The Omen’ (1976)
Raising a child isn’t easy, as sometimes they can be little monsters. But in the case of Damion Thorn (Harvey Spencer Stevens), he actually is the son of Satan. Released in 1976 by Superman and The Goonies director Richard Donner, The Omen is a wildly intense mystery horror thriller that really popularized the evil children trope. It stars Gregory Peck as a U.S. Ambassador as he slowly realizes he’s part of a dark prophecy to raise the Devil’s son to grow up and conquer the world.
The Omen is an icon of supernatural horror. From its escalating tension and shocking violence to its bleak and haunting finale, it fills the viewer with so much dread and leaves them with a sinking feeling of impending doom. But, truly, its greatest strength lies in its execution, as the idea of someone’s child growing up to become a monster is every parent’s worst nightmare, making The Omen such an endlessly terrifying classic even today.
9
‘Sinister’ (2012)
Never, ever move into a house that once had a horrible tragedy; you don’t know what dark secrets are lurking between those walls that led up to such events. It was too late already for Ethan Hawke and his character’s family in 2012’s Sinister, a nightmare-inducing haunted house thriller from the Black Phone‘s director Scott Derrickson. It follows Hawke’s Ellison Oswalt, a struggling crime writer who moves his family into an infamous murder house and realizes the previous occupants were targeted by a pagan deity.
Sinister is widely considered the scariest horror film of the 21st century, with intense, startling jump scares and unending dread that truly make it horrific from start to finish. Its scare factor has even been proven by science, and there’s just so much to get spooked by this one. Overall, Sinister brings new terror to the right to people’s homes.
8
‘The Conjuring’ (2013)
The chilling mind of James Wan, from the Saw and Insidious franchises, kept supernatural horror thriving going into the 2010s due to the frightening success of one of his greatest hits, The Conjuring, from 2013. Taking house hauntings to new extremes, it’s loosely based on the real-life case of paranormal investigation couple Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga), following the pair as they help a scared family of five who’ve moved into a new home that is being haunted by the angered spirit of an alleged witch.
What’s most special about it isn’t that it’s terrifying throughout, but it constantly keeps viewers’ attention with a well-executed story, a simple but effective premise, an endless supply of suspense and shock, and a remarkable ensemble that all give stellar performances, making it more than just a standard horror flick. And truly, for those looking for the biggest, loudest, and most intense jump scares around, just know that The Conjuring will more than satisfy your horror craving needs.
7
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ (1968)
Bringing the most nail-biting suspense and shocking reveals ever, Roman Polanski‘s masterclass in slow-burn horror, Rosemary’s Baby, is a truly unforgettable masterpiece. It’s a staple of the genre, not just one of the all-time great supernatural films, and holds a special place in horror history. Starring Mia Farrow, it follows a nervous mother-to-be as she unravels a sinister plot by her cryptic neighbors who intend to take her unborn child.
Like any great suspenseful horror film, it’s not what the audiences see immediately; it’s all about what it’s leading up to. And Rosemary’s Baby has perhaps the most satisfying and chilling payoffs in horror. It’s a startling finale that became legendary in cinema and has spooked countless viewers for generations. The rest of the story is equally shocking and gripping, and it truly keeps you drawn in as you await the inevitable terror.
6
‘Hereditary’ (2018)
Horror in recent years has only gotten more remarkable. From popularizing the concept of elevated horror to dusting off old franchises with compelling revivals, we’ve truly been blessed recently. Through all of it, the genre reached a new height of acclaim with Ari Aster‘s masterpiece Hereditary, a supernatural thriller and drama that’s well known for all of its unimaginable terror.
Starring Toni Collette in an Oscar-worthy role, it’s about the downfall of the Gram family, who constantly experience terror and tragedy after the death of their mysterious grandmother. Hereditary is a perfectly chaotic escalation of dread, following a dysfunctional, grieving family that’s slowly succumbing to an unknown, supernatural evil. It constantly keeps you on edge and never lets up for a moment once the true bulk of the story kicks in. All in all, it stands out as one of modern horror’s crowning achievements.
5
‘Poltergeist’ (1982)
The late Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg‘s thrilling collaboration when making the 1982 classic Poltergeist created one of the quintessential haunted house films ever made. It follows an ordinary American family as they’re terrorized in their home by the angered spirits of a desecrated cemetery buried right underneath them.
A film that pulls every trick in the book to make viewers scared, Poltergeist is an eerie blast that shows the skills of both talented filmmakers and creates an unforgettably, frightening experience. All the tropes are here, from creepy dolls and adorable children saying ominous things to foreboding trees and rotting skeletons, all to scare the pants off anyone watching it. Poltergeist has a lasting legacy in horror history, and honestly, the most recognizable house-haunting flick the genre has ever seen.
4
‘Let The Right One In’ (2008)
Turning now to international horror cinema, next is Tomas Alfredson‘s Let The Right One In, a Swedish vampire dark coming-of-age film from 2008. It’s a tragic yet also heartwarming love story about a lonely, directionless Stockholm boy who finds a new purpose in life after sparking a tender friendship with a new neighbor. Secretly, however, his new friend is hiding the fact that she’s a centuries-old vampire trapped in a little girl’s body.
It’s quite a deep, emotional, and thoughtful story that’s more than just the average vampire flick. Let the Right One In is one of the greatest of its subgenre, a film that perfectly explores the tragic aspects of being a vampire, and the not-so glamorous side of being immortal. Though not terrifying per se, Let the Right One In is perfectly written and acted, and truly needs to be seen, as its story can incredibly affect anyone.
3
‘Evil Dead II’ (1987)
Sam Raimi‘s Evil Dead is in the annals of horror history as one of its all-time greatest trilogies. Dark yet funny, but spectacularly gory, this creative and wildly popular franchise is a pop-cultural horror icon and is constantly rewatched today. While every fan has their opinion on which one is their favorite, the consensus is that the second installment, Evil Dead II, is the definitive best. Starring the one and only Bruce Campbell, it follows him as the hero, Ash, who faces a second wave of demonic nightmares at the same cabin in the woods as the first movie.
Evil Dead II is also among the most iconic horror comedies, a testament to how truly remarkable this film is. It’s a nonstop blast of fun, featuring hilarious slapstick, some genuine terror, and most impressively, its practical and gore effects are one-of-a-kind and captivating. There’s just so much to love about this wild splatter-fest, and that’s what’s made Evil Dead II a masterpiece all these years later.
2
‘The Exorcist’ (1973)
What horror fan doesn’t love a good demon possession flick? While there’s a whole century of great examples to choose from, are any of them better than the one that popularized it all: William Friedkin‘s The Exorcist? It’s the classic story of two Catholic priests as they must work together to rid a poor little girl’s soul of a vicious demon.
Widely considered the scariest film of all time, The Exorcist is a must-watch for horror enthusiasts. Where else can you find this much terror and dread? From the talented Linda Blair‘s iconic, Oscar-nominated performance as the demonically possessed Regan to the film’s lingering tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere, The Exorcist is a true masterpiece that’s often the first to come to mind when thinking of supernatural horror.
1
‘The Shining’ (1980)
At the end of it all, taking the top spot goes to The Shining, the eerily iconic masterpiece from director Stanley Kubrick, based on the bestseller by Stephen King. Three-time Oscar winner Jack Nicholson takes on his most chilling role as Jack Torrance, a stressed-out, former alcoholic writer who, after dragging his family to be caretakers of an isolated mountain hotel, becomes influenced by supernatural forces to go on a psychotic breakdown.
Of course, this masterclass in suspense and slow-building horror would be at number one. The Shining has become a staple of horror in the years since its release. Thanks to Kubrick’s brilliant deviation from the novel, it’s both supernatural and deeply psychological, as it tries to be ambiguous about the ghosts and makes the audience question what is real. As such, The Shining is still one of the most studied and debated horror films today. That’s quite an impressive legacy.