Horror movies ranking
by nilbogman | created - 21 Aug 2011 | updated - 07 Dec 2011 | PublicMy entirely subjective ranking of horror movies that I have seen and remember well based on no scoring system in particular. I have seen more horror movies than these, so I'll add those later.
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1. Psycho (1960)
R | 109 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock | Stars: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin
Votes: 718,729 | Gross: $32.00M
2. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
R | 136 min | Crime, Sci-Fi
In the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn't go as planned.
Director: Stanley Kubrick | Stars: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates, Warren Clarke
Votes: 881,671 | Gross: $6.21M
3. Poltergeist (1982)
PG | 114 min | Horror, Thriller
A family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.
Director: Tobe Hooper | Stars: JoBeth Williams, Heather O'Rourke, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight
Votes: 179,679 | Gross: $76.61M
An unforgettable screenplay, a deeply chilling story, some great performances all finished off with a hint of camp make this thriller the best in my opinion. I could watch it over and over again.
4. Evil Dead II (1987)
R | 84 min | Comedy, Horror
Ash Williams, the lone survivor of an earlier onslaught of flesh-possessing spirits, holes up in a cabin with a group of strangers while the demons continue their attack.
Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley DePaiva
Votes: 182,015 | Gross: $5.92M
5. Beetlejuice (1988)
PG | 92 min | Comedy, Fantasy
The spirits of a deceased couple are harassed by an unbearable family that has moved into their home, and hire a malicious spirit to drive them out.
Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Annie McEnroe
Votes: 340,365 | Gross: $73.71M
I just love everything about Tim Burton. He's cunning, original, creative, and just overall a cool guy whom I'd really love to meet someday. All that comes off perfectly in this excellent horror comedy which gets its thrills from extremely trippy production design and an outstanding and hilarious performance from Michael Keaton.
6. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
PG-13 | 99 min | Horror
A loan officer who evicts an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.
Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Ruth Livier, Lorna Raver
Votes: 217,577 | Gross: $42.10M
Unlike most directors, Sam Raimi actually kept his sharp edge in horror in these later years of his career, so Drag Me to Hell is scary, funny, and original while even presenting an intriguing moral debate.
7. Insidious (I) (2010)
PG-13 | 103 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.
Director: James Wan | Stars: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Lin Shaye
Votes: 339,193 | Gross: $54.01M
8. The Evil Dead (1981)
NC-17 | 85 min | Horror
Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.
Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker
Votes: 232,506 | Gross: $2.40M
Raimi's first movie; this is a total balls-to-the-walls horror film that proudly does away with all elements of plot depth and character development for crazy camera angles, wild special effects, and messed-up humor. And it totally works.
9. Donnie Darko (2001)
R | 113 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a man in a large rabbit suit who manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.
Director: Richard Kelly | Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne
Votes: 850,443 | Gross: $1.48M
Many might take issue with my classification of this as horror due to its lack of jump thrills and having particularly scary moments few-and-far-between, but I think it's a great supernatural thriller that gets its fear factor from character relatability, a mysterious and layered plot, and leaving several open ends for your mind to tie up.
10. Signs (2002)
PG-13 | 106 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
A widowed former reverend living with his children and brother on a Pennsylvania farm finds mysterious crop circles in their fields, which suggests something more frightening to come.
Director: M. Night Shyamalan | Stars: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin
Votes: 385,907 | Gross: $227.97M
I know this isn't the favorite thriller because of its blatant religious Shyamalanisms, but all that aside he really does do a great job building atmosphere and plot intensity through memorable dialogue, lovable characters, and really innovative camerawork.
11. Saw (2004)
R | 103 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Two strangers awaken in a room with no recollection of how they got there, and soon discover they're pawns in a deadly game perpetrated by a notorious serial killer.
Director: James Wan | Stars: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Ken Leung
Votes: 466,980 | Gross: $56.00M
The plotline is very confusing, yet it evokes some harsh questions about ourselves, the way we go about our daily lives, and how much we really want to be alive. And it is very, VERY scary.
12. Devil (2010)
PG-13 | 80 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A group of people are trapped in an elevator and the Devil is mysteriously amongst them.
Director: John Erick Dowdle | Stars: Chris Messina, Caroline Dhavernas, Bokeem Woodbine, Logan Marshall-Green
Votes: 157,019 | Gross: $33.58M
Sort of like Saw, but very simplified. And also very ridden with Shyamalisms. But the cinematography was pretty good and also builds intensity keeping you glued to the screen, something I'm glad Shyamalan knows he can't do anymore.
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