The Best Horror Movies of All Time, and Where to Stream Them All Online

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Horror has been a staple of cinema for over a century and has captivated generations of audience members with its ability to tap into our deepest fears and anxieties. From classic monster films to modern psychological thrillers, the genre of horror has produced some of the most iconic and beloved films of all time. Throughout the decades, there have been a collection of must-watch titles from the genre every film fan should view at least once in their lives. A few examples of these kinds of films include Psycho, The Exorcist, Halloween, The Silence of the Lambs, The Blair Witch Project, and Get Out.

What are the best horror movies ever made?

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho remains the seminal horror film that legions of aspiring filmmakers continue to examine decades after its release. However, The Exorcist is one of the most iconic and terrifying horror films ever made, thanks in large part to its groundbreaking special effects. 1978’s Halloween is a beloved slasher film that introduced audiences to one of the most memorable villains in film history with Michael Myers. As mentioned, The Blair Witch Project kickstarted the found-footage craze. The Silence of the Lambs is a masterclass in psychological horror and features a remarkable amount of memorable characters. 2017’s Get Out is a modern classic that uses horror tropes to explore issues of race and identity in America.

The reason why horror films are so adored by audiences is their ability to connect with our primal fears whether it is the fear of the unknown, death or the supernatural. These films provide us with a secure way to face and experience the excitement of being scared. They also frequently delve into profound concepts such as the nature of evil, human psychology and the repercussions of our actions, making them not only entertaining but also intellectually stimulating.

Where can I watch the best horror movies online?

If you're looking for the most iconic, terrifying horror movies of all time, we've got you covered with a complete streaming guide. Here you'll find the best horror movies ranked, along with where to find them online on popular streaming services in the United States.

  1. Psycho

    Psycho

    1960

    IMDB 8.5 (717k)

    #1

    When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where manager Norman Bates cares for his housebound mother.

  2. The Exorcist

    The Exorcist

    1973

    IMDB 8.1 (454k)

    #2

    When a charming 12-year-old girl takes on the characteristics and voices of others, doctors say there is nothing they can do. As people begin to die, the girl's mother realizes her daughter has been possessed by the devil--and that her daughter's only possible hope lies with two priests and the ancient rite of demonic exorcism.

  3. Halloween

    Halloween

    1978

    IMDB 7.7 (306k)

    #3

    Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween Night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.

  4. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

    #4

    A group of five young friends face a nightmare of torment at the hands of a depraved Texas clan.

  5. Alien

    Alien

    1979

    IMDB 8.5 (949k)

    #5

    During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.

  6. The Shining

    The Shining

    1980

    IMDB 8.4 (1m)

    #6

    Jack Torrance accepts a caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, where he, along with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, must live isolated from the rest of the world for the winter. But they aren't prepared for the madness that lurks within.

  7. Jaws

    Jaws

    1975

    IMDB 8.1 (659k)

    #7

    When the seaside community of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town's chief of police, a young marine biologist, and a grizzled hunter embark on a desperate quest to destroy the beast before it strikes again.

  8. The Silence of the Lambs

    #8

    Clarice Starling is a top student at the FBI's training academy. Jack Crawford wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into a case and that Starling, as an attractive young woman, may be just the bait to draw him out.

  9. The Thing

    The Thing

    1982

    IMDB 8.2 (466k)

    #9

    In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Soon unfrozen, the form-changing creature wreaks havoc, creates terror... and becomes one of them.

  10. The Blair Witch Project

    #10

    In October of 1994 three student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, while shooting a documentary. A year later their footage was found.

  11. Rosemary's Baby

    Rosemary's Baby

    1968

    IMDB 8.0 (234k)

    #11

    A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, moves into an infamous New York apartment building, known by frightening legends and mysterious events, with the purpose of starting a family.

  12. Get Out

    Get Out

    2017

    IMDB 7.8 (695k)

    #12

    A young black man visits his white girlfriend's cursed family estate. He finds out that many of its residents, who are black, have gone missing in the past.

  13. Night of the Living Dead

    #13

    A group of strangers trapped in a farmhouse find themselves fending off a horde of recently dead, flesh-eating ghouls.

  14. A Nightmare on Elm Street

    #14

    Teenagers in a small town are dropping like flies, apparently in the grip of mass hysteria causing their suicides. A cop's daughter, Nancy Thompson, traces the cause to child molester Fred Krueger, who was burned alive by angry parents many years before. Krueger has now come back in the dreams of his killers' children, claiming their lives as his revenge. Nancy and her boyfriend, Glen, must devise a plan to lure the monster out of the realm of nightmares and into the real world...

  15. The Omen

    The Omen

    1976

    IMDB 7.5 (132k)

    #15

    Immediately after their miscarriage, the US diplomat Robert Thorn adopts the newborn Damien without the knowledge of his wife. Yet what he doesn’t know is that their new son is the son of the devil.

  16. Carrie

    Carrie

    1976

    IMDB 7.4 (206k)

    #16

    An awkward, telekinetic teenage girl's lonely life is dominated by relentless bullying at school and an oppressive religious fanatic mother at home. When her tormentors pull a humiliating prank at the senior prom, she unleashes a horrifying chaos on everyone, leaving nothing but destruction in her wake.

  17. The Birds

    The Birds

    1963

    IMDB 7.6 (204k)

    #17

    Thousands of birds flock into a seaside town and terrorize the residents in a series of deadly attacks.

  18. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

    #18

    Francis, a young man, recalls in his memory the horrible experiences he and his fiancée Jane recently went through. Francis and his friend Alan visit The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, an exhibit where the mysterious doctor shows the somnambulist Cesare, and awakens him for some moments from his death-like sleep.

  19. Bride of Frankenstein

    #19

    Dr. Frankenstein and his monster both turn out to be alive, not killed as previously believed. Dr. Frankenstein wants to get out of the evil experiment business, but when a mad scientist, Dr. Pretorius, kidnaps his wife, Dr. Frankenstein agrees to help him create a new creature.

  20. Nosferatu

    Nosferatu

    1922

    IMDB 7.9 (105k)

    #20

    In this highly influential silent horror film, the mysterious Count Orlok (Max Schreck) summons Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his remote Transylvanian castle in the mountains. The eerie Orlok seeks to buy a house near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). After Orlok reveals his vampire nature, Hutter struggles to escape the castle, knowing that Ellen is in grave danger. Meanwhile Orlok's servant, Knock (Alexander Granach), prepares for his master to arrive at his new home.