What are the best horror movies of each decade? Here are 10 great picks — and where to stream them
Halloween is nearly here, which means its time to curate your personal horror movie marathon!
Should you stick with your old standbys, expand into new subgenres, or explore some of those classics you’ve been meaning to watch for years? All are good options, and it’s honestly best to do a mixture of the three for the perfect potion of scary movie magic.
To help in your endeavor this year, we’ve put together a list of 10 great horror classics (plus some honorable mentions) from the past 10 decades. Ranging from the 1930s to the 2020s, this list has everything you need to be a scary movie aficionado this spooky season.
Best of all, the majority of these movies are available to watch on some of the most popular streaming platforms. So get your popcorn, candy, and a pillow to hide behind when things get really scary. Here are our picks for 10 great horror movies from past 10 decades:
“Frankenstein” (1931)
When you think of iconic movie monsters, Boris Karloff’s portrayal as Frankenstein’s monster is probably right at the top of the list. The monster has become synonymous with Halloween kitsch, but in 1931 it was scaring moviegoers out of their seats. In his adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, director James Whale helped give nightmares to a generation that was only just getting used to actors talking in movies. “Frankenstein” is still worth watching 91 years later, with memorable scenes ranging from the monster’s first appearance on screen to the action-packed and tragic ending.
Where to stream: Peacock
Honorable mention: “The Invisible Man” (1933). Another film directed by James Whale, this classic is also available on Peacock.
“Cat People” (1942)
The IMDB summary of this movie reads: “An American man marries a Serbian immigrant who fears that she will turn into the cat person of her homeland’s fables if they are intimate together.” Intrigued? This is one of the first sexually charged horror movies ever made, and it stands the test of time. With actress Simone Simon in the lead role, director Jacques Tourneur mixes shadowy lighting with masterful sound effects to create incredibly tense atmospheres.
Where to stream: HBO Max
Honorable mention: “The Wolf Man” (1941). Available to stream on Peacock.
“The Night of the Hunter” (1955)
If you have not had the pleasure of being terrified by actor Robert Mitchum, now is the perfect time to watch “The Night of the Hunter.” Mitchum plays a phony preacher and serial killer who preys on an unsuspecting widow and her two children. This hyper-stylized masterpiece influenced directors from Martin Scorsese to Spike Lee, but in its time was a critical and box office flop. Director Charles Laughton never directed another movie, but all these years later “The Night of the Hunter” is viewed as a classic.
Where to stream: Kanopy (through your local library)
Honorable mention: “House on Haunted Hill” (1959). Available to stream on Prime Video and Shudder.
“Night of the Living Dead” (1968)
As we enter the 1960s, it’s going to become ever more difficult to pick just one movie for each decade. There are just that many good scares out there. But we would be remiss if we didn’t include George A. Romero’s independent zombie flick “Night of the Living Dead.” Made on a shoestring budget outside of Pittsburgh, this movie caused quite a stir upon its release. Variety wrote: “until the Supreme Court establishes clear-cut guidelines for the pornography of violence, ‘Night of the Living Dead’ will serve nicely as an outer-limit definition by example.” Watching it today, a quote like that seems laughable. Still, Romero delivers some shocking images, and makes sure you will never look at a garden trowel the same way again.
Where to stream: HBO Max. The entire movie is also available on YouTube, due to an early copyright mixup that made it public domain.
Honorable mention: “Psycho” (1960) and “The Birds” (1963). Both available to stream on Peacock.
“Halloween” (1978)
Did you really think we could do a Halloween-themed list and not include Michael Myers? Though this film has spawned a few too many sequels, none have come close to touching the original. “Halloween” helped make John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis household names, but its most everlasting gift is Myers, the unrelenting, knife-carrying shape in the dark who always catches up to you no matter how fast you run. The image of him tilting his head as he admires his kill will haunt your dreams for life.
Where to stream: AMC+ and Shudder
Honorable mention: “The Exorcist” (1973). Available to stream on HBO Max
“An American Werewolf in London” (1981)
This John Landis flick is as bloody as it is hilarious. Easily the funniest movie on this list, “An American Werewolf in London” is packed full of gruesome kills and witty jokes. It also has a killer yet tongue-in-cheek soundtrack made up almost entirely of songs that mention the moon, with Sam Cooke’s version of “Blue Moon” used to great comedic effect during the horrifyingly impressive werewolf transformation scene. This is one of those perfectly rewatchable horror movies that fans get something new from with each viewing.
Where to stream: Prime Video and AMC+
Honorable mention: The Fly (1986). Available to stream on HBO Max.
“The Blair Witch Project” (1999)
“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.” More than 20 years after this movie’s release, horror fans have been bombarded with movies of the “found footage” subgenre. But it’s hard to overstate how big of a deal “The Blair Witch Project” was in 1999 -- and how impossible it would be to pull off in the internet age. Viewers across the country actually went into their screenings thinking that the footage shown was real, and that made it all the more scary. Still, if you watch this movie today, you might want to leave the lights on. It leaves you with a sense of unease that is hard to shake.
Where to stream: Hulu, HBO Max, and Peacock
Honorable mention: “Misery” (1990). Available to stream on HBO Max.
“The Descent” (2005)
Caves. Nothing good ever comes from a movie set inside caves. And a lot of bad things happen to the characters in “The Descent,” who embark on a cave-exploring adventure in North Carolina. The build-up of tension is where this film really shines, and if you’re even a little bit claustrophobic, this might not be the movie for you. The point in “The Descent” where the plot really turns on its head is an all time “I wish I had seen this in theaters” moment.
Where to stream: Prime Video and Shudder
Honorable Mention: “The Ring” (2002). Available to stream on Paramount+.
“Get Out” (2017)
Horror is a genre that is historically forgotten by The Academy Awards. But “Get Out,” the directorial debut from Jordan Peele, made such an impact on the film scene upon its release that it was nominated for four Oscars, winning Best Original Screenplay. Actor Daniel Kaluuya puts in a career-making performance as Chris, a Black man visiting his white girlfriend’s family for the first time. There’s a feeling of unease from the start, but watching the thread unfurl for the first time is a true joy.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Honorable mention: “Hereditary” (2018). Available to stream on Showtime and Kanopy.
“The Night House” (2020)
We’re still just a couple years into the current decade, but if you want something newer, check out “The Night House” from director David Bruckner. Rebecca Hall stars as Beth, a recent widower still coming to terms with her husband’s death. But when she starts digging into her late husband’s past, she begins to find startling secrets that will send shivers down your spine. Can anything be trusted in this thrilling horror flick? Watch and find out.
Where to stream: HBO Max
Honorable mention: “Barbarian” (2022). Available to stream on HBO Max.
This story was originally published October 5, 2022 at 8:00 AM with the headline "What are the best horror movies of each decade? Here are 10 great picks — and where to stream them."
