10 Horror Movies That Are 10/10, No Notes

Jack Torrance standing outside in the cold and staring menacingly into the camera in The ShiningImage via Warner Bros. Pictures

By Daniel Boyer Published 21 minutes ago Daniel is a 27-year-old List Writer for Collider living in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. As an avid film buff, he watches and analyzes many films and TV shows, especially in the horror genre, and regularly attends movie screenings. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Horror can be intense, thrilling, and constantly rewatchable, but above all, it can make for some legendary entertainment. As cinema continues to grow, horror will always thrive along with it, providing all kinds of new and terrifying content each year. Truly, what would we as moviegoers be without horror? It's instantly recognizable and never stops changing the way we enjoy films.

This genre has been an endless hit at the box office, won major awards, and continues to shape our pop culture, so it's no wonder it stands out. We can't discuss horror now without gushing over its many achievements, and truly, what it has to offer is terrifyingly brilliant. From a dark coming-of-age vampire drama to one of the most epic zombie classics ever, the ten below are the greatest, most legendary, and timeless, and all-around most spectacular 10/10 horror masterpieces in history. Get ready to be scared for a lifetime, because these ten really don't mess around.

10 'Let the Right One In' (2008)

Lina Leandersson as Eli covered in blood in front of a shadowy figure in Let the Right One In.Image via Sandrew Metronome

Growing up in 1980s Stockholm is difficult for 12-year-old Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) as he's constantly bullied at school and has struggles finding friends. But when the mysterious Eli (Lina Leandersson) moves next door to his apartment, he sparks a tender friendship with this cryptic little girl who proves to him that she's not like most kids his age. Eerily, Oskar will soon realize there is a bloodthirsty side to Eli, one that she can never quench.

Tomas Alfredson's Let the Right One In is a darkly dramatic coming-of-age vampire film that's deeply profound. It's considered one of the most compelling international horror movies of all time, one that's emotionally charged but also greatly unsettling. From Lina Leandersson and Kåre Hedebrant's perfect chemistry to the heartbreaking themes and flawless script, it's a gripping masterpiece that, despite being fairly recent in history, has already proven to become timeless.

9 'The Fly' (1986)

The-Fly-1986 - Jeff Goldblum looks at his decaying face closely in the mirror

Image via 20th Century Fox

Eager to show the world his glorious contributions to science, eccentric inventor Dr. Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) rushes to create humankind's first teleportation machine, which he decides to first test on himself. While the initial test proves to be a great success, something strange is happening to Seth from within. Soon, he makes the horrifying discovery that an ordinary housefly was teleported along with him, leading him to slowly mutate into a monstrous insect hybrid.

The great David Cronenberg's The Fly is one of the most legendary masterpieces in the body horror subgenre. It tells a compelling and emotional tale of a good man's tragic downfall into becoming a monster, told with great performances and revolutionary effects. It's the practical effects themselves that also truly make it amazing, as they're not only disgustingly beautiful, but they still hold up remarkably well today. It's widely considered Cronenberg's shining achievement and a standout that horror fans must experience.

8 'Scream' (1996)

Courteney Cox, Jamie Kennedy, and Neve Campbell in the bloody ending of Scream (1996).Image via Dimension Films

From the late horror genius, Wes Craven, Scream follows a tense mystery in the small town of Woodsboro, California. When two teens are horribly butchered by a murderer in a Ghostface mask, teenager Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) becomes the next target, leading her and her friends to figure out who is doing it. But as this killer seems to be taking notes from other slasher movies, can Sidney really unmask this deadly foe before it's too late?

Featuring intense scares, hilarious dark comedy, brilliant plot twists, highly quotable characters, and just some of the most fun anyone will have when watching a slasher movie, Scream is truly one of the ultimate, and a film that horror couldn't be the same without today. It saved slashers from the brink of irrelevancy in the mid-'90s and rejuvenated the horror genre with a groundbreaking meta approach that films of today still continue to use. It's both chilling and funny, and never feels tiring, no matter how many times it's watched.

7 'The Shining' (1980)

Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining'Image via Warner Bros.

Given the perfect opportunity to write his next big project, struggling author Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) agrees to be the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel in the Rocky Mountains. Along with his wife Wendy (Shelly Duvall) and young son Danny (Danny Lloyd), they suffer grueling months of isolation. But strange events start plaguing the Overlook as ghostly figures start chipping away at Jack's psyche, leading him to suffer a violent breakdown.

Based on the iconic novel by Stephen King and helmed by one of the 20th century's greatest directors, Stanley Kubrick, The Shining is a powerfully shot and eerily terrifying horror all-timer that's only gotten better with age. It's King's compelling story mixed with Kubrick's creative mind and penchant for perfectionism that creates a unique and chilling psychological horror thriller that's both deep and slowly unsettling. Along with its brilliant performances and thought-provoking themes, this will always be a highly watchable classic.

6 'Psycho' (1960)

Janet Leigh as Marion Crane screaming in the shower in Psycho.Image via Paramount Pictures

A mystery is afoot after the young secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) goes missing after driving off into the desert with an envelope full of her boss's money. Worried that something terrible had happened to her, Marion's sister and boyfriend are on the search for her, leading them to stumble upon her last known location, an isolated motel run by the seemingly friendly Norman (Anthony Perkins) and his reclusive mother. But not all is right with Norman, as her sister and boyfriend soon realize he's carrying a disturbing secret.

Recognized for its terrifying brilliance and massive influence on cinema, Sir Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is one of the most significant horror films in history. Whether it's Anthony Perkins' legendary performance as the complex Norman Bates or the iconic shower sequence, or even Bernard Herrmann's chilling score, there's always something to gush about this film as it truly checks off every major box to become a classic. Its commercial success was epic for its time, and its impact on pop culture continues to be seen even today.

5 'The Exorcist' (1973)

Pazuzu's intimidating face looking down from the darkness in The ExorcistImage via Warner Bros. Pictures

Actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) goes through many parents' worst nightmares when her young daughter Regan (Linda Blair) starts exhibiting strange and violent behavior. When no science can show what is wrong with her, demonic possession is soon to blame, leading Chris to acquire the help of two Catholic priests to perform a risky exorcism. But can the two priests save Regan's soul from the brink, or will the demon claim her life?

Packing nonstop terror, mounting suspense, and riveting performances, William Friedkin's The Exorcist is a spine-chilling masterpiece that has only gotten scarier with time. Hailed as the ultimate scary movie, its scares are legendary, and some of the imagery is so intense that it's hard to forget. Despite releasing in the early '70s, it's immense terror and thrilling story continue to make it ageless, as well as constantly rewatched by all those looking for a superb scare.

4 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991)

Anthony Hopkins staring intently at a small metal object in The Silence of the Lambs.Image via Orion Pictures

In this Best Picture-winning masterpiece, The Silence of the Lambs follows young trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) as she trains to become an FBI agent. When the elusive Buffalo Bill murderer (Ted Levine) strikes again, this time kidnapping a senator's daughter, Clarice is given the chance to learn the pathology of this killer by probing the mind of infamous convicted cannibal Dr Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). A tense game of wits ensues as Clarice struggles to hold her own against the cunning Lecter, who has his own reasons for wanting to speak with her.

The writing is superb, the direction is powerful, the editing is truly innovative, and it has some of the most riveting performances in the genre's history. Seriously, watching Jodie Foster's Clarice go toe-to-toe in a mental game of chess with Sir Anthony Hopkins's highly intelligent Dr Lecter is undeniably captivating. The greatest example of an instant horror classic, The Silence of the Lambs, is truly spectacular, and a must-watch for all horror fans and even for those who aren't.

3 'The Thing' (1982)

McCready looking ahead in John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)

Kurt Russell in 'The Thing'Image via Universal Pictures

Antarctica, 1982. The men stationed at U.S. Outpost 31 are about to endure months-long boredom and isolation. But when a mysterious sled dog rolls into their camp, the eerie canine soon reveals itself to actually be a parasitic alien shapeshifter that has already infiltrated their ranks. As the body count rises, the paranoid survivors struggle to stop this formidable creature before it can escape and infect the rest of humanity.

Considered one of the most stressful and paranoia-inducing horror films of all time, the great John Carpenter's masterpiece, The Thing, fires on all cylinders to create something terrifyingly unforgettable. It's liable to freak audiences long after watching it, as its story greatly takes advantage of everyone's fears of the unknown. Who is really human, and when did characters become infected? Those questions, coupled with its intense ambiguous ending, have made The Thing constantly rewatched throughout the years.

2 'Alien' (1979)

The xenomorph coming out of the smoke in Alien.Image via 20th Century Studios

The most terrifying thing about space is who knows what kind of nightmare waits behind every star. For the small crew of the commercial space towing vessel Nostromo, one of these terrors comes in the form of a deadly alien creature that stows aboard their ship after a recent rescue mission. With acid for blood and able to blend in the dark, the survivors struggle to kill this creature as it claims them one by one.

Sir Ridley Scott created movie history with 1979's Alien, a tremendous and highly influential groundbreaker that elevated horror and showed the awesome potential it has within the science fiction genre. With truly gorgeous visuals, Oscar-winning creature effects, an A-List cast, and nonstop suspense, this is peak horror, one that's remained so endlessly rewatchable as a result of its greatness.

1 'Dawn of the Dead' (1978)

Flyboy (David Emge) as a zombie in the elevator in 'Dawn of the Dead' (1978).Image via United Film Distribution Company

The world is in complete chaos as the dead have mysteriously risen and are attacking the living. As the city of Pittsburgh falls, traffic reporting helicopter pilot Stephen (David Emege) assembles a small group of survivors and takes off into the countryside. Their journey then leads them to an abandoned shopping mall where they use teamwork to defend this new home from hordes of the undead and even a vicious biker gang.

Booming with compelling writing, acting, direction, and some of the greatest and most thought-provoking themes in movie history, the late George A. Romero's groundbreaking zombie masterpiece Dawn of the Dead is the prime example of a 10/10 horror movie. Its story is rich, and the characters are legendary, and everything about it, even down to the small things like its music and make-up, are simply perfect. It's not only the definitive zombie film, but it's one of horror's greatest achievements.

Like Follow Followed Dawn of the Dead 18+ Horror Action Release Date May 24, 1979 Runtime 127 minutes Director George Romero Writers George A. Romero

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Sarah Polley Stephen "Flyboy" Andrews
Ving Rhames Peter Washington

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The Shining

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