Top 11 Horror Movies
- CJ Tiernan
- Oct 31, 2025
- 6 min read
By CJ Tiernan
I'm writing this one on Halloween so, 'tis the season. The horror movie genre definitely isn't as inextricably linked to the calendar as Christmas movies, but they certainly get a bump this time of year. I know that some people aren't huge fans of the horror genre and I don't blame them. I go to a movie to be entertained but often it's more than just that. In a comedy, you want to be friends with the funny people. In an adventure, you want to be on that adventure with the characters. In a love story, you want to be swept off your feet too. You want to be in the movie, experiencing the same thing as the characters. That is not the case for a horror movie. You, instead, thank your lucky stars you're not there. It is a different version of fantasy and wish fulfillment and I respect that. But I like a movie that moves me to feel something. Horror movies are definitely capable of conjuring a litany of emotions and I love that. Below is a list of my 11 favorite movies I've ever seen that can fall, at least in part, under the horror genre.
1. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
The first genre that "Shaun of the Dead" falls under is probably either comedy or parody. But there are zombies and brutal deaths so it still counts. This is my favorite horror movie and one of my favorite movies of all time. Edgar Wright brings British dry wit to a genre that often lacked much of a pulse. I love the quick cuts of otherwise mundane actions to ratchet up the tension, as well the oblivious nature of the main character to realize he's in a zombie movie.
2. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
This might be the greatest send up of the horror genre of all time. Not only does it adhere to certain genre troupes, it also effortlessly snaps them over its knee whenever it pleases. It also showcases a great number of other horror figures from a heap of other flicks in the horror sphere. This is the movie I would recommend as a horror gateway for people who don't think they are a fan of horror. The comedy throughout helps to soften the terror and cutting back and forth between locations helps alleviate some of the tension.
3. Late Night with the Devil (2023)
"Late Night with the Devil" is my favorite "found footage" movie of all time. The idea that some unspeakable horror or tragedy played out and eliminated all the players so that all that remains is a recording of the events is always a fascinating conceit. This movie takes place in the late '70s and puts a twist on the genre. It is a Halloween episode of a late-night show. I don't want to spoil anymore if you haven't seen it because it is so delicious.
4. Cloverfield (2008)
The first "found footage" movie I ever saw was "Cloverfield." It changed the game. I loved it so much. I love the idea of the camera being held by one of the characters. It just feels so much like you are there and a part of the action. It raises the stakes. "The Blair Witch Project" was the first time I'd ever heard of the "found footage" genre (or perhaps sub-genre), but I don't recommend it. It is a very slow burn. The good stuff is reserved for like the last 10 seconds of the movie. But this one? Good from the first drop to the last drop.
5. Zombieland (2009)
I love this movie for a ton of reasons. The concept is great. The cast is great. My favorite part was the fourth-wall breaking, how-to guide-esque rules for surviving in "Zombieland." It is a wonderful strategy for staying alive and a wonderful strategy for making a horror movie funny.
6. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)
Speaking of funny movies, "Tucker & Dale vs. Evil" has entered the chat. This movie stars Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk as two hillbillies who are mistaken for killers. Alan Tudyk is criminally underrated. Some of his best roles are as voice-over and motion-capture characters and some of his stuff is just under seen, but still: the world should know his name. Tyler Labine has also been in several great things like "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and the one-and-done season of "Sons of Tucson." This movie is a comedy horror movie born of a misunderstanding and things go off the rails from there. Highly worthy of your time.
7. Fall (2022)
This one got me. This was a white-knuckle thrill ride all the way through. A young woman, climbing with her friend and her husband, watches as he slips and falls to his death. She becomes broken and gives up climbing. Her friend, in an effort to pull her out of her rut and get her out of the house, suggests they do another climb about a year later. Reluctantly, she comes along and the two scale an abandoned radio tower in the desert. Then they struggle to get back down. I highly recommend this one if you haven't seen it.
8. Army of the Dead (2021)
"Army of the Dead" is a zombie heist movie. A zombie heist movie! To be clear, there are humans attempting a casino heist in post-apocalyptic Las Vegas while trying to avoid zombies, not an attempt to steal zombies. Well, actually... ah, just watch the movie. It's done by Zack Snyder so you know the action is dope. Also, Tig Notaro is a scene stealer, which is quite a feat considering the scenes she is in were originally filmed without her.
9. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
"The Silence of the Lambs" won the Academy Award for best picture. To date, it is the only horror film to ever pull that off. As such, it is the most critically recognized film on my list. That is for a very good reason. The acting is incredible. Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins both won the respective Academy Award for best acting. The movie also won best adapted screenplay and best director (Jonathan Demme, who also won Tom Hanks and Bruce Springsteen an Oscar a couple years later for "Philadelphia"). The story and the Hopkins performance bore their talons into you and cling on well after the movie's over.
10. The Conjuring (2013)
"The Conjuring" might be the most straightforward horror movie on this list. Well, no, there are supernatural elements to this one, so I take it back. But to be honest, this is one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen. Yes, there are jump scares, which often feels like a cheap trick (but also, you're there to be scared, so if it scares you then it worked, right?). There is a level of tension that gets established early on and never really subsides. It is a tense movie. It is also really well done. It takes place in the '70s and features a real-life paranormal-investigator couple (Although, I believe a few liberties were taken). Even though it only came out a dozen years ago, it's spawned a crazy number of sequels and spinoffs so clearly it was it hit.
11. Saw (2004)
Last but not least, we have "Saw." I don't know if you ever saw "Saw," but it's intense. It is a gripping thriller that also launched a crap-ton of sequels and prequels. The director James Wan, who also directed The Conjuring, must be rolling in the dough as the pioneer of multiple horror franchises. I only saw (sorry, last time) the first two "Saw" movies and they were both intense, but I think they start to get a bit too over the top after this first one. "Saw" is very intimate and harrowing. Plus, you can never see Cary Elwes on screen enough. Fun fact: His given name is Ivan Simon Cary Elwes.
Final Thoughts
If terror and fear be not what you seek, your knowledge of this list may be feeble and weak. However, I have very few movies on this list that fall exclusively under the horror genre. As such, if you are more of a purist, your list may look dramatically different. Please let me know in the comments if I missed any of your favorites. I have included a small list of some of the movies that just fell short of making my own list. Thanks!
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