20 Best Horror Movie Recommendations of All Time

In 1971, the Perron family, comprising Roger (Ron Livingston) and Carolyn (Lili Taylor), along with their five daughters Andrea (Shanley Caswell), Nancy (Hayley McFarland), Christine (Joey King), Cindy (Mackenzie Foy), and April (Kyla Deaver), move into a new home in Harrisville, Rhode Island.

Initially, the mansion appears warm and inviting. However, the very next morning, they encounter a series of terrifying events that deeply affect the entire family. Carolyn attends a presentation on supernatural entities led by the paranormal investigators, Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) to seeking answers and help.

Ed and Lorraine quickly make their way to the Perron's residence, only to discover that it is haunted by the spirit of Bathsheba (Joseph Bishara), a former landowner who was associated with the devil. The Warrens undertake a challenging mission to rid the family of this malevolent curse, a task that requires the involvement of various parties.

The movie's story focuses on a religious family, consisting of William (Ralph Ineson), Katherine (Kate Dickie), and their five children: Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw), twins Mercy (Ellie Grainger) and Jonas (Lucas Dawson), and baby Samuel.

They have just moved into a forest and built a house and farm there, seeking a peaceful life. One day, the family is saddened when baby Samuel mysteriously disappears, presumed to have been taken by wolves. Suspicion falls on Thomasin, as she was the last one seen with the baby, making her the scapegoat for the family's loss.

After the incident, a series of horrific and absurd events began to occur. The twins are able to talk to the mysterious black sheep, and Caleb suddenly behaves strangely after going to the forest. This situation leads the family members to accuse each other, unaware that they are being manipulated by a witch who resides in the forest.

The Witch, written and directed by Robert Eggers, is a horror film that marked Eggers' directorial debut. Widely regarded as one of the best horror films of the 2010s, it received critical acclaim for its atmospheric tension and unsettling narrative.

Insidious, a horror movie directed by James Wan, was created in just three weeks of intensive shooting and has since been recognized as one of Hollywood's scariest productions.

The story focuses on a family who recently moved into a new home. This family includes father Josh (Patrick Wilson), mother Renai (Rose Byrne), and their three children: Dalton (Ty Simpkins), Foster (Andrew Astor), and baby Cali (played by Brynn and Madison Bowie).

During playtime, Dalton has a frightening encounter with an evil entity on the roof of their house, leading to a fall down the stairs that results in a coma. The doctors are baffled by Dalton's condition because he appears physically healthy. Following Dalton's coma, the family starts experiencing disturbing events caused by unseen, scary entities.

In search of answers, they ask a psychic, Elise (Lin Shaye), who confronts the supernatural occurrences. Elise warns them of the extremely powerful evil force they are facing. Can they withstand the terror brought upon them by this evil-minded presence?

Stephen King's novel is brought to life once again, this time by director Andy Muschietti. In 2017, he transformed the story of The Losers Club from King's novel "It" into a remarkable film. This movie narrates the tale of a group of children confronting their worst nightmares.

The Losers Club is comprised of seven children. Instead of enjoying their summer vacation, Bill (Jaeden Lieberher), Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Beverly (Sophia Lillis), Richie (Finn Wolfhard), Stanley (Wyatt Oleff), Mike (Chosen Jacobs), and Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer) embark on a mission to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Bill's brother, Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott).

Their investigation leads them to a malevolent entity they identify as Pennywise. This evil demon, manifesting as a dancing clown, is responsible for the vanishing of numerous young children in the small town of Derry. Determined to put an end to this horrifying ordeal, Billy and his friends bravely face off against Pennywise.

Since its debut in 1992, "Candyman" has been one of the most intimidating movies for many children, with the character of Candyman becoming a recognized figure at Halloween events each October. Inspired by the success of the original Candyman story, director Nia DaCosta created a new film, also titled "Candyman."

This movie centers on a visual artist named Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and his girlfriend, Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris), who is an art gallery director. At a crucial point in his career, Anthony is keen on making a groundbreaking addition to his project. His plans take an uncanny turn when he stumbles upon the chilling legend of Candyman.

Candyman is known for his merciless behavior, targeting anyone who dares to disturb him. Anthony unknowingly unleashes horror by invoking Candyman during a ritual. This act reawakens Candyman's reign of terror, plaguing the entire city, with Anthony inadvertently becoming the focus of this renewed nightmare.

"The Unholy," a 2021 American horror film, is based on the novel "Shrine" by James Herbert. The movie revolves around the life of Alice (Cricket Brown), a young girl who is both deaf and speech-impaired.

Alice lives in a farmhouse under the care of her uncle, Priest Hagan (William Sadler). In a surprising turn of events, Alice experiences a sudden healing: she gains the ability to hear and speak, astounding everyone around her. This miraculous event draws crowds eager to witness and meet Alice.

Alice begins interacting with these visitors, claiming that her healing abilities are gifts from the Virgin Mary. She preaches that faith in the Virgin Mary will bring forth miracles, a message that quickly resonates with many.

Meanwhile, a journalist named Geary (Bates Wilder), who is covering the story, senses that something is amiss. He collaborates with Pastor Hagan to dig deeper into the mystery. Their investigation reveals a shocking truth: the source of Alice's miracles is not the Virgin Mary but a malevolent entity seeking to gain trust and influence through the supposed miracles bestowed upon Alice.

With a modest budget of only $15,000, director and writer Oren Peli successfully transformed a budget film into one of the most terrifying and commercially successful horror films. Peli skillfully crafted a simple narrative into a spine-chilling experience for audiences.

The plot centers around a newlywed couple, Micah (Micah Sloat) and Katie (Katie Featherston), who move into a new house in San Diego. Katie has shared with Micah that she has been able to see ghosts since her childhood. Intrigued by this, Micah decides to investigate whether their home is truly haunted. To gather evidence, he sets up several cameras around the house.

As it turns out, Katie's claims are true. The couple's domestic life is soon disrupted by an invisible entity that starts off causing harmless mischief but quickly escalates into a dangerous threat. The whole incident was recorded in Micah's camera, from the beginning of the incident to Micah's death after being killed by the possessed Katie.

The 2013 film, a reinterpretation of Sam Raimi's "The Evil Dead," marks the fourth installment in the Evil Dead series. Directed by Fede Álvarez, this movie made a significant impact in the film market, achieving box office success and earning multiple awards and nominations at prestigious film events.

The story, familiar to horror movie enthusiasts, begins with a group of teenagers on vacation at a cottage. Their goal is to support their friend Mia (Jane Levy), who is struggling with drug addiction. During their stay, Mia consistently notices a foul smell that no one else seems to detect.

To validate Mia's concerns, Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) investigates and uncovers the source of the odor. In the basement of the cottage, he finds a deceased body and a mysterious book titled "Naturom Demonto," which has a creepy aura.

Curiosity gets the better of Eric, and he opens the book, reading its contents. This act inadvertently unleashes an evil spell that possesses Mia, putting everyone's lives in jeopardy. Can the teenagers survive and escape the cottage?

If you're familiar with Sam Raimi primarily for his work on the Spider-Man movies, there's more to explore. Sam Raimi has also undertaken the horror genre, co-writing the screenplay for "Drag Me to Hell" with his brother, Ivan Raimi. This film distinguished itself by winning the Saturn Award for Best Horror Movie.

The story revolves around Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), a bank employee responsible for handling credit applications. Her diligent work pays off when she is considered for a promotion to assistant branch manager. However, her career advancement is soon overshadowed by a troubling incident.

An elderly customer, Sylvia Ganush (Lorna Raver), visits the bank seeking a third extension on her loan. With her promotion on the line, Christine makes the difficult decision to deny Sylvia's request. This refusal incites Sylvia's wrath, leading her to place a curse on Christine using a button torn from Christine's suit.

Following this ominous event, Christine is plagued by a series of nightmares. She finds herself in a desperate struggle to break Sylvia's curse and restore normalcy to her life.

Amelia (Essie Davis) has just lost her husband. Now, she lives with her only child, Samuel (Noah Wiseman). Trying to strengthen the relationship, Amelia tries to discipline Sam to be an obedient child.

One day, Sam is scared to death after having a 'vision' about an evil monster that wants to kill them both. To calm Sam down, Amelia finds a mysterious storybook called “The Babadook.”

While reading the book together, Sam is surprised that the creature in the book is the same one that has been bothering him all this time. Amelia is also worried because the book appears mysteriously. Slowly but surely, Amelia begins to feel that the threat from the Babadook is real. She is determined to protect Sam and herself by fighting the Babadook.

In 1980, Stephen King published a novel titled "The Mist," which quickly captured the interest of filmmaker Frank Darabont. Darabont transformed this story into an intriguing two-hour movie, filled with a plot twist and events that leaves the audience stunned with its revelation.

The narrative unfolds in the small town of Bridgton, Maine, just as a powerful hurricane hits, severing all power and phone connections. In the aftermath, David (Thomas Jane) takes his son Billy (Nathan Gamble) to the local supermarket to get food and other essentials. As it turns out, most of the townsfolk have the same idea.

But their routine trip takes a horrifying turn when a dense, mysterious fog rolls in, bringing with it a horde of terrifying monsters. Realizing the imminent danger, David decides to lead a group of supermarket visitors in an attempt to escape and find safety. Unfortunately, their efforts to flee the supermarket lead them to become trapped on the desolate streets.

Can David and his son make it out alive?

"The Ring" (2002) is a film adaptation of Koji Suzuki's 1991 novel and the 1998 movie "Ring" directed by Hideo Nakata. The story's immense success captured the attention of Gore Verbinski, who directed the Hollywood version. This adaptation was a major success, earning $249 million worldwide.

The plot revolves around a cursed videotape that results in the death of anyone who watches it within seven days. Tragically, a girl named Katie falls victim to this curse and dies a week after viewing the tape. Intrigued by the rumors surrounding this curse, journalist Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) decides to investigate the truth behind it.

After watching the video, Rachel seeks help from Noah (Martin Henderson), her ex-boyfriend who is an expert in videography, to dig deeper into the mystery.

Throughout her investigation, Rachel uncovers that a girl named Samara (Daveigh Chase) is connected to the chain of events surrounding the cursed video. So, who is Samara, and what is her link to the deadly curse of the videotape?

In the 1890s, two lighthouse keepers, Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe) and Ephraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson), find themselves on a remote New England island. Despite coming from different worlds, they must learn to live together in this isolated place.

Wake, the older and more seasoned of the two, often treats Winslow harshly, burdening him with the toughest tasks. Tension mounts when Wake strictly forbids Winslow from entering the lighthouse's inner chamber. This sparks Winslow's curiosity about its mysterious contents.

As they start to spend time together, sharing drinks, their relationship slowly begins to evolve. However, Wake's unyielding rule only fuels Winslow's suspicion that a significant secret is being guarded within the lighthouse.

The film delves into themes of enigma and psychological strife, set against a breathtaking yet lonely setting. What could be the hidden truth inside the lighthouse that Wake is so desperately protecting?

The movie chronicles the journey of three film students, Heather, Josh, and Mike, who set out to create a documentary about the urban legend known as the "Blair Witch." Despite warnings about the dreadful curse associated with the Blair Witch, the trio chooses to disregard them.

Armed with two cameras, the students venture into the forest, only to find themselves lost. From that point on, they begin to experience a series of bizarre and frightening disturbances. These relentless terrors gradually erode their hope.

A year passes, and there is still no trace of the three students. The details of what transpired during their five-day expedition in the forest remain a mystery, leaving everyone in the dark about their fate.

"The Shining," based on a 1977 novel of the same name by renowned horror author Stephen King, follows the story of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), a family man who takes up a job as the caretaker of the remote Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies.

Jack settles into the hotel with his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), and his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall). The hotel manager, Stuart, previously tells Jack about a disturbing incident involving a former caretaker and cautions him to steer clear of room number 237.

As time passes in the hotel, Jack undergoes a sinister transformation, becoming a threat to his own family. Wendy, realizing the danger, quickly flees with Danny, who had harbored a foreboding feeling about the hotel from the start. Can Wendy and Danny escape the peril posed by Jack?

Directed by Tobe Hooper, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" has become one of the most brutally sadistic films ever to hit theaters. Adding to its terror, the film's storyline draws inspiration from the real-life crimes of Edward Theodore Gein, also known as Ed Gein, who committed his heinous acts between 1947 and 1952.

In the movie, Sally (Marilyn Burns), a young woman, journeys to her family's old farmhouse to check on her grandfather's grave. She is accompanied by her paralyzed brother Franklin (Paul A. Partain) and a group of friends. Upon their arrival, they encounter a deranged maniac who takes pleasure in killing and using his victims' skin for decoration in his home.

As the menacing Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen) begins his rampage, the group desperately tries to escape. They are hunted down one by one in a series of brutal murders. However, Sally and her sister refuse to surrender. Summoning every ounce of their courage and strength, they manage to overpower Leatherface.

Believing they have defeated the savage killer and left the horrors of the farmhouse behind, they are shocked to discover that Leatherface is still alive and creates an ongoing threat.

"The Exorcist," renowned as one of the most frightening movies ever created, is rooted in real events. The story is inspired by the 1949 case of a boy named Roland Doe, who was believed to be possessed by the devil following his use of a Ouija board. The situation escalated to the point where a dual-priest exorcism was performed.

Drawing inspiration from these events, director William Friedkin adapted the story for the big screen. The film focuses on Regan (Linda Blair), a young girl who becomes possessed by a malevolent entity known as Pazuzu. Regan's behavior only gets worsen, posing a danger to herself and those around her.

Witnessing her daughter's increasingly violent actions, her mother, Chris (Ellen Burstyn), seeks some help of two priests to save Regan. The priests are met with a force far more formidable than anything they have previously encountered. Despite the overwhelming challenge, they persist in their efforts to free Regan from the entity's grasp. Tragically, the story culminates in Regan's death during the process of liberating her spirit.

Perhaps Roman Polanski had no idea that his Hollywood debut would become one of the best horror films of all time. Since its release, Rosemary's Baby has been praised by critics and won dozens of awards.

The movie tells the story of Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow), a woman who has just married an actor named Guy (John Cassavetes). The two decide to live together in New York, they buy a property in an iconic and magnificent building called The Bramford.

Shortly after settling into their new home, they meet a young couple, Roman (Sidney Blackmer) and Minnie (Ruth Gordon). The beginning of their meeting was so pleasant, but over time, Rosemary felt something was wrong with them.

This feeling arose when Rosemary suddenly became pregnant and the couple seemed more enthusiastic than her. Even friends of them followed Rosemary's pregnancy progress, making her shudder in horror. What really happened to Rosemary?

Don't Look Now is an occult-themed thriller film by director Nicolas Roeg, adapted from the novel by Daphne du Maurier. The movie tells the story of a couple who are trapped in a tense situation after meeting with a mysterious woman.

The story begins when the couple John Baxter (Donald Sutherland) and Laura (Julie Christie) are in Venice. While walking down a city street, they meet an elderly woman who suddenly approaches them and claims to be psychic. The woman claims to be able to sense the presence of their late child and gives a surprising prophecy.

Laura is intrigued by the prophecy, while John insists on not believing it. However, after hearing the prophecy, the two begin to get caught up in a terrifying situation. They are shocked when they see their son alive and wandering around in a red robe.