Well, would you look at that? It's almost Halloween again. But before you have to fill up the candy bowl and set the plastic cauldron of dry ice out on the porch, your good friends at RT have taken the time to refresh our list of the best horror movies of all time!
What makes a horror movie? The definition is open to interpretation, but if it made a sizeable portion of its audience scream, jump involuntarily, or dive for the covers, then you'll probably find it on this list. (Notable exception: The Hottie and the Nottie.) We've assembled all the usual suspects -- Freddy, Dracula, that cat with the leathery face -- and, as always, have taken care to add a few choices you may not expect.
As you'll know if you've read any of our previous lists, each entry has 20 reviews or more to back up its inclusion here, and the final rankings were devised using a weighted system that takes into account both the movies' Tomatometers and number of reviews.
Now that we've established the parameters and laid out the ground rules, there's nothing left to do but start the scariest countdown of the year!
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eric w. writes: on Oct 27 2008 06:37 AM Here is a real list of horror movies (not in any order) which were left off. RT I think you may have gotten 6 out of 50 right. That list was pathetic. John Carpenter's The Thing High Tension The Shining SAW (all of them) Hostel 1 and 2 The Descent Cube The Exorcist Prince of Darkness Dead Alive Ravenous Friday the 13th 1&2 Dead Alive Jacobs Ladder Jeepers Creepers Candyman The Omen Ginger Snaps Hellraiser Midnight Meat Train American Werewolf in London Phantasm 1 and Po Re-A L Day of the Dead In the Mouth of Madness Martin Christine (Reply to this) |
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Susan C. writes: on Oct 27 2008 07:07 AM imho... psychological suspense is much scarier than blood and gore - take the Strangers v. any Saw film for example... With that in mind, here are my top nightmare inducers: The Exorcist - 1 AND 3 The Changeling - the image of that boy in the floor ruined my sleep for days (I just realized that Geo. C. Scott was in 2 of those above... coincedence... or conspiracy?!? :) Poltergeist - not quite as scared of that clown as when I was a kid, but almost... However, for true Hallow's Eve atmosphere Michael Myers still reings(sp?) as King. Happy Haunting everyone! (Reply to this) |
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chris B. writes: on Oct 27 2008 07:31 AM I think this list was decent at best. I think a good deal of the selections are questionable as to where they fall on a list of top 50 and this list does not have some of the greatest horror films on it. I want to point one a few major blunders-in my opionion. To start while I love Aliens I would not consider it a "horror" film more of Sci-Fi, action film. On the other hand I would consider Alien a sci-Fi, horror and very much deserving to be on the top 50 (maybe higher on the list). Next, King-Kong as #1 is just dumb, if your going to include King-kong you might as well rename this list top 50 Horror/adventure films. Next, I like Shaun of the dead (a little overrated) but this should not be on this list- it's more of a comedy/satire than a horror film. Final point I want to make is most good-in fans eyes-are not generally rated well. So to make a list based on Tomatoes ratings is not going to turn out well-as you can see. (Reply to this) |
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Anakin writes: on Oct 27 2008 07:59 AM In reply to this comment (#2093034) lol i didnt think anyone has seen Audition.. i own it. YEa where is the Shining. Its stanley Kubrick............... Best Horror movie ever! (Reply to this) |
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headmonkeys writes: on Oct 27 2008 08:17 AM In reply to this comment (#2095079) @supermanofsteel So there's a handful of popular films on the list as opposed to the complete lists that many members have submitted as their definitive lists in the comments section. (Reply to this) |
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tullsterx writes: on Oct 27 2008 08:46 AM Yeah, this list was ridiculous. I doubt that even half of these movies come close to qualifying as "Horror" movies. (Reply to this) |
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KaiserSoze15 writes: on Oct 27 2008 09:21 AM I don't know how The Shining did not make this list? It seems like a point was made to only list more unknown titles or something. Here are 10 more to consider: The Descent High Tension Friday the 13th: Part 2 The Hills Have Eyes In the Mouth of Madness Seven An American Werewolf in London The Devil's Rejects Child's Play Candyman (Reply to this) |
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KaiserSoze15 writes: on Oct 27 2008 09:21 AM I don't know how The Shining did not make this list? It seems like a point was made to only list more unknown titles or something. Here are 10 more to consider: The Descent High Tension Friday the 13th: Part 2 The Hills Have Eyes In the Mouth of Madness Seven An American Werewolf in London The Devil's Rejects Child's Play Candyman (Reply to this) |
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KaiserSoze15 writes: on Oct 27 2008 09:24 AM How could I forget The Exorcist? This needs to be on the list too! (Reply to this) |
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KaiserSoze15 writes: on Oct 27 2008 09:24 AM How could I forget The Exorcist? This needs to be on the list too! (Reply to this) |
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BigEarn writes: on Oct 27 2008 09:52 AM My God. Night of the Living Dead at 19?! I guess it was too new, with it not being done before 1940 and all. I love Evil Dead One and Two but Holy S%!T, are they better than the Exorcist? I also think 28 Days Later reinvented the zombie genre....for that it should be in the top 15. Alfred Hitchcock took a pounding on this list as well. What whack jobs rank these films anyway? Of course Saturday the 14th should have been in the top ten as well. Brilliant. (Reply to this) |
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Windfall writes: on Oct 27 2008 09:55 AM Best horror movies of prehistoric age! Number of films between 1990 - 2000 is less than 5 and between 2000 - 2008 is less than 2 I think! I thought I'll get lots of yikes, but I got lots of yucks! ('',) (Reply to this) |
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reconredneck writes: on Oct 27 2008 10:17 AM I disregarded this list, when " The Exorcist " didn't even make it on the list! Dawn of the Dead is listed 23? This rating list is totally saturated with films that don't even belong! As much as I enjoy watching " King Kong " I wouldn't even rate it in the top 20. Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula and Frankenstein are Great films, but by today's standards are not even considered relatively scary. Correct top 10 1. The Exorcist 2. Alien 3. Psycho 4. Night of the Living Dead 68 5. The Thing 82 6. Dawn of the Dead 2004 7. Bride of Frankenstein 35 8. The Shining 9. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 74 10. Evil Dead II 11. Dawn of the Dead 78 12. Halloween 78 13. Horror of Dracula 58 14. Evil Dead 15. Nosferatu 22 16. Frankenstein 17. Dead Alive 92 18. Zombi 19. Dracula 31 20. Friday the 13th (Reply to this) |
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havesomehats writes: on Oct 27 2008 10:58 AM shameeee!! shameeeee!!! (Reply to this) |
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tomwaitsjr writes: on Oct 27 2008 11:02 AM I think it's telling that none of the RT staff have come to defend this list. They're just rocking back and forth in a locked shower room, hoping the hot steaming water will wash away their sickness and filth. Also, anyone notice it says 0 replies for this list? Whoever is responsible for this monstrosity should REVEAL themselves and defend it! Exorcist not on the list is about as idiotic as it gets. If you did a survey of people and asked "Which is scarier, Exorcist or King Kong" pretty much everyone will say Exorcist. (Reply to this) |
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2.35:1 writes: on Oct 27 2008 11:16 AM What kind of f**king list is this? It's unbelievable that THE EXORCIST wasn't even ON IT. And there are several glaring omissions such as THE SHINING, THE THING, THE SIXTH SENSE and THE FLY. Here's a tip to the RT staff-- Participate in the f**king forums a little more and get privy to your readership. (Reply to this) |
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2.35:1 writes: on Oct 27 2008 11:19 AM Oh and by the way... Am I the only one who was annoyed by having ads show up like every two or three movies? And it was the SAME ad half the time. RT--get your sh*t together. (Reply to this) |
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Ithilgore writes: on Oct 27 2008 11:21 AM King Kong is not a horror film, at all. And where's The Shining? (Reply to this) |
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supermanofsteel writes: on Oct 27 2008 11:28 AM In reply to this comment (#2098029) @ Headmonkeys No, I'm just pointing out that your rationalization for why the movies were chosen ("it's to expose you to new films and make you think") is just as ludicrous as the list itself. (Reply to this) |
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Howard E. writes: on Oct 27 2008 11:49 AM I suppose if there's a good point to this list, it's that I now have some ideas for some movies to watch in the future, because there are some here that I never knew existed! I've always been a bit of a horror movie junkie, but am getting tired of the same old "hack/slash/startle/no plot" formula that's used so often today. It is possible to have just a scary plot; something that can haunt your memories longer than special effects and startle tactics. The people who made "Blair Witch" knew this and capitalized on it(unique type of plot, little to no special effects, and 1/4 billion dollars in sales). I'm hoping that some of these lesser known movies on the list provide the same. With all that said, I'm still a bit dissapointed that The Exorcist and The Shining weren't at the top of the list. (Reply to this) |
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