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News / Guides / Best Horror Movies / Comments
Best Horror Movies
October 24, 2008
Discuss Article

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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Comments (101-120 of 199 posts) | Reply
stevo666
stevo666 writes:
on Oct 27 2008 06:05 PM

This list is a complete joke and completely embodies all that is wrong with RT. (Fright Night? Really? This has got to be a joke...) Half of the movies on the list aren't even horror movies, not by my definition at least and I don't think that they could scare my 4 year old. Here are some of the omissions that offended me dearly:

The Exorcist, The Amityville Horror, Friday the 13th, The Descent, The Grudge, High Tension, The Toxic Avenger, Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes (remake), The Omen, The Ring, The Blair Witch Project, Halloween II, Hostel, Cabin Fever, Amityville II, Planet Terror, Event Horizon, In the Mouth of Madness, The Shining, Hellraiser, American Psycho.

I could do this all day.....


(Reply to this)
There Will Be Film
There Will Be Film writes:
on Oct 27 2008 06:17 PM

These aren't going to be the scariest you can find, however, you have to respect the classics and show respect for the horror movies put up on this list.

(Reply to this)
brendan p.
brendan p. writes:
on Oct 27 2008 07:46 PM

who in gods name made King Kong 1st. i really do think that it is pretty ridiculous how a non-horror movie made the list. and i also agree with jokerboy besides the mist at number 9, and Friday the 13th should have been somewhere in there, and so should have Halloween H2O

(Reply to this)
Amit S.
Amit S. writes:
on Oct 27 2008 08:17 PM

Wow, this list was terrible! I was so disappointed that I just registered to be able to chime in and add to the flurry of negative comments.

RT really needs to reconsider how they compile such lists. The fact that almost no one has commented favorably about the list indicates there is a problem.

Instead of the silly formula they created based on Tomato-meter rating, how about doing this like the ballots for All-Star games or the different league Halls of Fame? Send a list out to critics, movie insiders, etc., assign points for 1st place votes, 2nd place votes, etc., and and then built a list based on points scored. If that's too much of a hassle, how about just letting us registered members vote online?

The technique they used produced so many obvious omissions: The Exorcist, The Omen, The Shining, Friday the 13th to name a few. I think some movies that are perhaps more thriller than horror should have also made the list, such as The Sixth Sense, The Others, and Poltergeist.

Glancing through the movies people have mentioned in their comments, I'd pick just about every person's list over the RT list. Maybe what they should have done is called the list "Top 50 Scary Movies that you Probably Haven't Seen but Should." In any case, I really hope they improve the system in the future.


(Reply to this)
Daniel M.
Daniel M. writes:
on Oct 27 2008 08:55 PM

Okay first of all, any Dario Argento fan knows that "Suspiria" is not his best. I would rank "Deep Red" as his true masterpiece, far greater than "Suspiria". I am also surprised on how low Lewton's horror masterpieces were ranked. His movies used the least amount of gore and money but yet outdid the Hollywood giants in creepiness.

Last but not least, Roman Polanksi's "Rosemary's Baby" seems to be extremely overrated, and "Repulsion" is more of a character study than a horror film. If anything, Polanski's "The Tenant" is creepier than both of those. Other movies I would have liked to see in the list.....

Creep Show 2
Blow Out
Ringu and Shutter (original Asian versions)
and I'm sure there is many more. oh and why is "Shaun of the Dead" here?



(Reply to this)
DRIG
DRIG writes:
on Oct 27 2008 10:04 PM

The only thing terrifying here, is how badly this list was made. I understand that paying homage to the classics scares is important, but movies made in the twenties and thirties aren't scary anymore. Honestly, who is going to see Frankenstein or the original King Kong in order to get into the Halloween spirit. When I think Halloween, I think slasher movies.
Here's My List:
1) Alien
2) Halloween
3) The Exorcist
4) Audition
5) Aliens
6) Friday the Thirteenth
7) The Blair Witch Project
8) A Nightmare on Elm Street
9) Scream
10) The Shining
11) Pet Semitary
12) Thirty Days of Night (Gotta have a Vampire Flick!!!)
13) Twenty-Eight Days Later (Gotta have a Zombie Flick!!!)

Note: These are my favorite Halloween Movies, not nessesarily the movies that were super scary. I would love to find a good list of the scariest movis of all time. Any suggestions?


(Reply to this)
Emerald1234S
Emerald1234S writes:
on Oct 28 2008 04:22 AM

The Exorcist, The Exorcist, The Exorcist!!!
Really? I mean I get ur whole rating system but still...come on!
Yeah, I don't know why King Kong is here. It's certainly not horror. Some people (not me particularly) consider the Shining to be the scariest horror film of all time


(Reply to this)
nemesislives
nemesislives writes:
on Oct 28 2008 07:14 AM

The top 4 are not even horror movies! This is a HORRORable list.

(Reply to this)
stoob1969
stoob1969 writes:
on Oct 28 2008 10:06 AM

Yes, this is really a bad list, a critics list that was going to be inevitable that the best movies weren´t going to be on there.
Ok, King Kong was the best horror movie, back at the time it was made... and when was the last time your friends suggested having a spooky time watching the Bride of Frankenstein? And whilst I like the Evil Dead, it`s a bit presumptious of the reviewer saying that it's 'arguably the best film out of the 3' who has ever expressed that opinion? Evil Dead 2 is an innovative classic.

I would put that plus 28 Days Later and American Werewolf in London straight up there. Mmmm, the Exorcist is a bit outdated if you ask me. Creepshow's my favourite but I'm sure noone here shares that opinion with me :0)


(Reply to this)
Scott F.
Scott F. writes:
on Oct 28 2008 10:59 AM

Typical, "I'm smarter than you, jaded film critic list." No Shinning, No Exorcist. Your list is irrealavent without those two film.





(Reply to this)
tomwaitsjr
tomwaitsjr writes:
on Oct 28 2008 11:22 AM

In Summary:

Whoever made this list needs to apologize.


(Reply to this)
mr.smiley
mr.smiley writes:
on Oct 28 2008 02:12 PM

This list is pathetic.
Who in hell makes this crap up?


(Reply to this)
stevo666
stevo666 writes:
on Oct 28 2008 02:39 PM

Here's my top 50, in random order of course. This is my definitive OPINION mind you and not a fact.

Hostel
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Halloween
Halloween II
Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th II
The Amityville Horror
Amityville II: The Possession
The Toxic Avenger
The Grudge
The Ring
The Hills Have Eyes (remake)
The Last House on the Left
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Alien
The Evil Dead
Night of the Living Dead
Dawn of the Dead
The Exorcist
The Omen
The Descent
Cabin Fever
In the Mouth of Madness
Carrie
The Shining
Creepshow
Hellraiser
Hellbound: Hellraiser II
Candyman
American Psycho
28 Days Later
High Tension
Saw
Scream
The Blair Witch Project
Children of the Corn
Event Horizon
Poltergeist
Dead Alive
Lord of Illusions
Nightbreed
The Dark Half
Pet Semetary
An American Werewolf in London
Psycho
Planet Terror
The Thing
Frailty
The Devil%u2019s Rejects
Audition


(Reply to this)
Remus B.
Remus B. writes:
on Oct 28 2008 03:23 PM

There is two kind of horror movie fan: The one who really wants to get scared, the other who just laugh at it.

This list is just a deception for both of them.

Look that this list have been done by a computer and no human has verified it.

Zero thumbs up!


(Reply to this)
sean8604
sean8604 writes:
on Oct 28 2008 06:34 PM

I agree with most of the people on here... this is not a true list of horror films, in fact, most of these aren't scary in the slightest. and King Kong @ numero uno.... wtf RT, wtf!?! that movie sucked! I mean yea it was ground breaking, but come on, its not a horror film!!!

(Reply to this)
matthardy881
matthardy881 writes:
on Oct 28 2008 08:09 PM

this is the WORST horror movie guide i have ever seen!!!!!... if Halloween is not # 1 that its a 8ull$h!t list!!!

(Reply to this)
Faithful G.
Faithful G. writes:
on Oct 29 2008 07:24 AM

Who did this list and what the heck were they smokin?

This is my list of movies in no particular order. Some I found very scary when I was a kid when it played on Creature Feature or Chiller. . .

"Phantasm"
"Hellraiser"
"The Exorcist"
"The Omen" (1976)
"The Hills Have Eyes" (1977)
Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining"
"The Thing" (1982)
"Cat People" (1982)
"An American Werewolf In London"
"The Day of the Triffids" (1962)
"The Omega Man"
"Kingdom of the Spiders"


As for 1933's King Kong it is a good film however it should have been listed under as Best Special Effects since it was considered the "Star Wars" of 1933 and not the top horror film of all time.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween 2008!


(Reply to this)
Faithful G.
Faithful G. writes:
on Oct 29 2008 07:25 AM

Who did this list and what the heck were they smokin?

This is my list of movies in no particular order. Some I found very scary when I was a kid when it played on Creature Feature or Chiller. . .

"Phantasm"
"Hellraiser"
"The Exorcist"
"The Omen" (1976)
"The Hills Have Eyes" (1977)
Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining"
"The Thing" (1982)
"Cat People" (1982)
"An American Werewolf In London"
"The Day of the Triffids" (1962)
"The Omega Man"
"Kingdom of the Spiders"


As for 1933's King Kong it is a good film however it should have been listed under as Best Special Effects since it was considered the "Star Wars" of 1933 and not the top horror film of all time.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween 2008!


(Reply to this)
Faithful G.
Faithful G. writes:
on Oct 29 2008 07:31 AM

Hi again

I forgot one more movie

"The Car" (1977)

Peace out!


(Reply to this)
indiefilmfan2
indiefilmfan2 writes:
on Oct 29 2008 08:23 AM

RT Staff: I'd also be interested in hearing what your guys favorite horror films are because that would give a list like this more character. That's why I've always enjoyed the editor's notes you used to place under the top 20 of lists like this.

This list really isn't horrible. There are some more obscure films from this list that I decided to watch recently because I saw them on here, and I found some gems. Near Dark was a very unique western-vampire hybrid film.


(Reply to this)
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