Top Ten Scariest Movies

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin
Rated R

Psycho is a 1960 psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, and Vera Miles. The film tells the story of Marion Crane, a young woman in an unhappy relationship who steals a large sum of money and goes on the run. She takes refuge at the isolated Bates Motel, run by a strange young man named Norman Bates. As Marion's stay at the motel grows increasingly longer, she begins to uncover the dark secrets of Norman and his mother. The film follows Marion's attempts to escape the motel as she confronts the dark and disturbing reality of the Bates family.

From Ridley Scott, starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Rated R

Alien is a science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and released in 1979. It follows the crew of the commercial towing spaceship Nostromo, who encounter a mysterious alien life form that begins to terrorize the crew. The alien, an 8-foot tall creature, continues to grow as it takes on the crew one by one, forcing the remaining survivors to take drastic measures in order to survive. The film follows the struggles of the crew of the Nostromo, as they battle against the alien and try to make it off the ship alive. Alien has been praised for its realistic and suspenseful atmosphere, as well as its highly influential special effects and creature design.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers
Rated R

The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. It stars Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, a writer and recovering alcoholic who accepts a position as the off-season caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. Struggling with writer's block and the demons of his past, Jack becomes increasingly unstable and resorts to violence, terrorizing his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and their young son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), who is gifted with "the shining", a psychic ability that allows him to see the hotel's horrific past. In a climactic battle of good versus evil, Danny must use his powers to unlock the hotel's secrets and bring an end to the terror of the supernatural forces that control the hotel.

From William Friedkin, starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb
Rated R

The Exorcist is a 1973 supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapting the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty. The film follows the demonic possession of 12-year-old Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair) and her mother Chris' (Ellen Burstyn) desperate attempts to win back her daughter through an exorcism conducted by two priests (Max von Sydow and Jason Miller). The film is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential horror movies of all time. It earned 10 Academy Award nominations and won two, Best Adapted Screenplay for Blatty and Best Sound, and was the first horror film ever to be nominated for Best Picture. The movie’s iconic visuals and deeply unsettling atmosphere set a new benchmark for modern horror cinema and spawned a series of sequels and remakes.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary
Rated PG

Jaws is a 1975 American horror thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel of the same name. The film stars Roy Scheider as Police Chief Martin Brody, Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper, a marine biologist, Robert Shaw as Quint, a professional shark hunter, and Lorraine Gary as Brody's wife, Ellen. The film tells the story of a great white shark that terrorizes the fictional New England town of Amity Island. Chief Brody is tasked with halting the shark's rampage by any means necessary, while Hooper and Quint hunt the shark with the help of a large fishing vessel. Along the way, the three men are faced with numerous challenges and must confront their own fears in order to survive. The film was an immediate commercial success, grossing $470 million worldwide. It won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. Jaws is credited with inspiring the summer blockbuster genre and has spawned four sequels, the most recent being in 2018.

From Roman Polanski, starring Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer
Rated Approved

Rosemary's Baby is a classic horror drama from director Roman Polanski. The film tells the story of a young couple, Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse, who move into a New York City apartment building and discover that their neighbors are members of a satanic cult. Rosemary soon becomes pregnant and fears that her baby is part of the cult's evil plan. As the pregnancy progresses, Rosemary is subjected to a series of strange events that cause her to question the intentions of those around her. She begins to suspect that her unborn child may be at the center of a dark conspiracy. In the end, Rosemary must confront the dark forces she has been dealing with in order to protect her baby. The film is a classic of the horror genre and remains a powerful watch to this day.

From John Carpenter, starring Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran, Nancy Kyes
Rated R

Halloween is a 1978 horror movie directed by John Carpenter. It follows a psychotic killer, Michael Myers, who escapes from a mental institution and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, to wreak havoc. He stalks and terrorizes a group of teenagers, including Laurie Strode, as they try to survive the night. Meanwhile, Dr. Sam Loomis, Michael's psychiatrist, desperately tries to track him down. In the end, Michael is seemingly killed, but his legacy of terror hangs over Haddonfield for years to come.

From James Wan, starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor
Rated R

The Conjuring is a 2013 supernatural horror film directed by James Wan and starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as the paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren. The film follows the Warrens as they investigate a mysterious case of hauntings and demonic possession in the Perron family's Rhode Island farmhouse. With the help of a local priest, The Warrens must confront the powerful dark forces that have taken hold of the family in order to save them. Along the way they uncover a darker story that reveals the true evil behind the hauntings and put their own lives in peril. The Conjuring is a thrilling and terrifying ride into the unknown that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat.

From Tobe Hooper, starring Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain
Rated R

From Brian De Palma, starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, John Travolta
Rated R

From Philip Kaufman, starring Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright
Rated PG

From Nicolas Roeg, starring Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland, Hilary Mason, Clelia Matania
Rated R

From Robert Eggers, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Julian Richings
Rated R