80s horror movie reviews

The 50 Best Horror Movies of the 1980s, Ranked

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If nothing else, the 1980s were an age of discovery for the horror genre, as well as a time of weird normalization. Horror movies finally shook off the yolk of the thriller and adventure stories where they originated in the 1970s and had created a line of movies that were uniquely interested in evincing terror of all sorts for the audience. One could argue something like Jaws is still, at its heart, an action-adventure story, but what on earth would you call The Texas Chainsaw Massacre if not horror? An experimental, Dadaist noir featuring some demented clown with a chainsaw?

That was the time of the genre being created and finding confidence, whereas the 1980s is where genre found itself and the 1990s was when it established itself in the pantheon of other big-studio genres. We first met Ms. Voorhees and her son, Jason, in the 80s and suddenly, you couldn’t go into the movie theater without seeing advertisements for another Friday the 13th movie or buying a ticket for one. These movies were cheap to make and people showed up in droves to see them, if only for the gratuitous nudity and buckets of fake blood. People liked seeing the monsters do their stuff from a distance, and though the money was never in the same abundance as it would be with the comic-book craze, there was still a lucrative fad going on.

It’s easy to see the decade as the era of Jason, Freddy, Chucky, and Leatherface’s continued reign, but the 1980s also laid down the foundation for some of the most crucial stylistic decisions of the genre as it exists now. The best movies from the era transcended the cheapness, the frivolity, and the easy pleasures of the franchises to seek out the true thrill and disturbing nature of murderers and monsters. The Thing tells the story of a group of men being consumed by an alien force that replicates them, but beyond the story, John Carpenter directed the movie as if it was a lost Antonioni script. For whatever else it might be, The Shining is a brutal self-excoriation and a frighteningly convincing portrait of a mind becoming untethered from daily life, family, and identity.

That’s where horror has become important, a new genre lined with violent, expressive images that open up all new realms of political, sociological, and cultural discussion. The best horror films of the 1980s might not have all went so far into the ether as Kubrick or Carpenter, but each one clearly came from both a unique point of view and an ambitious, capable artist, surrounded by technical geniuses and other artists who help them out as best they can. And the fact that genuine, mature artists have found not only refuge but glory in this genre suggests that its full power hasn’t even been surmised yet.

Here are the 50 best that were released in the 1980s.

50. C.H.U.D.

This uproarious wonder is something of a local masterwork in New York City. Shot on location amidst the stinking, garbage-strewn streets of the city that never sleeps, C.H.U.D. details the fight between the denizens of NYC and an army of cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers. The humans are represented by a youthful John Heard and a seriously lanky Daniel Stern , and the talk is more important for the splashes of outdated lingo, the East Coast accents and the unpredictable groans, sighs, or belches. There’s nothing much in the way of violence but the creatures themselves are gloriously cheap works of desperate invention. I can’t say that you’ll be scared by this movie, or that you won’t spend most of the runtime laughing at the…let’s call it problematic continuity and production design. Still, when I think about the horror geeks who come to New York to make good genre movies for a decent wage, my brain wanders back to this strangely charming oddity more than The Panic in Needle Park , Dog Day Afternoon , Midnight Cowboy , or Andy Warhol ’s Empire . - Chris Cabin

49. Basket Case

From the cracked mind of Frank Henenlotter and boasting a budget that would make even the most capable indie producer cry, Basket Case was likely never meant to spawn the rabid cult following (or sheer number of loving derivatives that it did), but if any horror comedy of the ‘80s deserved such a hallowed future, it certainly is this one. Following a wide-eyed, naive young man named Duane Bradley and his not-so-friendly sidekick on the murderous hunt for the doctor who separated Duane and his now hideously deformed (telepathic!) Siamese twin, Basket Case employs a bit of Cronenbergian grotesque, a dash of Lynchian horror and scads of over-the-top gore for a fearlessly unique blend of gonzo scares. The plot itself is bonkers enough to qualify this film as a notable nasty, but the film’s storyline is largely an excuse for the pop psychology, perversion and piles of gore that lie just beyond a padlocked wicker box. Horror gems don’t come much crazier than this. - Aubrey Page

48. Night of the Comet

What would kids in the 1980s do if the apocalypse blew through the world without them noticing? Hang out at the mall, but of course. That’s the set-up for this very funny, quite dated horror-comedy, which begins when a quartet of adolescents lock themselves inside a projection booth at the mall’s multiplex. This somehow allows them to live through an extinction level event of some sort, which has also left roaming bands of murderous mutants.

Catherine Mary Stewart of the equally inexplicable Weekend at Bernie’s leads the film, but it’s a movie of mood more than substance ultimately. Does the wealth-fueled naiveté of the average white teenager survive in a vacuum? Does it go away when they are being hunted for sustenance? It’s an interesting to watch on these terms and when the zombies show up, director Thom Eberhardt adds menace and a tight feel for suspense to the action sequences. And if we’re being honest, it belongs on this list for its soundtrack alone. The rest of this is just whip cream and cherries. - Chris Cabin

47. Killer Klowns from Outer Space

One of my all-time favorite B-horror movies that became a part of the Midnite Movies collection, this coulrophobic nightmare is the absolute definition of cult classic. As of this writing, it remains the only writing/directing work for the Chiodo Brothers ; there’s been talk of a 3D sequel for a while now but we haven’t heard much on that lately. If you haven’t seen it, there’s no better time than the present. (Oh and the protagonist’s name is Mike Tobacco , if that helps sway your opinion.)

I’m willing to bet that there’s no other film out there in which a circus tent-shaped spaceship crash lands in a field and unleashes clown-like alien monstrosities upon the countryside. (If there is another one, please let me know.) While this could easily have fallen flat as a one-joke premise, it’s a surprisingly fun and fast-paced watch full of clown gags that are just as creepy as they are clever. As for my favorite part of the Killer Klowns mythology, I’m torn between the cotton candy cocoons and the method of defeating the clown: shooting them in their noses. If that makes you smile, then Killer Klowns from Outer Space is right up your alley. – Dave Trumbore

46. Child's Play

Chucky, the original nightmare doll, was the creation of Don Mancini , who’s made quite the career from the creepy character. To date, there are eight films in the Child's Play franchise, including a 2019 reboot starring Aubrey Plaza and Brian Tyree Henry . But to really get a sense of where the Chucky craze started, you have to go back to the original 1988 film Child’s Play .

In a stroke of twisted genius, the story follows a serial killer named Charles Lee Ray who is fatally shot by a homicide detective in Chicago. While that would be an okay start for a slasher film, the fact that his soul is transferred into a child’s doll really sets the foundation for the entire franchise. What follows is a tense, at times terrifying thriller in which the newly purchased doll comes to life and starts committing murder and mayhem while ordering around his new owner, Andy. Look, dolls are creepy enough to begin with, so when one of them has the autonomy to run around, cuss a blue streak, and kill anyone who looks at him funny, you know you’ve got a horror classic on your hands. Add to that the fact that this doll is nigh immortal and now you’ve got a franchise. Do yourself a favor and go back to where it all started before Chucky’s secret made its way into the world. – Dave Trumbore

45. Prince of Darkness

Prince of Darkness is one of John Carpenter ’s odder outings, but it's still laced with his untamable weirdness and chilling talent at conveying fear and menace with equal potency. Here, he tangos once again with Donald Pleasance ( Halloween ’s doomed Dr. Loomis), who plays a priest who convinces a local Los Angeles professor ( Big Trouble in Little China 's Victor Wong ) to bring his class to an abandoned church where he believes he’s tracked down the essence of Satan. Carpenter is no fan of organized religion and here he seems to really let his secular fury flow. The hiding from and battles against the legions of the possessed allows Carpenter plenty of time to let his natural talent for B-movie action out to play, and though not quite as politically radical as one might hope, the suspicious, atheistic perspective is a breath of fresh air regardless. – Chris Cabin

44. The Blob

There has been a drought of creature feature horror movies in recent years and that’s a crying shame. Luckily, past decades have us well and truly covered with just about every type of critter imaginable. Case in point: 1988’s The Blob . This remake of the 1958 film of the same name brings an amorphous, acidic, amoeba-like creature to life and lets it crawl across the California countryside consuming everything in its path.

This is just good old-fashioned creature feature fun. The practical effects are a blast as multiple victims are partially or completely digested and dissolved by the blob’s acidic chemistry. And though the creature may have crash-landed onto Earth from outer space, its actual origins provide the necessary narrative twist in this movie that would otherwise be a one-note slog. The gore factor is near the top of the charts in this one so if that bothers you, you might want to skip it entirely. But for those of you who maybe watched this movie at too young an age and then reenacted it with a glob of Silly Putty and toy soldiers, I think you’ll enjoy this little chunk of nostalgia. – Dave Trumbore

43. The Stuff

The Stuff is essentially a Bugsy Malone remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers with advertising and greed being the substitute for Snatchers’ Communist pod people and “The Stuff” a substitute for the lethal ice cream that was in the kids’ gangster guns in Malone . What’s “The Stuff”? Some delicious white goop that bubbles up from the ground one day and is discovered to be extremely nutritious and calorie free, despite tasting so good. Because it tastes swell and makes folks feel good, before anyone will ask why is it pumping out of the ground, it’s packaged, marketed and sold. Years later, it’s essentially all that anyone lives off of, but it also starts moving on its own and bodily husks start being found where “The Stuff” now runs amok. You should’ve asked questions!

Larry Cohen ’s film is goofier than it is scary. It recreates many iconic horror scenes (such as the bloody bed in Nightmare on Elm Street ) with a marshmallow-y texture. What’s really at play in The Stuff is that we shouldn’t just be scared of sharp things that can pierce us, but also seemingly harmless everyday things that we constantly replenish and restock without thought. Don’t become a slave to your “stuff”. ~ Brian Formo

42. Hellraiser

This entry previously appeared in the Best Horror Movies on Netflix Right Now article.

Clive Barker 's name has become synonymous with the horror genre, just as his first feature-length film Hellraiser has become a symbol for leather-wearing, sadomasochistic, pain-worshippers. Both descriptors are fitting, though there's so much more to Barker's original 1987 film than mere fetishism. There's a deep mythology here, a rather original one that started with Barker's novella "The Hellbound Heart" and was carried on in numerous sequel films, comic books, novels, video games, and more.

And it all started with Hellraiser , a film that explores the linked sensations of pain and pleasure on a number of levels. The main players are Larry Cotton and his second wife Julia, who cheated on him with his brother Frank shortly after they were married. This sets up one of the most bizarre yet rich mythologies in cinema history: Julia's obsession with Frank continues well after his death and is rejuvenated when Frank himself is resurrected. However, Frank needs fresh blood to return to his full health, blood that Julia is happy to supply by luring men back to Frank's abandoned childhood home and sacrificing them.

And yet, as horrible as this is, it's mundane compared to the arrival of the Cenobites, beings from another dimension obsessed with carnal experiences elucidating the extremes of pain and pleasure. Their design and presence is fantastic in the truest sense of the word and the practical effects on display here are just as terrifying today as they were in 1987. If you haven't seen the original or any of the sequels, Hellraiser is the perfect place to start. If you're not careful, this movie will tear your soul apart. - Dave Trumbore

41. The Funhouse

In a way, no one but Tobe Hooper could have directed this no-frills chiller. Part of what fascinates Hooper is the everyday horrors of the world, how things that we take for granted as familiar images and utilities are also, in origin or myth, horrific. In The Texas Chainsaw Massacre , the craziness begins with a hitchhiker not seeing the inherent horror in making headcheese. In the case of The Funhouse , it’s as much the cheap designs of the traveling carnival where the central quartet of teens finds themselves rambling around as the damage that’s been done to the equipment and the overall age of it all. There’s also something about the veneer of fear in the simple story, in which a murderous mutant being hunts the aforementioned teens. The man who runs the haunted house and funhouse doesn’t care about the effectiveness of his designs or rides, but his personal life is full of unimaginable burdens and endless terror. Similarly, the inanimate mask that the killer wears hides a, er, unappealing visage, but this killer, under Hooper’s direction, reanimates the horrors of the carnival funhouse after years of these images being dismissed as lame or old-fashioned. – Chris Cabin

40. The Fog

John Carpenter 's The Fog is a good old-fashioned ghost story and it makes no bones about it. The film opens on John Houseman ‘s grizzled Mr. Machen spinning a campfire yarn about the local legend of a wrecked ship, the Elizabeth Dane, which washed up on the rocky shores of Antonio Bay 100 years ago, dragging the ship’s crew to the bottom of the sea. On the town Centennial, the sinister truth about the Elizabeth Dane emerges along with the souls of its crewmen, as a neon blue fog rolls into town with some very pissed off pirate ghosts in tow. Carpenter’s Halloween follow-up feels similar in a lot of ways: a slow-moving, unstoppable force coming to wreak havoc on a quiet town, set to a pulsing synth score, and hey, Jamie Lee Curtis is there too (though in an inconsequential supporting role). It’s a sleepy, atmospheric film that embodies the spirit of a campfire ghost story. -- Haleigh Foutch

39. Phenomena

A young girl ( Jennifer Connelly ) communicates with insects and they assist her in warding off attacks in an idyllic Swiss landscape where young girls are getting speared and decapitated. This being a Dario Argento film, that means we get to see some action that it’s split into eight eyes and that the human decapitations are especially gruesome, but handsomely shot.

In revealing who/what’s killing the town’s youth and also who can save them, Phenomena has the most bonkers third act of any horror film that I’ve ever seen. It’s the sort of thing that must be seen to be believed. But as absurd as it is, it fits in with Argento’s side narrative about loving all living things and how that energy can assist you in life. Just think of that love of life when he gleefully films the crimson that drains from it during the last pleads for life.

Did I not mention that Donald Pleasence co-stars as a scientist with a pet chimpanzee? See this movie. - Brian Formo

38. Children of the Corn

Stephen King’s Children of the Corn brings the 1977 short story from Stephen King to life. First published in Penthouse and then included in the “Night Shift” collection, Children of the Corn is centered on a bickering couple on a road trip to California for a vacation. Their journey takes an unfortunate side track into the Nebraska town of Gatlin where a gruesome and bizarre cult of extremely devout children do not take kindly to outsiders, especially adults.

While this movie starts out as a faithful adaptation of King’s work, it quickly turns into a more traditional heroic story than the short story intended; purists of King’s writing will likely find the movie infuriating. However, it remains as a great example of the “creepy children” that King’s work has become known for, and of the cultural touchstones of Malachi, Isaac, and He Who Walks Behind the Rows. Yeah, you’re probably going to laugh when you see a bunch of corn stuffed into a car’s engine block “disabling” it or when the hero plays a game of “How Many 5th Graders Can You Take in a Fight?” but it’s a classic nonetheless. - Dave Trumbore

One of three Stuart Gordon movies that adorn this list, Dolls is perhaps the most uniquely frightening of the bunch and also the least audacious in terms of concept and style. The story, which centers on an old couple who house a number of strangers on a stormy night in a home filled with creepy dolls, seems to be a throwback to The Twilight Zone or, more accurately, the beloved B-movie classic Devil Doll . And yet, under Gordon, the entire tale seems revitalized, given a new rampant fury and energy that somehow never outpaces with pulse of suspense and terror. For a director who must use actors much like playing with living, thinking dolls, the movie must have a vicious, self-excoriating purpose for Gordon. For the audience, it's an oddly funny, quite bloody entertainment sans frills. - Chris Cabin

36. The Entity

Where other ghost tales may focus on homes stirred into tumult by specters or human possession, The Entity supposes something a lot more discomfiting: the act of being repeatedly raped by a ghost. That’s what Barbara Hershey ’s mother of four must survive on a somewhat regular basis in her home, a status that she calls in Ron Silver ’s doctor to give her some insight into. The attacks themselves are brutal even as they feature nothing more than Hershey struggling against an invisible being. That’s the talent of Sidney J. Furie coming out, and it’s the grinding mechanical noise accompaniment as much as the images of Hershey unable to control her own body. The movie takes a turn toward scientific reasoning – amongst the ghost rape – which unfortunately suggests a lack of confidence in the sheer madness and emotional effectiveness of the premise and its execution. Up until the attempts to bring in physics, chemistry, and whatnot into this unnerving nonsense, however, The Entity is uniquely memorable, and not for particularly joyful reasons. – Chris Cabin

35. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

Director Tobe Hooper dubbed this unlikely 1986 sequel a “red comedy” in an attempt to explain horror that transcends even the tastes of intellectual cynics. The viscerally bitter point of view of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 , its utter disregard for empathizing with the dead, certainly sticks with you but that’s not what’s worth discussing with this film. Instead, it’s worth recalling the demented world-building power that Hooper let flourish in the DADA-esque editing and the spare yet chilling production design of the original, as he continues to explore nonsensical yet deeply effective stylistic excesses. He builds tremendous suspense during the second movement of the film in the radio station, which features some sensational long takes and tight, paranoia-inducing framing in the final moments leading up to the climax. For all these cerebral reasons to let this noble sequel off the hook, it’s still the unshakeable feeling that Hooper’s Massacre films stricken you with that keeps you coming back, as if you had just met personally with the janitorial staff of the sixth circle of hell. – Chris Cabin

34. Motel Hell

Of the innumerable Texas Chainsaw Massacre rip-offs, Motel Hell might be the most enjoyable and distinct of the lot. In the middle of nowhere, farmer Vincent Smith makes his living off of a meager stretch of land, his barbeque, and the few rooms at his Motel Hello. Often enough, it’s the perverts and local lost tourists that stop at the Motel Hello that turn into that state-famous barbeque that brings discerning carnivores back. And then old Vincent tries to make a love slave out of one of his victims and that’s where the problems begin. There’s no great artistry here but there’s plenty of bewitching bizarreness, from the not-so-polished performances on down to the no-budget production design. It’s the proper setting for one of the true disciples of a movie that’s as remarkable for what it shows as for how it shows it. – Chris Cabin

33. Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Much maligned because it departed from the track the horror franchise had established with the first two films (and because it was completely insane), Halloween III: Season of the Witch has developed somewhat of a cult following since its 1982 debut. It’s the sole film in the franchise that doesn’t feature the iconic, unkillable serial killer Michael Myers or any of the previously established mythology. The reason behind this was that Halloween creators and producers John Carpenter and Debra Hill envisioned the franchise as going in an anthology direction with the third installment verging into sci-fi/fantasy territory. Things did not go as planned.

For the uninitiated, Season of the Witch follows an investigation into the Silver Shamrock Novelties company and its owner, Conal Cochran ( Dan O’Herlihy ), which brings prosperity to a small town but also has a significant creepy factor thanks to his besuited businessmen roaming around. While I won’t give away the investigations findings (they’re bonkers) or the reason behind them (even more bonkers), I will say that you’ll never see anything else quite like it. Completionists need to check this one off their list and it’s a must-watch for horror aficionados as well, but for folks with an open mind who can appreciate the movie’s anti-consumerism message and taboo treatment of violence against children, it’s an eye-opening experience. – Dave Trumbore

32. Of Unknown Origin

Director George P. Cosmatos would come to prominence in 1985 with Rambo: First Blood Part II , and would hit the big time again with the notorious Sylvester Stallone actioner Cobra , but Of Unknown Origin remains his sole triumph. Mild-mannered Peter Weller has a huge project at work looming over him when his wife and kids decide to take a vacation, but that’s exactly when our hero starts hearing and seeing rats. Huge ones, as a matter of fact. It’s a true oddity and Cosmatos somehow strikes the perfect tone for this disturbing psychological thriller, but it’s also clearly a cheesy, if inventive cultural comment. The obsession of an unknown infiltrator, whether it be a thief in the night or AIDS, over the stasis of your life on the whole reflects a nattering anxiety over some false sort of purity. It makes all the more sense to symbolize sin and debauchery with a rat, the unofficial symbol of the New York City subway system, a location that’s already long been marked with more than its fair share of scarlet letters. – Chris Cabin

The effect of William Lustig ’s Maniac , in which we follow a demented killer ( Joe Spinell ) of women who occupies a small room full of mannequins and collects the heads of women he sees on the streets at night. Or does he?

The possibility that this is all some kind of sweat-soaked nightmare doesn’t dull the impact of the murders themselves, which are directed to emphasize the physical exertion of the activity, the exhaustion and messiness of an act that’s often presented as quick and easy with a gun. And the grisly acts that are visited upon these corpses certainly don’t become easier to ignore when the main man is questioning his state of mind. Lustig shot on a humble budget in New York City and much like C.H.U.D. and Basket Case , the movie is remembered partially as a last-ditch document of pre-Giuliani New York. The movie is, after all, Giuliani’s walking, bloody nightmare of the town he’s pimped out for credibility for years.

Maniac is exacting in its depiction of the ugliness of serial killing, but it’s also one of those movies that stands as a giddy affront to good taste and a testament to why you should never, ever, ever try to clean up the five boroughs. – Chris Cabin

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The 1980s saw the evolution of horror cinema, as the genre found its voice and took established tropes to their limits.
The best horror movies of the 1980s are considered among the greatest films of all time, combining genres like sci-fi, fantasy, drama, and comedy.
From iconic Western horror films to obscure Italian giallo and Asian horror cinema, these movies make a strong case for the '80s being the best decade in horror.

The best 1980s horror movies represent a special era in the evolution of the genre. This is because contemporary horror cinema developed exponentially from the '60s through the '80s. While the very foundations of modern horror were set in the '60s and '70s, it can be said that it was in the '80s when the genre truly found its voice.

Like the best horror movies of the 1970s , the genre's greatest films of the 1980s are also considered among the greatest films of all time period. In the '80s, new horror films took established horror tropes to their limits, which heavily involved other genres like sci-fi, fantasy, drama, and even comedy. The low-budget aesthetic established in the '70s was upheld by the so-bad-they're-good horror B-movies of the '80s. From the most iconic Western horror films ever to the more obscure Italian giallo and Asian horror cinema from the era, the best '80s horror movies make a strong argument for why it might be the best decade in horror.

20 Children Of The Corn (1984)

Release Date: 1984-3-9 | Director: Fritz Kiersch

Cast: Peter Horton, Linda Hamilton, John Franklin, Courtney Gains

Based on a short story by Stephen King, Children of the Corn took the evil child horror trope to new heights. Apart from launching the Children of the Corn movie franchise , this formative supernatural '80s slasher is notable for the performance of John Franklin as Isaac, a nine-year-old boy who forms a murderous religious cult. Isaac and his followers worship and do the bidding of He Who Walks Behind the Rows, a malevolent spirit who pushes the small Nebraska community's children into committing violent acts against all adults. A pivotal film for the evil child horror trope/subgenre, Children of the Corn dives deeply into religious zealotry, human frailty, and sacrifice.

19 Motel Hell (1980)

Release Date: 1980-10-18 | Director: Kevin Connor

Cast: Rory Calhoun, Paul Linke, Nancy Parsons, Nina Axelrod

Motel Hell is an iconic dark comedy based on the true story of the cannibal Karl Denke. It revolves around the secret recipe for Farmer Vincent's delectable sausages — human meat sourced from the nearby Motel Hello. From how Farmer Vincent processes his meat to perfection in his secret garden, to the hilarious moments that break the otherwise palpable tension, Motel Hell deserves its status as one of the most important cult comedy-horror films from the '80s. Despite its thick air of satire, the film's terrifying premise still makes Motel Hello one of the scariest horror movie hotels ever .

18 Halloween III: Season Of The Witch (1982)

Halloween iii: season of the witch.

The supernatural sci-fi horror Halloween III: Season of the Witch is both lambasted and celebrated for how it departs starkly from the slasher genre, which the previous Halloween movies helped establish. In fact, it's infamous for being the only Halloween movie to not feature the iconic Michael Myers. Centered around an evil corporation's plan to use Halloween masks in order to sacrifice children during the festival of Samhain, the film is a surprisingly successful combination of folk horror and science fiction. Halloween III added a layer of mystery to the otherwise predictable franchise, the overall cultural influence of which was greatly expanded by this formative '80s sci-fi horror.

17 Pumpkinhead (1988)

Release Date: 1989-1-13 | Director: Stan Winston

Cast: Lance Henriksen, John D'Aquino, Jeff East, Kerry Remsen

The Pumpkinhead movie franchise began with special effects whiz Stan Wilson's directorial debut, which introduced the titular monster. After a grieving father seeks the aid of a witch to avenge his son's death, a ritual of blood magic gives rise to Pumpkinhead, a grotesque, misshapen demon bent on revenge. As the creature wreaks havoc, Pumpkinhead explores themes of guilt and the consequences of seeking retribution. Known for its practical effects and atmospheric tone, Pumpkinhead has earned a cult following as an early folk horror fable that set high new standards for creature features.

16 The Company Of Wolves (1984)

Release Date: 1984-9-21 | Director: Neil Jordan

Cast: Angela Lansbury, David Warner, Micha Bergese, Sarah Patterson

A surreal retelling of The Little Red Riding Hood , The Company of Wolves is a gothic folk horror film that shifts between reality and the fantastical dreams of a teenage girl. The movie unravels across four stories and three generations, exploring the evolution of werewolves and related folklore through dreamlike, nightmarish visions. While The Company of Wolves isn't a well-known '80s horror film, it has garnered praise for its atmospheric storytelling and imaginative approach to the classic fairy tale. Celebrated for featuring some of the most gorgeous cinematography in horror, The Company of Wolves remains one of the best werewolf movies of all time .

15 Hellraiser (1987)

Release Date: 1987-9-10 | Director: Clive Barker

Cast: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence

Clive Barker's Hellraiser revolves around a mysterious puzzle box that opens a gateway to a sadomasochistic realm inhabited by demonic beings known as Cenobites. When a man inadvertently opens the box, he unleashes these otherworldly entities, leading to a nightmarish and gory ordeal — featuring some of the best set pieces in body horror history. Hellraiser is celebrated for its innovative blend of horror and dark fantasy, exploring themes of desire, pain, and base human instincts. An intense and classic '80s horror gore fest, Hellraiser is particularly iconic for Doug Bradley's performance as the Cenobite known as Pinhead, one of the greatest demonic villains in 20th century cinema.

14 Friday The 13th (1980)

Friday the 13th.

There are plenty of horror movies about killers in youth summer camps, and it all started with Friday the 13th. This first of the Friday the 13th movies birthed the summer camp horror subgenre at Camp Crystal Lake, following a group of teenage camp counselors who fall victim to a mysterious killer. The movie is known for its suspenseful atmosphere, gruesome kills, and the iconic introduction of Jason Voorhees. Friday the 13th isn't a perfect movie, but it nonetheless had a significant impact on horror cinema, particularly for how it established tropes that continue to define the modern slasher subgenre

13 Suddenly At Midnight (1981)

Release Date: 1981-7-17 | Director: Ko Young-nam

Cast: Kim Young-ae, Yoon Il-bong, Lee Ki-seon

A biologist and his wife hire a new housemaid, a beautiful young woman who is also the daughter of a deceased shaman priestess who died in a fire. As the South Korean erotic horror Suddenly at Midnight (aka Suddenly in the Dark ) unfolds, the wife receives disturbing visions of the housemaid and her husband, especially after she discovers a strange wooden doll that the housemaid has brought into their home. Suddenly at Midnight is a wild combination of tragic romance, sheer paranoia, and the classic creepy killer doll concept, for which it notably predates Child's Play by several years.

12 Street Trash (1987)

Release Date: 1987-9-16 | Director: J. Michael Muro

Cast: Mike Lackey, R. L. Ryan, Vic Noto

Street Trash is a dirty and ugly '80s horror movie that only a cult following could love. Set in a decaying urban environment, Street Trash follows the chaos that ensues when a liquor store owner discovers and sells an old and spoiled stash of cheap booze. Anyone who drinks the poisonous booze painfully melts away into goo, which comes in a variety of bright colors. Street Trash is celebrated for its over-the-top gore, black humor, and social commentary on homelessness and urban decay. A rare example of a melt movie, Street Trash is an underrated cornerstone of '80s dark comedy and cult horror cinema.

Though horror movie reboots can be extremely successful, Street Trash faces an uphill battle as it attempts to revive a horror subgenre.

11 Wicked City (1987)

Release Date: 1987-4-25 | Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri

Cast: Yūsaku Yara, Toshiko Fujita, Ichirō Nagai, Mari Yokoo

Yoshiaki Kawajiri's Wicked City is a stylish combination of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. The horror anime movie follows the exploits of two agents of the Black Guard, an organization tasked with protecting humanity from the demonic creatures of the Black World. As they navigate dangerous alliances with peculiar mystics and demons, Wicked City explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the boundary between worlds. Known for its explicit content, stylistic animation, and great world-building, Wicked City draws inspiration from Japanese folklore, dark gothic fantasy, and noir storytelling.

10 A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

A nightmare on elm street.

The movie that introduced audiences to Freddy Krueger and inadvertently led to a string of Nightmare on Elm Street movies , the original Wes Craven film is a horrifically creative exploration of what would happen if nightmares became reality. The story centers on a group of teenagers haunted by Freddy in their dreams, where their nightmarish fates are reflected in the real world. Krueger's ability to harm people in their dreams remains an unforgettable and compelling premise. The film is praised for its groundbreaking practical effects, which cemented both A Nightmare on Elm Street and Freddy Krueger as horror icons.

9 The Evil Dead (1981)

The evil dead.

The Evil Dead popularized the use of an isolated cabin in the woods as an effective horror setting. Though several movies had used this setting before, The Evil Dead was when the decrepit cabin was truly established as a viable horror movie trope. Directed by the legendary Sam Raimi, it also introduced Bruce Campbell's Ash as a typical college student stuck in the woods — before becoming the chainsaw and boom stick-wielding face of not just the Evil Dead franchise, but campy '80s horror itself. The Evil Dead 's weird gore, dark humor, and introduction of the Necronomicon cement its place as a 1980s cultural phenomenon.

Director Sam Raimi's 1981 film Evil Dead created an entire horror sub-genre featuring cabins in the middle of the woods - this is how it was possible.

8 Child's Play (1988)

Child's play.

Child's Play wasn't the first film to feature a creepy killer doll as its main antagonist. Yet, even today, it remains the most iconic movie to use this now-common horror trope. From the movie's explosive opening scene to the finale, Brad Dourif's performance as the serial killer Charles Lee Ray/Chucky is forever burned into audiences' minds. Combining crime with a supernatural voodoo-inspired twist, the plot unfolds with a mix of horror and dark humor, which gave way to an iconic and enduring horror franchise. Child's Play set extremely high standards for creepy dolls in horror, which most contemporary horror movies — including its own sequels — can scarcely meet today.

7 The Changeling (1980)

Release Date: 1980-3-28 | Director: Peter Medak

Cast: George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, Melvyn Douglas, John Colicos

After the family of composer John Russell is killed in an accident, he moves to a long-vacant historic mansion for rent in Seattle. Through a series of eerie occurrences and unexplained supernatural events, Russell discovers that the mansion is haunted by the restless spirit of a child. While exploring themes of guilt and grief, The Changeling stands out from other haunted house films with its understated psychological terror and atmospheric tension. By relying on cinematography, editing, and practical effects to evoke terror in viewers, The Changeling is a prime example of great '80s horror.

6 Possession (1981)

Release Date: 1981-5-25 | Director: Andrzej Żuławski

Cast: Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill, Heinz Bennent

Possession is about the tumultuous breakup of former German spy Mark and his wife Anna, who exhibits increasingly erratic behavior after telling Mark that she wants a divorce. One of the many banned shocking movies that only became more famous after getting censored in the '80s, Possession is renowned for its unconventional narrative, exceptional performances, and unsettling atmosphere. Even by today's standards, the movie is a disturbing collision of supernatural fantasy, intense family drama, spy noir, eroticism, and Lovecraftian horror. For her performance as Ana, Isabela Adjani won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, during which Possession was also nominated for the coveted Palme d'Or.

5 Tenebrae (1982)

Release Date: 1982-10-27 | Director: Dario Argento

Cast: Anthony Franciosa, John Saxon, Daria Nicolodi, Giuliano Gemma

Dario Argento's Tenebrae is a foundational giallo film, an Italian storytelling genre pertaining to murder mysteries. Centered around American horror novelist Peter Neal, the movie unravels across a series of murders in Italy, where Neal is promoting his latest novel, Tenebrae. Neal soon comes to the horrifying conclusion that the murders are inspired by the events in his violent horror books. From the pulsating score by the rock band Goblin to Argento's slick, stylish cinematography, Tenebrae violently dragged classic American cinema slasher tropes into Italian arthouse territory. Horror director James Wan cites Tenebrae as one of the various Argento films that inspired Malignant .

4 Kisapmata (1981)

Release Date: 1981-12-25 | Director: Mike de Leon

Cast: Vic Silayan, Charo Santos, Jay Ilagan, Charito Solis

Retired police officer Dadong gets upset after his daughter Mila informs him that she is pregnant and that she wants to marry her boyfriend Noel. As the story unfolds, Dadong gets increasingly abusive and controlling. Kisapmata is a perfect psychological thriller in many ways, but it is defined by Vic Silayan's disturbing performance as Dadong, a terrifying representation of patriarchy. Based on the true crime novel The House on Zapote Street by Filipino author Nick Joaquin, Kisapmata is an unsettling deep dive into domestic abuse. An allegory of life under former Filipino president Ferdinand Marcos's dictatorship, Kisapmata 's unique take on horror tropes makes it a cornerstone of cult '80s cinema.

3 The Thing (1982)

In a desolate station in Antarctica, a research team encounters a murderous alien organism that assimilates and imitates any life form. The Thing is known for its groundbreaking practical effects — particularly the grotesquely realistic transformations — and for how its plot deftly tackles paranoia and isolation. Kurt Russell leads as R.J. MacReady, the helicopter pilot determined to survive the claustrophobic alien encounter. From the mystery of what The Thing really looks like , to the bleak and ambiguous ending, this formative '80s sci-fi horror will continue to subvert the expectations of viewers lucky enough to have never seen it.

2 Opera (1987)

Release Date: 1987-12-19 | Director: Dario Argento

Cast: Cristina Marsillach, Urbano Barberini, Daria Nicolodi, Ian Charleson

Opera is about a young understudy who gets to play Lady Macbeth in an operatic rendition of the Shakespearean tragedy. However, the understudy gets targeted by an obsessive and violent stalker inside the historic opera house where the play is being staged. Combining body horror, voyeurism, and arthouse cinema, the understudy becomes the literal captive audience of the stalker, who forces her to witness his vile crimes. Filmed on location at Italy's Teatro Regio di Parma, Opera is a celebration of stylized violence and suspense and an underappreciated cornerstone of '80s horror and Italian giallo slasher cinema.

1 The Shining (1980)

The shining.

Set in the isolated Overlook Hotel in the mountains of Colorado, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining follows the new caretaker Jack Torrance, who moves his wife and child into the resort before it becomes snowbound. As The Shining unravels the hotel's dark history, supernatural forces come into play, and Jack becomes increasingly erratic and abusive towards his family. Featuring gripping cinematography and starring Jack Nicholson in one of the best performances of his movie career, The Shining is largely regarded as one of the greatest horror movies of all time. Despite what Stephen King thinks of The Shining , it remains one of the best adaptations of the horror novelist's books.