The 50 Best Horror Films of All Time, According to Critics

Here's a ranking of the greatest horror films ever made, based on Metacritic scores.

Have you found yourself watching more scary movies than ever lately? You're not alone. Our fraught times have made many of us gravitate toward the most frightening films imaginable. But with so many great movies to choose from, where do you start? To make things a little less daunting, here's a list of the best horror movies of all time, according to critics.

This ranking is based on scores from review aggregator site Metacritic. To make sure this list focuses on the spookiest and most spine-tingling entries in the genre, we only included movies that can be firmly categorized as "horror." Some are funny, some are gory, some are decades-old classics, and some are new additions to the canon—but all of them are bound to get under your skin. And for more recommendations, these are The 18 Best Horror Movies on Netflix Right Now.

50
The Blair Witch Project (1999)

the blair witch project
Lionsgate

Metascore: 81

And to see how the critics felt about other '90s movies, check out Ranking Every '90s Teen Movie, From Worst Reviewed to Best.

49
The Exorcist (1973)

the exorcist
Warner Bros.

Metascore: 81

48
The Wailing (2016)

still from the wailing
Well Go USA

Metascore: 81

And for more movies the critics loved, These Are the Top-Rated Movies on Rotten Tomatoes.

47
Us (2019)

still from us
Universal Pictures

Metascore: 81

46
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

a girl walks home alone at night
Vice Films

Metascore: 81

And for more of the all-time greatest films, discover The Best Movie That Came Out the Year You Graduated, According to Critics.

45
In Fabric (2019)

still from in fabric
A24

Metascore: 81

44
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

little shop of horrors
Warner Bros.

Metascore: 81

43
Revenge (2018)

still from revenge
Neon

Metascore: 81

And to see how more thrillers stack up against each other, check out Ranking Every Alfred Hitchcock Movie, From Worst Reviewed to Best.

42
Raw (2017)

still from raw
Focus Features

Metascore: 81

41
Wait Until Dark (1967)

still from wait until dark
Warner Bros.

Metascore: 81

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40
Mandy (2018)

still from mandy
RLJE Entertainment

Metascore: 81

39
The Love Witch (2016)

the love witch
Oscilloscope Laboratories

Metascore: 82

38
Let the Right One In (2008)

let the right one in
Sandrew Metronome

Metascore: 82

37
Black Sabbath (1964)

still from black sabbath
MGM

Metascore: 82

36
A Quiet Place (2018)

a quiet place
Paramount Pictures

Metascore: 82

35
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street
Paramount Pictures

Metascore: 83

34
It Follows (2015)

still from it follows
Radius-TWC

Metascore: 83

33
Taxidermia (2009)

still from taxidermia
Here TV

Metascore: 83

32
Drag Me to Hell (2009)

drag me to hell
Universal Pictures

Metascore: 83

31
The Lighthouse (2019)

still from the lighthouse
A24

Metascore: 83

30
The Witch (2016)

still from the witch
A24

Metascore: 83

29
Dracula: Pages From a Virgin's Diary (2003)

dracula pages from a virgin's diary
CBC

Metascore: 84

28
Under the Shadow (2016)

still from under the shadow
XYZ Films

Metascore: 84

27
Carrie (1976)

still from carrie
MGM

Metascore: 85

26
The Host (2007)

still from the host
Magnolia

Metascore: 85

25
Get Out (2017)

still from get out
Universal Pictures

Metascore: 85

24
One Cut of the Dead (2019)

one cut of the dead
Shinichiro Ueda

Metascore: 86

23
The Babadook (2014)

the babadook
Entertainment One

Metascore: 86

22
The Wolf House (2020)

still from the wolf house
Anto

Metascore: 86

21
The Wicker Man (1974)

the wicker man
Lionsgate

Metascore: 87

20
Hereditary (2018)

still from hereditary
A24

Metascore: 87

19
Jaws (1975)

still from jaws
Universal Pictures

Metascore: 87

18
Eraserhead (1978)

still from eraserhead
Criterion Collection

Metascore: 87

17
Halloween (1978)

still from halloween
Compass International Pictures / Aquarius Releasing

Metascore: 87

16
The Invisible Man (1933)

still from the invisible man
PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

Metascore: 87

15
The Innocents (1961)

still from the innocents
20th Century Fox

Metascore: 88

14
Night of the Living Dead (1968)

night of the living dead
Criterion Collection

Metascore: 89

13
Alien (1979)

still from alien
20th Century Fox

Metascore: 89

12
Deep Red (1976)

still from deep red
Blue Underground, Inc.

Metascore: 89

11
Eyes Without a Face (1960)

eyes without a face
AF Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

Metascore: 90

10
King Kong (1933)

still from king kong
Warner Bros.

Metascore: 90

9
The Birds (1963)

still from the birds
Universal Pictures

Metascore: 90

8
Repulsion (1965)

still from repulsion
Columbia Pictures

Metascore: 91

7
Frankenstein (1931)

still from frankenstein
Allstar Picture Library Ltd. / Alamy Stock Photo

Metascore: 91

6
Werckmeister Harmonies (2001)

Werckmeister Harmonies
Pierre Grise Distribution

Metascore: 92

5
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

invasion of the body snatchers
Paramount Pictures

Metascore: 92

4
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

the bride of frankenstein
United Archives GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo

Metascore: 95

3
Don't Look Now (1973)

still from don't look now
Paramount Pictures

Metascore: 96

2
Rosemary's Baby (1968)

rosemary's baby
Paramount Pictures

Metascore: 96

1
Psycho (1960)

still from psycho
Universal Pictures

Metascore: 97

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