It’s hard to believe it, but movie fans have enjoyed having the daylights scared out of them for more than a century. The genre has evolved as has filmmaking technology. Still, some films stand out from each decade. Let’s take a look at the best.
Choosing Horror Movies From Each Decade
It was no easy feat to come up with one truly definitive film for each decade. The list below is sure to be controversial. Should the top movie be the most popular, most groundbreaking, most award-winning, or the best representation of horror film culture at that time? Each of these things had an influence, some more than others at times. As a result, the choices here are undeniably subjective.
Which Movies Should You Add to Your Watchlist?
There are plenty of great movies here that are worth checking out, and not just our top picks for each decade. Don’t hesitate to reach out to other horror fans for some film recommendations you may not have seen. If you’d like to have a romantic movie date night, check out the Hily app for mature women and others. You can add plenty of preferences to find a genre fan just like you.
1920s
The 1920s began the cinematic experience becoming commonplace for the average person. Moving pictures had no voices or sounds on their own and were often accompanied by bands playing music to set the mood. It wasn’t until 1927 that the first talking film came out, which means that many of this decade’s movies were silent.
Nosferatu, Eine Symphonie des Grauens
A symphony of horror, nosferatu isn’t the very first horror film to have been created, however, this silent German film is probably one of the first to become iconic and memorable. This film was almost completely lost due to the producers of the film not getting the proper rights to the novel, “Dracula” which this film was based upon. The Stoker estate, who owned the rights to the novel at the time, ordered for every copy of the movie to be destroyed. Luckily though, some copies had already been sent to different countries including the US where it sat in the vault for 7 years before this silent film was released in cinemas in 1929, allowing people to see this film based on the novel Dracula
1930s
The 1930s was more than just the great depression, it was also an era of cinematic innovation that allowed many films to be made. The movies became an inexpensive activity that many could afford which allowed the film industry to boom when everything else was crashing down.
King Kong
King Kong is the story of a giant ape who wreaks havoc upon a city after being captured from his jungle home and taken away. King Kong is still commonly referenced in Television and Films today as it was a revolutionary film when it was made that introduced a variety of cinematic effects that had not been used before the creation of this film. In fact, it took decades for people to even come close to imitating some of these effects. King Kong was not the first monster movie, but it did set the standard for the industry.
1940s
The Uninvited
Ghost stories have existed for years to come, but it wasn’t until The Uninvited that there was a set industry standard for this genre of horror. Before the uninvited ghosts in films were displayed as actors wearing white sheets, or being painted a ghostly white color to give the appearance of a ghost or ghoul. However, in this film, the ghosts were portrayed as being ‘real’ by displaying feelings of uneasiness and moments that created paranoia which heightened the sense of fear for the audience. Although this film is incredibly tame by today’s standards it still set the benchmark for many of the industry standards of today.
1950s
The 1950s was considered to be one of the most influential decades when it came to horror films. Almost every single show or movie that references the 1950s often showcases and references a horror film or parody of a horror film. The 1950s was when we were first introduced to The Twilight Zone, which is still considered to be one of the best horror series to ever be released.
Godzilla
Quite possibly the most famous Kaiju to ever come out of Japan, Godzilla was created from the inspiration that came from the atomic bombs that descended upon Nagasaki, and Hiroshima, as well as the Lucky Dragon 5 incident. This film’s inspiration and the horror of the giant monster that came from it still serve as a metaphor for the horrors that come from the aftermath of nuclear weapons.
1960s
The 1950s may have been considered to be one of the most influential decades when it came to horror, but it was the 1960s that really started to perfect many of the standards used in horror to this day.
The Haunting
This film took many of the attributes of “The Uninvited” and polished it in a way that placed a standard upon psychological horror. This film features a female main protagonist, who struggles with her own emotional and psychological fragility. This film uses mere suggestion to suggest paranormal phenomena which lures the audience into the world of the film and allows them to feel the very same emotions that the actors on screen feel.
1970’s
The Exorcist
Even by today’s standards this film still manages to shock and terrify viewers who take a look at it today. The disturbing imagery created with the help of the director makes even the most experienced horror fanatic unwilling to watch this film more than once. The mental strife, the terror that the actor’s experience, all of it feels much too real for the average audience. Although even those who experienced the film have trouble watching it multiple times there is still an air of excitement that keeps drawing them in for repeat viewings.
1980s
1980s horror films were all about a weird combination of gore and sexualization. Take hot actors, put them in a vulnerable situation, and then do horrible things to them. That may sound formulaic, and it often was. But, with good writing, direction, and acting that formula good be used to create something special. Nightmare on Elm Street is a perfect example of this.
Nightmare on Elm Street
Directed by Wes Craven, this film starred Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger, a demented child killer who had been burned to death by vigilantes. He returned to get his revenge by infiltrating the dreams of his murderer’s children in order to kill them. The only way to survive Freddy Krueger was to stay awake. Notably, this was Johnny Depp’s first appearance on the big screen. Although, he is slashed to death early on. Nancy emerges as the leader of the group of friends who must stay awake and try to defeat Krueger while he slaughters them one by one.
This film spawned many sequels and has had a lasting impact on pop culture. Freddy Krueger remains one of the most iconic film characters of all time.
1990s
The 1990s were a bit of a renaissance for the horror genre. It was a decade of diversity as exemplified in films like The People Under The Stairs, Vampire in Brooklyn, and Candyman. The 90s was also the era of prestigious horror movies. A-List actors like Robert Deniro and Jodie Foster starred in critically acclaimed horror films – Cape Fear and Silence of The Lambs.
While there was still plenty of gore to be seen, there was a deeper focus on clever writing and good acting. Ensemble casts were made of proven actors who were able to do amazing things with well-written scripts. See Scream, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and I Know What You Did Last Summer for just a few examples of this.
That said, if one horror film truly represents the 1990s, it would be The Ring (Ringu). The film didn’t have highly paid writers or famous actors. Despite this, the movie had a rippling impact that continues to shape horror filmmaking today.
The Ring
This film was based on the Novel written by Koji Suzuki and was based on another ghostly story from Japan. In the 14th Century, there was a servant girl named Okiku who lived in the Himeji Castle. After rejecting the romantic advances of her master, he took one of the gold plates that she was assigned to protect. Hid it away, and accused her of stealing it. As punishment, he hung her right above a well, where he constantly dunked her into the water before cutting her loose and allowing her to drown. After this, her spirit would crawl out of the well, head into the castle, and go to count the plates. When she found the 10th missing she would let out a blood-curdling shriek and this would continue each night driving her master mad. Some versions of the stories add details about a monk coming in and shouting 10 just before she started screaming. Others would talk about how those who heard her scream would die within a week of hearing her. The original tale is almost 300 years old and has managed to make one of the most chilling films of the last century.
2000s
The horror movie genre was chaotic in the early 2000s, to say the least. Thanks to the successes of horror movie franchises in the late 90s, studios were willing to invest in horror films. That meant better effects, better scenery, better stars, and the occasional stunt casting. This was also a time when filmmakers were going deeper and darker than ever. That’s why The Hills Have Eyes is the most memorable horror flick of the 2000s.
The Hills Have Eyes
In this Wes Craven film, Bob and Ethel are traveling with their family across the desert. They foolishly take the advice of a gas station clerk to take a shorter route through the hills. While they’re enroute, they hit a spike strip which causes an accident. Two of the men go off in separate directions to find help. The others stay put. None of them are aware that they’ve crashed in the vicinity of a nuclear testing site that is now home to cannibalistic mutants.
2010s
It’s difficult to pin down the horror film genre of the 2010s. It was truly all over the place in the most beautiful way. Films produced in this decade included folk horror, monster movies, demonic possession, futuristic horror, psychological thrillers, and more. Several women directors broke barriers too! Films like Get Out and Us provided clear proof that black creators and black-centered storylines could draw crowds at the box office.
Get Out
Get Out is the film that launched the directorial career of Jordan Peele. It’s the tale of a young African American photographer who travels upstate to meet his white girlfriend’s parent When he arrives, he has a series of disturbing experiences that he tries to ignore at first. Eventually, he uncovers her parents’ sinister intentions as part of a cult that uses black people to achieve immortality. This is a smart, psychological thriller with lots of deep subtext.
2020s
How do you rate the best horror movies of a decade that is still in progress? So far things are hopeful. Filmmakers are providing audiences with exquisite films that push boundaries and explore multiple sub-genres at once. So, what’s the best film so far? It would have to be a movie that provides a dark reflection of something we all experienced.
Host
How do you make a film under covid restrictions? Filmmakers had to figure that out in creative ways. Host is a perfect example of necessity and brilliance combining to create something truly special. That’s why, this film about a seance that takes place entirely over computer screens is the best representation of the decade – so far.