10 Scariest Horror Movies, According To Reddit

The success of the so-called elevated horror movement pioneered by production studios like A24 has shown that even the most well-shot horror movies with the most fascinating concepts need to have a scare factor. While some people love jump scares and others want more atmosphere, one thing is for sure: a horror movie that isn’t terrifying is going to be a dull experience.

Thankfully, many filmmakers have figured out how to scare audiences whether their stories are slashers or supernatural. While people might disagree on the scariest movie ever, it’s safe to say that there are a few that have terrified a large number of people, whether they be controversial classics like The Exorcist or modern blockbusters like The Conjuring. Reddit users have shared their opinions about the scariest horror movies. Fans looking for the best scary movies will want to hear the films that freaked Redditors out the most, from classics that many fans of the genre love to some more recent flicks that sent a shiver down their spine.

Updated on July 26th, 2022 by Tanner Fox: “Scary” is subjective; what terrifies one moviegoer may utterly bore the next, and it’s tough to nail down what makes for a quality horror experience. That said, while there’s no real consensus, horror fans over on Reddit seem to have some pretty vocal opinions about what makes a horror movie successful.

While obvious inclusions like Hellraiser and The Shining crop up quite often, other, less-esteemed works seem to receive a surprising amount of support. From larger-than-life terrors to subtler indie hits, here are some of the scariest movies of all time.

01. The Exorcist (1973)

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The Exorcist is still a horrifying movie and even people who don’t like watching this genre know the famous scene when Regan’s head spins around. It says a lot that just picturing this scene can make a shiver run down someone’s spine.

Reddit user TheoLuminati wrote, “The Exorcist, 100%” and said it’s the “only movie that ever truly terrified me.” For several people, this is the holy grail of horror movies and nothing can compare.

02. The Thing (1982)

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While there have been some incredible and creative contemporary horror movies, for many people, the classics are still the best way to get scared.

One Redditor said that The Thing is the scariest movie that they’ve ever seen and “I still can’t watch it alone.” The creature in this ’80s horror movie is unnerving and the film’s storytelling is what sets it apart. Because the monster can change shape, it’s easy to imagine that anything could happen, which adds to the fear that viewers feel when watching this movie.

03. An American Werewolf In London (1981)

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Long before advancements in computer technology would revolutionize special effects, filmmakers had to rely on some pretty crafty methods to bring their deranged visions to life. Much like Carpenter’s The Thing, John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London is often considered to be a benchmark in practical effects, with a memorable werewolf transformation scene remaining a horror cinema staple more than four decades after the fact.

In a r/horror post, Reddit user u/revenantea asserts that “it’s been 41 years, and they’re still not a better werewolf transformation scene than in An American Werewolf in London.”

04. The Conjuring (2013)

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Some of the scariest horror movies feel like they could happen, and it’s unnerving knowing that Ed and Lorraine Warren did investigate paranormal activity. Reddit ususersnjoy says that the first movie in The Conjuring franchise is the most terrifying movie that they’ve seen because of “the soundtrack” and “the eerie vibe.”

It’s no wonder that audiences find these movies so scary as there are several entries in the franchise, including the spin-offs Annabelle and Annabelle: Creation.

05. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

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Texas Chainsaw Massacre holds up well and several horror movies fans consider it one of the most terrifying films that they’ve ever watched.

Reddit user days on train wrote, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre wins for me, can’t believe it was made so long ago and shows no gore.” The story has so many intense elements, from the creepy gas station that the friend group stops at, to the cannibals who are going after the main characters.

06. It Follows (2014)

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A quintessential example of the new wave of elevated horror films, 2014’s It Follows concerns a group of friends who must work together to thwart a paranormal, shapeshifting villain who relentlessly stalks a target, though the victim can pass the curse to another through sexual intercourse.

It Follows seems to be a sort of love-it-or-hate-it kind of film, and Reddit user u/tbsreject287—along with plenty of other Redditors—seems to love it. In their words, “it was pretty good! Chilling and the score plays into that a lot.” Another user agreed, commenting that it was “probably my favorite horror of the last decade or so.”

07. The Strangers (2008)

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One Redditor said that The Strangers is the movie that scared them the most, writing, “Home invasion is one of my biggest fears.”

Of all the horror movies in recent years, this one feels realistic and unnerving. It’s easy for fans to watch this story and have their minds wander and the next time they’re home by themselves, they might wonder if it could happen. The movie hooks viewers with the relationship between James and Kristen and then becomes everyone’s worst nightmare.

08. Annihilation (2018)

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For Reddit user Midgar918, the horror movie Annihilation is “a horror film done right. No jump scares from what I remember, just a great build of unsettling tension.”

It’s creepy watching the main character, Lena, spend time in “The Shimmer,” an area where animals and plants change because of aliens. The Redditor makes a good point that a movie doesn’t need jump scares or other tropes to seriously creep audiences out and make them want to turn the lights on.

09. Hellraiser (1987)

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Another classic horror movie remembered primarily for its grizzly practical effects, 1987’s Hellraiser represented the directorial debut of famed horror writer Clive Barker. The all-time great horror movie tells the tale of Frank Cotton, a man who, after questing to experience the ultimate in pleasure, becomes a thrall of the Cenobites, extradimensional creatures who find pleasure in extreme torture.

According to Reddit user u/mike5446g, “the Frank resurrection scene is one of the very best in all of horror.” User u/Citizen_Kong conquers, adding that “some of the practical effects are up there with The Thing.”

10. Halloween (1978)

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The Halloween franchise has many scary moments, and one Redditor counts Halloween among the scariest horror movies, writing, “it was about the atmosphere.”

It’s awful seeing Michael Myers kill his sibling and since the movie is filmed so audiences can always see where the killer is and how Annie is being stalked, it’s impossible not to feel freaked out. Halloween is one of the smartest movies in the genre.