Top 30 Fun Horror Films In No Order
by nfritz97 | created - 21 Aug 2013 | updated - 21 Aug 2013 | PublicThis is my personal opinion, if you don't like it or think I missed a good one let me know in the comments. These will not be all mainstream (Halloween, Friday the 13th etc). This list is based off entertainment, gore, loveable characters, and fun!
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1. From Beyond (1986)
R | 85 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
A group of scientists have developed the Resonator, a machine which allows whoever is within range to see beyond normal perceptible reality. But when the experiment succeeds, they are immediately attacked by terrible life forms.
Director: Stuart Gordon | Stars: Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Ted Sorel, Ken Foree
Votes: 30,746 | Gross: $1.26M
A masterpiece, lots of fun and gore and creatures, great story and great acting, sometimes funny and sometimes very scary! Probably one of my favorite horror movies of all time!!
2. Re-Animator (1985)
Unrated | 84 min | Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
After an odd new medical student arrives on campus, a dedicated local and his girlfriend become involved in bizarre experiments centering around the re-animation of dead tissue.
Director: Stuart Gordon | Stars: Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott, Barbara Crampton, David Gale
Votes: 71,498 | Gross: $2.02M
Awesome gore and lots of fun!! lots of humor!! From the same director of From beyond, with several of the same cast members and a sci-fi/horror genre!
3. The Video Dead (1987 Video)
R | 90 min | Horror
A family takes delivery of a new television set, unaware that it is the gateway by which killer zombies enter the world.
Director: Robert Scott | Stars: Michael St. Michaels, Thaddeus Golas, Douglass Bell, Al Millan
Votes: 4,732
Good cheesy fun, awesome looking zombies and some cool gore effects, very low budget, its not for everyone, if you like 80's you;ll love this!!
4. Video Violence (1987 Video)
Unrated | 90 min | Horror
A husband and wife open a video store in a new town, and come to find out that the locals only rent horror films and the "occasional triple X'er", and make their own snuff videos.
Director: Gary P. Cohen | Stars: Gary Schwartz, Chick Kaplan, Robin Leeds, Paige Price
Votes: 1,004
Very cheesy 80's low budget horror film, one of my favorites, very gory and funny!!!
5. Demons (1985)
Not Rated | 88 min | Horror
A group of random people are invited to a screening of a mysterious movie, only to find themselves trapped in the theater with ravenous demons.
Director: Lamberto Bava | Stars: Urbano Barberini, Natasha Hovey, Karl Zinny, Fiore Argento
Votes: 26,562
One of my favorites of all time, awesome story, great music and very great gore effects, this little 80's treasure is underrated and lots of fun!
6. Phantasm (1979)
R | 89 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
A teenage boy and his friends face off against a mysterious grave robber, known only as the Tall Man, who employs a lethal arsenal of unearthly weapons.
Director: Don Coscarelli | Stars: A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Reggie Bannister, Kathy Lester
Votes: 41,270 | Gross: $11.99M
This is such a classic and has such an awesome atmosphere to it, everyone needs to see this if they haven't yet! Probably my favorite Franchise ever.
7. The Shining (1980)
R | 146 min | Drama, Horror
A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.
Director: Stanley Kubrick | Stars: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers
Votes: 1,106,511 | Gross: $44.02M
Very cool and creepy story with a different feel, its a classic, must watch!
8. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
R | 91 min | Horror
Teenager Nancy Thompson must uncover the dark truth concealed by her parents after she and her friends become targets of the spirit of a serial killer with a bladed glove in their dreams, in which if they die, it kills them in real life.
Director: Wes Craven | Stars: Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp, Robert Englund, John Saxon
Votes: 262,456 | Gross: $25.50M
This is very mainstream but then again its so great, it has some good gore and effects in it and freddy is truly the creepiest in this film.
9. The Toxic Avenger (1984)
R | 82 min | Action, Comedy, Horror
Tromaville has a monstrous new hero. The Toxic Avenger is born when meek mop boy Melvin falls into a vat of toxic waste. Now evildoers will have a lot to lose.
Directors: Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman | Stars: Andree Maranda, Mitch Cohen, Jennifer Babtist, Cindy Manion
Votes: 32,144
I love this movie so much, its very cheesy and awesome, lots of gore and fun characters, a must see and the same for the sequels!!!!
10. The Burning (1981)
R | 91 min | Horror
A former summer camp caretaker, horribly burned from a prank gone wrong, lurks around an upstate New York summer camp bent on killing the teenagers responsible for his disfigurement.
Director: Tony Maylam | Stars: Brian Matthews, Leah Ayres, Brian Backer, Larry Joshua
Votes: 22,276
This in my opinion is the best slasher film ever made and in second would be the original Nightmare on Elm Street if you consider that a slasher, its effects are great and lots of gore and loveable characters, this overall is one of the best horror films of all time!
11. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
R | 90 min | Horror, Thriller
On the way to California, a family has the misfortune to have their car break down in an area closed to the public, and inhabited by violent savages ready to attack.
Director: Wes Craven | Stars: Susan Lanier, Robert Houston, John Steadman, Janus Blythe
Votes: 39,226 | Gross: $25.00M
This one is kind of mainstream, but its slowly being forgotten, its very fun to watch, very creepy and awesome characters!!
12. The Hills Have Eyes Part II (1984)
R | 86 min | Horror, Thriller
A group of bikers, heading to a race, become stranded in the desert and find themselves fighting off a family of inbred cannibals who live off the land.
Director: Wes Craven | Stars: Robert Houston, David Nichols, Virginia Vincent, James Whitworth
Votes: 7,373
This is a hated on film and barely known at all!! I personally think this is equal to the first film, its pretty much a 80's slasher. I really enjoyed it, its lots of fun and entertaining, a must see!! Both of these films were created by wes craven who also created a nightmare on elm street.
13. Intruder (1989)
R | 83 min | Horror, Thriller
The overnight stock crew of a local supermarket find themselves being stalked and slashed by a mysterious maniac.
Director: Scott Spiegel | Stars: Liz Kern, Renée Estevez, Dan Hicks, David Byrnes
Votes: 11,150
Equal to The Burning in my opinion, very gory and awesome effects, cool atmosphere and directed very well, a must see!! Not to well known either!
14. Darkness (1993 Video)
Unrated | 90 min | Horror
A small community is besieged by vampires. After he watches friends ravaged in a convenience store, a lone avenger goes off to do battle with the undead, armed with shotgun, chainsaw, and ... See full summary »
Director: Leif Jonker | Stars: Gary Miller, Michael Gisick, Randall Aviks, Cena Donham
Votes: 570
Not known pretty much at all, probably the best vampire film ever, extreme gore and very low budget!! must see!
15. The Evil Dead (1981)
NC-17 | 85 min | Horror
Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.
Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker
Votes: 232,378 | Gross: $2.40M
Very mainstream but so awesome!! awesome cheesy gore effects and a creepy atmosphere.
16. The Thing (1982)
R | 109 min | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.
Director: John Carpenter | Stars: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Votes: 466,542 | Gross: $13.78M
Awesome effects and gore, great story and characters, loaded with monsters and creatures, a must see!! directed by John Carpenter who made the original halloween
17. Deadly Blessing (1981)
R | 100 min | Horror, Thriller
After her husband dies under mysterious circumstances, a widow becomes increasingly paranoid of the neighboring religious community that may have diabolical plans for her.
Director: Wes Craven | Stars: Maren Jensen, Sharon Stone, Susan Buckner, Jeff East
Votes: 6,983 | Gross: $8.28M
Another Wes craven film, very creepy and has lots of twist, extremely entertaining, not well known check it out!
18. The Grim Reaper (1980)
R | 92 min | Horror
A group of friends and a hitchhiker become stranded on a tourist island where they are stalked by a disfigured cannibalistic killer who is prowling the island after killing its residents.
Director: Joe D'Amato | Stars: Tisa Farrow, Saverio Vallone, Serena Grandi, Margaret Mazzantini
Votes: 6,968
In my opinion one of the creepiest movies ive seen, its what I call a slasher/cannibal movie. Extreme gore and good story!
19. Street Trash (1987)
Unrated | 91 min | Comedy, Horror
A liquor store owner sells alcoholic beverages to homeless people, unaware of what the bottles actually contain: toxic brew.
Director: J. Michael Muro | Stars: Mike Lackey, Bill Chepil, Vic Noto, Mark Sferrazza
Votes: 11,441
Probably overall one of my top films, extreme gore and melting scenes, its not serious at all, very funny and loveable characters, I recommend this film to anyone looking for a good laugh and to see some cool gore and melting scenes!
20. Phantasm II (1988)
R | 97 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror
Mike, now released from a psychiatric hospital, meets with Reggie, and discover his dreams (the events of the original film) are real, and they both journey to find and stop the evil Tall Man from his grim work.
Director: Don Coscarelli | Stars: James Le Gros, Reggie Bannister, Angus Scrimm, Paula Irvine
Votes: 16,754 | Gross: $7.28M
Amazing movie, some awesome effects and great sequel to the original classic. a must see if you've seen the first!!
21. Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994)
R | 91 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror
Mike and Reggie continue to hunt the mysterious Tall Man, discovering along the way that the invasion has already begun.
Director: Don Coscarelli | Stars: Reggie Bannister, A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Gloria Lynne Henry
Votes: 10,620
Another amazing movie, great gore and fun and another great add on to the franchise, this is probably the most entertaining and fast paced of them all, check it out!!!
22. Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998)
R | 90 min | Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Mike travels through time and dimensions to find the Tall Man's origins.
Director: Don Coscarelli | Stars: A. Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister, Bill Thornbury, Heidi Marnhout
Votes: 8,427
The final film was honestly extremely cool!! this will only be appreciated by hardcore fans or if you've seen the first 3, it has a lot of history and backstory behind the whole franchise, a masterpiece, check it out after viewing the first 3!
23. Suspiria (1977)
R | 92 min | Horror
An American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy comes to realize that the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of grisly murders.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé
Votes: 105,407
Very creepy and serious, great gore and suspense, a must see to original and true horror fans!!!
24. Motel Hell (1980)
R | 101 min | Comedy, Horror, Thriller
A seemingly friendly farmer and his sister kidnap unsuspecting travelers and bury them alive, using them to create the "special meat" they are famous for.
Director: Kevin Connor | Stars: Rory Calhoun, Paul Linke, Nancy Parsons, Nina Axelrod
Votes: 13,609 | Gross: $6.34M
Very fun and forgotten film!! Its characters are so loveable and the movie is very entertaining!
25. Hatchet (2006)
R | 93 min | Comedy, Horror, Thriller
When a group of tourists in a New Orleans haunted swamp tour find themselves stranded in the wilderness, their evening of fun and spooks turns into a horrific nightmare.
Director: Adam Green | Stars: Kane Hodder, Joel David Moore, Deon Richmond, Amara Zaragoza
Votes: 33,544 | Gross: $0.16M
The Best recent horror film in my opinion, extreme gore and a awesome deformed killer!! check out the sequels if you like this, they're not great but they're not terrible!
26. Bad Taste (1987)
Not Rated | 91 min | Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
The population of a small town disappears and is replaced by aliens that chase human flesh for their intergalactic fast-food chain.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Terry Potter, Pete O'Herne, Craig Smith, Mike Minett
Votes: 49,125
Tons of gore and laughs!! a favorite of mine!! A must see!! very cheesy and loveable characters!
27. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
R | 87 min | Horror
A teenage boy is haunted in his dreams by deceased child murderer Freddy Krueger, who is out to possess him in order to continue his reign of terror in the real world.
Director: Jack Sholder | Stars: Robert Englund, Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Robert Rusler
Votes: 77,409 | Gross: $30.00M
Out of the whole franchise everyone hates this one the most, personally this and the first are equal and also the best out of them all, lots of cool effects and some good laughs!! a must see!
28. Near Dark (1987)
R | 94 min | Horror
A small-town farmer's son reluctantly joins a traveling group of vampires after he is bitten by a beautiful drifter.
Director: Kathryn Bigelow | Stars: Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton
Votes: 44,731 | Gross: $3.37M
A very unforgotten film, its loaded with loveable characters awesome effects and tons of action, its a 80's vampire classic, check it out!!
29. Braindead (1992)
R | 104 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
A young man's mother is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She gets sick and dies, at which time she comes back to life, killing and eating dogs, nurses, friends, and neighbors.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Timothy Balme, Diana Peñalver, Elizabeth Moody, Ian Watkin
Votes: 103,288 | Gross: $0.24M
Same director as king kong, lord of the rings and bad taste. This is the goriest film ever made, but its also very funny and entertaining, loveable characters and a must see
30. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Unrated | 127 min | Horror, Thriller
During an escalating zombie epidemic, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter and his TV executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.
Director: George A. Romero | Stars: David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, Gaylen Ross
Votes: 128,573 | Gross: $5.10M
Very mainstream but a classic, tons of awesome effects and loveable characters, awesome story and lots of un, check it out!!
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