There are dozens of sub-genres in horror entertainment, resulting in hundreds of films being considered classics. For slashers, films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Black Christmas are considered icons. In the psychological thriller sub-genre, popular movies such as The Silence of the Lambs are considered timeless classics.
That said, not all classic movies or sub-genres are enjoyed by horror fans, creating distinct fanbases for individual categories and films. However, there are a handful of classic horror movies that every viewer should watch at least once. It makes those movies icons of the expansive genre, such as Psycho and Jaws, which are major influences on horror as well as cinema as a whole.
6
Psycho Is the Defining Psychological Thriller
In Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece Psycho, the narrative begins with Marion Crane stealing money from her employer and heading to her boyfriend’s home, stopping at the remote Bates Motel. However, after a strange night with Norman Bates, Marion is murdered in her shower by a mysterious person who looks like an old woman. As investigators track down Marion, they become suspicious of Norman Bates and his unusual behavior.
Despite the initial controversy of Psycho, the film has become an icon for psychological thriller movies, with scenes like the shower murder cited as one of the most horrifying and notable moments in the genre. Actors Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, and Janet Leigh have been praised for decades for their performances in the groundbreaking horror. Psycho isn’t just recognized for setting the standards for horror movies, but also for changing Hollywood forever with its unique storytelling. Though Hitchcock’s most influential film is now regarded as the dominating psychological thriller, it has also been cited as a major inspiration for modern-day slashers.
5
Slasher Movies are Always Compared to Scream
When it comes to slashers, Scream is a horror film every movie buff should watch. In this narrative, a masked killer known as Ghostface kills two high school students, leading to widespread panic, especially for Sydney Prescott, whose mother was murdered the year before. It quickly becomes obvious that the killer has his sights on making Sydney his next victim. Scream has developed into one of the most memorable horror franchises of the modern era, revived with a series of reboot movies featuring legacy and next-generation characters. However, the original is one of Wes Craven’s most influential films, setting the standards for slashers and meta-horror.
Though films like Halloween and Friday the 13th are also icons that have set the standards for every slasher film, Scream had a unique self-awareness quality that revolutionized the horror sub-genre. The film includes all the tropes common in the genre, but also subverts them by having the characters highly aware of horror movies. When the killers embraced films as inspiration for their deeds, Scream was making pointed commentary about slashers while highlighting how they influence their audience.
4
Alien is the Best Sci-fi Horror
There are various genres covered in this film, including creature features and cosmic horror, but every sci-fi movie fan should watch Alien at least once. In this narrative set in a futuristic world, a crew is awakened from their cryo-sleep when they make contact with an alien spaceship. When they encounter a dangerous being that emerges from an egg, it becomes a desperate and bloody fight for survival.
Though not every movie in the Alien franchise is worthy of praise, this groundbreaking Ridley Scott sci-fi horror has had a major influence on how viewers consider extraterrestrial horror. Alien was a more realistic examination of the dark and unknown quality of cosmic journeys. It is one of the best horror movies of all time, known for testing the boundaries of sci-fi and its fresh creature design. Alien was shockingly gory and horrifying, capitalizing on the fright of the predatory life form and the gruesome death scenes. However, the horror film also has expert storytelling, offering an intense slow burn that makes the situation all the more terrifying.
3
The Exorcist Set the Standards for Paranormal Horror
The Exorcist was such a controversial horror movie that it was banned in several areas, particularly due to the depiction of a possessed child. In this narrative, a successful actress seeks medical help for her daughter’s strange behavior. However, when it becomes clear the girl’s issues are not medical but paranormal, she seeks the help of an exorcist to fight against the demon possessing her child.
52 years later, The Exorcist is still regarded as the scariest supernatural horror movie ever made. The slow transformation of the possessed child, Regan, including a scarred face and discolored eyes, are the most terrifying visuals in a domestic possession narrative. The Exorcist even made Oscar history as being the first horror movie to be nominated for Best Picture, which emphasized the cultural impact it made. Groups still push back on the influence of the film, defining it as one of the most unsettling horrors ever released. Despite this controversy, however, it’s an undeniably captivating demonic possession movie that defines the dread and unease of paranormal influences on innocent people.
2
Modern Zombies Exist Because of Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is not just one of the highest-rated zombie movies ever, but the most influential of the entire genre. In this film, originally black-and-white, the dead crawl out of their graves to attack unsuspecting locals. A group of strangers finds shelter in a farmhouse, surrounded by the undead. As the situation becomes more dire, the survivors turn on each other, desperate to get out alive.
Not only did George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead define this category of horror, but its sequel upended the zombie genre by completely subverting viewer expectations. The original changed the way audiences watched zombie narratives, defining the creatures as flesh-eating undead villains. Night of the Living Dead holds an unusual record of being the film featured the most in other movies, which subtly highlights its influence on cinema. Though the zombie genre is now recognized for hits like Shaun of the Dead and The Walking Dead, George Romero’s classic flick set the standards. It’s also no small thing that this 57-year-old film is a trademark of making zombie horror impactful social commentary.
1
Jaws is the Pinnacle of Realistic Creature Features
Jaws is a ’70s horror movie masterpiece that kickstarted a major trend of sharks as iconic villains in horror. The movie begins with a young woman going for a late-night swim and being attacked by an unseen being in the ocean. From there, the plot follows Chief Martin Brody, who fights to get the beaches of Amity Island shut down until they can handle the man-eating shark wreaking havoc.
This Steven Spielberg creature feature was the first major motion picture to be filmed out in the open ocean, creating a realistic atmosphere and sense of dread. It’s also cited as defining summer blockbusters, creating a marketing model that proved to be exceptionally profitable. The use of animatronics and special effects in Jaws has had an astonishing influence on how suspense works in monster movies. Monsters and supernatural beings are a prominent category in the sub-genre, but the realistic aspect of real-world predators being the antagonist in Jaws made realistic creature features a popular trend in horror entertainment.
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