20 Best Horror Movie Recommendations of All Time

"The Nun II" picks up the narrative from its 2018 predecessor, "The Nun," and marks the ninth installment in the Conjuring Universe series. Featuring the talents of Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, and Bonnie Aarons, the film continues to showcase the same cast.

Four years have passed since Sister Irene, portrayed by Taissa Farmiga, banished Valak from the St. Cartha convent in rural Romania. She now serves dutifully as a nun in an Italian Catholic church, where she meets Debra (Storm Reid), a sister known for her straightforward and often blunt manner.

Just as Sister Irene starts to settle into her new, tranquil life, she receives disturbing news. A series of mysterious deaths involving nuns and priests in a French church has come to light. The Vatican, suspecting Valak's sinister influence, enlists Sister Irene to dig deeper into this alarming matter.

Traumatized by her previous encounter with Valak, Sister Irene is initially reluctant to take on the investigation. Yet, with no other option, she sets out for France. Sister Debra secretly joins Irene because she is determined to assist in confronting Valak. Together, will they have the strength to overcome this formidable evil spirit?

Mia (Sophie Wilde), is often engulfed in sadness as she reminisces about her mother, who tragically passed away from an overdose. To escape her grief, Mia often spends time with her best friend, Jade (Alexandra Jansen).

One evening, Mia, Jade, and Jade's brother Riley (Joe Bird) come to a party hosted by a mutual friend. This party is unlike any typical party with music; instead, it centers around a terrifying activity that 'invites' spirits to communicate through an ancient hand-shaped relic. The rule is simple: one just needs to hold the relic, and a spirit will manifest before them.

This eerie game becomes increasingly compelling, and during one session, Mia, through Riley's participation, is able to communicate with what she believes to be her mother's spirit. However, Mia's eagerness to maintain this connection leads her to break the crucial rules, resulting in the spirit, which is not her mother, escaping and possessing Riley.

Realizing her grave error, Mia scrambles to rectify the situation. But the formidable power of the spirit makes her attempts exceedingly difficult. This ordeal strains her relationships with Jade and her father. As Mia grapples with the consequences of her actions and strives to take responsibility, she faces the ultimate sacrifice: her own life.

In 2020, Parker Finn created a short film titled "Laura Hasn't Slept," which received a positive response. Building upon this success, Finn expanded the story into a full-length feature, "Smile," incorporating numerous new scenes derived from the original short film. The narrative centers around Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), a therapist working in a psychiatric ward.

Dr. Rose encounters a patient exhibiting bizarre behavior, who ultimately takes his own life. Before his death, the patient reveals that he had seen someone commit suicide while displaying a disturbing grin; an image that haunted him incessantly.

Initially bewildered, Rose's confusion only grows when she meets another patient presenting with a similar experience. This time, the patient ominously warns Rose that she, too, is marked for death. Convinced of the looming danger, Rose seeks the help of her ex-boyfriend, a detective named Joel (Kyle Gallner), to dig into the mystery of these suicides.

Their investigation reveals that the suicides are linked by a sinister curse. Now entangled in this dark web, Rose and Joel scramble to unravel the curse's origins and thwart the malevolent plans of the demonic entity terrorizing Rose. Can they succeed in their desperate quest?

Director Ari Aster and production house A24 once again make a mark in the entertainment world with one of the most unforgettable horror films of the 21st century, "The Hereditary." This chilling story draws inspiration from a short film titled "The Strange Thing About the Johnsons," released in 2011.

The film tells the story of a seemingly tranquil family plunged into turmoil following a tragic incident. The youngest child, Charlie (Milly Shapiro), is accidentally decapitated by her brother, Peter (Alex Wolff). Their mother, Annie (Toni Collette), struggles with overwhelming grief and resentment towards Peter. Meanwhile, their father, Steve (Gabriel Byrne), finds himself powerless to mend the fractured family.

Amidst her sorrow, Annie meets a woman named Joan (Ann Dowd), who introduces her to a method of communicating with the deceased. Driven by her intense longing for Charlie, Annie recklessly performs a ritual with catastrophic results. Soon, malevolent forces begin to assail her family, leading to a series of tragic deaths. The mystery deepens as the family confronts these terrifying supernatural events.

In 1971, the Perron family, comprising Roger (Ron Livingston) and Carolyn (Lili Taylor), along with their five daughters Andrea (Shanley Caswell), Nancy (Hayley McFarland), Christine (Joey King), Cindy (Mackenzie Foy), and April (Kyla Deaver), move into a new home in Harrisville, Rhode Island.

Initially, the mansion appears warm and inviting. However, the very next morning, they encounter a series of terrifying events that deeply affect the entire family. Carolyn attends a presentation on supernatural entities led by the paranormal investigators, Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) to seeking answers and help.

Ed and Lorraine quickly make their way to the Perron's residence, only to discover that it is haunted by the spirit of Bathsheba (Joseph Bishara), a former landowner who was associated with the devil. The Warrens undertake a challenging mission to rid the family of this malevolent curse, a task that requires the involvement of various parties.

Margot, (Anya Taylor-Joy), works as a hired girlfriend. In this case, her client is Tyler (Nicholas Hoult). Together, they are set to attend a grand dinner at a resort owned by the renowned celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes).

From the moment the VVIP guests start assembling for the journey to the resort, Margot senses something odd. This feeling escalates after witnessing a sequence of peculiar rituals that mark the beginning of the dinner. Her suspicions are true when the guests become part of a 'purification' event. The rule is strict: no one is permitted to leave the resort until a surprise meal is served.

The atmosphere grows tense as the restaurant staff, displaying rude and threatening behavior, make the guests increasingly uneasy. Margot desperately looks for a way to escape the resort. In a dramatic turn of events, as Margot makes her getaway, all the guests, along with the staff, the resort, and even the chef himself, start to face dire consequences.

"The Menu" stands out as one of the most critically acclaimed horror films in recent cinema history. Under the direction of Mark Mylod, this gripping movie, with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes, features a stellar cast including Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Ralph Fiennes, Hong Chau, and Janet McTeer.

Insidious, a horror movie directed by James Wan, was created in just three weeks of intensive shooting and has since been recognized as one of Hollywood's scariest productions.

The story focuses on a family who recently moved into a new home. This family includes father Josh (Patrick Wilson), mother Renai (Rose Byrne), and their three children: Dalton (Ty Simpkins), Foster (Andrew Astor), and baby Cali (played by Brynn and Madison Bowie).

During playtime, Dalton has a frightening encounter with an evil entity on the roof of their house, leading to a fall down the stairs that results in a coma. The doctors are baffled by Dalton's condition because he appears physically healthy. Following Dalton's coma, the family starts experiencing disturbing events caused by unseen, scary entities.

In search of answers, they ask a psychic, Elise (Lin Shaye), who confronts the supernatural occurrences. Elise warns them of the extremely powerful evil force they are facing. Can they withstand the terror brought upon them by this evil-minded presence?

Stephen King's novel is brought to life once again, this time by director Andy Muschietti. In 2017, he transformed the story of The Losers Club from King's novel "It" into a remarkable film. This movie narrates the tale of a group of children confronting their worst nightmares.

The Losers Club is comprised of seven children. Instead of enjoying their summer vacation, Bill (Jaeden Lieberher), Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Beverly (Sophia Lillis), Richie (Finn Wolfhard), Stanley (Wyatt Oleff), Mike (Chosen Jacobs), and Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer) embark on a mission to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Bill's brother, Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott).

Their investigation leads them to a malevolent entity they identify as Pennywise. This evil demon, manifesting as a dancing clown, is responsible for the vanishing of numerous young children in the small town of Derry. Determined to put an end to this horrifying ordeal, Billy and his friends bravely face off against Pennywise.

"A Quiet Place," starring and directed by John Krasinski, has gathered numerous awards across various categories. Despite primarily utilizing American Sign Language (ASL) for communication, the movie delivers an intense and terrifying experience to its audience.

The plot unfolds amidst a catastrophic event sweeping the nation. When a comet crashes near the area where the Abbott family resides, their town is soon besieged by a savage monster that hunts humans at the slightest sound. This terrifying reality forces everyone, including the Abbotts, to live in complete silence.

The Abbott family, comprising father Lee (John Krasinski), mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt), their son Marcus (Noah Jupe), and their speech-impaired daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds), must find ways to evade these ruthless creatures. Their challenge becomes even more daunting as Evelyn nears the end of her pregnancy, bringing the imminent risk of labor noises.

Experience the gripping tale of survival and resilience as the Abbott family navigates this treacherous world in "A Quiet Place."

Since its debut in 1992, "Candyman" has been one of the most intimidating movies for many children, with the character of Candyman becoming a recognized figure at Halloween events each October. Inspired by the success of the original Candyman story, director Nia DaCosta created a new film, also titled "Candyman."

This movie centers on a visual artist named Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and his girlfriend, Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris), who is an art gallery director. At a crucial point in his career, Anthony is keen on making a groundbreaking addition to his project. His plans take an uncanny turn when he stumbles upon the chilling legend of Candyman.

Candyman is known for his merciless behavior, targeting anyone who dares to disturb him. Anthony unknowingly unleashes horror by invoking Candyman during a ritual. This act reawakens Candyman's reign of terror, plaguing the entire city, with Anthony inadvertently becoming the focus of this renewed nightmare.

"The Unholy," a 2021 American horror film, is based on the novel "Shrine" by James Herbert. The movie revolves around the life of Alice (Cricket Brown), a young girl who is both deaf and speech-impaired.

Alice lives in a farmhouse under the care of her uncle, Priest Hagan (William Sadler). In a surprising turn of events, Alice experiences a sudden healing: she gains the ability to hear and speak, astounding everyone around her. This miraculous event draws crowds eager to witness and meet Alice.

Alice begins interacting with these visitors, claiming that her healing abilities are gifts from the Virgin Mary. She preaches that faith in the Virgin Mary will bring forth miracles, a message that quickly resonates with many.

Meanwhile, a journalist named Geary (Bates Wilder), who is covering the story, senses that something is amiss. He collaborates with Pastor Hagan to dig deeper into the mystery. Their investigation reveals a shocking truth: the source of Alice's miracles is not the Virgin Mary but a malevolent entity seeking to gain trust and influence through the supposed miracles bestowed upon Alice.

With a modest budget of only $15,000, director and writer Oren Peli successfully transformed a budget film into one of the most terrifying and commercially successful horror films. Peli skillfully crafted a simple narrative into a spine-chilling experience for audiences.

The plot centers around a newlywed couple, Micah (Micah Sloat) and Katie (Katie Featherston), who move into a new house in San Diego. Katie has shared with Micah that she has been able to see ghosts since her childhood. Intrigued by this, Micah decides to investigate whether their home is truly haunted. To gather evidence, he sets up several cameras around the house.

As it turns out, Katie's claims are true. The couple's domestic life is soon disrupted by an invisible entity that starts off causing harmless mischief but quickly escalates into a dangerous threat. The whole incident was recorded in Micah's camera, from the beginning of the incident to Micah's death after being killed by the possessed Katie.

The 2013 film, a reinterpretation of Sam Raimi's "The Evil Dead," marks the fourth installment in the Evil Dead series. Directed by Fede Álvarez, this movie made a significant impact in the film market, achieving box office success and earning multiple awards and nominations at prestigious film events.

The story, familiar to horror movie enthusiasts, begins with a group of teenagers on vacation at a cottage. Their goal is to support their friend Mia (Jane Levy), who is struggling with drug addiction. During their stay, Mia consistently notices a foul smell that no one else seems to detect.

To validate Mia's concerns, Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) investigates and uncovers the source of the odor. In the basement of the cottage, he finds a deceased body and a mysterious book titled "Naturom Demonto," which has a creepy aura.

Curiosity gets the better of Eric, and he opens the book, reading its contents. This act inadvertently unleashes an evil spell that possesses Mia, putting everyone's lives in jeopardy. Can the teenagers survive and escape the cottage?

If you're familiar with Sam Raimi primarily for his work on the Spider-Man movies, there's more to explore. Sam Raimi has also undertaken the horror genre, co-writing the screenplay for "Drag Me to Hell" with his brother, Ivan Raimi. This film distinguished itself by winning the Saturn Award for Best Horror Movie.

The story revolves around Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), a bank employee responsible for handling credit applications. Her diligent work pays off when she is considered for a promotion to assistant branch manager. However, her career advancement is soon overshadowed by a troubling incident.

An elderly customer, Sylvia Ganush (Lorna Raver), visits the bank seeking a third extension on her loan. With her promotion on the line, Christine makes the difficult decision to deny Sylvia's request. This refusal incites Sylvia's wrath, leading her to place a curse on Christine using a button torn from Christine's suit.

Following this ominous event, Christine is plagued by a series of nightmares. She finds herself in a desperate struggle to break Sylvia's curse and restore normalcy to her life.

In 1980, Stephen King published a novel titled "The Mist," which quickly captured the interest of filmmaker Frank Darabont. Darabont transformed this story into an intriguing two-hour movie, filled with a plot twist and events that leaves the audience stunned with its revelation.

The narrative unfolds in the small town of Bridgton, Maine, just as a powerful hurricane hits, severing all power and phone connections. In the aftermath, David (Thomas Jane) takes his son Billy (Nathan Gamble) to the local supermarket to get food and other essentials. As it turns out, most of the townsfolk have the same idea.

But their routine trip takes a horrifying turn when a dense, mysterious fog rolls in, bringing with it a horde of terrifying monsters. Realizing the imminent danger, David decides to lead a group of supermarket visitors in an attempt to escape and find safety. Unfortunately, their efforts to flee the supermarket lead them to become trapped on the desolate streets.

Can David and his son make it out alive?

"The Ring" (2002) is a film adaptation of Koji Suzuki's 1991 novel and the 1998 movie "Ring" directed by Hideo Nakata. The story's immense success captured the attention of Gore Verbinski, who directed the Hollywood version. This adaptation was a major success, earning $249 million worldwide.

The plot revolves around a cursed videotape that results in the death of anyone who watches it within seven days. Tragically, a girl named Katie falls victim to this curse and dies a week after viewing the tape. Intrigued by the rumors surrounding this curse, journalist Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) decides to investigate the truth behind it.

After watching the video, Rachel seeks help from Noah (Martin Henderson), her ex-boyfriend who is an expert in videography, to dig deeper into the mystery.

Throughout her investigation, Rachel uncovers that a girl named Samara (Daveigh Chase) is connected to the chain of events surrounding the cursed video. So, who is Samara, and what is her link to the deadly curse of the videotape?

The movie chronicles the journey of three film students, Heather, Josh, and Mike, who set out to create a documentary about the urban legend known as the "Blair Witch." Despite warnings about the dreadful curse associated with the Blair Witch, the trio chooses to disregard them.

Armed with two cameras, the students venture into the forest, only to find themselves lost. From that point on, they begin to experience a series of bizarre and frightening disturbances. These relentless terrors gradually erode their hope.

A year passes, and there is still no trace of the three students. The details of what transpired during their five-day expedition in the forest remain a mystery, leaving everyone in the dark about their fate.

"The Shining," based on a 1977 novel of the same name by renowned horror author Stephen King, follows the story of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), a family man who takes up a job as the caretaker of the remote Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies.

Jack settles into the hotel with his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), and his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall). The hotel manager, Stuart, previously tells Jack about a disturbing incident involving a former caretaker and cautions him to steer clear of room number 237.

As time passes in the hotel, Jack undergoes a sinister transformation, becoming a threat to his own family. Wendy, realizing the danger, quickly flees with Danny, who had harbored a foreboding feeling about the hotel from the start. Can Wendy and Danny escape the peril posed by Jack?

Directed by Tobe Hooper, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" has become one of the most brutally sadistic films ever to hit theaters. Adding to its terror, the film's storyline draws inspiration from the real-life crimes of Edward Theodore Gein, also known as Ed Gein, who committed his heinous acts between 1947 and 1952.

In the movie, Sally (Marilyn Burns), a young woman, journeys to her family's old farmhouse to check on her grandfather's grave. She is accompanied by her paralyzed brother Franklin (Paul A. Partain) and a group of friends. Upon their arrival, they encounter a deranged maniac who takes pleasure in killing and using his victims' skin for decoration in his home.

As the menacing Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen) begins his rampage, the group desperately tries to escape. They are hunted down one by one in a series of brutal murders. However, Sally and her sister refuse to surrender. Summoning every ounce of their courage and strength, they manage to overpower Leatherface.

Believing they have defeated the savage killer and left the horrors of the farmhouse behind, they are shocked to discover that Leatherface is still alive and creates an ongoing threat.

"The Exorcist," renowned as one of the most frightening movies ever created, is rooted in real events. The story is inspired by the 1949 case of a boy named Roland Doe, who was believed to be possessed by the devil following his use of a Ouija board. The situation escalated to the point where a dual-priest exorcism was performed.

Drawing inspiration from these events, director William Friedkin adapted the story for the big screen. The film focuses on Regan (Linda Blair), a young girl who becomes possessed by a malevolent entity known as Pazuzu. Regan's behavior only gets worsen, posing a danger to herself and those around her.

Witnessing her daughter's increasingly violent actions, her mother, Chris (Ellen Burstyn), seeks some help of two priests to save Regan. The priests are met with a force far more formidable than anything they have previously encountered. Despite the overwhelming challenge, they persist in their efforts to free Regan from the entity's grasp. Tragically, the story culminates in Regan's death during the process of liberating her spirit.