10. Arachnophobia (1990)
For me, this the scariest movie on the list because I have a terrible fear of spiders. The shower scene haunted me for years. I can’t even tell you how many times I got soap in my eyes from opening them too quickly to see if a spider was crawling around.
Not only is this film terrifying, but it’s also quite good! Even if spiders don’t scare you, they might by the time you finishArachnophobia.
Related:The Best Movies About Bugs and Spiders, Ranked
9. Tremors (1990)
Tremorsjust barely makes the cut because it came out in 1990, and I’m so thankful it did. This iconic film features giant worms that come up from the group and eat people.
Imagine walking along minding your own business and suddenly a Graboid (the name for the worms) pops out and attacks. It’s a terrifying thought that leads to an awesome horror flick.
Related:The Best Movies About Giants, Titans, and Colossal Beasts
8. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
The tale of Dracula is one that’s been told over and over again, but inBram Stroker’s Dracula, Francis Ford Coppola finds a way to spin the tale to make it fresh, interesting, and downright scary. In fact, it might be one of the greatest versions of Dracula.
If you’re a horror fan with fond memories of the 90s, this is a movie you absolutely need to see.
Related:The Best Movies About Vampires, Ranked
7. New Nightmare (1994)
When it comes to the best Freddy Krueger movies, this may not be the best, but it’s pretty damn close.
It exists outside of the traditionalNightmare on Elm Streettimeline, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the best movies to feature the wise-cracking serial killer.
Related:The Best Horror Movie Directors of All Time, Ranked
6. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
This is my underrated pick of the bunch.I Know What You Did Last Summergets lost in the shadow ofScreamfar too often.
Don’t get me wrong,Screamis a better movie, but that doesn’t meanI Know What You Did Last Summershould be forgotten. It’s a back-to-basics slasher, and it hits all the right notes for the horror subgenre.
Related:The Best School Horror Movies
5. Dead Alive (1992)
Did you know that Peter Jackson (yes, the very same Peter Jackson who gave us the wholesomely wonderfulThe Lord of the Ringsfilms) is also responsible for one of the goriest horror flicks ever released?
Dead Alive(also calledBraindead) is actually so gratuitously gory that it was banned in South Korea, Singapore, and Finland. It’s a zombie movie that’s part horror and part comedy, but it’s all blood and guts!
Related:The Scariest Horror Movies That Were Banned (And Why)
4. The Sixth Sense (1999)
The Sixth Senseis a classic horror movie that won’t just be remembered as one of the best of the decade, but as one of the best horror movies ever made. Who hasn’t quoted the famous line “I see dead people” at least a few times throughout their life?
This movie is packed with tension, fantastic acting, and an iconic plot twist that’ll knock your socks off—if it somehow hasn’t been spoiled for you in the last 20 years. But even if you know the twist, it doesn’t ruin the movie. In fact, it’s even better on a rewatch!
Related:The Best Movies Where Characters Were Dead All Along
3. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The Blair Witch Projectis responsible for the rise of the found footage horror movie. As such, you either want to thank it or curse it, depending on your feelings about those sorts of movies.
Either way,The Blair Witch Projectwas one of the most talked-about films of its time. It brings tension and an overwhelming sense of dread in a way that few other films have managed, even to this day.
Related:The Best Horror Movies About Witches and the Occult
2. Scream (1996)
Screamis the film that lets everyone know that slashers were back for a new generation.Screamhas some awesome kills, fantastic writing, and just the right amount of gore.
The thing that madeScreamscary was that it felt like it could really happen in your life. There was no supernatural being involved—it was just a real person going around killing people. It’s a timeless movie that’s just as good now as it was when it came out.
Related:The Best Horror Movie Final Girls of All Time, Ranked
1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Putting together this list was tough when it came to ranking numbers two through ten, but it wasn’t tough to pick number one. From the start, I knewThe Silence of the Lambswould run away with it.
If you were to make a list of top horror movies of all time,The Silence of the Lambswould have to sit near the top. This psychological horror is an absolute masterpiece in every way, and it’s a must-see for anyone who fancies themselves a fan of horror.
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