The 1970s were a true before and after for the horror genre, with the decade producing several revolutionary classics like The Exorcist and Halloween.

Many of the most beloved horror movies have scenes, like Linda Blair’s rotating head in “The Exorcist,” that are so absurd that they practically invite satire. But other horror films try to build the laughs directly into the narrative,

Focusing on films that have had 25,000 or more votes, here's a look at a few of the highest-rated horror movies according to IMDb user ratings.

Jump scares and gore might not seem like the most soothing watching, but scary films can actually be the ideal therapy during anxious times.

One Stephen King adaptation hit it out the park (“The Monkey”) in 2025, while this one – which King published in 1979 under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman – should’ve never gotten into the game. Failing at the fundamentals, from simple dialogue to character development to shot selection, this bore of a film should’ve been called “The Long Watch.”