Nightmare on Elm Street/The Shining/Gremlins
Ah, the ’80s—a decade probably best remembered by its big hair, leg warmers, and mullets—but let’s not forget the gruesome, chill-inducing, and oh-so-wonderfully-terrifying horror movies that came to define the genre for generations to come.
Take A Nightmare on Elm Street, a film that still fuels our nightmares (and also turned us off striped sweaters forever). Or the bloodbath and masterpiece that is Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. (We’re scared of long, empty corridors to this day.) And who could forget the most terrifying holiday horror movie of all: Gremlins.
The horror movies of the ’80s, full of camp, gore, and surprising twists, created the foundation for the contemporary scary movies we love today. Freddie Krueger and hockey-masked Jason from Friday the 13th cemented the recurring killer who it seems can never truly be stopped. And comedies like Beetlejuice and An American Werewolf in London presented all the spooky elements of horror we love, but with a few laughs along the way too. For every gory flick from the ’80s, there’s another that’s genre-blending and inventive, using comedy or action or sci-fi to show there’s tons of ways to make a creepy horror masterpiece.
Sure, modern horror’s great, but scary flicks from the ’80s weren’t afraid to have take chances, so join us on our terrifying trip down memory lane: Here are 26 of the best ’80s horror movies, from total classics to the weird and experimental sort that’ll make you hide under the covers.
1
Gremlins (1980)
What happens when a bunch of troublemaking Furby-like dolls terrorize a small town on Christmas day? That’s what Gremlins explores, and we’re really happy our parents gave us G.I. Joes growing up instead.
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2
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
This Wes Craven ’80s flick which spawned a handful of sequels dug into people’s ultimate fear: What if our nightmares were real? And what if there was no way to escape them? Freddy Kruger remains the GOAT of the decade’s horror villains.
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3
The Shining (1980)
A novelist and his family are tasked with watching over a hotel in the Rocky Mountains during a particularly harsh winter season, which, as you likely know, spirals into utter madness. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!
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4
Poltergeist (1982)
A family is stalked by an otherworldly figure casting a dark shadow on their home (which also has the ability to reach them through their television set, our other worst fear).
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5
The Thing (1982)
A group of American researchers in Antartica witness a helicopter shooting at a sled dog that’s entered their camp—only to discover the dog is not the friendly, cuddle-up-to-you kind. (We’ll save you from any spoilers.)
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6
Aliens (1986)
Legendary for all kinds of reasons, but mostly because the sequel somehow managed to be better than the already great original. We stan Sigourney!
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7
Evil Dead (1981)
A group of young college students descend upon an isolated cabin in the woods—where all good things happen—and encounter the ultimate demonic figure in this gory flick.
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8
Cujo (1983)
We have a lot of feelings about Cujo. Is it the best horror flick ever? Probably not. But it’s entertaining as hell, and it’s even funnier when you realize that the dog is played by a mechanical dog and a stuntman in certain shots.
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9
Friday the 13th (1980)
At the time of this classic flick’s release, it was critically panned. Still, it was massively popular at the box-office and gave rise to 11 (yes, 11) sequels. Here’s where it all began.
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10
Videodrome (1983)
A David Cronenberg special, Videodrome follows the president of a TV station that stumbles across the dark web of television when he finds a show that tortures its characters. Is it all fiction, though? (You can pretty much guess the answer.)
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11
Child’s Play (1988)
There are plenty of villains on this list to be terrified of, but alas, nothing scares us more than Chucky. Here’s where the Child’s Play franchise was born.
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12
The Fly (1986)
Jeff Goldblum goes through the ultimate transformation in this horror classic, and we’re just really happy to see him in any capacity.
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13
Christine (1983)
What if the villain was a murderous and blood-thirsty car……said no one ever, until Stephen King wrote a novel about it, later adapted into this horror classic.
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14
Pet Sematary (1989)
Another brilliant Stephen King film adaptation, Pet Sematary explores one family’s experience with the tragic loss of their son—and what they’re willing to do to see him again.
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15
Fright Night (1985)
What happens when a vampire becomes your next door neighbor and pursues both your mom and girlfriend? We know now thanks to this cult classic (also remade in 2011).
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16
April Fool’s Day (1986)
College friends spend the weekend leading up to April Fool’s in a mansion. Things start to go awry when one of the friends begins to pick the others off one by one. Yikes.
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17
Children of the Corn (1984)
Adapted from a Stephen King short story, a young couple is trapped in a small town where children have killed all the adults and now worship a deity called He Who Walks Behind the Rows.
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18
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
A werewolf attacks two American backpackers. When one survives, he has to figure out whether or not he’s a werewolf, and what he’s going to do about it. This horror/comedy won an Academy Award for Best Makeup, and has a (not great) 1997 sequel.
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19
The Changeling (1980)
A composer moves to Seattle after his wife and daughter’s deaths. Little does he know… the house he bought is haunted. The film was nominated for two Saturn Awards.
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20
The Fog (1980)
Starring Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis, The Fog tells the tale of a California town suddenly engulfed in fog, bringing back vengeful ghosts of mariners who died there a century ago. Horror legend John Carpenter helmed this cult classic.
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21
Hellraiser (1987)
Based on Clive Barker’s novella The Hellbound Heart, Hellraiser follows a man and his family, who are targeted by extra-dimensional beings who seek carnal pleasures (and pain), and use a mysterious box to recruit others.
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22
Predator (1987)
Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in this action horror about a paramilitary group tasked with rescuing hostages, but must also fight a terrifying alien hunting them. The film’s popularity has spawned three sequels, a prequel, and crossover films with another popular horror franchise Alien.
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23
Beetlejuice (1988)
A must-watch for any ’80’s horror or comedy fans, Beetlejuice stars Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder, and other well-known actors in this ghoulish film. When a couple dies in a tragic car accident, they become trapped in their home. A new family moves in, but determined to keep their home, the ghosts call on Beetlejuice a “bio-exorcist” to rid the ghosts of their human roommates.
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24
Day of the Dead (1985)
The third film in George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead series, Day of the Dead follows a group of scientists and soldiers living in an underground bunker. As the mental state of the bunker’s residents worsens, the remaining sane members of the group realize they need to escape.
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25
Creepshow (1982)
George A. Romero and Stephen King, two ’80’s horror legends, team up in this anthology film consisting of five stories. Horror fans will find Creepshow a treat not just for its variety of stories, but also to see Stephen King and Joe Hill (King’s son and now a prolific horror writer in his own right) star in the film.
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26
The Lost Boys (1987)
The Lost Boys is a film notable for its portrayal of young teenage vampires, which, similar to Interview with a Vampire, shows the humanoid creatures in a more human form than beast. When a teenager gets initiated into a biker gang, he realizes he’s turning into a vampire and enlists his brother to help him turn back before it’s too late.
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Joshua Ocampo
Josh Ocampo is the Senior Editor at Men’s Health.
Milan Polk
Milan Polk is an Editorial Assistant for Men’s Health who specializes in entertainment and lifestyle reporting, and has worked for New York Magazine’s Vulture and Chicago Tribune.
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