EXHIBE FLIX 10 SCARIEST FLIMS OF ALL TIME

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Top 10 Scariest Films of All Time 

With Scary Movie 5 out in theaters, we got to thinking about our own favorite scary films. Here are our picks for the top 10 scariest movies of all time.

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Warner Herzog’s remake of the 1929 silent vampire classic may seem slow moving by modern standards, but its understated, dream-like pace is what makes the film so eerie. Klaus Kinski is quietly creepy as the pale, gloomy, sunken-eyed Nosferatu.

The Shining (1980)

There’s a reason this Stanley Kubrick classic is on so many top 10 horror film lists. What could be more terrifying than being trapped in a haunted hotel with a psychotic, knife-wielding Jack Nicholson?

The Exorcist (1973)

The first horror movie to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, this disturbing tale about the demonic possession of a young girl was initially banned in many cities for its extremely graphic scenes and controversial religious themes. Linda Blair’s head-spinning scene is one of the most iconic moments in movie history.

Fatal Attraction (1987)

This psychological thriller about an obsession gone horrifically wrong is perhaps best remembered for its infamous rabbit-boiling scene. Glenn Close was nominated for Best Actress for her portrayal of the jealous, unhinged Alex Forrest.

Paranormal Activity (2009)

This ‘mockumentary’-style supernatural horror flick was produced on a shoestring budget, but it ended up being the most profitable movie ever made at the time of its release. Roger Ebert praised the film’s understated style, saying that “it illustrates one of my favorite points, that silence and waiting can be more entertaining than frantic fast-cutting and berserk f/x.”

The Ring (2002)

This remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ringu received mixed critical reviews, but many fans consider it one of the best thrillers made in the 2000s. The dark tale about a mysterious videotape that seems to control the destiny of its viewers made way for other remakes of Japanese horror films, including The Grudge, Dark Water, and Pulse.

The Others (2001)

Nicole Kidman won a BAFTA for her portrayal of a mother caring for her two ill children in a haunted, isolated English house during World War II. This eerie period ghost story was partly based on the 1898 Henry James novella The Turn of the Screw.

Black Swan (2010)

This disturbing psychological drama about a ballerina driven to madness by her desire to perfect the role of the Black Swan in Sleeping Beautyreceived five Academy Award nominations. Roger Ebert called the film“gloriously and darkly absurd,” and called Natalie Portman’s performance as the deranged ballerina “a revelation.”

The Birds (1963)

Hitchcock’s iconic horror film may not be as graphic as, say, The Exorcist orFatal Attraction, but it’s equally disturbing—especially considering some troubling details revealed recently about how the film was shot. Hitchcock apparently did not tell actress Tippi Hedren that she would be attacked by real birds, and he subjected her to day after day of assault by live crows until a physician forced him to stop.

It (1990)

Many a clown phobia no doubt originated from watching this creepy horror miniseries. Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, It is about a supernatural predator that can transform itself into whatever its prey fears most; it mostly takes the form of a sadistic clown called ‘Pennywise the Dancing Clown.’

Did your favorite scary movie make our list? Tell us in the comments!