From the early revolution of popular horror tropes during Alfred Hitchcock's time to modern hits like M3GAN, there is a long list of movies within this genre that have strived to create something new and fresh. There are many horror films that are great for their time, but don't leave a lasting impression on the genre as a whole.
On the other hand, there are certain movies that reinvented the wide scope of horror and went down in cinematic history as a classic. From beloved franchises like Halloween and Scream to modern successes like Get Out, these movies brought something to the table that changed the way viewers perceived horror films. By reinventing horror, they proved the genre offers more to cinema than mindless, spooky thrills.
10 The Babadook (2014)
The Babadook has had astoundingly positive reviews, though the movie is still largely overlooked in the horror genre. In this Australian thriller, a single mother struggles to care for her son as he becomes increasingly persistent that a monster in his storybook is actually real.
This movie is revolutionary in the psychological thriller genre. While many modern horror movies rely on excessive visual effects and repeated jump scares to entertain their audience, The Babadook has altered the perception of horror today by bringing back an era of horror that is focused on exceptional storytelling and building suspense.
9 Psycho (1960)
There's no doubt that Alfred Hitchcock has left a lasting influence on horror entertainment. Many tropes and themes presented in his iconic movies continue to be utilized in today's pop culture. Arguably his most influential film of all time was Psycho.
While movies like The Babadook have changed the way horror melds with psychological thrillers, Psycho began the age of the genre as viewers know it today. Before this revolutionary movie, the horror landscape was dominated by supernatural monsters and spooky stories. A seemingly average man like Norman Bates turning out to be a killer brought on a wave of new, more realistic horror villains.
8 Halloween (1978)
There have been dozens of slasher movies that have become icons of the horror subgenre. However, the silent and terrifying killer in Halloween began an influential trend of a long-running franchise featuring a seemingly indestructible and unrelenting killer.
These masked, mysterious killers that appear human has been mimicked in other hits like Friday the 13th. Despite the fact that the entire franchise makes little sense when watched together, the continuation of this killer's spree has had an impact on the perception of slasher horror movies, with many fans even considering Halloween one of the best horror reboots in recent years despite the critical reviews of the overall reboot series.
7 The Cabin In The Woods (2011)
There are some meta-horror movies, like the hit Scream, that have impacted the genre by highlighting the self-awareness of the characters and the movie as a representation of typical horror tropes. However, The Cabin in the Woods took a particularly fascinating approach to meta-horror.
Very few movies have the ability to be as frightening as they are humorous, but The Cabin in the Woods intentionally pulled off this mix of genres. This film revolutionized the genre by introducing new-age horror that is intensely aware of its most popular and overused tropes.
6 Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
Night of the Living Dead wasn't the very first zombie movie, but it was the first that brought about the popular tropes still utilized in the subgenre today. This iconic George A. Romero film was the first to showcase a swarm of undead villains that eat the flesh of their victims.
There are very few zombie movies throughout the long history of the subgenre that doesn't utilize these two central tropes. Popular TV hits like The Walking Dead, which have also changed the nature of zombie narratives, have mimicked the influential undead characters introduced in Night of the Living Dead. It's also notable that Romero's icon also introduced the first Black horror lead, Ben, played by Duane Jones.
5 A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
Friday the 13th mimicked the silent killer trope with the added twist of the main killer (in the sequel and those to follow) being an undead supernatural being. However, A Nightmare on Elm Street changed the game of slasher movies by introducing an intelligent, vindictive killer that is also supernatural.
Freddy Krueger isn't just an undead villain fueled by supernatural forces, but one that has the ability to invade his victim's dreams. This franchise not only revolutionized the horror genre but complicated the slasher persona. A Nightmare on Elm Street also has the potential to make a good TV show, despite the poorly performing reboot in 2010, and change the perception of horror shows.
4 Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele's debut horror movie Get Out revolutionized the genre by focusing on a prominent social issue. Set in suburban America, the movie follows a young Black man that visits his white girlfriend's family home, only to slowly uncover the terrifying truth of a racially motivated, wicked cult.
Get Out won one of the Best Picture Academy Awards that has only gone to a handful of horror movies. Though the genre is often considered entertainment of lesser intelligence and prestige, this movie proved how exceptional a horror movie can be when it ties in important real-world commentary.
3 Scream (1996)
Despite the other slasher movies that are classics in the genre, Scream is the pinnacle of a successful slasher series. Like The Cabin in the Woods, Scream is a meta-movie in which the characters are abundantly aware of horror movies and uses this knowledge to their advantage.
Instead of reinventing the genre by creating something unique from the other slasher movies, the Scream franchise played with popular tropes, even mentioning horror icons that previously set the standards. While many horror plotlines suggest the characters have never watched a spooky film, Scream revolutionized the genre by being entirely self-aware.
2 The Exorcist (1973)
At fifty years old, The Exorcist is not only an icon of the genre but is still one of the most terrifying possession movies ever made. While the horror movie was controversial for its time, it set the standards for the subgenre that most later films failed to match or surpass.
While occult horror was growing in popularity at this time, The Exorcist shocked the audience with the sacrilegious content that was especially horrifying with the focus on a 13-year-old girl. It's arguable that this is still the most terrifying horror movie ever made, but it certainly left its mark by stretching the boundaries of satanic rituals and demonic interference.
1 The Conjuring (2013)
The '70s to '90s began a long tradition of continued storylines through long-running horror franchises. However, in the modern landscape of wide-scoped cinematic universes, major franchises like Marvel and Star Wars have dominated film. Among these powerhouses is the modern horror universe started by The Conjuring.
These movies are loosely based on the paranormal investigator career of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Though The Amityville Horror is based on the Warrens' case, they were never actually mentioned in either film adaptation. Instead, it was The Conjuring that began the most prominent modern horror franchise that continues to thrill with the fear of terrifying paranormal entities while still telling a wide range of different stories.