These Are The Scariest Horror Movies Ever, And TBH, We Won’t Be Able To Sleep Again

    Be very afraid.

    Allie Hayes
    by Allie Hayes

    BuzzFeed Staff

    If your usual list of horror movies doesn't spook you anymore, we've got you covered. We asked writers and members of the BuzzFeed Community to share horror movies that they personally found so disturbing, they literally kept them up at night. Scroll to start losing sleep.

    Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

    1. The Babadook (2014)

    Entertainment One

    "It’s one of the few horror movies that really got to me. While I LOVED the symbolism and metaphors, it just unsettled me too much to watch again."

    —xcrunner1

    2. Apostle (2018)

    Netflix

    "The film is brutal and scary in ways I’ve never experienced — one scene in particular made me audibly gag. I love horror movies, but I will never be able to watch this one again."

    —paitay21

    3. The Witch (2015)

    A24

    "This one messed me up for a while. I can never look at goats the same way again."

    —charlief00

    4. Us (2019)

    Universal Pictures

    "Jordan Peele is a mastermind, but that movie messed with my sleep schedule for a week. I always get nervous whenever I see a rabbit now."

    —morganalexissk

    5. Deadgirl (2008)

    Dark Sky Films

    "I felt so disgusted that I actually had to shower right after the movie was over. I would definitely recommend it, but I could only stomach watching it once."

    —ryno718

    6. Scream (1996)

    Dimension Films

    "It's not the actual film that got to me — there's just something about that mask that freaks me out."

    —freudshock

    7. Annabelle (2014)

    Warner Bros.

    "My grandma used to get me these porcelain dolls every year for my birthday as a kid, and I had to lock them all in a closet for a week after watching Annabelle."

    —kennedyd4895ba3fb

    8. Mother! (2017)

    Paramount Pictures / Everett Collection

    "Mother! is probably the best movie I've ever watched. It was truly a masterpiece. But it made me so anxious from the beginning to the end, and that baby scene…I don’t think I could go through that again."

    —lilysmiley7


    9. Thirteen Ghosts (2001)

    women looking at each other in mirror
    Warner Bros.

    "Yes, it’s a bit cheesy at some points, but the special effects are top notch, the monster design is great, the concept is cool, the set is awesome, etc. All in all I think it’s a really great 'fun' horror movie....Also, the Juggernaut was probably my favorite ghost because he felt like the most intimidating and the one you’re least likely to escape."

    —Get_Jiggy41

    10. Hereditary (2018)

    woman screaming in horror
    A24

    "This movie is just so utterly devoid of hope — it reminded me so much of what grief really feels like. I actually sobbed in the movie theater and was in a funk for weeks after seeing it. I think it's an amazing movie, but I don't know that I ever want to voluntarily feel like that again."

    —delorienaz


    11. The Sixth Sense (1999)

    Hollywood Pictures

    "I saw it opening weekend when no one had a clue. I thought it looked like a mildly interesting horror movie and decided to give it a shot. I was totally blown away. Not just the ending, it was the first scary movie I'd ever seen that was as good a drama as it was scary."

    —Thegooddoctorcapaldi

    12. Jeepers Creepers (2001)

    United Artists / Via youtube.com

    "The thing that’s so scary about the first act of Jeepers Creepers is that it’s all taking place in broad daylight and it’s so. Fucking. Plausible. The back-and-forth bickering between siblings, the shortcut-that-isn’t, the crazy aggressive driver who seems to have a hard-on for ruining your drive for no reason. All totally real, mundane things that happen all the time."

    —CrouchingDomo

    13. As Above, So Below (2014)

    Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

    "As Above, So Below was the last movie to actually scare me. I have seen so many horror movies that even jump scares have no effect, as producers have this habit of using music to lead into the scare. This movie just threw the jump scare in, no lead up or anything."

    —rebelgirl87

    14. Jacob's Ladder (1990)

    TriStar Pictures / Via youtube.com

    "First of all, I really identified with the sense that danger is everywhere, demons are everywhere, nothing is ever safe... Second, nothing scares me more than losing my mind, being trapped in my own hell."

    —JavierLoustaunau

    15. The Grudge (2004)

    woman in elevator with eyes closed
    Columbia Pictures / Via youtube.com

    "I watched it when I was a little girl. I’m 25 now and still extremely traumatized by it and I love horror movies. I can’t even say the name of the movie. Even to type it was hard. When they made the show about it recently and there were commercials on Hulu for it, every time it’d come on my heart would stop and I'd just shut my laptop and not continue lol. I just watched the trailer for Pulse because Japanese horror movies are the best but it made a similar sound to the G word (lol sorry) and I’m too scared."

    —totoropotatoes

    16. The Strangers (2008)

    Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

    "Home invasion is one of my biggest fears. Really, anything that could actually happen to you on an average day is scarier to me than anything I've seen in The Exorcist or its ilk."

    —Lady_Scruffington

    17. Us (2019)

    Universal Pictures

    "This movie literally made me pee my pants. I was part of a film club at my high school, and we watched this for Halloween. I'm usually a wimp about stuff like this, but I wanted to watch it and get over my fear. Bad idea. When it got to the part where the family was standing in the driveway and they suddenly moved, I actually screamed. It wasn't until the period ended and we turned the lights back on that one of my friends yelled, 'Hey! Did you pee your pants?!' The whole class saw and I had to tie a sweater around my waist for the rest of the day! I still haven't lived it down."

    —slothgirl

    18. Martyrs (2008)

    The Weinstein Co.

    "I'm like actually in shock or something. That movie was a f**king experience. For one, absolutely terrifying and gut-wrenching the from beginning to end. For two, I don't think I've ever felt more uncomfortable and disturbed while watching any movie. For three, the amount of twists and turns that the movie goes through while ending up with an amazing and coherent story is fantastic. For four, it almost feels like you the viewer are being put through some kind of torture. I almost wanted the movie to end not because it was bad but because I didn't want the characters to suffer anymore."

    —TrappedInLimbo

    19. Midsommar (2019)

    A24

    "I watched the 9 p.m. showing of this with some friends and literally stayed up all night, cuddled in a blanket, sitting in a well-lit room, watching Bob’s Burgers until the sun came up."

    —tylersmith1

    20. Hell House LLC (2015)

    Terror Films

    "It's on Amazon Prime and is absolutely unnerving. I love horror movies, so it takes a lot to spook me, but this one had me checking and rechecking my basement, door, and window locks multiple times a night."

    —jessicad4b02081cc

    21. Paranormal Activity (2009)

    Paramount Pictures

    "I know it’s considered a silly movie now, but when I left that theater with my friends, we were all terrified. That night when we all got home, a door blew open in our apartment building and we all screamed. Definitely lost some sleep over that one."

    —abbyj6

    22. Puppet Master (1989)

    Scary puppet holding a knife
    Paramount Home Video

    "I watched this when I was really young. I thought it would be cute because of the puppets. I still have nightmares about it to this day."

    —Chipotle Ducks

    23. The Orphanage (2007)

    Scary-looking house with students outside
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    "There’s a terrifying scene where a woman gets hit by a car and her face gets deformed, but that’s nothing compared to the twist ending. I had to look at pictures of dogs on my phone for over an hour before I could even think about trying to go to sleep."

    —lizlandmine

    24. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)

    Close-up of blurry face
    FilmDistrict

    "A lot of people think the remake is just a dumb movie, but I’m a fully grown adult, it’s been YEARS since I saw it, and I STILL have a ridiculous fear that those little things are going to show up."

    —jamiet47102d295

    25. Baskin (2015)

    Man screaming in a mirror
    The Salt Company International

    "The only horror movie I’ve seen that I have no desire to ever see again is this one from Turkey. The whole time, I felt like it was something I shouldn’t be watching. It’s bizarre, and I still find myself thinking about it every now and then. This might sound dramatic, but it kinda hurt my soul. I’ve seen a lot of gory and demonic films, but this is truly diabolical."

    —Pawl Vahskez

    26. The Human Centipede (2009)

    Person standing next to an illustration on a screen
    Bounty Films

    "Don't forget The Human Centipede; that movie is fucked!"

    —reannah3

    27. Creep (2014)

    Close-up of man grimacing
    The Orchard

    "It's about the videographer who takes a job to help this guy record a film for his unborn son, since he has cancer and wanted to have something for his son to watch when he’s passed. Let me tell you, NOTHING scares me, but this was so (for lack of a better word) CREEPY. Each scene gave me so much anxiety that I had to watch The Office afterward to fall asleep."

    —gabforga7

    28. Atrocious (2010)

    Dim image of a face with a hand covering the mouth
    Bloody Disgusting

    "It’s a Spanish-language found-footage movie. I’m pretty much only afraid of clowns, but this movie made me cry and gave me nightmares."

    —Samantha Rose

    29. Eden Lake (2008)

    Close-up of woman on the ground
    Optimum Releasing

    "The kids in that movie were both unbelievably cruel AND realistic. To be a stranger in a strange town and to then be targeted by kids who are protected by their parents is actually pretty frightening. It stayed with me for a long time."

    —D

    30. México Bárbaro (2014)

    Woman with scary makeup and a cross on her forehead
    MPI/Dark Sky Films

    "Like an appetizer platter from hell, this anthology series contains eight separate horror short films by eight different Mexican filmmakers. The stories mainly focus on urban legends involving things like trolls, demons, and zombies...so, you know, the stuff childhood nightmares are made of." 

    —Allie Hayes

    31. The Woman in Black (2012)

    A man standing against a misty backdrop
    Momentum Pictures

    "This one messed with me. Like, I would wake up and see her everywhere. I think it lasted about a week."

    —Taryn Bobo

    32. The Fourth Kind (2009)

    Close-up of angry person
    Universal Pictures

    "The 'actual footage' shown next to the movie footage freaked me out so much that my then-boyfriend (now-husband) had to stay the night because I was NOT about to sleep alone. I have yet to watch it again."

    —c48a4d893e

    33. The Conjuring (2013)

    Warner Bros. Pictures

    "This film is legitimately frightening. While there are a few moments of gore, much of the reason people don't finish it is that it's filled with creepy imagery that stays with you long after it's finished. Basically, if you scare easily, I wouldn't watch this one alone or, like, at all." 

    —Allie Hayes

    34. Terrifier (2016)

    Scary-looking puppet sitting in a diner
    Dread Central Presents

    "No exaggeration — it took me at least five tries to finish the whole movie."

    —Lind3400

    35. Piranha (2010)

    Piranhas about to attack a woman
    Dimension Films

    "This is the absolute perfect option if you just want to throw on something inexplicably ridiculous. Basically, during a sex-fueled spring break celebration, an earthquake opens up the bottom of the lake and unleashes a bunch of angry, toothy fish onto the unexpected partyers. Also, Adam Scott is in it???" 

    —Allie Hayes

    36. Holidays (2016)

    Person walking on a street
    Vertical Entertainment

    "It's an anthology film with little horror shorts based around different holidays, and the St. Patrick's Day segment scared me so much that I actually burst into tears and hid under my duvet. I am a massive horror fan, and it takes a hell of a lot to frighten me, but that one pushed at an existing phobia and added a whole new level of terror to it."

    —Vanessa Atkins

    37. Burnt Offerings (1976)

    Close-up of man looking upset
    United Artists

    “It’s this movie from the late ’70s that no one’s ever heard of, for some reason. It's basically about a family that rents a large estate one summer, and a whole lot of weirdness goes down. It will mess you up for life.”

    —hanak

    38. Funny Games (1997)

    Close-up of young man
    Concorde-Castle Rock/Turner

    "This bad boy's mostly terrifying because it could definitely happen in real life: Two guys hold a wealthy family hostage and play some really sick mind games with them."

    —noodle192000

    39. The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)

    Shadow figure under trees
    Metro-Goldwyn-Maye

    "The Poughkeepsie Tapes scared the shit out of me for years."

    —meganm4ecb6421d

    40. Cabin Fever (2016)

    IFC Midnight / Via youtube.com

    "This is a remake of Eli Roth's 2002 debut, which fully made me scared to shave my legs for months. The story follows a group of teens staying in a cabin, slowly being picked off by an insane virus. It's gory and icky and just BLECH, which is likely why viewers never finish it." 

    —Allie Hayes

    41. The Evil Dead (1981)

    New Line Cinema / Via giphy.com

    "The first Evil Dead is widely regarded by horror fans as actually having been pretty well done and is the only scary-ish film out of the series. Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness are the ones that were over-the-top masterpieces of cheese. I love all of them, and Bruce Campbell is everything."

    —jaib

    "The original Evil Dead film fucked me up for literally years afterward, and I wouldn't watch it again for all the money in the world."

    —amberw44d7457a4

    42. House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

    Close-up of scared woman
    Lionsgate Films

    "A group of teens traveling cross-country to write a book about roadside attractions come across a hitchhiker who tells them about 'the Museum of Monsters and Madmen' — but when they arrive, they're horrified to learn they're meant to become part of the attraction."

    —Lia204

    43. Audition (1999)

    Woman in a room with a rotary phone in the background
    Art Port

    "A widower holds 'auditions' for women to be his new wife, but the lady he chooses is a completely different person from what he expected. You'll be confused for all but 10 minutes of the movie, and those 10 minutes are utterly unrelenting."

    —jamess47081ca88

    44. Cube (1997)

    Man and woman looking at each other
    Trimark Pictures

    "Years before Saw, there was Cube — another movie about a group of people finding their way through a series of traps in order to survive. Except in this movie, they're in a gigantic cube, and the only thing they can remember about themselves is their own name."

    —stephaniew49799347c

    45. Sinister (2012)

    Man looking anxious
    Summit Entertainment

    "If you're not usually freaked out by horror films, this one will do the trick: A family moves into a house that's haunted by a creature named Bagul who EATS CHILDREN'S SOULS. What the heck?!?!"

    —taylort4c1217cc6

    46. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

    Man holding the head of a woman with a gag in her mouth
    New Line Cinema

    "A group of friends pick up a hitchhiker who ends up being from a family of cannibals. The villain, Leatherface, was inspired by real-life serial killer Ed Gein. HAHAHA, NOPE."

    —j4f51439b8

    47. The Void (2016)

    A gloomy scene with monsters
    D Films

    "This Canadian passion project was completely funded through Indiegogo and follows a pretty standard formula for horror. Basically, a group of unsuspecting people get trapped in an isolated hospital surrounded by cult members and, you know, scary monsters and stuff." 

    —Allie Hayes

    48. The Ring (2002)

    Close-up of woman screaming
    DreamWorks Pictures

    "You've probably heard of this one: There's a creepy tape going around, and if you watch it, you'll die in seven days. Oh, and during those seven days, the spirits will mess with you and make your life a living hell."

    —krystlem440d98989

    49. The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence (2011)

    Slimy-looking man smiling
    IFC Midnight

    "This requires no explanation. As Raven-Symoné would say, 'Ya nasty.'" 

    —Allie Hayes

    50. Antichrist (2009)

    A child walking in the woods
    IFC Films

    "A couple retreat to the woods after losing their child. While there, they start having strange visions and partaking in grossly violent acts. People who've seen this movie say they squirm thinking about it, long after watching."

    —peggynicole

    51. 1408 (2007)

    Man gesturing in a room
    Paramount Pictures

    "A man who writes about haunted houses and the paranormal is prompted to visit allegedly haunted Room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel in New York City, and a shitstorm of scary stuff ensues. This is based on a short story by Stephen King, so you won't be disappointed."

    —ovenbakedbread

    52. Shutter (2004)

    A person lying on a dark highway
    GMM Tai Hub

    "A couple starts seeing some disturbing images in some of their photos — ghosts, demons, blood, you name it — and even worse, they learn that these strange occurrences are very personal messages from the underworld."

    —maryah3

    53. Suspiria (1977)

    Anxious-looking woman
    Toho -Towa

    "This movie's gorgeous, but don't let that fool you — it's so terrifying. A young girl joins a prestigious ballet company but soon finds herself in the midst of a series of murders. Life hack: Never be ambitious."

    —christianp4f054c963

    54. Hellraiser (1987)

    Arrow Video / Via giphy.com

    "Most disturbing horror movie ever."

    —patrickchrestien

    55. Raw (2016)

    People wearing blood-drenched white coats
    Focus World / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "Even if you have the most basic, limited knowledge of horror movies, you've probably heard of Raw. The film quickly became defined by its word-of-mouth publicity a couple of years back, which involved everything from people getting physically sick to full-on fainting in theaters. I would definitely NOT recommend it if you have a soft stomach." 

    —Allie Hayes

    56. Rec (2007)

    Man wearing a helmet
    Filmax

    "A TV reporter and her cameraman respond to a late-night emergency call that turns into a living nightmare. If you're into zombie movies, you'll honestly poop your pants during this one. This is the film that inspired Quarantine."

    —csmith22

    57. It (1990)

    A clown reading a newspaper
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    "An entity, referred to as 'It,' appears in the form of its victim's worst fears in order to exploit them. Um, that's TERRIFYING?!"

    —uhhlayynuhh


    58. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

    A person sitting amid rocks
    Searchlight Pictures

    "A family from the 'burbs is on a road trip when they encounter a group of savages in the middle of nowhere, Nevada. You'll never want to vacation again after watching this."

    —jayhimself

    59. Bloody Reunion (2006)

    Close-up of scared-looking woman
    Show East

    "Bloody Reunion is a pretty good one."

    —crusheduproses

    60. Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)

    "Come to SIlent Hill" in dripping paint
    TriStar Pictures

    "Has anyone seen Silent Hill: Revelation? I didn't sleep for four days after watching that."

    —randar3

    61. Dark Water (2002)

    A scared-looking child whose face is partially covered
    Arrow Video

    "Are we not gonna talk about Dark Water? Not the American one, the original one. That movie has some disturbing, and sadly realistic, things to say about our expectations for motherhood. It remains the scariest movie I've ever seen, I think."

    —annamariej2


    62. Teeth (2007)

    A man touching a woman's lip
    Roadside Attractions

    "The plot of this one sounds like something you'd say to your friends when you're really, REALLY drunk: "Okay, guys, but, like, what if my vagina had teeth?" That's the whole plot of the film. It's ridiculous, but somehow also amazing. The poor girl probably needs a gynecologist AND a dentist at the same time, and it sounds like an insurance nightmare." 

    —Allie Hayes

    63. Strange Circus (2005)

    Scared-looking woman
    Sedic

    "Strange Circus is one of the craziest, most effed-up movies ever...tons of plot twists and an ending that will stick with you, along with all the creepiness you've come to know and love from Japanese horror."

    —sarang

    64. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

    "The Blair Witch Project" text
    Haxan Films

    "Am I alone in thinking that The Blair Witch Project should be on here? I get nightmares just thinking about it."

    —jessis482c08fe9

    65. The Possession of Michael King (2014)

    A man sitting in the middle of a room with a camera, TV screen, and other gadgets
    Gold Circle Films

    "The Possession of Michael King is by far the scariest movie I have ever seen. Found it in a red box a while ago."

    —evanscypressce

    66. Jeruzalem (2015)

    A woman looking serious with candles on a table behind her
    Epic Pictures Releasing

    "Two American tourists and an anthropology student travel to Jerusalem at the absolute worst possible time, when it is being overrun by demons on a (literal) biblical level. It's an actual nightmare and will remind you that religion is terrifying, in case you somehow forgot." 

    —Allie Hayes

    67. A Quiet Place (2018)

    A man holding his finger to his lips
    Paramount Pictures

    "I'm fine with horror movies, but — for absolutely no reason at all — I got night terrors for three days straight after watching this."

    —Jilli Ishijima

    68. Fire in the Sky (1993)

    A person screaming underneath tight fabric sticking to them
    Paramount Pictures

    "No exaggeration, this movie nearly put me in therapy. I watched it not knowing what it was about, and I already had an irrational fear of aliens. I almost had a heart attack."

    —jcantu

    69. Candyman (1992)

    Close-up of woman looking mesmerized
    TriStar Pictures

    "This was the very first horror movie I ever saw. I was having a sleepover with a friend that night, but we did not sleep At ALL. I couldn't look into a mirror for months afterward."

    —killerrqueen

    70. The Perfection (2018)

    A woman on a road and holding a machete
    Miramax

    "I just watched this last night, and it's disturbing AF. I really recommend it if you're bored by ordinary monster/demon/Satan/entity horror movies and jump scares. It's disturbing and has like three major plot twists."

    —Fanni Scheuer

    71. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

    New Line Cinema / Via giphy.com

    "A Nightmare on Elm Street still does it for me. I blame that movie for my insomnia to this day lol."

    —ActorAnon

    72. Grave Encounters (2011)

    A man covering the mouth of a woman
    Tribeca Film

    "My cousin told my sister and me about it. I had just gotten into horror, and I was loving it. Nothing really scared me. Then my sister and I saw this was coming on TV one night, so we stayed up to watch it. It came on at like 1 a.m., and we watched it. I literally jumped multiple times. We were so freaked out afterward that my sister went straight to her room and left me in the dark corridor alone. Safe to say, I watched Cartoon Network until the sun came up. I only slept the next day while my mom and sister were home with me."

    —[deleted]

    73. Event Horizon (1997)

    Man with scars on his face
    Paramount Pictures

    "Fucked-up shit right there!"

    —Hannah James

    74. Darkness Falls (2003)

    Man looking at a boy
    Sony Pictures Releasing

    "I watched this at a very young age, and I'm now an adult who sleeps with a night-light. Thanks, Dad."

    —spicyspice

    75. White Noise (2005)

    Close-up of man looking confused
    Universal Pictures

    "It's a really good, creepy movie with Michael Keaton that not a lot of people know about, but I highly recommend it!"

    —Devon Mullen

    76. Jacob's Ladder (1990)

    Man looking serious
    Tri-Star Pictures

    "The 'Anybody in there? Anybody home?' scene from this movie was so unexpected, it made me jump out of my seat the first time, and it gave me nightmares for days afterward. I still enjoy the film from time to time, but that scene makes me uneasy."

    —Haley Drake

    77. The Exorcist (1973)

    Man looking serious
    Warner Bros.

    "The original deserves a spot on this list."

    —Shehnaz Rehman

    78. Begotten (1990)

    Blurry black-and-white image of a hand
    World Artists Home Video

    "It’s a surrealist film about the story of creation, and it’s pretty much just those Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark book illustrations by Stephen Gammell come to life. Need I say more? It'll give you nightmares for life." 

    —peytonbeard

    79. Creepshow 2 (1987)

    Scary-looking person
    New World Pictures

    "When I was little, I watched it and was petrified of the 'Thanks for the ride, lady!' story. My parents would chase me around the house yelling it to scare me! Thirty-plus years later and my mom STILL brings it up (and it STILL gives me goosebumps). I don't like dark roads, even as an adult."

    —Kristin McCoy

    80. Phantasm (1979)

    Person holding a weapon
    AVCO Embassy Pictures

    "I saw it when I was about 8, and — although I had already seen other horror movies because my parents were huge horror fans — this movie was the only one to give me nightmares. To this very day, I get apprehensive around undertakers, especially if they are tall and wearing a dark suit."

    —Gimpypimp

    81. The Cell (2000)

    Woman looking up
    New Line Cinema

    "I know some people don't consider it a horror movie, but man, that movie is fucked."

    —Amanda Davis

    This article contains content from Allie Hayes, Anna Kopsky, Kelly Martinez, and Angela Andaloro. It was compiled by Kelly Rissman.