These Are The Top 10 Scariest Movies Ever — But Did They Scare You?

Let's get spooky.

10. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Paramount Pictures

Roman Polanski's horror movie doesn't have the effects and gore that make most of today's horror films memorable. Instead, it depends more on psychological horror and manages to leave us all terrified without any sort of violence, blood, or gruesome imagery.

9. The Exorcist (1973)

Warner Bros.

This movie may have come out in 1973, but it still haunts viewers to this day. The movie shocked audiences with its terrifying and graphic content — people actually passed out and threw up in the theater! It's also the first ever horror film to be nominated for a best picture Oscar (it didn't win, but that's still cool, right?). The most haunting thing about this movie is that it's based on true events (do some research on the exorcism of Roland Doe for some IRL horror).

8. The Omen (1976)

20th Century Fox

Filled with numerous iconic horror moments, The Omen will always be a hit classic. This movie changed the way people made horror films, became a huge blockbuster, and got several sequels and even a remake in 2006!

7. Alien (1979)

20th Century Fox

This film is one of the most iconic and well-made Sci-Fi films of all time. In Ridley Scott's Alien, Sigourney Weaver headlines the cast as Ripley — the Warrant Office aboard the spaceship, USCSS Nostromo. However, the real star is the alien that fans all across the world loved to be terrified by. Love or hate it, there's no denying that this movie is culturally significant and stays with you long after the credits roll.

6. The Shining (1980)

Warner Bros.

Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name is one of the most iconic horror films ever made. Jack Nicholson's terrifying performance paired with Kubrick's masterful grasp on aesthetics and storytelling makes The Shining a truly unforgettable '80s hit that still haunts to this day.

5. Poltergeist (1982)

MGM

Poltergeist was directed by Tobe Hooper and written and produced by Steven Spielberg. It's the first and most successful of the Poltergeist film trilogy and was nominated for three Academy Awards. Poltergeist is an effective thriller and has left viewers everywhere terrified of toy clowns and TVs.

4. A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

New Line Cinema

Wes Craven's A Nightmare On Elm Street has become one of the most classic horror movies of all time, followed by numerous sequels, crossovers, and even a remake in 2010. Since the movie's release, Freddy Krueger has haunted the nightmares of generations of both children and grown ups alike.

3. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Artisan Entertainment

The Blair Witch Project originated the found-footage genre and managed to scare audiences on a shockingly low budget. Despite the budget, the film has been characterized as one of the most profitable movies of all time!

2. The Ring (2002)

DreamWorks

A remake of the 1998 Japanese film of the same name, The Ring stars Naomi Watts as a mother trying to investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone one week to the day after they view it. This film made audiences fear turning on the TV and inspired thousands of prank calls.

1. Hereditary (2018)

A24

Last summer, director Ari Aster surprised everyone with this nightmare of a movie starring Tony Colette. The iconic performance of the actors and unexpected twists of the movie make it an instant classic and the scariest film of 2018 — possibly even of all time!