Halloween is only four days away! Boy did that sneak up. With the spooky season comes scary movie season. If you’re a horror aficionado, you probably already have your favorites that you like to watch in preparation for the scariest day of the year.

However, some aren’t as privy as to where to start and which ones are worth your time. If you’re looking to have a horror movie marathon, or just watch one or two, this list will detail some of the best classic scary movies of all time.

There are so many terrible horror movies out there that it can be tough to sift through the muck. Friday the 13^th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, anybody? This will make sure you don’t get stuck watching hot garbage.

Introducing ten classic horror movies you should watch before Halloween.

 

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

This was my favorite childhood horror movie. Wes Craven’s Freddy Krueger is the stuff nightmares are made of. Literally. Basically, Freddy preys on the fear of teenagers. He haunts their dreams and kills them.

“If you die in your dreams, you die in real life!”

The concept of this movie is truly groundbreaking. It broke the mold of what a horror movie could be and its legacy lives on to this very day. A must-watch.

 

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Another groundbreaking horror movie. Blair Witch was based on three film students who went into the woods to make a documentary about the “Blair Witch.”

The found footage style of this movie makes it feel so real. You really feel like you’re a part of the action and that brings with it a whole different kind of fear.

The guttural screams, shaky camera, and desperation from the victims feel so real. I’d highly recommend this one but be prepared to jump out of your seat a couple of times.

 

Scream (1996)

Another Wes Craven creation, Scream was such a change of pace from what was expected from a horror movie. The 90s represented a downturn for the horror movie genre and Scream was a necessary creation to break from the shackles.

Scream was basically a parody of the horror genre. It was self-aware. They point out certain tropes and “rules” from horror movies that need to be followed. I’d highly recommend this one. Plus, the whole series is good, whereas most other horror franchises become a shell of their former selves.

The more recent films are pretty good too. If you’re looking to watch an entire series in order, Scream is a great choice.

 

Saw (2004)

This movie haunted my dreams as a child. It’s horrifically gory and disturbing. Jigsaw’s game of torture is unsettling.

I haven’t seen Saw in a while but now that I think about it, I might have to rewatch before Halloween. It’s a highly successful franchise that is still going to this day. Saw X came out a month ago and is still in theatres so if you want to go out for a scare, check it out!

 

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

This psychological thriller is gripping from start to finish. The most well-written story on this list, and the only one to win an Oscar for Best Picture.

Anthony Hopkins’s portrayal of Hannibal Lecter is brilliant. He’s so creepy and unnerving. Rather than other movies on this list, I felt more unnerved by this one than scared. Don’t get me started on Buffalo Bill, the crazed serial killer who skins his victims and wears their flesh as a suit.

It gives me the willies just thinking about it.

 

Alien (1979)

Alien is sort of a blend between Horror and Science fiction. Basically, a space crew receives a distress call from aliens. They investigate the matter and find a nest of eggs inside the ship.

You can imagine where this is heading. Alien is a top-notch film that I’d highly recommend. It’s another successful franchise that still holds up today. Considering how old it is, that’s quite an accomplishment.

The sequel, Aliens (1986) is just as good, so I’d recommend checking them both out.

 

The Thing (1982)

I just love John Carpenter. He’s a creative mastermind who knows how to prey on your emotions.

The Thing follows a group of scientists in Antarctica who make a terrifying discovery: An alien that can take the form of its victims.

This leads to trust issues and the scientists fighting with each other. The Thing is gripping from start to finish.

I just watched it for the first time a year or two ago, and I was missing out big time. If you must pick one that you haven’t seen on this list, watch this one. It’s such a well-crafted story.

 

Final Destination (2000)

Now this was such a novel idea. A group of teens are taking a class trip. When boarding the plane, one of the students gets a terrifying vision. He vividly sees the plane crash and has a full panic attack. This causes the class to miss the flight.

Moments later, the plane crashes.

The issue is that they were supposed to die, and you can’t cheat death. Incidents begin to happen, killing off every student who was supposed to die in the crash.

It’s the only movie on this list where the killer isn’t a physical being. It’s death itself.

I’d recommend watching the sequel too. But beware, you may never feel comfortable driving behind a logging truck ever again.

 

It (1990)

Pennywise the Clown is an iconic predator that has made kids terrified of clowns for generations. Based on the book by Stephen King, this might have been the first horror movie I ever watched.

Pennywise terrorizes the town of Derry, preying on the children of the town every 27 years.

It is a classic. See what I did there? They remade the movie a few years ago, and the two-part reboot is also solid. But I prefer the original.

 

Halloween (1978)

The original slasher movie. This one has created such a powerful, long-lasting legacy that lives on in so many other franchises.

The tale of Michael Myers is a terrifying ordeal. After killing his mother, he was sent to an institution. But on Halloween night, he escapes and unleashes terror.

John Carpenter created a masterpiece that may not pull as much weight as it did back then due to the overuse of this style of movie, but it’s still a classic and should be revered.

They get so much out of so little. Rather than relying on blood and gore, this movie makes use of theatre of the mind to instill fear. Plus, the theme is iconic.

 

There have been many classics throughout the years in the horror genre. But on the flip side, there have been some huge duds too. I hope this list helps keep you on track, only watching the best of the best.

I tried to pick movies that were different to cater to whatever type of horror you’re into. There’s a little something for everybody on this list. Some might not be for everybody, but hopefully, there’s something that’s up your alley in here.

With Halloween on the way, get into the spooky spirit with some of the greatest scary movies of all time!