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'The Shining' (1980) -

Stanley Kubrick's classic horror film stars Jack Nicholson. It contains some of the most memorable and frightening scenes in cinema.

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'Psycho' (1960) -

Alfred Hitchcock's seminal classic horror film is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential movies of its genre. 

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'Alien' (1979) -

Ridley Scott's classic horror film was extremely successful both critically and at the box office, and led to several sequels. 

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'Get Out' (2017) -

The first film from director Jordan Peele was nominated for several Academy Awards, as well as being a huge critical and box office success.

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'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984) -

Wes Craven's film was probably the most iconic horror film of the 1980s. It was also the first screen appearance of Johnny Depp.

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'The Thing' (1982) -

John Carpenter's sinister and terrifying film stars Kurt Russell. It initially received very negative reviews, but eventually became recognized as a classic.

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'An American Werewolf in London' (1981) -

John Landis directed this comedy horror film, which was both a commercial and critical success, and is now viewed as a cult classic.

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'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' (1920) -

A very early, silent, Expressionist film, 'The Cabinet of Dr Caligari' is often thought of as the first horror film.

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'The Birds' (1963) -

One of Alfred Hitchcock's best known films, it is based on Daphne Du Maurier's book of the same name, and is highly suspenseful. 

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'King Kong' (1933) -

The biggest of all monster movies, no "best of" would be complete without the inclusion of this classic horror film.

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'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?' (1962) -

This extremely dark psychological horror is all the more effective because of how much its two main stars, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, hated each other.

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'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1956) -

Based on a novel from 1954, this film was remade at least twice. It was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry.

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'Halloween' (1978) -

Perhaps the most famous of all the slasher movies, 'Halloween' is John Carpenter's most well-known film, with instantly recognizable music.

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'The Blair Witch Project' (1999) -

This highly effective horror is one of the most successful independent films of all time. Made for US$60,000, it made nearly US$250 million worldwide.

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'Jaws' (1975) -

This Steven Spielberg film was the classic, archetypal blockbuster of its era. It made over US$470 million.

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'Dracula' (1958) -

Christopher Lee appeared as the most famous vampire in the world in several of the Hammer films. This was the first.

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'The Wicker Man' (1973) -

Originally a 'B' movie, this classic British horror film has stood the test of time, and is still very highly regarded.

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'Carrie' (1976) -

Brian De Palma's horrific tale of high school brutality has an enormous sting in the tail. It is one of the most iconic films of its decade.

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'Nosferatu' (1922) -

The first on-screen depiction of Dracula, was a silent Expressionist film, which contains some of the most iconic imagery from early cinema.

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'Midsommar' (2019) -

This recent horror film centers around cult practices. It was extremely well-received by both critics and other filmmakers. 

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'Hereditary' (2018) -

This independent horror film was an enormous financial success, and was also very well received by critics.

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'The Bride of Frankenstein' (1935) -

Boris Karloff was a legendary horror actor, who appeared in countless classic horror films, including 'The Bride of Frankenstein.'

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'Scream' (1996) -

Wes Craven's darkly comic homage to slasher movies is full of genre in-jokes. It was a great box office success, and brought the genre back to life.

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'Suspiria' (1977) -

Dario Argento's classic horror film is brutal, vivid, and terrifying. Don't bother with the 2018 remake, which was a box office failure.

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'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) -

This multi Academy Award winning film is widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. It was also a huge success.

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'The Dead Zone' (1983) -

Christopher Walken stars in David Cronenberg's psychological horror film. It received very positive reviews from critics.

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'The Fly' (1986) -

Jeff Goldblum appears in David Cronenberg's visceral and imaginative horror film, which was his biggest success to date at the time of its release.

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'Videodrome' (1983) -

David Cronenberg's bizarre masterpiece stars James Woods and Debbie Harry of Blondie fame. It is widely considered to be one of the best horror film of its decade.

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'The Night of the Hunter' (1955) -

Robert Mitchum stars in Charles Laughton's classic film about a minister who becomes a serial killer. It was not received well at the time, but it is now viewed as a highly frightening classic.

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'Cape Fear' (1991) -

Martin Scorsese's psychological horror remake is incredibly effective and tense. Robert De Niro's performance is excellent.

Click here to read the secrets behind Robert De Niro's best performances!

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