Horror movies have long been a staple of cinema, first popping up in the late-1800s and slowly gaining steam over the next century. Throughout cinematic history, popular horror movie franchises have gripped viewers with fear, grossed us out with violence, and told some thought-provoking stories. While the horror genre is often underappreciated and disregarded by mainstream critics, there’s no better genre for raising your heart rate.
Since everyone is scared of different things, the effectiveness of a scary movie is notably subjective, but there are a few horror film franchises that have stood out. Whether it’s a masked killer, deranged violence, or supernatural hauntings, the horror genre has given us goosebumps in a variety of ways. To celebrate this beloved genre, let’s look back on some of the most popular series in the horror genre and list off the top 5 scariest movie franchises of all time.
The Top 5 Scariest Horror Movie Franchises
SAW
Twisted Pictures
The first SAW movie was released in 2004, directed by James Wan and starring Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannel, Danny Glover, and more. The series follows the escapes of the “Jigsaw” killer, a demented sadist who puts his victims into life-threatening traps, where they often must make physical sacrifices to make it out alive. The original SAW was critically acclaimed for its gritty crime narrative, intense atmosphere of suspense, and mind-blowing twist. After this indie horror film broke through the mainstream, it ushered in a new era of horror, focused on terrifying and grotesque violence that pushed the envelope.
There are nine overall films in the SAW franchise, including seven main entries, a prequel, and a spin-off. As the movies progress, the traps and gore ramp up, becoming more bloody and disturbing with each subsequent release. The ample amount of disturbing content, lingering creepy vibes, and jaw-dropping torture set-pieces firmly place SAW on our list of the scariest movie franchises. Although some of the later movies are less about the scares and more about the gore, the SAW franchise stands out as one of the biggest horror series in modern time, keeping the genre alive after the golden age of slasher films.
Friday the 13th
Paramount Pictures
Speaking of slasher films, no list of the scariest movie franchises would be complete without an appearance from the masked maniac, Jason Vorhees. The Friday the 13th franchise kicked off in 1980 with the release of the first movie, which tells the story of a vicious killer who rampages through a summer camp. The first three films combined summer camp vibes with gory kills and spooky scares centred around a towering killer with a machete and a hockey mask. Complete with a fun twist and plenty of scream-worthy moments, the first Friday the 13th movie is considered a classic, although critics mostly panned it at the time.
In total, the Friday the 13th franchise contains twelve movies, which progressively get sillier and more gruesome. The first three films stick close to the summer camp foundation, but by the tenth movie, Jason has wreaked havoc in Manhattan, outer space, and even Hell itself. Despite the often ridiculous premises, the Friday the 13th movies are great fun for fans of simple slasher movies, packed with brutal kills and imagery. The next time you’re looking for a bloody film to watch during the hot summer months, fire up one of the classic Friday the 13th films, as they wholly deserve their spot on our list of the scariest horror movie franchises of all time.
Halloween
Compass International Pictures
Although both Halloween and Friday the 13th feature masked psychos who embark on violent killing sprees, the Halloween franchise is often well-regarded for its sinister tone, terrifying atmosphere, and intriguing story. Whereas other slasher films rely on climactic bloody kills to earn their thrills, Halloween is significantly creepier, offering a festive story that’s perfect for our favourite holiday in October. Set in a small suburb in Illinois, Halloween tells the tale of an escaped mental patient named Michael Myers who returns to the sleepy town to finish the crimes he started years before. Like other slasher films, Halloween digs under your skin with its disturbing focal character, but rises above the campiness thanks to a fantastic performance from Jamie Lee Curtis and the skilled storytelling of director John Carpenter.
The first entry in the Halloween franchise was released in 1978, with a steady stream of new sequels hitting theatres throughout the 80s and 90s. Like Friday the 13th, the Halloween franchise veered hard into the realm of ridiculous, retreading old plot concepts and introducing themes like reality television. Some of the Halloween films didn’t even include the masked killer, resulting in a franchise that isn’t as consistent as many would hope. Luckily, this series has seen a resurgence in recent years, with a handful of gritty and disturbing modern remakes. If anything, Halloween has withstood the test of time, remaining both creepy and entertaining for over 40 years.
The Conjuring
Warner Bros. Pictures
The Conjuring franchise is one of the freshest film series on our list, with the third film just recently released this year. Switching from serial killers to the supernatural, The Conjuring movie franchise is undoubtedly one of the scariest horror series out there for viewers who are terrified of ghosts. The first film was released in 2013 and was directed by James Wan and follows the “true story” of a pair of supernatural researchers who investigate various hauntings around the globe. With nail-biting suspense, an abundance of jump scares, and some genuinely unsettling imagery, The Conjuring has expanded into a movie universe of its own, with several spin-off series and sequels padding out the existing lore.
While other horror movies about ghosts can often feel cheesy, The Conjuring never lets up, providing an intense and grounded portrayal of supernatural occurrences. From demonic spirits to poltergeists and even the occasional haunted doll, there’s no shortage of interesting concepts in The Conjuring franchise. The unrelenting scares and discomforting tone make this franchise utterly terrifying without resorting to the use of gore, a feat that many other horror movies cannot claim. It might not be as bloody as some of the other films on this list, but The Conjuring is easily one of the scariest movie franchises of all time.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
New Line Cinema
A Nightmare on Elm Street combines the bloody fun of slasher flicks with the fantastical vibes of supernatural movies, resulting in a wacky horror franchise with tons of personality. The original movie was directed by horror legend Wes Craven and was released in 1984, telling the tale of a deceased child murderer who terrorizes the dreams of teens. With nine total movies in the series, A Nightmare on Elm Street was a big hit in the 80s but sputtered out by the time the 90s rolled around. A remake was made in 2010 that failed to live up to expectations, but this appropriately titled series still lives on as one of the scariest horror movie franchises of all time.
What separates A Nightmare on Elm Street from other slasher movies is its focus on paranoia and over-the-top kills. The disfigured, burnt killer Freddy Krueger hunts his victims in their dreams, where he can ignore the rules of reality. This results in plenty of bombastic death scenes that are packed with blood and gore, as well as numerous fake-out scenes that keep you on the edge of your toes. The startling visual effects and intense narrative make A Nightmare on Elm Street stand out, making it one of the more unique horror franchises out there. While some of the later movies lost their lustre and became as ridiculous as other slasher flicks, A Nightmare on Elm Street is still fondly remembered by horror fans everywhere.
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