The oldest horror film is widely considered to be Georges Méliès' 1896 silent short, Le Manoir du Diable (The House of the Devil/The Haunted Castle), a three-minute trick film featuring demons, ghosts, witches, and a skeleton in a gothic castle, intended more for amusement than terror but containing classic horror elements. While it used special effects for comedy, its themes of the supernatural and a bat transforming into Mephistopheles mark it as the first horror movie and potentially the first vampire film, despite its lighthearted tone.
Méliès shot Le Manoir du Diable, or The Haunted Castle, in 1896, which many now consider the first horror movie. In this three minute film, a bat flies into a medieval castle, turns into Mephistopheles, then gets chased away by a crucifix.
Le Manoir du Diable aka The House of the Devil (1896) A French short film considered the to be the very first horror film.
Rotten Tomatoes has named The Exorcist the scariest movie ever made. Followed by Hereditary, The Conjuring, Psycho and Jaws. Do you agree with their top picks? 🤔👻
The First Horror Movie Ever Made— "The House of the Devil" 1896— Georges Méliès— Le Manoir du Diable - YouTube.
There's no single "number one" horror movie, as it depends on the criteria (scariest, highest-grossing, critic's choice), but top contenders often include The Exorcist (scariest/influential), It (2017) (highest-grossing), and classics like Jaws, Halloween, and The Shining for their impact and scares.
The "Big 3 Slashers" universally refer to the iconic horror franchises centered around Michael Myers (Halloween), Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th), and Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street), representing the peak of the 1980s slasher boom with their distinct masked/iconic killers, enduring legacies, and numerous sequels. While other slashers like Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) or Ghostface (Scream) are significant, these three form the core group known for shaping the genre.
The movie noted for having around 32 jump scares is The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia, often cited on horror forums as having a high number for a feature film, though records also exist for series like The Midnight Club breaking world records for jump scares in a TV episode.
A believable monster, a sympathetic victim and a sense of dread or anxiety are the essential components of a good scary movie.
Horror films are centered around the dark side of life, the forbidden and strange, unexplainable events. They deal with our most primal nature and it's fears: our vulnerability, nightmares, alienation, our terror of the unknown, fear of death and/or our fear of sexuality.
Great scary movies that are not too violent/gory
The House of the Devil (1896 film)
Victor Salva wrote the "Every 23 years for 23 days it gets to eat" rule in Jeepers Creepers (2001) so there would be no sequel unless the movie was set in the future, and he knew the studio wouldn't want that.
Classic Scary Movies Will Always Give Us Chills!
These films showcase the roots of horror and remind us why the genre remains so powerful. From psychological chills to eerie visuals, they stand the test of time. Reliving these classics keeps their magic alive, connecting generations through shared thrills.
A 2020 study by Broadband Choices named Sinister the scariest film ever made, based on an analysis of viewer heart rates.
3 AM is considered scary due to folklore calling it the "Witching Hour" or "Devil's Hour," a time when supernatural beings are strongest and the veil between worlds is thin, linked to the mocking inversion of Jesus's 3 PM death in Christian tradition. Psychologically, it's the deepest part of the night, making darkness, quiet, and vulnerability feel more intense, while physiological factors like sleep cycles and the body's immune system being at its weakest also contribute to a sense of unease.
While there is no chapter and verse in Scripture saying horror movies are sinful for Christians to watch; it would be incredibly unwise and even dangerous for believers to partake in films that make light of the demonic and make it look entertaining.
1. The Exorcist. When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life. The scariest movie of all time.
Here are the best jump scares of all time:
There's no single "trippiest" movie, as it depends on what kind of trip you want (visual, psychological, surreal), but top contenders often cited include Gaspar Noé's Enter the Void, Alejandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain, David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, and animated wonders like Fantastic Planet and Paprika. Other popular choices involve mind-bending plots like Being John Malkovich, surreal journeys like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, or philosophical animation like Waking Life.
Michael Myers ('Halloween')
Michael Myers is the embodiment of pure, unadulterated evil. His silent, relentless pursuit of his victims, coupled with his hauntingly blank white mask, established the template for the modern slasher. He's a cold and ruthless killer who always seems able to come back for more.
The Best Movie Villains Of All Time
There's no single "top 10," as scariness is subjective, but consistently ranked films include The Exorcist, Hereditary, The Shining, The Conjuring, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, often appearing on lists from critics, audiences, and even science-based studies (like Science of Scare), alongside other classics like Halloween, Insidious, Sinister, The Ring, and The Babadook, while newer contenders like Talk to Me are also gaining acclaim for their intense scares.