I often tell people “I’m not a horror guy, but I like horror films.” When Derek Smith and I recorded a podcast episode about Slant’s 100 Best Horror Movies of the 21st Century, I had some quibbles. It was a fine list, and in this era of social media hot takes, any list will be shared and criticized. I’m of the opinion that if you’re going to be critical, you need to tend to your own house. Who am I to take shots at a horror list without having one of my own?
Voila, I made a horror list. Is it better than Slant’s? That’s not up for me to decide, and not how I approached it. Lists aren’t a competition. They are just an enjoyable exercise to celebrate cinema. Jill Blake and I enjoyed visiting Variety’s Top 100 Horror List. Since film and lists are subjective, some people will prefer theirs and others will prefer mine. My guess is that people who favor international cinema will appreciate my list. It isn’t perfect as I have some blind spots, especially with indie American horror. This will be an evolving list and I’ll update it on Letterboxd here as I see more films. In the meantime, I’m happy with the list.
Some of these are borderline as to whether they are firmly in the horror genre. We’re in the midst of a Horror New Wave, and I think that’s revitalized modern cinema. Filmmakers are using horror imagery to communicate modern themes. In my opinion, genre cinema in general and especially horror have elevated the art form. The genre classification is also subjective, and these feel like they belong on the list.
Here goes.
100. Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
99. Suspiria (2018)
98. Teeth (2007)
97. I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
96. Nanny (2022)
95. Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
94. Haute Tension (2003)
93. Barbarian (2022)
92. Pontypool (2008)
91. Donnie Darko (2001)
90. Battle Royale
89. The Invisible Man (2020)
88. Under the Silver Lake (2018)
87. The Wailing (2016)
86. High Life (2018)
85. Malignant (2021)
84. Krampus (2015)
83. El Conde (2023)
82. We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
81. Twentynine Palms (2003)
80. Talk to Me (2022)
79. Us (2019)
78. Color Out of Space (2019)
77. The Love Witch (2016)
76. Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
75. Green Room (2015)
74. The Gift (2015)
73. The Strangers (2008)
72. 28 Days Later (2002)
71. Zombieland (2009)
70. The Orphanage (2007)
69. The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015)
68. The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
67. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
66. Three… Extremes (2004)
65. The Host (2006)
64. Ichi the Killer (2001)
63. May (2002)
62. Planet Terror (2007)
61. You’re Next (2011)
60. Raw (2016)
59. Dark Water (2002)
58. Frailty (2001)
57. Ginger Snaps (2000)
56. Get Out (2017)
55. I Saw the Devil (2010)
54. Dumplings (2004)
53. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
52. It (2017)
51. Oldboy (2003)
50. Godzilla Minus One (2023)
49. X (2022)
48. A Ghost Story (2017)
47. Funny Games (2007)
46. Enemy (2013)
45. It Follows (2014)
44. One Cut of the Dead (2017)
43. Bug (2006)
42. Fat Girl (2001)
41. Wolf Creek (2005)
40. Too Many Cooks (2014)
39. Saint Maud (2019)
38. The Conjuring (2013)
37. Longlegs (2024)
36. Doctor Sleep (2019)
35. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
34. Willard (2003)
33. November (2017)
32. Mandy (2018)
31. Let Me In (2010)
30. The Lighthouse (2019)
29. Beau is Afraid (2023)
28. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
27. Martyrs (2008)
26. Under the Skin (2013)
25. Black Swan (2010)
24. The Others (2001)
23. The Descent (2005)
22. La Llorona (2019)
21. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
20. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
19. The Ring (2002)
18. The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001)
17. The Babadook (2014)
16. American Psycho (2000)
15. Inland Empire (2006)
14. Memories of Murder (2003)
13. Hereditary (2018)
12. The Menu (2022)
11. I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
10. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
9. Titane (2021)
8. mother! (2017)
7. Midsommar (2019)
6. Antichrist (2009)
5. Let the Right One In (2008)
4. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
3. Pulse (2001)
2. The Substance (2024)
1. Mulholland Drive (2001)
There we go. As it happens, I recently mixed up my favorite films of all time and Mulholland Drive is #1 there as well. It’s a film that I keep going back to every other year or so. Not only does it hold up, but it continues to fascinate me. It gets even better and sends me down the Silencio rabbit hole yet again. Is it horror? Absolutely.
People might notice some trends. Yes, I love international cinema. There are not a lot of spaces between Three… Extremes and Fruit Chan’s Dumplings. That story was the best part of the anthology film, and even better as a standalone feature.
Great stuff my man! Happy Thanksgiving!
I like your list. There are some movies that are indeed borderline horror (The Gift, Black Swan to name a few) but Enemy is nowhere near horror. It’s a solid thriller with 1 disturbing image right at the end.
Where is the witch, conjuring 2?
The Witch is on the list. Conjuring 2 isn’t quite there for me. This is already outdated as I’m nearly finished with the A24 book.
I have to thank you so much, without this list I probably would never have watched Mulholland Drive, Requiem for a Dream, and maybe even The Lighthouse. Absolutely AMAZING films. Very happy I found this list.