1. "The Shining" (1980) - Based on Stephen King's novel, this psychological horror film follows a writer and his family as they become isolated in an eerie hotel. Directed by visionary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, this film helped to cement Jack Nicholson as the Hollywood legend he is today. 

2. "The Woman in Black" (2012) - Adapted from Susan Hill's novel, this ghostly horror movie features a young lawyer investigating a vengeful ghost haunting in a small town. 

3. "Cujo" A large St. Bernard is possessed by the soul of a serial killer and it threatens the life of a mother and her son, trapping them in a car. 

4. "The Exorcist" (1973) - Based on William Peter Blatty's novel, this iconic movie depicts the terrifying possession of a young girl and the efforts to save her soul. A monumental film for its use of practical effects this movie has changed the way we look at film forever. The Exorcist was the first horror to be nominated for Best Picture, as well as 9 other Academy Awards, winning Peter Blatty an Oscar for 'Best Screenplay'.


5. "Rosemary's Baby" (1968) - This psychological horror film, based on Ira Levin's novel, centers on a woman who suspects that her unborn child is part of a sinister occult plot. This film was nominated for two Academy Awards, Ruth Gordon winning Best Supporting Actress. Directed by Roman Polanski.


6. "Carrie" (1976) - Adapted from Stephen King's novel, this supernatural horror movie portrays a high school girl with telekinetic powers seeking revenge on her tormentors.


7. "Jaws" (1975) - Based on Peter Benchley's novel, this frightening film revolves around a great white shark terrorizing a beach town, leading to a climactic battle with the local sheriff.


8. "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) - This psychological horror film, based on Thomas Harris' novel, features an FBI trainee seeking the help of a cannibalistic serial killer to catch another murderer. It is the third film to win an Oscar in all the top five categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It is the only horror film (ever) to be awarded Best Picture.


9. "Let the Right One In" (2008) - Adapted from John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel, this Swedish horror movie tells the story of a bullied boy who befriends a vampire girl.


10. "The Girl with All the Gifts" (2016) - Based on M.R. Carey's novel, this post-apocalyptic horror film follows a group of survivors as they navigate a world overrun by zombie-like creatures.


11. "The Haunting" (1999) - This supernatural horror film, based on Shirley Jackson's novel "The Haunting of Hill House," explores a group's terrifying experiences in a haunted mansion.


12. "The Ring" (2002) - Adapted from Koji Suzuki's novel, this supernatural horror movie involves a cursed videotape that kills anyone who watches it within seven days. This film is a westernized version of the J-Horror film 'Ringu'

13. "Misery" (1990) - Based on Stephen King's nove and directed by Rob Reiner, this psychological thriller follows a famous author held captive by his obsessed fan after a car accident. Kathy Bates recieved a win for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards for this film.




14. "The Mist" (2007) - This science fiction horror film, based on Stephen King's novella (originally printed as part of King's Dark Forces anthology), tells the story of a group of people trapped in a supermarket as they face otherworldly creatures.


15.  "IT" (2017) - Adapted from Stephen King's novel, this terrifying movie features a group of kids facing their worst fears when a shape-shifting clown terrorizes their town. The full story is told over the span of two films, IT Chapter One (2017) and IT Part Two (2019)

Written by: Harold A. Martin

Editing, Additional Writing & Research: Lee Fenton