This article contains mention of violence and assault.
Horror movies of the 1980s are some of the best and most influential of the 20th century, and many of them are responsible for creating new niches within the genre. Blending the frightening aspects with drama, social commentary, and psychological thriller elements sets these films apart from their competition and distinguishes them from other works of horror. The 1980s were a particularly strong decade for horror because there was significant social and political upheaval happening around the world, which lends itself to being represented through art.
Though many of the most influential scary movies are well-remembered, there are plenty of underrated 1980s horror movies worth checking out. More often than not, terrifying and boundary-pushing works are misunderstood when they’re first released, but later critical reception reveals them to be ahead of their times in terms of thematic storytelling or visual style. Overtly graphic or violent horror films aren’t necessarily the most creative, but when new ways of experiencing horror are shown on screen, it’s impossible not to take note.
10 The Witches Of Eastwick (1987)
Directed by George Miller
The Witches of Eastwick 1
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The Witches of Eastwick is a 1987 film directed by George Miller. The story revolves around three women in a small town who unknowingly conjure a mysterious and charismatic stranger. As the stranger’s influence grows, the women explore their newfound magical abilities. The film stars Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer, delivering a blend of dark comedy and supernatural drama based on the novel by John Updike.
Director George Miller Release Date June 12, 1987 Writers John Updike , Michael Cristofer Cast Jack Nicholson , Cher , Susan Sarandon , Michelle Pfeiffer , Veronica Cartwright , Richard Jenkins , Keith Jochim , Carel Struycken Runtime 118 Minutes
The star-studded cast in The Witches of Eastwick is enough to make it a memorable addition to the horror genre. Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jack Nicholson are hilariously devilish in the film. Based on the John Updike novel of the same name, The Witches of Eastwick opts for a more modern take elevated by the performances of some of the most prominent actresses of the decade. Horror comedies like The Witches of Eastwick were becoming more popular in the ’80s, and the film is a great example of why.
The 1996 film
The Craft
is frequently compared to
The Witches of Eastwick
, as it revolves around a group of young women who explore their supernatural abilities.
The 1996 film The Craft is frequently compared to The Witches of Eastwick, as it revolves around a group of young women who explore their supernatural abilities. However, the female revenge narrative coupled with the campy style of The Witches of Eastwick has influenced some of the best female-led horror movies, like Jennifer’s Body or The Love Witch. Though the story of The Witches of Eastwick isn’t considered an overtly feminist story, it paved the way for more boundary-pushing explorations of female empowerment.
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The Witches of Eastwick (1987) |
67% |
62% |
9 Poltergeist (1982)
Directed by Tobe Hooper
Poltergeist PG-13SupernaturalHorror
Director Tobe Hooper Release Date June 4, 1982 Writers Steven Spielberg , Michael Grais , Mark Victor Cast Jane Adams , Rosemarie DeWitt , Jared Harris , Sam Rockwell , Nicholas Braun
Only a few years after his groundbreaking success with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 1974, Tobe Hooper directed Poltergeist for audiences of the 1980s. Steven Spielberg was part of the writing team and one of the producers, making Poltergeist one of the most terrifying projects the family-friendly director ever worked on. At the time of its release, Poltergeist was considered one of the scariest movies ever made and holds up well to this day.
Poltergeist successfully incorporated the media and the contemporary anxieties about what children were consuming on television into a landmark piece of horror. It was a massive success both critically and at the box office. It’s significant because it pushed back on the traditional values and the structure of the nuclear family, which was popular in cinema in the ’80s. Though it’s been consistently praised for its special effects, Poltergeist was no less dedicated to its characters, giving the plot nuance and not relying on cheap thrills.
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Poltergeist (1982) |
88% |
79% |
Related 10 Most Influential Horror Movies Of All Time
Many of the best horror movies of all time have also gone down in history for sparking the genius of future filmmakers who draw inspiration from them.
8 The Evil Dead (1981)
Directed by Sam Raimi
The Evil Dead (1981) 2
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NC-17Horror
The Evil Dead is a horror movie from 1981 starring Bruce Campbell and directed by Sam Raimi. The film follows Ash Williams, who after visiting a cabin in the woods, is tormented by deadites and must fight for his life after his friends are possessed. The Evil Dead not only started a long-running horror franchise, but it is also the film responsible for putting both Raimi and Campbell on the map as a director and actor, respectively.
Director Sam Raimi Release Date October 15, 1981 Writers Sam Raimi Cast Bruce Campbell , Ellen Sandweiss , Richard DeManincor , Betsy Baker , Theresa Tilly , Ted Raimi , Ivan Raimi Runtime 85 Minutes Franchise(s) Evil Dead Expand
Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead franchise has become a cult classic within the horror genre, and the 1981 movie The Evil Dead started it all. Though there’s an argument to be made that the sequel, Evil Dead II, is the better film, the first installment was pivotal and is one of the best horror comedies of the 1980s. While the later movies delve further into the comedy aspects, The Evil Dead leans toward action. This gave The Evil Dead an edge of intrigue through the skillful fight choreography.
Campbell’s character, Ash Williams, has become something of a cultural phenomenon, thanks to the collaboration between Campbell and Raimi that resulted in the iconic horror-action hero.
However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that the visual style of the movie and the performance from Bruce Campbell cemented the project as an amazing horror film that retained its sense of humor. Campbell’s character, Ash Williams, has become something of a cultural phenomenon, thanks to the collaboration between Campbell and Raimi that resulted in the iconic horror-action hero. The film can be credited for enshrining Raimi and Campbell in film and horror history and influencing many action-horror movies to come.
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The Evil Dead (1981) |
86% |
84% |
7 Possession (1981)
Directed by Andrzej Żuławski
Possession RDramaHorror Where to Watch
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Possession is a horror-drama film by director Andrzej Żuławski that was released in 1981. The film follows international spy Mark, who returns home only for his wife to divorce him and leave him for another man. The triangle between the three grows increasingly violent, but the truth behind Anna goes deeper and darker than any of them realize.
Director Andrzej Zulawski Release Date May 25, 1981 Studio(s) Oliane Productions , Marianne Productions , Soma Film Produktion Writers Andrzej Zulawski Cast Isabelle Adjani , Sam Neill , Heinz Bennent Runtime 124 Minutes Expand
The terrifying and traumatic Possession is not an easy film to watch, but it encapsulates the violence and chills of the psychological horror niche brilliantly. The story takes place in West Berlin when the city was still divided and is in conversation with the social and political issues of the time. Mark, the protagonist, is a spy, and when he returns to West Berlin, he arrives to find his wife, Anna, changed and demanding a divorce. Sometimes referred to as a break-up film, Possession only grows more gruesome and horrific from there.
It’s taken many years for Andrzej Żuławski’s intense and gory film to be reappraised and thought of as an important addition to the horror genre. However, the performances by Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill alone are enough to warrant revisiting the movie and remembering how innovative the project is. To call Possession a horror film omits some of the best aspects of the narrative, as the genre-bending project was instrumental in showing how much horror can accomplish through the blending of story elements.
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Possession (1981) |
84% |
78% |
6 The Entity (1982)
Directed by Sidney J. Furie
The Entity RDramaHorror
The Entity is a supernatural horror film directed by Sidney J. Furie, starring Barbara Hershey as Carla Moran, a woman who experiences terrifying assaults by an unseen force. The film, inspired by a true story, centers around Carla’s struggle to convince skeptics of the paranormal nature of her torment, seeking both psychological and scientific help.
Director Sidney J. Furie Release Date September 30, 1982 Studio(s) American Cinema International Writers Frank De Felitta Cast Barbara Hershey Runtime 125 Minutes Expand
The Entity is a harrowing film to watch and faced backlash over its graphic depictions of sexual assault throughout the story. Though the intensity of the scenes remains unsettling, The Entity has been reevaluated over time and seen as an early example of a subversion of films that use assault as a form of exploitation for conflict and shock value. Instead, The Entity takes the pain and bravery of its protagonist, Carla, seriously and juxtaposes the gravity of her situation with the fact that the people in her life aren’t supportive or don’t believe her.
Barbara Hershey’s performance as Carla is frequently singled out as a defining factor in the film.
The narrative in The Entity revolves around Carla being repeatedly abused and harassed by an invisible demonic force and the lengths she has to go to convince the people in her life that she’s telling the truth and understands what’s happening to her. It also grapples with the position of a woman as a single mother and the societal pressures that accompany this. Barbara Hershey’s performance as Carla is frequently singled out as a defining factor in the film.
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The Entity (1982) |
62% |
61% |
5 Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Directed by Ruggero Deodato
Cannibal Holocaust rHorror Where to Watch
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Cannibal Holocaust is a controversial 1980 horror film directed by Ruggero Deodato. It follows anthropologist Harold Monroe (Robert Kerman) and his rescue team as they venture into the Amazon jungle to investigate the disappearance of documentary crew that went missing while researching a cannibalistic tribe.
Director Ruggero Deodato Release Date June 21, 1985 Studio(s) United Artists Writers Gianfranco Clerici Cast Robert Kerman , Francesca Ciardi , Perry Pirkanen , Luca Barbareschi Runtime 95 minutes Expand
One of the best cannibal movies of all time, Cannibal Holocaust takes a searing look at the exploitative nature of filmmaking and uses grotesque imagery to do so. A story within a story, Cannibal Holocaust, sees its protagonist, Harold Monore, uncover the lost documentary footage of U.S. filmmakers in the rain forest in South America. In conversation with the problematic and offensive stereotypes surrounding this region, Cannibal Holocaust soon uncovers how far the crew was willing to go to get an unforgettable story for their project.
The making of Cannibal Holocaust stirred up enormous controversy, as the director of Cannibal Holocaust was arrested for murder because of how realistic the violence was (via Collider). Though these accusations were heightened to increase publicity for the film, looking back on the brutal imagery in the film makes the accusations almost believable. However, Cannibal Holocaust isn’t just significant because of these rumors but also because it helped establish the found footage genre as a critical part of film history.
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Cannibal Holocaust (1980) |
67% |
61% |
4 Hellraiser (1987)
Directed by Clive Barker
Hellraiser (1987) RHorrorThriller
Based on the novella The Hellbound Heart, Hellraiser is a 1987 supernatural horror film written and directed by the novella’s original author, Clive Barker. After an unfaithful wife encounters the zombie of her dead lover, demonic entities known as cenobites pursue him after he escapes their sadomasochistic underworld.
Director Clive Barker Release Date September 18, 1987 Studio(s) Film Futures , New World Pictures Writers Clive Barker Cast Ashley Laurence , Sean Chapman , Doug Bradley , Andrew Robinson , Claire Higgins , Nicholas Vince , Simon Bamford , Grace Kirby , Oliver Smith Runtime 94 minutes Franchise(s) Hellraiser Expand
The Hellraiser franchise has gone on to become a soaring success, with Clive Barker’s first movie and directorial debut, the 1987 Hellraiser, kick-starting the universe’s success. The line between pleasure and pain is something explored in the narrative of Hellraiser, and the desire to push the boundaries of the human experience is an interest many of the central characters share. Though the Cenobites are the monsters in the world of Hellraiser, it’s Frank, played by Sean Chapman, who is the most terrifying and sadistic in the film.
Pinhead, the leader of the Cenobites, has a distinct and memorable character design that’s inspired other great works of horror.
Pinhead, the leader of the Cenobites, has a distinct and memorable character design that’s inspired other great works of horror. While Barker was best known for his plays and novels before directing Hellraiser, he demonstrated the same dedication to worldbuilding and character that he does in his written work. The explicit discussions of sexuality and desire onscreen were also ahead of their time in the 1980s, which has made Hellraiser relevant today.
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Hellraiser (1987) |
70% |
73% |
3 The Fly (1986)
Directed by David Cronenberg
The Fly RHorror Sci-FiDrama Where to Watch
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From legendary director David Cronenberg, The Fly tells the story of Seth Brundle, a scientist who, in attempting to create a device that facilitates teleportation, accidentally merges his DNA with that of a fly, and begins to mutate into a human-fly hybrid. The film stars Jeff Goldblum as Brundle, with Geena Davis as Ronnie Quaife, Seth’s partner and love interest.
Director David Cronenberg Release Date August 15, 1986 Studio(s) 20th Century Writers Charles Edward Pogue , David Cronenberg Cast Jeff Goldblum , John Getz , Geena Davis Runtime 96 minutes Franchise(s) The Fly Expand
Though a remake itself, David Cronenberg’s 1986 iteration of The Fly is almost unrecognizable from the original 1958 version. As a director, writer, and actor, Cronenberg would reinvent the horror and thriller genres many times over throughout his career, and The Fly is only one of the landmark projects he took on in the 1980s. Starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, the body horror and sci-fi elements in The Fly need to be seen to be believed.
Goldblum’s character, Seth, accidentally fuses himself with a fly after inventing a teleportation pod, and the transformation he goes through after this is horrifying and impossible to look away from. The chemistry between Goldblum and Davis is fantastic, elevating what might have been a classic body horror story into a devastating portrait of doomed and lost love. Winning the Academy Award for Best Makeup, The Fly goes down in history as one of the most tragic and grotesque horror romance movies of the 1980s.
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The Fly (1986) |
93% |
83% |
Related 16 Body Horror Films Inspired by David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg’s clinically fleshy influence in horror has only grown over the years, its juicy mark dribbling down the edges of the silver screen.
2 The Thing (1982)
Directed by John Carpenter
The Thing (1982) 6
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A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
Director John Carpenter Release Date June 25, 1982 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Writers Bill Lancaster Cast T.K. Carter , David Clennon , Keith David , Kurt Russell , wilford brimley Runtime 109 minutes Franchise(s) The Thing Expand
Based on the John W. Campbell Jr. novella Who Goes There?, The Thing also has much in common with Lovecraftian horror stories and monsters. Kurt Russell stars as R.J. MacReady alongside Keith David as Childs and an ensemble cast that braves the terrors of the narrative with dedication. The atmosphere and aesthetics of The Thing were inspirational for many later projects that incorporated themes of distrust and fear of the other. This was particularly topical during the 1980s and hits home with viewers today.
While John Carpenter has an impressive oeuvre,
The Thing
stands out as one of his most effective at brewing tension and terror over a long period of time.
Both the body horror aspects and the depictions of the monster in The Thing have helped cement it as one of the best and most skillfully crafted horror movies of the 20th century. While John Carpenter has an impressive oeuvre, The Thing stands out as one of his most effective at brewing tension and terror over a long period of time. Despite negative reviews and graphic imagery that shocked audiences, The Thing has received great acclaim retrospectively, and it’s undoubtedly well-deserved.
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1 The Shining (1980)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
The Shining 12
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Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall tells the story of the Torrance family, who move to the isolated Overlook Hotel so that father Jack Torrance can act as its winter caretaker. Stuck at the hotel due to the winter storms, the malevolent supernatural forces inhabiting the building slowly begin to drive Jack insane, causing his wife and psychically gifted son to be caught up in a fight for their lives when Jack is pushed over the edge.
Director Stanley Kubrick Release Date June 13, 1980 Writers Diane Johnson , Stanley Kubrick Cast Danny Lloyd , Shelley Duvall , Jack Nicholson , Scatman Crothers Runtime 146 minutes
It’s surprising today to think that there was ever a time when The Shining wasn’t considered one of the best and most innovative horror movies of all time. However, when Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece first premiered, it received mixed reviews from critics and audiences and was criticized for its deviations from the Stephen King novel it was based on. However, The Shining was never supposed to be an exact replication of King’s book and instead became enormously influential, inspiring modern horror films and being frequently referenced in pop culture.
The many quotable lines and the dedicated performances from Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall are part of the reason The Shining‘s story is so enduring today. Unpacking masculinity and the tenuous cultural period between the late ’70s and early ’80s in the U.S., The Shining is a time capsule of this era while remaining fervently relevant to modern audiences. There are few horror filmmakers who can claim they haven’t been influenced by Kubrick, and specifically The Shining.
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The Shining (1980) |
83% |
93% |