Horror films have been one of the most prominent genres since the early days of cinema. Although they might lack universal appeal, scary movies tap into the emotions of fear and tend to resonate on a very personal level. The genre certainly hasn’t lost steam since its creation, considering several upcoming horror movies will be released in 2025, which include many promising titles. While horror is unique in many ways, these types of films tend to stand alone in the continuation of their franchises.
Other series might end upon the completion of a trilogy, but scary movies typically include drawn-out stories that feature a surprising number of sequels. This is mainly due to the nature of their release. If a franchise already has a dedicated fan base, subsequent projects are assumed to rake in a worthwhile profit, even if they have lower production values. For example, the beloved Final Destination horror series will receive its sixth installment with the 2025 release of Final Destination: Bloodlines. Oftentimes, these sequels stray from their source material and take the franchise in completely new directions.
10
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Franchise
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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of the most iconic horror movies of all time, and for good reason. The original film was downright bone-chilling and set a high standard for the subsequent releases in the franchise. It makes the series even more terrifying after learning The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was inspired by a true story. The first movie’s sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, took a strong turn in content, and arguably for the worse.
While the initial film felt more plausible and genuinely frightening, the second installment got so crazy to the point where it felt ridiculous. From a conceptual standpoint, the chosen plot makes sense, but it lacks proper execution. The same formula was used but turned up to the max, with more campy scenes and over-the-top absurdity that makes it feel like a parody of the original film.
9
Halloween III: Season Of The Witch (1982)
Halloween Franchise
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8/10
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
R
HorrorMysterySci-Fi
Halloween 3: Season of the Witch is a sci-fi horror film that acts as the third film in the original Halloween films that started in the 1970s. The first and only Halloween film not to feature Michael Myers as the villain, Halloween 3 instead focuses on witchcraft. When a man escapes with a strange jack-o-lantern mask while on the run from mysterious men in suits, the truth is that these masks kill children when they put them on. Protagonists Daniel and Ellie decide to discover the truth behind the manufacturer, the Silver Shamrock company, but what awaits them is a confrontation out of this world.
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Director
Tommy Lee Wallace
Release Date
October 22, 1982
Cast
Tom Atkins
, Stacey Nelkin
, Dan O’Herlihy
, Michael Currie
, Ralph Strait
, Jadeen Barbor
Runtime
98 minutes
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
Writers
Tommy Lee Wallace
, John Carpenter
, Nigel Kneale
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The Halloween series has come a long way since its debut in 1978. The collection consists of a whopping 13 films and is considered to be one of the best horror movie franchises of all time. At the heart of the saga lies the infamous Michael Myers, a masked slasher who is out for blood. Halloween III: Season of the Witch made the biggest change possible in light of the franchise by getting rid of Michael Myers altogether.
Although the new direction didn’t stick by any means, with Myers quickly returning to the next installment, it was a respectable attempt at trying something new. Truth be told, it shouldn’t even be labeled as a Halloween film, but the original storyline that was introduced turned out to be a lot of fun. Part of the negative reception of this sequel surrounded the fact that it made no sense in the context of the other movies, but when treated as a standalone project, Halloween III: Season of the Witch is a quality horror cult classic.
8
Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
Friday The 13th Franchise
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10/10
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
R
HorrorThriller
The sixth film in the franchise, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, is a horror/slasher film that brings back Tommy Jarvis to contend with Jason Vorhees again. After Jarvis accidentally resurrects Jason while trying to destroy his body for good, Tommy must battle his inner demons and return to Crystal Lake to stop Jason’s undead rampage against a new group of teens and adults.
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Director
Tom McLoughlin
Release Date
August 1, 1986
Cast
Thom Mathews
, Jennifer Cooke
, David Kagen
, Kerry Noonan
, Renée Jones
, Tom Fridley
, Darcy DeMoss
, C. J. Graham
Runtime
86 Minutes
Studio(s)
Terror, Inc.
Distributor(s)
Paramount Pictures
Writers
Tom McLoughlin
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Friday the 13th truly needs no introduction in the realm of horror movies. The simple, yet terrifying figure of Jason Voorhees proved to be a groundbreaking character for years to come. In consideration of all 12 Friday the 13th movies, the initial big change took place in the second installment. In the original, the masked killer was Jason’s mother, Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer). The second film portrayed Jason as an adult playing the main antagonist.
Jason’s iconic costume was created from a Detroit Red Wings hockey goalie’s mask.
After a long string of subsequent movies that by and large suffered from lack of substance, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives made a comeback in full effect. As Jason (C.J. Graham) is resurrected from the dead, he is embodied with an entirely supernatural tone that only serves to benefit the plot. Although it’s corny at times, it capitalizes on the qualities that made the previous films likable but changed the dynamic. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s part of the reason it’s one of the best installments in the franchise.
7
Saw III (2006)
Saw Franchise
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Saw 3
R
HorrorMysteryThriller
Saw III is the third film in the horror mystery-thiller franchise directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. Set after the events of the second film, Saw III follows John Kramer continuing to place victims in deadly traps to test them. The film also bounces back and forth between detectives attempting to find the Jigsaw killer while following a man named Jeff who must solve a series of games and forgive those who wronged him to survive.
Director
darren lynn bousman
Release Date
October 27, 2006
Cast
Tobin Bell
, Shawnee Smith
, Angus Macfadyen
, Bahar Soomekh
, Dina Meyer
, Donnie Wahlberg
Runtime
108 Minutes
Studio(s)
Twisted Pictures
Distributor(s)
Lionsgate
Writers
Leigh Whannell
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The Saw franchise represents an example of how horror series can be stretched to their longest ends if they follow a similar format. The collection witnessed a resurgence in 2017 with the release of Jigsaw and will continue its long run with the 11th installment, Saw XI, set to come out in 2025. The original Saw accomplished so much with the resources it had and produced one of the most memorable horror movies of all time.
|
Saw Franchise Films |
Release Year |
|---|---|
|
Saw |
2004 |
|
Saw II |
2005 |
|
Saw III |
2006 |
|
Saw IV |
2007 |
|
Saw V |
2008 |
|
Saw VI |
2009 |
|
Saw 3D |
2010 |
|
Jigsaw |
2017 |
|
Spiral |
2021 |
|
Saw X |
2023 |
|
Saw XI |
2025 |
Although each film follows the same basic concept, many of the subsequent movies tried to explore new directions. The first large change was introduced in Saw II, which not only shifted the dynamic by including more characters but established the more big-picture motivations behind Jigsaw’s (Tobin Bell) actions. Saw III witnessed an even greater shift in direction with the killing of Jigsaw, which gave the following installments an entirely different perspective. Moving forward, the movies used the same formula, but Jigsaw’s involvement was, for the most part, limited to flashbacks.
6
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
The Conjuring Franchise
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10/10
The Conjuring 2
R
Horror
The sequel to 2013’s horror hit, The Conjuring 2 is a supernatural horror film that again follows Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators who travel to London to investigate the case of the Hodgson family. When one of the Hodgson’s daughters becomes seemingly possessed after playing with an Ouija board, supernatural occurrences begin happening all over the home.
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Director
James Wan
Release Date
June 10, 2016
Cast
Robin Atkin Downes
, Vera Farmiga
, Madison Wolfe
, Patrick Wilson
, Abhi Sinha
, Simon McBurney
, Maria Doyle Kennedy
, Sterling Jerins
, Frances O’Connor
Runtime
134 minutes
Studio(s)
New Line Cinema
, RatPac-Dune Entertainment
, The Safran Company
, Atomic Monster
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Writers
Chad Hayes
, James Wan
, Carey Hayes
, David Johnson
Main Genre
Horror
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After its release in 2013, The Conjuring set a new standard for horror films of the decade. It received a strong positive reception from both audiences and critics, which is a rare feat for most modern scary movies. The franchise is set to continue with the release of The Conjuring: Last Rites in 2025. Although The Conjuring 2 was by all means a solid sequel, it presented a new aesthetic that affected the next installment and subsequent spin-offs.
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The Conjuring Universe Movies In Order
The Conjuring Universe includes offshoots like the Annabelle series, The Nun, and The Curse of La Llorona – but what is the best viewing order?
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While the first movie focused on the supernatural in its generic form, the second installment formally introduced the character of the Nun demon Valak (Bonnie Aarons), who was the leading antagonist for the films to come. Although the shift was a breath of fresh air and necessary to keep the franchise new, the religious-themed terror seemed to continue into the third installment and was the spectacle of the prequels. The nature of faith wasn’t completely foreign to the original film, but was certainly more prominent in other Conjuring universe movies.
5
Final Destination 3 (2006)
Final Destination Franchise
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Final Destination was the first horror movie of its kind when it first hit screens in 2000. It was the first franchise to present Death as an intangible force that seems to follow certain people around. Every installment follows the same basic layout. One person experiences a vision of some impending horrific accident and effectively evades certain death along with a few other individuals.
There are several theories behind the origin of Final Destination’s premonitions, but the dynamic of how Death works is alluded to in the films. In the majority of the Final Destination collection, the Grim Reaper takes his victims in the same manner. In a Rube-Goldberg machine fashion, people are typically killed due to a successive series of small consequences that end up with fatal results. However, Final Destination 3 takes a new direction and additionally uses photo clues to foreshadow how the characters meet their end.
4
Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987)
Prom Night Franchise
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The Prom Night franchise is typically more unknown in the genre of cinematic horror. The Canadian slasher series is relatively indie, but it offers genuine, cult classic-type terror. The sequel to the original 1980 Prom Night arrived with Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II seven years later. There is virtually no connection between the first and second installment, even though it’s labeled as a sequel.
Jamie Lee Curtis starred in the original Prom Night, which was only her third movie performance after Halloween and The Fog.
The only main similarity is that both plots unfold in the same environment of the fictional Hamilton High School. While Prom Night was entirely a slasher movie, the sequel introduced the presence of supernatural forces in the form of the evil Mary Lou (Lisa Schrage). It’s a wild ride and packed with cheesy, yet enthralling terror. The new direction of spiritual influence consequently bled into the third and fourth films. Like the third Halloween movie, even though it’s labeled as a sequel, it’s a singular ordeal.
3
Prey (2022)
Predator Franchise
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26
9.1/10
Prey
R
HorrorDramaAction
Serving as a prequel to the entire Predator series, Prey is set in the world of the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. The action-thriller follows Naru, the skilled warrior who fiercely protects her tribe against a highly evolved alien predator. The film will also reveal the origin of the Predator warrior race’s descent to Earth for the first time. Naru will have to utilize the tools of her time to combat a threat with skills and weapons that exist far beyond her time.
Director
Dan Trachtenberg
Release Date
August 5, 2022
Cast
Dane DiLiegro
, Michelle Thrush
, Julian Black Antelope
, Stormee Kipp
, Amber Midthunder
, Dakota Beavers
Runtime
1h 40m
Studio(s)
20th Century Studios
, Davis Entertainment
, Lawrence Gordon Productions
Distributor(s)
Hulu
Writers
Patrick Aison
, Dan Trachtenberg
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In terms of its location in the Predator movie timeline, Prey takes place in 1719, and follows the story of Naru (Amber Midthunder), a young Comanche warrior of the Northern Great Plains who marks the first human encounter with the ancient alien species. Prey takes a turn as it presents a prequel to the beloved franchise, even though Alien vs. Predator sheds some light on the origin of the bloodthirsty life forms.
Prey follows a new direction for the Predator series, but also represents a significant step in Native American cinematic portrayals. It features indigenous populations at the forefront, with an intended release for mainstream audiences. It’s refreshing to witness a film that depicts Comanche protagonists without them needing to be a spectacle. It’s an amazing new installment that capitalizes on all the likable qualities of the films while simultaneously introducing a refreshing story.
2
Doctor Sleep (2019)
The Shining Franchise
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8.3/10
Doctor Sleep
R
HorrorThriller
Based on Stephen King’s book of the same name and the sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep follows an adult Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) as he confronts his past at the Overlook Hotel. When a young girl named Abra reaches out to Danny using the telepathic Shine, he learns that she is being hunted and reluctantly becomes her protector. With the Overlook Hotel holding the key to Danny’s own power, he’s forced to return in order to finally move on.
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Director
Mike Flanagan
Release Date
October 30, 2019
Cast
Carl Lumbly
, Ewan McGregor
, Bruce Greenwood
, Emily Alyn Lind
, Rebecca Ferguson
, Alex Essoe
, Kyliegh Curran
, Zahn McClarnon
Runtime
153 minutes
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Writers
Stephen King
, Akiva Goldsman
, Mike Flanagan
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It seems like an impossible task to even attempt a cinematic depiction of a follow-up to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, given how legendary the film is in the horror genre. Yet, Mike Flanagan undertook this daunting challenge with the 2019 sequel: Doctor Sleep. The film is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same title, which is similarly a continuation of The Shining’s story.
Although it’s technically a sequel to the beloved film, it doesn’t unfold in the way one might expect, which makes sense given the ending of the original movie. Doctor Sleep follows Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor), who is now an adult. Haunted by his past, he finds solace after meeting a child with similar powers to his own, just before realizing the extent of the shine’s reach over others. While the film partly takes place in the Overlook Hotel, Doctor Sleep imagines an entirely new outlet within The Shining universe.
1
Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007)
Wrong Turn Franchise
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Wrong Turn 2: Dead End
R
HorrorThriller
A reality show production in the remote West Virginia backwoods becomes a horrific contest of survival when the show’s participants stumble upon a clan of cannibalistic locals.
Director
Joe Lynch
Release Date
October 9, 2007
Cast
Erica Leerhsen
, Henry Rollins
, Texas Battle
, Aleksa Palladino
, Daniella Alonso
Runtime
93 minutes
Studio(s)
Summit Entertainment
, Constantin Film
Distributor(s)
20th Century Fox
Writers
Turi Meyer
, Al Septien
Main Genre
Horror
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The Wrong Turn series demonstrates an interesting example of how horror franchises can maintain similar content while moving in entirely new directions of depiction. In the fabled slasher series, each film follows the same basic layout. Some people get lost and stranded during a trip, and end up getting hunted by savage cannibals who dwell in the surrounding area. Oddly enough, Wrong Turn takes real inspiration from actual events, which is frankly hard to believe given the premise of the story.
Even though Wrong Turn 2: Dead End essentially copies and pastes the same premise, it unfolds the plot with a different aesthetic. The original Wrong Turn was more suspenseful and cinematic, while the follow-up was an all-out gore festival. Wrong Turn 2: Dead End became more self-aware, and didn’t take its source material nearly as seriously. It introduced a blend between comedy and horror, which worked well in the context of the franchise. Depending on personal preference, either film could be considered better, but the sequel is undoubtedly more fun.