The 1980s were a great time for horror movies and a decade full of undisputed classics and several underappreciated hidden gems. With advancements in special effects and increased use of animatronics and prosthetics, horror movies during this decade could depict gruesome imagery and shocking visuals in ways previously thought unimaginable. This was also the era when slasher movies really took off, and horror films dared to become even more gory, shocking, and violent than what was permissible in previous decades.
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Some of the greatest horror movies ever made were released in the 1980s as all-time great directors like David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, and Wes Craven really came into their own. The 1980s saw the creation of franchises that have continued right up to this day and the introduction of horror villains like Freddy Krueger, who have become icons of modern popular culture. With films that reflected the social and political anxieties of their time, the 1980s were truly a golden age for horror.
10 The Shining (1980)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
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16 9.4/10 The Shining RHorrorDrama
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.
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*Availability in US 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 Budget $19 Million Expand
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The 1980s started strong as Stanley Kubrick’s incredible adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining was not only the best horror of the year but just might be the greatest horror movie ever made. Jack Nicholson was never more menacing than when playing Jack Torrance, the recovering alcoholic and aspiring novelist who found himself slowly being compelled into a murderous rampage due to the spooky influence of the spirits of the Overlook Hotel. With endless symbolism and a healthy dose of the supernatural, The Shining captured the eerie essence of King’s book, even if the author himself was not a fan.
Related 9 Things Stephen King Has Said About Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining Movie
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is considered one of the greatest horror films ever, but one man isn’t a fan: Stephen King, the author of the novel.
From iconic quotes like “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” to the murderous announcement of “Here’s Johnny!” The Shining was a chilling journey into the darkest recesses of madness set in a creepy hotel that’s not nearly as vacant as it first seemed. The Shining was genuinely frightening, and Shelley Duvall gave one of her all-time great performances as the long-suffering wife Wendy, while the clairvoyance of their young son Danny added to the intrigue of its lore. The Shining was an all-time great horror that’s not lost any of its power all these decades later.
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9 The Evil Dead (1981)
Directed by Sam Raimi
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9/10 The Evil Dead RHorror
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 September 10, 1981 Studio(s) New Line Cinema Distributor(s) New Line Cinema Writers Sam Raimi Cast Bruce Campbell , Ellen Sandweiss , Richard DeManincor , Betsy Baker , Theresa Tilly , Philip A. Gillis Runtime 85 minutes Franchise(s) Evil Dead Sequel(s) Evil Dead II , Army of Darkness , Evil Dead Rise Budget $375,000 Main Genre Horror Expand
Although 1981 saw the release of classics like An American Werewolf in London or the sequel that properly introduced Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th Part 2, it was Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead that stood out that year. As the inception point for the franchise that continues to this day, the first Evil Dead movie was far less comedic than the rest of Raimi’s trilogy, as a group of friends was plagued by demonic possession while Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) was forced to survive in an increasingly brutal confrontation.
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The Evil Dead was a true cult classic that laid the groundwork for everything that followed it. Campbell was perfectly cast as the tenacious and often hilarious hero who will stop at nothing to ensure his own survival in a performance that was so informed by his skill for slapstick that the sequels leaned even more heavily into his undeniable comedic genius. The Evil Dead was a low-budget horror film that managed to break through into the mainstream and helped solidify Raimi’s reputation as a major horror filmmaker.
8 The Thing (1982)
Directed by John Carpenter
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11 9.5/10 The Thing RHorror Sci-FiMystery
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.
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*Availability in US Director John Carpenter Release Date June 25, 1982 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(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 prequel(s) The Thing Budget $15 million Expand
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It seemed the audiences and critics of 1982 didn’t connect with John Carpenter’s The Thing as it received poor reviews and underperformed at the box office. This was the year of Poltergeist and Creepshow, although, with the power of hindsight, it’s clear that The Thing was misunderstood and was truly the best horror release of that year. With a terrifying and unknowable shapeshifting extraterrestrial threat at the heart of its story, The Thing was characterized by fear and paranoia as the trust between a group of American researchers in Antarctica slowly started to erode.
The alien in The Thing could assimilate, then imitate, other organisms, meaning none of the survivors could tell who was still themselves or who was an imposter just waiting for their chance to attack. With themes around the fear of the other, The Thing was particularly relevant considering the Cold War tensions of the 1980s and increased fear of mutually assured destruction in the event of a nuclear attack. While it didn’t get the love it deserved upon release, The Thing has been reevaluated as one of the best horror movies ever made.
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7 Videodrome (1983)
Directed by David Cronenberg
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Videodrome RHorror Sci-FiThriller
Videodrome (1983) is a science fiction horror film directed by David Cronenberg. The movie stars James Woods as Max Renn, a television executive who stumbles upon a broadcast signal featuring extreme violence and torture. His obsession with uncovering the source leads him into a disturbing and hallucinatory journey, highlighting the destructive potential of media and technology. Debbie Harry also stars as Nicki Brand, a radio personality entangled in the narrative.
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*Availability in US Director David Cronenberg Release Date February 4, 1983 Writers David Cronenberg Cast James Woods , Debbie Harry , Leslie Carlson , Peter Dvorsky , Sonja Smits Runtime 87 minutes Budget $5.9 million Expand
Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg developed his unique talent for body horror grotesqueness throughout the 1970s, and by the release of Videodrome in 1983, he had truly started to perfect it. Cronenberg’s alienating cinematic style meant he was rarely able to reach a mainstream audience, and Videodrome was no different as it bombed at the box office. However, it built up a reputation as a true cult classic, as its techno-surrealism style and deeply psychological themes made it stand out as one of the year’s most accomplished films.
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Videodrome blended body horror and sci-fi as layers of corruption revealed themselves as a man sought to discover the source of a strange broadcast symbol that aired unauthorized snuf films. From outrageous hallucinations that highlighted a crumbling sense of reality, the themes of Videodrome addressed the increasing grasp technology was holding on society at large and the negative impact of allowing it to take over entirely. Videodrome is even more relevant today than it was in the 1980s, as it signaled the dark path technology was leading society down.
6 A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
Directed by Wes Craven
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9.3/10 A Nightmare on Elm Street RHorror
A Nightmare on Elm Street, released in 1984, explores the terror faced by a group of teenagers haunted in their dreams by Fred Krueger, a vengeful spirit. As they confront a series of mysterious deaths, Nancy Thompson uncovers the truth about Krueger’s dark past and seeks to stop him.
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*Availability in US Director Wes Craven Release Date November 9, 1984 Studio(s) New Line Cinema Writers Wes Craven Cast Heather Langenkamp , John Saxon , Ronee Blakley , Amanda Wyss , Jsu Garcia , Johnny Depp , Robert Englund , Charles Fleischer , Joseph Whipp , Lin Shaye , Joe Unger , Mimi Craven , Jack Shea , Ed Call , Sandy Lipton , David Andrews , Jeff Levine , Donna Woodrum , Shashawnee Hall , Carol Pritikin , Brian Reise , Ash Adams , Don Hannah , Leslie Hoffman , Paul Grenier Character(s) Nancy Thompson , Lieutenant Thompson , Marge Thompson , Tina Gray , Rod Lane , Glen Lantz , Freddy Krueger , Dr. King , Sergeant Parker , Teacher , Sergeant Garcia , Nurse , Minister , Mr. Lantz , Mrs. Lantz , Foreman , Coroner , Mrs. Gray , Cop #1 , Cop #2 , Cop #3 , Surfer #1 , Surfer #2 , Hallguard , Mrs. Gray’s Boyfriend Runtime 91 minutes Franchise(s) A Nightmare on Elm Street Sequel(s) A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge , A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors , A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master , A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child , Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare , Wes Craven’s New Nightmare , Freddy vs. Jason Budget $1.8 million Main Genre Horror YouTube Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuYoEtEI_go Expand
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The world was introduced to the child murderer who kills teenagers in their dreams, Freddy Krueger, in Wes Craven’s 1984 classic A Nightmare on Elm Street. While this was known as the film debut of actor Johnny Depp, it was also the beginning of a major horror franchise that went on to have six sequels, a television series, and even a crossover, some of which were better than others. However, it’s tough to beat the original, as everything that was chilling and great about this series was on full display in the very first movie.
As a unique blend of classic slasher horror movie tropes and more fantastical elements, the way that A Nightmare on Elm Street combined the threat of murder with an surreal dreamworld gave it a unique appeal. As a killer who visited his victims in their dreams, Freddy was a threat unlike anything ever seen in mainstream movies before and, as a result, became a genuine horror icon. As a film that walked the fine line between the imaginary and real, A Nightmare on Elm Street was an original horror that captured the often traumatic experience of adolescence.
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5 Re-Animator (1985)
Directed by Stuart Gordon
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9/10 Re-Animator UnratedHorror Sci-FiComedy
1985’s Re-Animator is a feature-length film based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story, Herbert West–Reanimator. The Horror and Comedy release follows a man that spends time attempting to create a reagent that will reanimate the dead.
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*Availability in US Director Stuart Gordon Release Date October 18, 1985 Writers Stuart Gordon , William Norris , Dennis Paoli Cast Jeffrey Combs , Bruce Abbott , Robert Sampson , David Gale , Barbara Crampton Runtime 84 minutes Sequel(s) Re-Animator: Evolution Budget $900 thousand Main Genre Horror Expand
The comedy-horror Re-Animator just might be the greatest H.P. Lovecraft adaptation of them all, as it perfectly captured the spirit of his 1922 short story “Herbert West–Reanimator.” Starring Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West, Re-Animator told the story of a medical student who discovered how to reanimate the dead in a gory tale that blended the classic horror of Frankenstein with the aesthetics and humor of the best 1980s horror. With deadpan delivery, Combs gave his all to this more lighthearted take on Lovecraft’s original story.
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Re-Animator was campy horror movie fun in the truest sense of the word and led to several sequels, including Bride of Re-Animator in 1990 and Beyond Re-Animator in 2003. With an incredible soundtrack that even paid tribute to the classic score from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Re-Animator was a real treat for horror movie lovers as it leaned into the legacy of the genre while also feeling totally original. As a fun and frightening film, Re-Animator beat out other great movies of 1985, such as Fright Night and Day of the Dead.
4 The Fly (1986)
Directed by David Cronenberg
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9/10 The Fly RHorror Sci-FiDrama
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.
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*Availability in US Director David Cronenberg Release Date August 15, 1986 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Charles Edward Pogue , David Cronenberg Cast Jeff Goldblum , John Getz , Geena Davis Runtime 96 minutes Franchise(s) The Fly Sequel(s) The Fly II Budget $15 million Expand
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David Cronenberg managed to improve upon the original when he remade the 1956 B-movie horror classic The Fly, a sci-fi horror classic based on a short story by George Langelaan. With Jeff Goldblum as the brilliant but eccentric scientist Seth Brundle, The Fly leaned into Cronenberg’s penchant for body horror as an experiment gone wrong meant he slowly transformed into a terrifying fly-human hybrid creature known as Brundlefly. With gruesome imagery, The Fly deservedly earned an Academy Award for Best Makeup.
The Fly has gained an important place in popular culture and has been parodied numerous times, like in The Simpsons‘ “Treehouse of Horror VIII,” when Homer used a matter transporter machine that switched his head with that of a fly. Even The Fly’s tagline, “Be afraid. Be very afraid,” has become so well known that many may not realize it originated from the marketing of this film. With an undeniable legacy, The Fly was the perfect encapsulation of Cronenberg’s unique style that made him a true original in the world of horror.
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3 Predator (1987)
Directed by John McTiernan
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14 9.3/10 Predator RActionAdventureHorror Sci-Fi
A team of elite commandos led by Major Dutch Schaefer is sent on a rescue mission deep in the Central American jungle. However, they soon find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior with advanced technology and a penchant for collecting human trophies. As the creature picks them off one by one, Dutch must rely on his wits and combat skills to survive the ultimate test of man versus alien.
Director John McTiernan Release Date June 12, 1987 Writers Jim Thomas , John Thomas Cast Arnold Schwarzenegger , Carl Weathers , Elpidia Carrillo , Bill Duke , Jesse Ventura , Shane Black , Sonny Landham , Richard Chaves Runtime 107 Minutes Main Genre Action Expand
Horror movies can traverse many different genres as they often combine elements of comedy, fantasy, sci-fi, or, in the case of Predator, action movies. This action horror starring Arnold Schwarzenegger led to an entire franchise as humans faced off against the highly skilled extraterrestrial creatures known as Yautja. By taking the action-hero persona that Schwarzenegger had developed in movies like Commando and blending it with the horror of a seemingly unstoppable alien foe in the jungle, Predator was a claustrophobic classic with impressive special effects for its time.
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Part sci-fi, part horror, part action, Predator managed to successfully juggle its blend of genres to produce a tense, engaging, and highly entertaining movie. While Schwarzenegger gave one of his best performances as Dutch Schaefer, whose utterances of lines like “get to the choppa!” have gone down in movie history, Carl Weathers also deserved praise for his effective turn as the CIA agent Dillon. While the Predator franchise had plenty more great moments to come, it never got any better than the 1987 original.
2 They Live (1988)
Directed by John Carpenter
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8/10 They Live RHorror Sci-FiAction
John Carpenter directs They Live, a sci-fi movie about a drifter known as Nada (Roddy Piper), who discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see the evil forces that secretly pull the strings of the world and manipulate people through subliminal messages. The film provides a critical commentary on consumerism and conformism from a science fiction perspective.
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*Availability in US Director John Carpenter Release Date November 4, 1988 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers John Carpenter Cast Keith David , Roddy Piper , George ‘Buck’ Flower , Peter Jason , Meg Foster Runtime 94 minutes Budget $4 million Expand
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Director John Carpenter made some of his greatest work during the 1980s, and one underappreciated release was the biting satire They Live. As a blend of action, comedy, sci-fi, and horror, They Live was an effective deconstruction of 1980s neoliberalism that took sharp aim at Reaganomics, increased commodification of culture, and the divisive politics of the era. They Live tells the story of a drifter named Nada (Roddy Piper) who discovers special sunglasses that allow him to see the ruling class as they really are: aliens manipulating the status quo through subliminal messaging.
They Live was a clever satire that showcased those in power’s desire to manipulate people into consuming, breeding, and conforming to serve the interests of elite aliens, pulling the strings behind the scenes. While They Live was lambasted at the time of its release for its heavy-handed messaging and subversive social commentary, this was also the exact reason it has endured so well as an effective time capsule of the era in which it was produced. With a powerful message about the dehumanizing effects of an increasingly fractured world, the scariest thing about They Live was how accurate it was.
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1 Begotten (1989)
Directed by E. Elias Merhige
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Begotten Not RatedHorrorFantasy
Begotten is an avant-garde horror film directed by E. Elias Merhige, featuring stark black-and-white cinematography and minimal dialogue. The film depicts a series of disturbing and surreal imagery, exploring themes of creation, death, and rebirth in a mythological context. Its abstract narrative and unsettling visuals challenge conventional storytelling and evoke a visceral, contemplative response from viewers.
Director E. Elias Merhige Release Date June 5, 1991 Writers E. Elias Merhige Cast Brian Salzberg , Donna Dempsey , Stephen Charles Barry , James Gandia , Garfield White , Arthur Streeter , Daniel Harkins , Michael Phillips , Adolfo Vargas , Erik Slavin , Terry Andersen Character(s) God Killing Himself , Mother Earth , Son of Earth Runtime 72 Minutes Main Genre Horror Expand
The 1980s ended with some great horror movies, including the excellent adaptation of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary and cult favorites like Puppet Master. However, the honor of best horror of that year has to go to the experimental classic Begotten, a silent horror movie that terrifyingly explored creation myths in Christian mythology, Celtic mythology, and Slavic paganism. Originally conceived as a work of experimental theater, Begotten made for challenging viewing and certainly won’t be for everybody, but those who connect with it will do so deeply.
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With impressive cinematography and visual imagery, Begotten was a piece of avant-garde filmmaking that reached a much larger audience in the 21st century due to its widespread availability online. As a beautiful and challenging work of art from E. Elias Merhige, Begotten’s haunting and dreamlike aesthetic was remarkably unsettling in a way that made it stand out as totally original. While it will likely take fans of more conventional horror movies far outside their comfort zone, Begotten also proved that horror movies don’t have to follow any predetermined rules of filmmaking to be truly effective.