According toNew York Film Academy,the firsthorrorfilm originated in France and was entitledLe Manoir Du Diable (The House of the Devil).Despite this early film being silent and only three minutes in length, the short deserves some credit. Before Universal’s monsters dominated the silver screens, a series of short films were released in the 1910s that focused their attention on gothic literary works.
Horror as a genre is ever-changing, especially in films that root their plots in cultural and political commentary. Modern directors learn from those of the past, and the evolution of special effects is always improving. Each decade can be defined by an iconic slasher villain or specific film. Horror has come a long way since Universal’s classic monster movies that date back to the early-1930s. Here are the best horror movies of every decade in American film history.
1930s: Dracula
In 1931, Universal introduced the very first, and one of the most iconic characters of all time.Draculawas based on the novel of the same name, which gave the horror genre the notion of vampires. During the 1920s, Universal was producing horror shorts based on literary works. However, by the 1930s, the studio birthed some of thegreatest classic horror filmsof all time.
Like the early films, the horror features of the 1930s focused on literary works like Bram Stoker’sDracula,Mary Shelley’sFrankenstein,and films inspired by poems by poet Edgar Allan Poe. Despite the many films released during this decade,Draculainspired decades of filmmaking especially for the likes of vampires.
1940s: The Wolf Man
Exactly 10 years after the release ofDracula,1941’sThe Wolf Manhit theater screens and became one of thebest werewolf filmsof all time. Allegedly, Lon Chaney Jr.’s werewolf make-up took nearly six hours to apply and half the time to remove. However, it isn’t just Chaney’s iconic transformation that winsThe Wolf Manthe top film of the decade.
When taking a closer look at the 1940s horror market, Universal’s monster films were starting to become spin-offs of already established characters.The Wolf Man, in and of itself, is one of the unique films of the decade that hadn’t yet been explored in any previous extension.
1950s: House on Haunted Hill
Vincent Price was a prominent television and film actor that was especially popular in the horror genre. 1959’sHouse on Haunted Hillinvited a more intriguing plot than the standard literary exploration. Like so many others of its nature, the film uses standard props and animations to create the illusion of ghouls walking free. Despite howHouse on Haunted Hillwould be viewed today, Price’s name being tagged to the project is enough to warrant at least one watch of the horror classic.
1960s: Psycho
Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most well-known horror directors of the 20th century. 1960’sPsychochanged the way psychological thrillers were perceived andinspired films for generations. In addition to being a staple inspiration in cinema history,Psychoalso influenced the way music is used in films and the way that it is scored.
One of the most famous scenes to demonstrate this is the shower scene in which Marion Crane (played by Janet Leigh) is killed by “Norman’s mother.” Norman Bates (played by Anthony Hopkins) claims he has an over possessive mother who has a taste for murder. In true Hitchcock fashion, the twist is that nothing is what it seems.
Related:Best Universal Monster Movies, Ranked
1970s: Halloween
John Carpenter’s 1978 masterpieceHalloweenhas been aHalloween season must-watchfor decades. The franchise’s big bad, Michael Meyers, has is one of the most infamous slashers of all time and is featured in all the sequels except for the third installmentSeason of the Witch.
Carpenter’s budget forHalloweenwas relatively low, and the actors were encouraged to buy their own attire. In May 1978, after just four short weeks and a few fake leaves later,Halloweenwas set to hit theaters for October of the same year, ultimately changing the horror genre forever.
1980s: The Thing
When it comes to the 1980s, it is hard to pick just one definitive best answer. This is especially true with 80s horror, being the generation of cult films and various sub-genres. However, 1982’sThe Thingis arguably one of the best films to come out of the decade. The film showcases all the important elements of the genre like blood, gore, body horror, and the idea of body snatchers. Yet, what setsThe Thingapart from the rest is its innate ability to create an overall tone of unease and paranoia.
Related:10 Horror Movies That Are Funnier Than People Realize
1990s: Scream
At the very peak of 90s nostalgia sits Wes Craven’sScream.The ultra-meta classic is best known for subverting the genre while also falling into the very tropes the film seeks to call out. During the 90s, horror was on a bit of a losing streak. By this point the genre had been deduced to sequels and psychological thrillers.
Earlyripples ofScreamcan be found in Craven’s meta rebootNew Nightmare,which introduces Freddy Krueger in a new element. The franchise has seen many peaks and valleys, but 2022’sScream 5and 2023’sScream 6have seen instrumental success in the attempt to revive Ghostface.
2000s: American Psycho
2000s horror is alot like a mixed bag of peanuts. Some are heavily concentrated in CGI, while others are far too campy, but not in the right way. The 2000s saw everything from feminist notions inGinger Snaps,to all-out cult comedies in the making likeShaun of the Dead.
Despite the many films from the decade that have climbed the ladder to achieve aught classic status,American Psychois a cut above the rest. Overall, the film begs whether Patrick Bateman even committed any crimes, and comments on the elite status of the business class in the late-1980s.
2010s: The Conjuring
According toScreen Rant,the 2010s were abundant with A24 horror films and “arthouse” renditions. Although this is wildly true, 2013’sThe Conjuringsparked a fresh take on a haunted house film. James Wan’s main focus was on the Warrens, a couple who sought out paranormal investigations. Although the real life couple isn’t nearly as picturesque as the pair portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga,The Conjuringmanages to deliver on the scares while making you care about the characters.
With the 2020s still being so fresh, a definitive best for the decade is a cast into shallow water. The first three (almost four) years of the 2020s saw two new releases to theScreamfranchise, a sympathetic “monster” inBarbarian,and Ti West’s return to horror.Xpremiered in 2022 and is the first film in the trilogy, which sets the stage all while introducing the two main characters within the storyline.
The second installment,Pearlwas released nearly six months after the first and was shot in technicolor.Maxxxine,the third filmin the trilogy, takes the story to the 1980s Hollywood following Mia Goth’s character.
