1
The Shining
1980· 2h 24m· Horror, Thriller· en
8.219.3K
Best Horror Movies of the 1980s
This collection ranks 2,601 horror movies released in the 1980s. The list is ranked using a weighted combination of audience ratings, vote volume and popularity data, so movies with only a handful of votes never outrank widely acclaimed films. The #1 film is The Shining.
2,601 qualifying moviesRanked using a weighted combination of ratings, vote volume and popularity data
- 2
The Thing
1982· 1h 49m· Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction· en
8.18.2K - 3
Come and See
1985· 2h 22m· Drama, War, Horror· ru
8.21.9K - 4
Michael Jackson's Thriller
1983· 14m· Horror, Music, Thriller· en
8.3778 - 5
A Nightmare on Elm Street
1984· 1h 31m· Horror· en
7.35.9K - 6
The Fly
1986· 1h 36m· Horror, Science Fiction· en
7.45.1K - 7
Evil Dead II
1987· 1h 24m· Horror, Comedy, Fantasy· en
7.53.6K - 8
An American Werewolf in London
1981· 1h 37m· Comedy, Horror, Fantasy· en
7.42.8K - 9
Gremlins
1984· 1h 46m· Fantasy, Horror, Comedy· en
7.17.1K - 10
Possession
1981· 2h 4m· Horror· en
7.31.4K - 11
Poltergeist
1982· 1h 54m· Horror· en
7.23.4K - 12
Videodrome
1983· 1h 28m· Horror, Science Fiction, Mystery· en
7.32.5K - 13
The Lost Boys
1987· 1h 37m· Horror, Comedy, Thriller· en
7.12.4K - 14
The Return of the Living Dead
1985· 1h 31m· Comedy, Horror, Science Fiction· en
7.22.3K - 15
Little Shop of Horrors
1986· 1h 34m· Horror, Comedy· en
7.01.7K - 16
Child's Play
1988· 1h 27m· Horror· en
6.83.4K - 17
Angel Heart
1987· 1h 53m· Horror, Mystery· en
7.11.8K - 18
The Dead Zone
1983· 1h 43m· Thriller, Horror, Science Fiction· en
7.01.9K - 19
Re-Animator
1985· 1h 26m· Science Fiction, Comedy, Horror· en
7.11.7K - 20
Hellraiser
1987· 1h 33m· Horror, Thriller· en
6.92.9K - 21
Dead Ringers
1988· 1h 55m· Thriller, Horror· en
7.11.0K - 22
Dressed to Kill
1980· 1h 45m· Thriller, Mystery, Horror· en
7.01.1K - 23
Lola's Secret
1984· 1h 28m· Drama, Comedy, Horror· it
7.071 - 24
Christine
1983· 1h 50m· Horror· en
6.92.3K - 25
Fright Night
1985· 1h 47m· Comedy, Horror· en
7.01.6K - 26
The Hitcher
1986· 1h 38m· Horror, Action, Thriller· en
6.91.1K - 27
Day of the Dead
1985· 1h 41m· Horror, Drama, Mystery· en
7.01.4K - 28
Near Dark
1987· 1h 34m· Horror· en
6.8906 - 29
Creepshow
1982· 2h 0m· Horror, Comedy· en
6.91.2K - 30
The 'Burbs
1989· 1h 42m· Comedy, Horror, Thriller· en
6.81.4K - 31
The Blob
1988· 1h 35m· Horror, Science Fiction· en
6.91.1K - 32
Angst
1983· 1h 15m· Thriller, Crime, Horror· de
7.1431 - 33
Pet Sematary
1989· 1h 43m· Horror· en
6.72.4K - 34
Vampire Princess Miyu
1988· 1h 40m· Fantasy, Animation, Horror· ja
6.813 - 35
Tetsuo: The Iron Man
1989· 1h 7m· Horror, Science Fiction· ja
7.0727 - 36
Godzilla vs. Biollante
1989· 1h 45m· Action, Horror, Science Fiction· ja
7.4309 - 37
The Entity
1982· 2h 5m· Horror, Mystery, Thriller· en
6.8593 - 38
Halloween II
1981· 1h 32m· Horror, Thriller· en
6.62.3K - 39
Prince of Darkness
1987· 1h 42m· Horror· en
6.81.2K - 40
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
1988· 1h 36m· Comedy, Fantasy, Horror· en
6.7635 - 41
Friday the 13th
1980· 1h 35m· Horror· en
6.43.4K - 42
The Hidden
1987· 1h 37m· Action, Science Fiction, Horror· en
6.9508 - 43
Dead Calm
1989· 1h 36m· Horror, Thriller, Drama· en
6.6848 - 44
Scanners
1981· 1h 43m· Science Fiction, Horror· en
6.71.4K - 45
The Fog
1980· 1h 30m· Horror· en
6.71.8K - 46
The Changeling
1980· 1h 47m· Horror· en
7.0720 - 47
Night of the Creeps
1986· 1h 28m· Horror, Comedy, Science Fiction· en
6.8598 - 48
Mr. Vampire
1985· 1h 38m· Action, Comedy, Horror· zh
6.9137 - 49
Tenebre
1982· 1h 41m· Horror, Mystery, Thriller· it
6.8714 - 50
The Return of Godzilla
1984· 1h 43m· Science Fiction, Action, Horror· ja
7.2344
Related collections
- Best Movies of the 1980s — Top Rated Films
- Best Horror Movies of All Time — Top Rated Films
- Best Horror Movies of the 1970s — Ranked
- Best Horror Movies of the 1990s — Ranked
- Best Drama Movies of the 1980s — Ranked
- Best Documentary Movies of the 1980s — Ranked
- Best Comedy Movies of the 1980s — Ranked
- Best Animation Movies of the 1980s — Ranked
- Best Music Movies of the 1980s — Ranked
- Best Romance Movies of the 1980s — Ranked
- Best Thriller Movies of the 1980s — Ranked
- Best Action Movies of the 1980s — Ranked
Frequently asked questions
How many horror movies came out in the 1980s?
2,601 horror movies from the 1980s carry real rating data.
How are these horror films ranked?
By a weighted score combining audience ratings, vote volume and popularity. Movies with very few votes are statistically shrunk toward the global average, so they cannot dominate the top of the list.
What is the highest-rated horror movie of the 1980s?
The Shining holds the top position in this collection.