Summary
While it’s easy to recall the most iconic horror movies ever made, several standout films in recent years have becomeinstant horror classics. Whether this was due to their standing as the inception point for brand-new horror franchises, unique films that reinvigorated dormant subgenres, or impressive releases from contemporary auteurs, all these films have left a lasting impression on the industry. Horror movies have often been released without much fanfare, but occasionally, the stars aligned, and audiences were gifted with a new modern classic.
Thebest horror movies ever madeconnected with viewers on a deep level, and recent instant classics were no different. With frightening jump scars, compelling social critique, and downright terrifying monsters, the21st century has already had its fair share of instant horror classics. From well-established directors to first-time filmmakers, modern horror classics have been primarily categorized by their sheer variety, as they included intense action horrors, poignant psychological stories, and truly outrageous Lovecraftian nightmares.
10The Conjuring (2013)
Directed by James Wan
Not only wasThe Conjuringan excellent ghost story, but it also acted as the inception point for a sprawling cinematic universe that included theAnnabelleandThe Nunseries. With a story inspired by the real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren,The Conjuringfelt like a callback to an earlier era of horror cinemawhen ghost stories reigned supreme. With similarities to previous iconic releases such asThe ExorcistandPoltergeist,The Conjuringquickly earned its place as a modern horror classic.
Director James Wan had already proved his reputation as one of the greatest modern horror directors with his previous movies like Saw andInsidious, butThe Conjuringfelt like it solidified his place as a major voice in the horror landscape.The Conjuringboasted compelling visuals and creepy sounds that led to shocks and jump scares, which genuinely felt earned. There’s a reason that theConjuringUniverse has become one of the biggest horror franchises, and that’s because it got things so right with its first outing.
The Conjuring
Cast
Based on the real-life case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring chronicles the haunting of the Perron family after moving into a Rhode Island farmhouse. The film went on to kickstart the Conjuring franchise, a series of supernatural horror films.
9Train To Busan (2016)
Directed by Yeon Sang-ho
Modern horror classics were not just restricted to Hollywood features, as the effective South Korean releaseTrain to Busanimmediately struck a chord with viewers worldwide. This intense,fast-moving zombie moviesaw passengers riding on a train from Seoul to Busan confronted with a horrific undead apocalypse. As the perfect blend between action and horror,Train to Busantold a highly emotive story of a father and daughterwhile delivering intense thrills from start to finish.
Train to Busanwas among the most effective zombie movies in recent years, boasting fully realized characters, thrilling action sequences, and biting social commentary. The success ofTrain to Busanmeant that an animated prequel titledSeoul Stationwas released in 2016, and a standalone sequel calledPeninsulacame out in 2020. While anEnglish-language remake titledLast Train to New Yorkwas announced, it has yet to materialize.
Train to Busan
Train to Busan is a South Korean action-horror film released in 2016. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, it centers on passengers aboard an express train from Seoul to Busan during a sudden zombie outbreak. As the virus spreads, the survivors must navigate the chaotic and dangerous environment to reach safety.
8Mandy (2018)
Directed by Panos Cosmatos
While Nicolas Cage’s career was full of intense and interesting movie roles, his outrageous reputation could not have prepared viewers for the overwhelming spectacle ofMandy. With extraordinary style and originally,Mandyfeatured one of Cage’s best performances as a couple in a secluded forest was taken on a nightmarish journey fueled by intense emotion and excessive violence. As Red Miller, Cage pushed the boundaries of his over-the-top persona, playing a lumberjack whose girlfriend was killed by a terrifying hippie cult.
Mandywas a horror movie unlike any other, and the true intensity of its narrative must be seen to be believed. With such powerful aesthetics and an 80s feel,Mandyfelt like a callback to an earlier era of horror movies while also paving the way for something new in the genre. The cinematography was spectacular, the emotions felt real and unrestricted, and audiences got to witness a crumbling Nicholas Cage wielding a chainsaw in a blood-soaked revenge story.Mandytruly had it all.
Mandy
2018’s Mandy is a Horror and Action film starring Nicholas Cage. Written and directed by Panos Cosmatos, Cage plays a recovering alcoholic that lives a solitary life with his girlfriend who ends up kidnapped by a mysterious cult. The remainder of the film sees Cage embarking on a bloody quest for revenge.
7A Quiet Place (2018)
Directed by John Krasinski
A Quiet Placewas an immediate horror classic that helped differentiate John Krasinski from his role as Jim Halpert onThe Officeand solidify his reputation as a major film director. With a story about a family trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by blind extraterrestrial creatures with acute hearing skills,A Quiet Placeutilizes one of the primary senses to spark fear into the hearts of all audience members. In a world where simply making a sound can lead to one’s death, the idea of raising kids became truly terrifying.
As one of the most successful films of 2018, viewers turned out in droves to seeA Quiet Placeas it grossed over $340 million against its $17 million budget (viaBox Office Mojo.)A Quiet Placealso acted as the inception point for an entire franchise, as the sequelA Quiet Place Part IIand the spin-off prequelA Quiet Place: Day Onewere both releases to acclaim, with further installments planned. With such an interesting concept that played into humanity’s innate fears, it’s no surprise thatA Quiet Placebecame an instant horror classic.
A Quiet Place
A Quiet Place, directed by John Krasinski, follows a family navigating a post-apocalyptic world where they must live in silence to evade deadly creatures that hunt by sound.
6The Witch (2015)
Directed by Robert Eggers
The Witchwas Robert Eggers’s directorial debut and immediately signaled the dawning of a brand new voice in the world of horror. With an impressive visual style and a thought-provoking narrative,The Witchwas a period horror movie that truly captured the eerie atmosphere of its 1630s New England setting. As an English settler family encountered evil forces in the woods beyond their farm, Eggers captured the Puritan’s descent into religious hysteria and madness.
Part of the appeal ofThe Witchwas in how wellEgger utilized the philosophy that what viewers don’t see can often be even scarier than what’s depicted on screen. As audiences were drawn into this compelling and fearful world, Egger’s discreet ability to withhold made the viewing experience all the more terrifying. Not only wasThe Witchdestined to become an all-time horror classic, but it was made all the more impressive that Eggers managed to deliver a masterpiece with his very first movie.
The Witch
The Witch follows a 1630s family that relocates to a remote New England farm. Strange, unsettling events transpire, causing mounting suspicion and paranoia. This testing environment challenges the family’s faith, loyalty, and love amid isolation and tension as they confront the unknown forces lurking beyond their new home.
5Midsommar (2019)
Directed by Ari Aster
Just one year after his extraordinary horror debut,Hereditary, directorAri Aster proved himself to be one of the most exciting new voices in the genre with the release ofMidsommar. This incredible folk horror movie took viewers on a journey of loss, betrayal, and ritualistic violence with a powerful visual style that brought to mind older horror classics likeThe Wicker Man.Midsommarwas packed with hidden detailsfor viewers to spot, and its amazing rewatchable ability led it to become an instant modern horror classic.
With a story inspired by Aster’s own difficult breakup experience,Midsommarwas a deeply unnerving trip into the absurd and horrifying realm of ritualistic human sacrifice. As a thematically rich work,Midsommarpowerfully addressed themes of toxic masculinity, globalization and imperialism, and sexual assault through the lens of a nine-day midsummer festival in Sweden.Midsommarwas an instant classic that solidified Aster’s reputation as a true horror auteur.
Midsommar
Ari Aster’s Midsommar follows a group of American college students who travel to a friend’s isolated rural hometown in Sweden to experience their renowned midsummer festival. What starts out as idyllic quickly becomes a disconcertingly violent pagan ritual, with the friends engaged in a ruthless competition that will test more than just their friendship. Florence Pugh stars alongside Jack Reynor, Will Poulter, and William Jackson Harper.
4The Babadook (2014)
Directed by Jennifer Kent
Writer and director Jennifer Kent’s feature debut,The Babadook, was truly one of thebest horror movies about griefever produced. It became an instant classic. With universal critical acclaim and a story that connected deeply with viewers,The Babadookwas an unusually deep horror film that addressed urgent themes around the all-encompassing nature of grief and the monstrous trauma it can cause. As a mother and son were forced to confront the humanoid creature that manifested in their home, a genuinely heartfelt and moving story revealed itself.
The Babadookbecame an instant classic because it delivered far more than its concept initially implied. While the imagery surrounding the top hat-wearing creature made this look like any other monster-based horror, audiences were instead forced to confront their own unresolved traumas surrounding death, grief, and loss.The Babadookbecame such a success because it was rife with meaningand pushed far past the expectations of the average horror film.
The Babadook
The Babadook, directed by Jennifer Kent, explores the struggles of a single mother grieving her husband’s death while confronting her son’s fear of a lurking monster. As they contend with this unseen entity, the sinister presence grows increasingly pervasive in their lives.
3It Follows (2015)
Directed by David Robert Mitchell
Upon its release,It Followsbecame an instant cult classic and has since continued to build up its reputation among horror enthusiasts. With subtle but effective social commentary,It Followstold the story of a young woman pursued by a supernatural entity after a sexual encounter. In order to escape the creature, this woman must pass the curse onto somebody else through sexual intercourse, which acts as a powerful parable that has often been interpreted as related to the AIDS epidemic and sexually transmitted diseases.
WhileIt Followshad plenty of thematic depth as it tackled everything from the fear of sexual intimacy to economic anxieties, it also stood as an effective horror movie with plenty of jump scares. This ability to work on multiple levels meant thatIt Followsappealed to horror lovers across the entire spectrum of interests, and word quickly spread about its undeniable appeal.It Followswas creepy and suspenseful, earning its place among the best instant modern horror classics.
It Follows
It Follows is a horror-thriller film released in 2014 and follows a college student named Jay who is terrorized by a specter of a woman that follows her everywhere she goes. When Jay has sex with her new boyfriend, he ties her up and reveals that this mysterious woman will now haunt her until she passes it on to another or is killed by her. Now haunted by a woman that only she and those once afflicted by her can see, Jay will attempt to survive and find away to break the curse.
2Get Out (2017)
Directed by Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele had already made a name for himself as one of half and the comedic duoKey & Peelewhen his directional debutGet Outwas released in 2017. With his previous lighthearted work in mind, horror viewers were not expecting to be confronted with an intense and thought-provoking social critique that stood as one of the best movies of the 21st century. However, this was exactly what happened asGet Outexpertly deconstructed issues of race, neoliberalism, and the white savior trope.
Get Outwas an instant classic that received widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike. It even earned a rare horror movie Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards and took home the prize for Best Original Screenplay. In one fell swoop,Peele showcased himself as a major voice in the world of horrorand followed up this film with two more creative successes,UsandNope.
Get Out
Jordan Peele made his directorial Horror debut with Get Out, a terrifying Psychological Horror film starring Daniel Kaluuya. In the 2017 release, Chris Washington heads to Upstate New York to meet the family of his girlfriend, Rose. What follows is a horrifying ordeal for the anxious photographer.
1Hereditary (2018)
While there have been plenty of instant horror classics in recent years, nothing can top the incredible appeal of Ari Aster’s directional debut,Hereditary. Featuring a career-best performance from Toni Collette,Hereditaryfollowed a grieving family tormented by a demonic entityand was among the most compelling horror films of the 21st century. With the ability to shock and enthrall, word aboutHereditary’sincredible quality quickly spread, and the film grossed an impressive $87 million against its $10 million budget (viaBox Office Mojo.)
With a highly unsettling atmosphere and unique visual style that utilized a dollhouse aesthetic right from the opening scene, it was clear that Aster was looking to push cinematic boundaries withHereditary. Not only didHereditarylook great, but it was also a genuinely scary movie and featured several truly shocking moments. With just as much power and effectiveness as horror classics of earlier eras, such asThe ExorcistorRosemary’s Baby, viewers will still be talking aboutHereditaryin the decades to come.
Hereditary
The feature film debut of writer-director Ari Aster, Hereditary tells the story of the unwittingly cursed Graham family. Annie Graham (Toni Collette) lives with her husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne) and their children Peter (Alex Wolff) and Charlie (Milly Shapiro). After the death of Annie’s mother, the family is beset by disaster and stalked by a supernatural entity that dredges up a past that Annie had spent her life trying to overlook.
