Let’s take a look
The 50 Best Horror Movies of the 21st Century So Far, Ranked
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Every year is a great year for horror movies if you know where to look. But we’re over a quarter of the way through the 21st century, which means there are over 25 years of modern horror classics, daring cult oddities, ambitious art house freak outs and even satisfying studio scarers to sort through.
But someone has to do it, and someone else has to do it just to get as many perspectives on modern horror filmmaking as possible. Let’s take a deep dive into the scary movies that have defined the genre this century, and/or scared the hell out of audiences all over the world, and/or deserve greater recognition for their brilliance.
Let’s take a look at this list. The ones I’ve seen that I like and agree with are (below the fold)
- 50. Werewolves Within (2021)
- 48. Triangle (2009)
- 47. Trick ‘r Treat (2009) (should be much higher)
- 45. Ready or Not (2019) (the 2nd one is awesome, too, zero let-down)
- 43. Saw (2004) (should be higher)
- 41. Sinister (2012)
- 34. The Strangers (2008)
- 29. The Descent (2005)
- 27. Happy Death Day (2017)
- 25. It Follows (2015)
- 21. The Mist (2007)
- 19. Let the Right One In (2008)
- 16. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
- 13. 28 Days Later (2002) (possibly the best movie for this century)
- 11. The Witch (2016)
- 8. Ginger Snaps (2001) (more should watch this)
- 7. Lake Mungo (2008)
There are a few others I’ve seen, like Midsommer, that are really not that good, IMO. Then others which I couldn’t make it through. Badadook is #1, but, I loathed the character of the child, gave up 10 minutes in. Smile 2? Loathed the character, watched longer than I normally would have hoping the smile demon would get her and we’d get a likable character. Smile 1 was much better. The Invisible Man? Good, but, not top 50. More drama than horror. It? The 90s miniseries was much better, they overdid it for Pennywise.
35. You’re Next (2013) and 46. The Conjuring (2013), I’ve seen them, but, maybe not top 50.
31. Pearl (2022)? Hell no. Turned that off when she was humping the scarecrow.
Some I haven’t seen, either do not interest or foreign language. I can never find Train To Busan dubbed.
There are a few missing, like Hell House LLC (regular cut, not director’s cut). The Houses October Built (1 and 2). Haunt. Blood Fest. Dawn Of The Dead (2004). I could name a bunch. What do you think?
Only seen 10 of those listed………………….
Train To Busan is probably the best.
Shaun Of The Dead shouldn’t be on this list
My taste in horror films is probably different than most people’s. Young Frankenstein, Young Dracula, American Werewolf in London, which a lot of people would call comedies, some of the Friday the 13th movies, 2001: A Space Odessey, are mostly my speed. Starship Troopers, The Godfather could sort of count.