AwardsWatch’s Top 25 Horror Films of All Time
The List (25-21):
25) Silence of the Lambs (Demme, 1991)—A hybrid crime/thriller/horror film anchored by two tremendous lead performances: Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins in a ham-tastic turn as serial-killer Hannibal Lecter. The unique dynamic that develops between the two anchors this film as Lecter helps Starling track down another serial killer, “Buffalo Bill.”
Oscar Spotlight: In an unprecedented turn of events, Silence of the Lambs broke the typical streak of neglect for horror films at the Oscars. It swept the “major” categories, taking Picture, Actor, Actress, Director, and Adapted Screenplay.
24) Scream (Craven, 1996)—Craven’s second slasher entry on our list. The screenplay by Kevin Williamson (originally titled Scary Movie) combined horror trappings with a dose of comedy and self-awareness. It’s a satire of slasher films that also plays as a successful entry in the genre.
23) The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Wiene, 1920)—The oldest movie to make our list, this silent film is a wonderful example of 
German Expressionist filmmaking. Warped sets add a surrealistic touch to a tale about Dr. Caligari, who uses a somnambulist to carry out heinous deeds for him.
22) Freaks (Browning, 1932)—Another of the older entries on our list, Tod Browning’s Freaks has a cast featuring many authentic carnival acts. Browning is best known for his adaptation of Dracula, and Freaks went unappreciated in its own time (in fact, it would probably be more accurate to say it was, by and large, hated). However, today it is Freaks that is often held to be his crowning achievement and a classic.
21) The Innocents (Clayton, 1961)—This adaptation of Henry James’ novella, The Turn of the Screw, feels positively old-fashioned compared to most of the films that made this list. A classic gothic ghost-story, what The Innocents lacks in visceral impact, it makes up for in atmosphere and nuanced filmmaking.
Next up: The List (20-16)
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Critics Choice Association (CCA), San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
- Ildikó Enyedi’s ‘Silent Friend’ Among 2026 SFFILM Honorees of the Sloan Science in Cinema Initiative - April 27, 2026
- Olivia Wilde Takes San Francisco by Storm with ‘The Invite’ [Q&A] - April 25, 2026
- ‘The Pitt,’ ‘Heated Rivalry,’ ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ Lead 86th Peabody Awards Winners - April 23, 2026
On the Shelf: ‘Highest 2 Lowest,’ ‘John Singleton’s Hood Trilogy,’ a Nancy Meyers Double Feature and Action-Packed Spectacles Highlight the Physical Media releases for the Week of April 27 
Director Watch Podcast Ep. 151 – ‘The Annihilation of Fish’ (Burnett, 1999) 
2026 San Francisco International Film Festival Reviews: ‘Two Pianos,’ ‘If I Go Will They Miss Me,’ ‘Filipiñana,’ ‘Elder Son’ [SFFILM] 
‘Idiots’ Review: Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr. Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore [B] Atlanta Film Festival