43 of the Best 1980s Horror Movies to Get You in the Spooky Spirit
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
There's no denying the impact of the 1980s — Stranger Things made that point abundantly clear back in 2016. From iconic hairstyles and makeup looks to legendary sports records and music anthems, the influential decade delivered memorable pop culture moments that remain relevant. The '80s also transformed the genre of horror movies, giving notorious villains and monsters from slasher flicks of years past a breath of fresh air, spawning follow-ups that still top the box office charts when they're released. It also ushered in new sub-genres as well. The best '80s horror movies still reign supreme as top contenders for scary movie marathons all these years later.
Are you a horror movie buff who can recite iconic movie quotes verbatim? Maybe you're a newbie looking for the villain origin story of the infamous characters you've heard about on TikTok? Horror movies from the '80s are the perfect entry point into some of the most famous spooky movies of all time. In fact, classic scary movie villains like Jason Voorhees, Freddy Kreuger, and Chucky all got their start in the 1980s. The beloved decade also gave way to classic horror musicals like Little Shop of Horrors and slasher comedies such as Gremlins and Elvira.
Ready to take a trip back to the 1980s? Read ahead for a frightening list of the best '80s horror movies, along with details about where you can stream them.
Friday the 13th (1980)
With 12 slasher films, it's safe to say Friday the 13th is a legendary franchise. The first installation of the series followed a group of camp counselors who run into a mysterious killer while they attempt to reopen Crystal Lake summer camp.
See the original post on Youtube
Prom Night (1980)
While you've probably watched the 2008 remake starring Brittany Snow at a sleepover, you still definitely need to check out the OG starring "Scream Queen"Jamie Lee Curtis.
This movie is proof that the past will always come back to haunt you. After four kids cause the death of a young girl several years ago, they're now being stalked as high schoolers by someone who knows their dark secret.
See the original post on Youtube
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
The makeup effects in this movie are AMAZING — Rick Baker even took home the Oscar for Best Makeup at the 1982 Academy Awards.
When two college students backpack through Britain, they get way more of an adventure than they anticipated. After a wolf attacks them, one of the guys is killed while the other escapes, but now he fears he's turning into a werewolf.
See the original post on Youtube
The Beyond (1981)
A young woman is in for a frightening wake-up call when she discovers that the hotel she discovered sits on top of a gateway to Hell.
See the original post on Youtube
Bloody Birthday (1981)
Three kids who were born during a total eclipse of the sun suddenly turn into killers ten years later. They keep getting away with their crimes because no one in town thinks a few 10-year-olds are homicidal maniacs.
See the original post on Youtube
The Burning (1981)
After a camp caretaker is horribly disfigured after a prank goes wrong, he stalks the camp, craving some sweet, sweet revenge.
See the original post on Youtube
The Evil Dead (1981)
A fun night away in a cabin turns into chaos after a couple and three of their friends reawaken the dead when they read an old book aloud.
See the original post on Youtube
Halloween II (1981)
Michael Myers is back with a vengeance after unsuccessfully attempting to kill one of his earlier victims.
See the original post on Youtube
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Supernatural alum Jensen Ackles starred in the 2009 remake, but the OG movie is such a classic.
Teenagers in a town that avoids Valentine's Day for fear a vicious killer will strike in retaliation change things up one year and celebrates the holiday. But when bodies start dropping, people realize they've made a grave mistake.
See the original post on Youtube
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
The only Halloween film that doesn't feature the series villain, Michael Myers, Halloween III follows a shop owner after he's targeted by mysterious men in suits with jack-o-lantern Halloween masks.
See the original post on Youtube
Pieces (1982)
A psychotic killer murders college students so he can create a human jigsaw puzzle from his victims' body parts.
See the original post on Youtube
Poltergeist (1982)
Ghosts hidden in a television set commune within the souls of an average family from California.
See the original post on Youtube
The Thing (1982)
A helicopter pilot and camp doctor team up with a group of American research scientists in a gory battle after saving a dog that transforms into the shape of its victims in remote Antarctica.
See the original post on Youtube
Gremlins (1984)
A salesman unleashes a gang of mysterious creatures after being told never to expose a gift for his son to bright light or water or to feed it after midnight.
See the original post on Youtube
Christine (1983)
An unpopular nerd becomes obsessed with a vintage 1958 Plymouth Fury that he names Christine. The car begins to kill off its new owners after they attempt to restore it.
See the original post on Youtube
Cujo (1983)
A bat bites a beloved dog turning it from man's best friend to his mortal enemy.
See the original post on Youtube
Sleepaway Camp (1983)
A killer goes on a murderous rage at a sleepaway camp made strictly for teens. The twist in this movie will make your jaw drop all the way to the floor.
See the original post on Youtube
Children of the Corn (1984)
A couple stumbles across a dangerous religious cult that believes that everyone over the age of 18 must be killed.
See the original post on Youtube
Ghostbusters (1984)
A team of former college scientists stumble upon a gateway to another dimension and wage a high-tech battle against the evil that comes through the portal.
See the original post on Youtube
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Freddy Krueger, a disfigured slasher, attacks teens in their dreams, ultimately killing them IRL.
See the original post on Youtube
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Years after his parents were savagely murdered by a guy dressed up as Santa Claus, 18-year-old Billy snaps and goes on a rampage one Christmas Eve, punishing "naughty" people.
See the original post on Youtube
Day of the Dead (1985)
This sci-fi flick follows a group of scientists and military personnel as they try to adjust to life after a zombie apocalypse unleashes undead zombies with a contagious disease.
See the original post on Youtube
Friday Night (1985)
A horror movie fan is convinced that his new neighbor is a vampire and that he's responsible for strange events that occur around their town.
See the original post on Youtube
Re-Animator (1985)
A med student creates a way to re-animate dead tissue and disaster quickly ensues.
See the original post on Youtube
Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Two medical supply employees inadvertently jumpstart the zombie apocalypse after a deadly gas is released and starts bringing the dead back to life.
See the original post on Youtube
Aliens (1986)
This kick-ass sequel to 1979's Alien is a must-see for anyone who loves alien movies, as well as watching badass female leads.
Sigourney Weaver reprises her role as Ellen Ripley, the sole survivor in Alien. Decades after that horrifying experience, she's sent out on a mission to re-establish contact with a colony. Instead, she ends up having to battle an Alien Queen and her children.
See the original post on Youtube
April Fool's Day (1986)
A spring break trip to a secluded island takes a sinister turn when members of traveling college students go missing and turn up dead.
See the original post on Youtube
Chopping Mall (1986)
When a group of mall employees hang out there after-hours, they're soon hunted by the mall's robot security system that's malfunctioning.
See the original post on Youtube
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
A flower shop assistant discovers an unusual plant that only feeds on human flesh and blood.
See the original post on Youtube
Evil Dead II (1987)
After successfully surviving Evil Dead, Ash Williams is left to battle more demons in a secluded cabin in the woods. Ash and his girlfriend, Linda, discover a tape by a college professor that unlocks evil spirits that possess Linda.
See the original post on Youtube
Hellraiser (1987)
A man accidentally opens a portal to Hell after opening a mystical puzzle box that he purchased abroad.
See the original post on Youtube
The Lost Boys (1987)
Two teenage brothers discover their new town is plagued by bikers and mysterious deaths. After getting closer to the bikers, the brothers discover that they may actually be dead.
See the original post on Youtube
The Monster Squad (1987)
This not-so-scary movie is perfect for fans who want to dip their toe into the horror genre.
A group of horror-obsessed kids must battle several scary movie monsters, including Dracula, who are wreaking havoc on their unsuspecting town.
See the original post on Youtube
Predator (1987)
Arnold Schwarzenegger leads a military rescue team to retrieve hostages in a Central American jungle. However, they soon realize they're being hunted by an alien life form with technology lightyears ahead of anything available on Earth.
See the original post on Youtube
The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
A mysterious man enters the lives of three friends who later discover they are witches.
See the original post on Youtube
Beetlejuice (1988)
A married couple haunts their country mansion after they die in a car accident. The new homeowners unknowingly awaken a new spirit to help scare them away.
See the original post on Youtube
Child's Play (1988)
A cult classic, Child's Play follows a seemingly innocent toy that goes on a murderous rampage.
See the original post on Youtube
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
A horror movie hostess returns to her prudish community to claim an inheritance.
See the original post on Youtube
Halloween: IV: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Halloween IV follows villain Michael Myers as he's transferred from one hospital to another while in a comatose state. The killer wakes up and goes on a murderous killing spree after hearing the transportation crew mention his niece.
See the original post on Youtube
Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)
The plot is basically in the title for this kooky horror movie. Aliens that resemble clowns land on Earth and begin terrorizing a small town.
See the original post on Youtube
Pumpkinhead (1988)
After a group of teens accidentally get a little boy killed, the boy's grief-stricken father conjures up a demon named Pumpkinhead to get revenge on the perpetrators.
See the original post on Youtube
Ghostbusters II (1989)
The ghostbusters are back after saving New York City from a spooky attack. This time, the spirit exterminators find that a ghost has taken a keen interest in a friend's baby.
See the original post on Youtube
Parents (1989)
A young child living in a picturesque 1950 family has questions about the mysterious meat his dad, who works at a mortuary, brings home every night.
See the original post on Youtube
You Might Also Like
