The 10 Best Horror Movies of the 1990s, Ranked

The 90s weren't a golden age for horror, but the decade had some great films! Here are the best horror films of the era.
The 10 Best Horror Movies of the 1990s, Ranked

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The 90s were an exciting time for entertainment. The decade produced some fantastic sitcoms, action movies, video games, and just about anything else you can imagine.

One genre that was very interesting in the 90s was horror. There were a ton of different types of horror films released during the 90s. It was even the decade that brought the found footage horror film to prominence.

Here are some of the best horror movies that came out of the 90s era, ranked from above average all the way to the best.

10. Arachnophobia (1990)

Trailer for Arachnophobia (1990)

For me, this the scariest movie on the list because I have a terrible fear of spiders. The shower scene haunted me for years. I can't even tell you how many times I got soap in my eyes from opening them too quickly to see if a spider was crawling around.

Not only is this film terrifying, but it's also quite good! Even if spiders don't scare you, they might by the time you finish Arachnophobia.

9. Tremors (1990)

Trailer for Tremors (1990)

Tremors just barely makes the cut because it came out in 1990, and I'm so thankful it did. It is a movie about giant worms that come up from the group and eat people.

Imagine walking along minding your own business and suddenly a Graboid (the name for the worms) pops out and attacks. It's a terrifying thought that leads to an awesome horror flick.

8. Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

Trailer for Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

The tale of Dracula is one that's been told over and over again, but in Bram Stroker's Dracula, Francis Ford Coppola finds a way to spin the tale to make it fresh, interesting, and downright scary. In fact, it might be one of the greatest versions of Dracula.

If you're a horror fan with fond memories of the 90s, this is a movie you absolutely need to see.

7. Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)

Trailer for Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)

When it comes to the best Freddy Krueger movies, this may not be the best, but it's pretty damn close.

It exists outside of the traditional Nightmare on Elm Street timeline, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best movies to feature the wise-cracking serial killer.

6. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

Trailer for I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

This is my underrated pick of the bunch. I Know What You Did Last Summer gets lost in the shadow of Scream far too often

Don't get me wrong, Scream is a better movie, but that doesn't mean I Know What You Did Last Summer should be forgotten. It's a back to basics slasher, and it hits all the right notes for the horror subgenre.

5. Dead Alive (1992)

Trailer for Dead Alive (1992)

Did you know that Peter Jackson (yes, that Peter Jackson) is responsible for one of the goriest horror flicks ever released?

The movie is so gory that it was banned in South Korea, Singapore, and Finland. It's a zombie movie that's part horror part comedy. But it's all blood and guts!

4. The Sixth Sense (1999)

Trailer for The Sixth Sense (1999)

The Sixth Sense is a classic horror movie regardless of the decade. Who hasn't quoted the "I see dead people" line at least a few times throughout their life?

This movie is packed with tension, fantastic acting, and a plot twist that'll knock your socks off (if it somehow hasn't been spoiled for you in the last 20 years).

3. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Trailer for The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The Blair Witch Project is responsible for the rise of the found-footage horror movie. As such, you either want to thank it or curse at it. This will depend on your feelings about those sorts of movies.

Either way, Blair Witch was one of the most talked-about films of its time. It brings tension and an overwhelming sense of dread in a way that few other films have.

2. Scream (1996)

Trailer for Scream (1996)

Scream is the film that lets everyone know that slashers were back for a new generation. Scream has some awesome kills, fantastic writing, and just the right amount of gore.

The thing that made Scream scary was that it felt like it could happen. There was no supernatural being—it was just some sickos going around killing people. It's a timeless movie that's just as good now as it was when it came out.

1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Trailer for The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Putting together this list was tough when it came to ranking number two through ten. It was not tough to pick number one, though, as The Silence of the Lambs ran away with it.

If you were to make a top horror movies of all time list, this would be near the top, so making it to the number spot here wasn't even a challenge.

This film is an absolute masterpiece in every way, and it's a must-see for anyone who fancies themselves a fan of horror.