There’s always a film that comes out and just immediately becomes one of the all-time greats. Horror, as one of the entertainment world’s most viable genres, is full of compelling classics that were instantly recognized for their terrifying brilliance. From as early as the dawn of cinema, there have been some of the best horror movies of all time, some of which were seen that way right from the very beginning.
This doesn’t always happen, however, as the genre is full of sleepy hits, cult favorites, and underrated classics that, upon initial scrutiny and financial failure, have since come around to become all-timers, like The Shining and The Thing. But plenty of times, critics and audiences praise a newly released horror film and see it for the masterpiece it is on first impressions. The following horror classics hit the ground running and became some of the most iconic and successful movies ever created. They thrilled us with their terror and gripped us with their compelling stories. Kick back and get ready for some of the best scares in the entertainment industry; these are some of horror’s instant all-timers.
‘Hereditary’ (2018)
Toni Collette screaming in fear in Hereditary.Image via A24
Starting off with a recent example of gaining instant all-timer status is Ari Aster’s Hereditary. An absolute modern masterpiece that’s full of intense dread and unrelenting suspense, this huge hit rolled into theaters like thunder, stunning audiences with its eerie story about a grieving family facing unimaginable terror after becoming the targets of a sinister witch cult.
It’s a nightmarish experience that any horror lover can get behind, as it’s dripping with so much tension and fear. Critics and audiences were instantly hooked on Hereditary, thanks to its near flawless storytelling, and especially citing how brilliant the writing and performances are from the talented cast. Hereditary is a whole experience of gripping and terrifying excitement that was thankfully recognized upon release.
‘The Sixth Sense’ (1999)
Haley Joel Osment speaking to Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense.Image via Buena Vista Pictures
M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense was a smashing hit that ended the 20th century on a high note for the horror genre. A brilliant mix of terror and compelling drama, it’s considered a classic for its great storytelling, as it follows a once-renowned child psychologist as he seeks redemption by helping a troubled young boy with a mysterious ability to see and communicate with the dead.
The Sixth Sense wasn’t only a critical success, but a box office juggernaut, grossing $670 million against a $40 million budget and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the 1990s. Audiences couldn’t get enough of its brilliant story, chilling suspense, shocking scares, and, of course, its stunning twist ending, which has become ingrained in pop culture and still stands as one of the best endings in horror movie history. The Sixth Sense is an overall masterpiece that added huge amounts of critical and commercial success to the horror genre.
‘Halloween’ (1978)
Michael Myers, looking down from the stairs balcony, holding a knife in Halloween (1978).Image via Compass International Pictures/Aquarius Releasing
The slasher subgenre wouldn’t be the same today without John Carpenter’s legendary Halloween. One of slasher’s most recognizable classics, it is a film every horror lover has to see once, a tense and terrifying thriller that sees a deranged, mask-wearing serial killer (Nick Castle) returning to his childhood hometown to go on a silent murder spree through the streets.
It’s eerie, darkly atmospheric, and full of nail-biting suspense, all of which any horror fan can instantly love. Despite being made on a small budget, Halloween spoke to its generation, creating an instant classic that grossed over $70 million worldwide and was massively praised for its story and chillingly memorable characters and moments. It turned its leading lady, Jamie Lee Curtis, into a scream queen and acting legend, and created a legendary horror villain in Michael Myers. Today, Halloween is still seen as one of horror’s most essential films.
‘Night of the Living Dead’ (1968)
A terrified Barbara (Judith O’Dea) clutches a tombstone in ‘Night of the Living Dead’Image via Continental Distributing
Breaking new ground for horror, the late George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead isn’t only a recognizable instant classic, but a timeless all-timer at that. Released in 1968, this highly inspiring zombie classic is the granddaddy of our modern interpretations of the iconic flesh-eaters. It was intense, violent, and incredibly dark, featuring a legendary tale of survivors struggling to work together in a farmhouse at night as the dead have risen from their graves to eat the living.
As one of the most successful independent horror films of all time, Night of the Living Dead became an inspiration to many of us horror lovers. It’s a film that dared to push new limits, break rules, and dream bigger. As a result, it’s now one of the most celebrated and revered horror films that no fan of this genre can call themselves a horror lover without watching at least once, pretty much inventing the modern zombie genre. Today, Night of the Living Dead is as beloved now as it was when it first rolled into theaters.
‘Alien’ (1979)
Hailed for its timeless sci-fi look and never-ending terror, Sir Ridley Scott’s crowning achievement, Alien, was a film that transcended the 1970s and even the 20th century to become truly one of the greatest. With a perfectly terrifying setting, jaw-dropping visuals, and a legendary cast, Alien is horror at its best. It follows a commercial space-towing crew as they’re picked off one by one by an unstoppable alien stowaway.
A commercial hit that also won Best Effects at the Academy Awards, Alien was, at the time and still to this day, recognized for awe-inspiring visuals and powerful storytelling. It’s intensely suspenseful and nightmarish at times, and features an inspired blend of genres that has never been successfully replicated. The creature design for the titular alien, the Xenomorph, still looks incredibly frightening and believable today. Overall, Alien was an instant hit that’s still rolling high even now.
‘Jaws’ (1975)
Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw in ‘Jaws’ as the shark launches out of the waterImage via Universal Pictures
One of the greatest cinematic experiences is watching Steven Spielberg’s thrilling monster classic Jaws from 1975. Not only one of the most exciting films to witness, but just one of the most enduring and rewatchable horror films ever. It’s a blast of fun that tells the adventures of three men as they go on a quest to kill a monstrous great white shark that’s been terrorizing the shores of Amity Island.
A film that’s come to define the summer blockbuster, Jaws was a monster hit with critics and movie-goers, winning three Academy Awards and grossing over $470 million. In fact, it became the highest-grossing film of all time up to that point, at least until George Lucas’s Star Wars. Today, it’s still seen as the cinematic benchmark as it was praised upon its initial release. Jaws is too much fun to ignore and remains cemented in horror history.
‘Get Out’ (2017)
Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) looking upward in the Sunken Place in Get OutImage via Universal Pictures
A standout modern masterpiece that’s come to define horror in recent years, Jordan Peele’s Get Out is a unique and nail-biting thriller that deserves all its praise. A tense slow-burner with a brilliant twist and themes, it follows a Black photographer whose awkward trip to finally visit his white girlfriend’s rich family turns out to be a sinister trap.
Its unique premise, coupled with the compelling writing, rightfully earned Peele an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, a feat that’s hard to achieve in the horror genre. Get Out was widely praised for its creativity and skill in blending social issues with a compelling genre story, not to mention the great performances from an Oscar-nominated Daniel Kaluuya and the underrated Allison Williams and the powerful suspense. It was a hit at first and is still a hit in the years since, showing it will have a long-lasting legacy.
‘Psycho’ (1960)
Image via Paramount Pictures
Horror changed forever in 1960 with the release of the late Sir Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. It was an absolute groundbreaking cinematic achievement that shaped the slasher subgenre, reached new heights for the genre, and fascinated audiences with a truly legendary story. It follows the mystery surrounding the events of when a thieving secretary from Phoenix ran off and checked into an isolated motel, home to a strange-acting owner with a terrible secret.
Hailed today as the most influential horror movie ever, Psycho’s impact is as timeless as some horror films can get. It was also a massive critical and financial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing horror films of its time and, of course, going on to obtain a legendary status. Psycho is one of the rare movies that didn’t just hit the ground running; it took off soaring high into movie history.
‘The Exorcist’ (1973)
Linda Blair as a possessed Regan seated in ‘The Exorcist’.Image via Warner Bros.Â
Being considered one of the scariest horror flicks ever instantly makes a film an all-timer. Such was the case for William Friedkin’s 1973 supernatural horror masterpiece The Exorcist, a film filled with unforgettable terror. It’s a classic tale about a struggling young girl seeking the help of two Catholic priests to save her soul from a formidable demon.
The Exorcist scared up huge bucks at the 1973 winter box office, becoming a major success that elevated the horror genre to new heights of acclaim. It won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound at the Oscars, gaining several nominations, including a deserved Best Supporting nod for Linda Blair’s performance as the possessed Regan MacNeil. The Exorcist is still as big now as it was in the 1970s, thanks to its intensity and legendary moments. Truly, it was one of the best right from the very beginning.
‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)
Jodie Foster talking to Anthony Foster’s Hannibal Lecter  through a window in Silence of the LambsImage via Orion Pictures
If ever there was a better example of an instant horror all-timer, it would be The Silence of the Lambs. This Jonathan Demme-led crime thriller changed horror for the better as it launched its acclaimed status to new levels. Starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, it’s about FBI trainee Clarice Starling who, in an attempt to learn the motives of a serial killer on the loose, enters a battle of wits to earn the help from the infamous and brilliant convicted murderer Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
The Silence of the Lambs became known not only as one of three films to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress), but the only horror film to win Best Picture. It was also an enormous box office hit that audiences loved and continue to do so even now, and was instantly recognized and awarded for the masterpiece it is. The Silence of the Lambs will always be seen as one of the greatest horror movies ever made.