Many things can cement a horror movie scene as truly great — a powerful scare, a shocking twist, or unique and creepy imagery being key features. Some of the most famous and beloved horror movies of all time have established themselves as pop culture touchstones on the strength of individual scenes, such as the horrifying first-act twist in Hereditary or the first-person opening of Halloween. As a result, discussions surrounding horror cinema often revolve around debating the best and scariest individual scenes, with some standing out as particularly resonant.
While any film can contain one great scare, the film’s overall quality elevates these moments from simply shocking to iconic and pivotal. From silent films to the modern mainstream, these are the greatest scenes in horror movie history, genre-defining moments that have stood the test of time. The ranking will take into account their filmmaking, acting, impact, and the overall quality of the films…
- ‘The Exorcist’ (1973) Regan’s head turns 360 degrees
- ‘Alien’ (1979) The chest-burster scene
- ‘Carrie’ (1976) The prom scene
- ‘The Blair Witch Project’ (1999) Heather’s monologue
- ‘Audition’ (1999) Asami’s apartment scene
- ‘Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ (1974) The Sawyers’ dinner scene
- ‘Ring’ (1998) Sadako emerges from the television
- ‘Nosferatu’ (1922) The shadow scene
- ‘Possession’ (1981) Anna’s subway breakdown
- ‘Psycho’ (1960) The shower scene
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