The 1970s was a groundbreaking era for horror, with The Exorcist (1973) and Halloween (1978) shocking and scaring audiences and making them eager for more creepy tales. By the time the 1980s rolled around, some big franchises began, and it became clear that horror movies were here to stay. Hellraiser has been a huge hit with horror fans since its release in 1987 and the new 2022 film has been impressing and exciting audiences.
Movies from this time period are a fun mix of ghost stories and slashers and also allowed fans to get to know some of the freakiest horror villains who fans could never forget. While the 1990s had some solid films and the last couple of decades have surprised and excited fans as well, there are several '80s horror movies that still feel as well done today as they did when audiences first enjoyed them.
Updated on October 23, 2022, by Aya Tsintziras: Horror fans continue to revisit movies from the 1980s today, especially as remakes of these films continue to be made. Stephen King fans were given two remakes in 2022, as Firestarter and Pet Sematary both had updated versions. There's something endearing about films from the '80s that lives on and while clothes and hairstyles look dated, there are many '80s horror films that have solid characters and great premises. Although this is a decade mainly famous for slashers, there are several other types of movies that are still watched today by fans who love feeling the nostalgia of older scary stories.
10 The Shining (1980)
There are some interesting fan theories about The Shining and this movie will always be remembered thanks to Jack Nicholson's performance as Jack Torrance, an author staying at a creepy hotel.
This movie is not only one of the greatest from the '80s but it still gets high praise for its incredible setting. The Overlook Hotel is not a place that anyone wants to check into, and whether Jack is writing "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" or seeing the terrible twins, the movie still feels scary. If anyone hasn't seen The Shining, it's worth checking out to see a smart adaptation of a Stephen King book. This is also a horror film that fans constantly return to as it felt groundbreaking and still works as a good story. Whether fans believe that The Shining is a poor adaptation or not, this film will always be a classic.
9 Friday The 13th (1980)
Although no one really loves the 2009 Friday The 13th remake, it's hard to argue that the 1980 movie is a total classic, introducing movie fans to Jason Voorhees and the famous setting of Camp Crystal Lake.
The idea of a serial killer targeting kids who work at a summer camp is a smart one that is immediately scary. Friday The 13th became a long-running slasher franchise and while fans might not enjoy each film, the first one still delivers a corny experience of seeing characters running from an evil villain who is present during their supposed summer of fun. It's also enjoyable to watch this 1980 film and see where Jason's story comes from since he has become such a famous part of horror history.
8 Poltergeist (1982)
The 2015 Poltergeist remake is boring and doesn't capture the magical feeling of the original. When the movie was released in 1982, it definitely made a massive splash in the movie world, with fans shocked by Carol Anne Freeling (Heather O'Rourke).
Carol is closely connected to the spirits in her family home, as she's often drawn to the TV screen, and these images are hard to forget. Poltergeist sticks out among the many cheesy slasher flicks of the 1980s since this was a smart ghost story focusing on a family in a strange and scary time in their lives. Movie fans weren't jaded or cynical yet about haunted house movies and the idea of a house having ghosts who were up to no good felt very original and interesting.
7 Firestarter (1984)
With horror fans excited to watch the reboot of Firestarter, which is a highly anticipated Blumhouse 2022 movie, it's a great time to revisit the 1984 movie starring Drew Barrymore.
Barrymore's role as Charlie is as iconic as her turn as Casey Becker in the opening of Scream, and it's sweet and fun seeing the actress as a young child with magical powers who a government agency wants to capture. The movie might feel a little dated, which makes sense since it was made so long ago, but the story remains classic and timeless, like many of Stephen King's smart takes on the evils that can be lurking in some shadows of the world. As far as horror movie kids go, Charlie is also especially great, as she's smart and mature.
6 A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
A Nightmare On Elm Street's Nancy is a great final girl and Nancy Thompson's (Heather Langenkamp) strong performance measures up to many other famous horror actresses. When compared to other scary movies from the 1980s, this movie feels timeless and like it can never be replaced.
Newcomers to the genre can definitely find their way into Freddy Krueger's frightening dream/nightmare world and still be as impressed as movie fans were when they first watched this story. Freddy's disgusting hands, classic outfit, and ability to speak all make Freddy a perfect horror movie villain. A remake of A Nightmare On Elm Street could feature all of the elements that this original film has: a final girl, Freddy, some school scenes, a friend group, and Nancy's famous horror movie house.
5 Gremlins (1984)
There is a lot of excitement for the Gremlins reboot, which makes sense since the 1984 film is one of the most popular movies to watch at Christmas. Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) is given an adorable creature, a mogwai named Gizmo. Fans know the rules that people who keep these cute animals as pets need to remember: don't give it food past midnight, don't get it wet, and don't let the mogwai see light or sunlight.
One of the best horror comedies, Gremlins has a lot of charm, a fun and adventurous tone, and great performances from Galligan and Phoebe Cates, who plays Kate Beringer. Gremlins will always feel relevant as the mogwai are adorable but deadly, which creates an interesting contrast.
4 Hellraiser (1987)
The beloved Pinhead, the main villain in Hellraiser, comes back for the 2022 film, and the original is one that fans return to again and again. In the first film, Doug Bradley's character leads his Cenobites, who love pain.
Clive Barker is Hellraiser's director who has a unique style that fans enjoy. The '80s film starts a beloved franchise with characters unlike what is typically seen in horror and sci-fi films since the Cenobites are unlike anything else.
3 Child's Play (1988)
The "Creepy Doll" horror trope might include some familiar toys, but there's truly no one like Chucky, the timeless killer doll. The original film feels perfectly '80s as Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) and his mom Karen (Catherine Hicks) live in a charming, cozy apartment in Chicago and a serial killer's spirit is transported to a Good Guy doll.
Child's Play is about consumerism and class as Karen is a single mother who doesn't have enough money to buy Andy all of the Good Guy products that he wants and she feels terrible about it. The movie is definitely smart and deep, but it also introduces horror fans to Chucky, who has a sense of humor and lots to say.
2 Pet Sematary (1989)
Although the 2019 Pet Sematary remake isn't excellent, the 1989 original is one of the '80s movies that stand up. The film lives up to the premise of a family moving to a place where pets and people die and come back to life in an evil form. Gage Creed (Miko Hughes) is a stand-out character who dies in an accident and who returns to his family as a killer. The movie does a great job showing how desperate his parents are to believe that he's still their same sweet child.
While fans wonder about the secret to a good Stephen King adaptation, Pet Sematary is scary, has good characters who care about each other and are horrified by what's going on, and stands up today.
1 The Evil Dead (1981)
Horror fans like the Evil Dead remake, which is rare since sometimes, remakes are flat and disappointing. The original is definitely one of the best 1980s films that will always feel relevant to fans.
Sam Raimi wrote the script and directed the popular film, which is about college students traveling to a cabin, where they find an ancient book that suggests the supernatural is real. Fans appreciate the characters, including Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) along with the filmmaking style.