Horror movies have been thrilling audiences for ages but it's wild to think about "funny situations" invading monster movies and creepy films. Yet, Horror and Comedy are two genres that blend together much better than one would think. There have been a lot of aloof, slapstick, and downright hilarious titles over the years that feature heavily comedic elements on top of nail-biting thrills and chills.
It's nice to take a break from the seriousness of most Horror films once in a while. Horror Comedy is the perfect excuse to laugh in the face of fear, giving enough light-hearted moments to help those that feel a bit anxious through the spikes of terror. Here's a look at some of the best Horror Comedy movies to watch, according to IMDB.
10 The Lost Boys (7.3)
Vampires are one of the most iconic creatures found throughout the Horror genre, with many people tensing up at the idea of once human, blood-sucking monsters prowling unseen through the night and preying on innocents. But the scare factor amps up to eleven when a possible vampire is living inside your own home. That's exactly what happens in The Lost Boys, when a family moves to a small California town.
A mother looks for a fresh start and her two sons end up on complete opposite ends of the vampire spectrum. It's got close-to-home thrills and a lot of comedic elements, combining to form one of the best horror classics of the 80s.
9 The Rocky Horror Picture Show (7.4)
Horror-Comedy plays very well with Musicals, as seen with classics like Cannibal: The Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, and the iconic Rocky Horror Picture Show. A unique take on the story of Frankenstein, in which a couple finds themselves stranded near the residence of the eclectic Dr. Frank-n-Furter. While Frankenstein focused on the accidental creation of a misunderstood monster, The Rocky Horror Picture Show took a carnal twist, in which the "good doctor" sets out to create the ultimate symbol of passion and desire.
It's a great subversion on the classic Horror story, featuring catchy songs and a great performance by Tim Curry.
8 An American Werewolf In London (7.5)
Most good Horror-Comedy takes the most iconic parts of the Horror landscape and flips them on their heels. There have been a lot of films that have taken a deep dive into the lore of vampires, ghosts, and other creepy creatures and turned them into hilarious shells of their former selves.
The prospect of werewolves gets this treatment in An American Werewolf in London, with one man's unfortunate brush with a lycanthrope turning his life upside down. As two friends go on a walking tour through a British locale, they're attacked by a howling monster. The end result has one friend begging for spiritual release while the other has to deal with his "new form."
7 Army Of Darkness (7.5)
Legendary director Sam Raimi doubled down on his Horror-Comedy success with Evil Dead 2, creating even more blood-soaked laughs with Army of Darkness. Bruce Campbell returns as the cynical Ash, bringing his entertaining brand of sarcasm to the old world in a time-traveling twist. The down-on-his-luck Horror warrior is transported to 1300 A.D., where he finds himself once again doing battle with Deadites in a bid for the Necronomicon.
Like its predecessors, Army of Darkness hit cult-classic status pretty quickly and is often regarded by some as the best entry in the Evil Dead series
6 Dead Alive (7.5)
Peter Jackson has created some of the most enthralling Fantasy films to ever hit the big screen but some may be surprised to know that the director dabbled in Horror-Comedy. Dead Alive, known as Braindead outside of America, is an incredibly gory yet hilarious take on the prospect of zombies.
A young man feels as if he's finally found his soulmate but his entire life is derailed after his mother is bitten by a monkey at a local zoo. She perishes and then comes back to life as something far from human. Dead Alive features some truly revolting scenes and infuses some great Comedy that feels right at home with the ever-popular Evil Dead series.
5 Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (7.5)
Hillbillies have always gotten a bit of a bad shake in the Horror genre. Thanks to releases like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, and House of 1000 Corpses, most people feel a bit uneasy when running into country folk in heavily wooded areas.
This concept is flipped on its head and cranked up to eleven in Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, which shows the lighter side of this Horror trope. Tucker and Dale are two simple men that plan to enjoy a weekend of fishing and drinking at their cabin but soon find themselves trying to explain a series of gruesome deaths as a group of vacationing college students mistake them for bloodthirsty killers.
4 Zombieland (7.6)
The 2000s were filled to the brim with zombie movies thanks to a fad for the undead taking over both Pop Culture and the Horror genre for some time. Viewers were greeted to a wide array of zombie-infused offerings, some that became instant classics or commanded big bucks at the box office. One of these films brought a star-studded cast together for a hilarious trek across a post-apocalyptic America.
Turning zombies into something a bit more comedic, Zombieland sees Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Jesse Eisenberg on a quest for love, sanctuary, and Twinkies as they attempt to survive hordes of ravenous undead.
3 What We Do in the Shadows (7.7)
Some of the best Horror-Comedy takes tried-and-true Horror concepts and turns them on their head, turning some of the most iconic and imposing monsters into hilarious versions of themselves. Vampires became the main focus of this genre-bending trope in 2014 with What We Do in the Shadows. The end result showcases the powerful creatures of the night going through some very human issues, as they struggle to pay rent, keep up with chores, and deal with the humdrum of daily life.
2 Evil Dead 2 (7.7)
Combining true Horror and Comedy is a difficult shake. It can be challenging to find a solid balance between the two genres because they're so different from one another. Keeping audiences on the edge of their seats with racing hearts while simultaneously infusing comedic gags and timing takes a lot of talent from directors and actors. But when done well, the end result is something truly unique and entertaining.
Evil Dead 2 knocked it out of the park for many, becoming a cult classic thanks to its brilliant portrayal from Horror icon Bruce Campbell and some over-the-top Horror-Action. For many, this film was their first dive into the creative genre and a far cry from the more "serious tone" of the original Evil Dead.
1 Shaun Of The Dead (7.9)
Director Edgar Wright and British Comedy icon Simon Pegg joined forces to bring the world this hilarious spin on the Zombie Apocalypse formula in 2004. A down-on-his-luck everyman is desperate to get his life in order and win his ex back but ends up smack dab in the middle of a zombie uprising.
Edgar Wright would springboard off of this film to help direct some of the best cult classics of the modern age, like Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Thanks to his vision and Simon Pegg's combination of writing and acting (as the main star), the duo crafted a Horror-Comedy that almost instantly hit Cult Classic status. In fact, the film even received positive attention from one of the most influential Zombie-film creators ever, George A. Romero.