There’s no debate that certain horror films need to be seen on the big screen to be fully appreciated. Especially in an age where people have shorter attention spans than ever, watching a movie on the big screen has a unique ability to tune out all the noise and deliver pure, uninterrupted entertainment when it’s most needed. There’s nothing like experiencingthatshocking scene inHereditarywhile trapped in the dark or being surrounded by booming, powerful ambience while watching Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) perform inSmile 2.
The following list compilesa variety of horror films that you must watch on the big screenat least once in your life. They are from various years and come from a variety of countries. It includes classics and cult favorites, as well as a few hidden gems. And hey—even if these aren’t currently in theaters, there’s no telling when one might pop up for a special screening, and worst case scenario, a 65-inch TV is an acceptable alternative!
10’Climax' (2018)
Directed by Gaspar Noé
Believe it or not,Gaspar Noé’sClimax(2018) is considered one of his tamer films compared to his earlier works likeIrréversible(2002) andEnter the Void(2009). However, the accelerating chaos that unfolds is enough to make anyone’s anxiety fly through the roof. The plot revolves around a dance group who are celebrating their final day of rehearsals after days of work. Stuck in an empty school building with a snowstorm raging outside, the dancers blissfully drink and party until they begin to realize that somebody has spiked the alcohol with LSD. From there, everything spirals into turmoil.
The reasonClimaxis essential to watch on the big screen is due to itsvibrant visuals, strong cinematography, and explosive choreography. It’s a gorgeous horror film and subverts audience expectations at every turn and is so many things at once:seductive, terrifying, disturbing, comforting, electrifying, and disorienting. It’s also mostly filmed inlong takes, with one alone lasting over 40 minutes, helping immerse audiences further into the unfolding disarray. Additionally, outside the talentedSofia BoutellaandSoubheila Yacoub, the cast itself was mostly made up of professional dancers without acting experience, which allowed the choreography to truly shine authentically and made their characters more raw and realistic.
9’The Thing' (1982)
Directed by John Carpenter
WhileHalloween(1978) remainsJohn Carpenter’s most popular film, many fans considerThe Thing(1981) to truly be his magnum opus. The premise is suspenseful and captivating, the atmosphere is palpable, and the practical effects are disgustingly outstanding. Also, who wouldn’t want to seeKurt Russell’s gorgeous ’80s locks up close? The story follows a group of American researchers in Antarctica who innocently take in a mysterious sled dog, which becomes their biggest regret. The men quickly realize that the creature is actually a grotesque alien that absorbs and shapeshifts into humans to survive.
WhileThe Thinghas many noteworthy qualities, including exceptional acting, an iconic soundtrack, and an unpredictable storyline, the practical effects stand out the most. Special effects designerRob Bottin, who was previouslyRick Baker’s apprentice, had already worked onStar Wars,The Howling(1981), andThe Fog(1980), where he met Carpenter. At only 22 years old, Bottin pulled offintricate, innovative monster designsthat elevated the standards for special effects as a whole. Bottin’s level of detail put into his designs was meant to be seen up close and personal, which is why it would be a disservice not to watch it on a big screen at least once.
8’Kwaidan' (1964)
Directed by Masaki Kobayashi
Kwaidanis aJapanese horror/fantasy anthology that tells four stories based onLafcadio Hearn’s collection of Japanese folk tales. While it’s a highly regarded classic with a strong cult following, it’s not as mainstream as the other films in this list. In a way, it’s like a narrower, more specific, Japanese version ofGrimm’s Fairy Tales, but focused mostly on ghost stories, supernatural elements, and Japanese folklore. It features four separate ghost stories, titled “The Black Hair,” “The Woman of the Snow,” “Hoichi the Earless,” and “In a Cup of Tea.”
It’s essential to watchKwaidanon the big screen, mostly due to itsstunning visuals and sets, and it feels more like watching atheatrical playthan a motion picture. It captures a uniquely haunting atmosphere, and each story explores the consequences of one’s decisions, one way or another, by utilizing supernatural elements. Each story represents one of the four seasons of the year, which is illustrated flawlessly within the set designs. It featureshighly detailed, uniquely breathtaking sets and backdrops, complementing each haunting tale. Each story’s pacing is intentional, and Kobayashi masterfully stages them like individual art pieces.
7’The Birds' (1963)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
AlthoughAlfred Hitchcock’sPsycho(1960) is considered his most influential horror film,The Birds(1963) is a strong runner-up and continues to have a significant impact on pop culture. Not only is the film a terrifying spectacle, but the vast number of birds used throughout production gives it a unique edge. The plot revolves around Melanie (Tippi Hedren), who meets a man, Mitch (Rod Taylor), in a pet store, and decides to pursue him and pay him a surprise visit at his family home in Bodega Bay. But before long, the local birds start acting strange, and their behavior only escalates and becomes increasingly violent towards the residents there as Melanie tries to help Mitch protect his family.
What makesThe Birdsso essential to see on the big screen isthe level of detail and thought put into the production, even if it came at the cost of Hedren’s temporary sanity.Hitchcock’s torment of Hedrenraises questions of how much is too much in the pursuit of art, but that’s a debate far too complex to have right now. On a purely artistic level,The Birdsremains a riveting experience, terrifying but alsovibrant, innovative, and masterfully builds suspense.The Birdscaptures a distinct, unnerving atmosphere and is trulya time capsule of ’60s horror.
6’Deep Red' (1975)
Directed by Dario Argento
AlthoughDeep Red(1975) is one ofDario Argento’s best films, it’s often overshadowed by his masterpieceSuspiria(1977), which was released two years later. The film is the ultimate representation of the Giallo subgenre, which is inspired by the pulp crime novels of the 1920s and their distinct, yellow covers like the popular “Il Giallo Mondadori” series.InDeep Red, Marcus Daly (David Hemmings) witnesses a murder from his apartment window, and after discovering the body of a psychic medium (Macha Méril), he feels obligated to help find the killer. But when Marcus himself gets threatened by the murderer, he teams up with reporter Gianna Brezzi (Daria Nicolodi) to quicken the pace and find the killer before he finds them.
Stylistically,Deep Redis nearly perfect. The cinematography is dynamic and striking, and each location is highly intricate and complex.It’s almost as if Argento breathes life into each essential location, as the different settings seamlessly transport audiences back to 1970s Italy. Close-up shots manage to be both beautiful and terrifying, high and low angles add an eeriness to suspenseful moments, andDutch anglesand POV shots add an uncanny element to the environment. There is also gratuitous, over-the-top usage of blood as a spectacle, which also serves as a metaphor for the film’s literal title.Deep Redmasterfully balances grotesque violence with stunning, iconic staging, relatable, charismatic leads, and thrilling, suspenseful moments.
5’Bram Stoker’s Dracula' (1992)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
If there’s one word that can describeBram Stoker’s Dracula(1992), it’s spectacle.Francis Ford Coppolamasterfully retold one of horror’s most iconic and popular stories through his faithfulness to the original novel, while also making clever, creative tweaks. The plot follows Bram Stoker’s original 1897 novel, and features extravagant sets, theatrical makeup and costumes, and striking cinematography. The film is highly stylized andtruly transports audiences to a different world. The casting is equally impressive, featuringGary Oldmanas Dracula,Keanu Reevesas Jonathan Harker,Winona Ryderas Mina Harker, andAnthony Hopkinsas Abraham Van Helsing.
Coppola’s vampire is charismatic, elite, and distinguished, but still equally depraved and dangerous. The film’s overall mood and atmosphere are best described as elegantly theatric and richly colored; after all, it did win three Oscars for Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, and Best Sound Editing. With those wins, it’s no wonder thatBram Stoker’s Draculadeserves to be seen on the big screen in order to be fully appreciated, especially since it’s often cited as one ofthe most influential vampire moviesof all time.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
4’The Shining' (1980)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
As my favorite film professor would say,The Shining(1980) cannot be fully appreciated unless it is seen without interruption on the big screen, in the dark, and truthfully, that can apply to any ofStanley Kubrick’s thirteen feature films. But in the horror category,The Shiningis absolutely Kubrick’s strongest contender. Stylistically, the film is a visual masterpiece with its color usage, framing, symmetry, patterns, and mirroring. Kubrick purposely filmed the characters in the center of the frame, which is not only unusual but creates an otherworldly, unsettling effect. He also made the conscious choice to have the camera serve more as a narrative agent through its movements and placements, giving the already-supernatural film an elevatedparanormal presence.
The Shiningrevolves around a disconnected, recovering alcoholic, Jack (Jack Nicholson), who brings his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), to an isolated Colorado resort while he works as the winter caretaker. It quickly becomes apparent that the resort is intensely haunted, and evil forces start manipulating and controlling Jack while terrorizing Wendy and Danny.The gradual escalation and tension building throughoutThe Shiningare not only palpable but stunningly illustrated through the resort’s architecture. Locations and objects themselves are personified with scenes of the hallways, individual hotel rooms, the elevator, the pantry, and the vast hedge maze outside.Without a big screen, many of the subtle artistic and narrative elements are lostwithin the grain, when, for Kubrick, it’s all about the details.
The Shining
Directed by Phil Tippett
Phil Tippet’s most personal film,Mad God, took 30 years to complete. The 83-minute stop-motion-experimental-fever dream of a film was conceived by Tippett in the late ’80s, but was put on hold due to other obligations, before being revived years later thanks to a Kickstarter campaign. The meticulous effort put into each frame also contributed to the prolonged production phase, and many of the animators were volunteers or students.Mad Godutilizes stop-motion animation, animatronics, digital effects, and live-action tocreate an intricate, subconscious nightmarescape.
Tippett createdMad Godas a way to explore his journey with mental health and the challenges he’s faced throughout his life. He worked from his unconscious and organically allowed the film to evolve, viewing it as a “hellish odyssey.” The film is very conceptual, uses almost no dialogue, and follows a mysterious figure in a gas mask who descends into an infernal hollow. It features frightening scenarios, hideous monsters, and inexplicable violence and ferocity. Not only isMad Goda glorious, obscure exploration of the subconscious, but also a disturbing sensory overload that truly transports audiences into another dimension.
2’mother!' (2017)
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
mother!(2017) features one ofJennifer Lawrence’s strongest performances — deeply intense, anxiety-inducing, and thought-provoking. Cinematically, it’s similar toClimaxin its usage of creating the illusion of one continuous take.Darren Aronofskyis no stranger to unconventional plot lines, butmother!is a full-on biblical analogy that is almost too intense to handle at times,heavily relying onatmospheric horror. The main reason it’s so effective on the big screen is due to itsclaustrophobic intensity, escalation, and metaphoric storytelling.
A man, referred to as “Him” (Javier Bardem) and a woman, referenced as “Mother” (Lawrence) live peacefully in a beautiful home, but that peace is quickly disturbed by a mysterious couple, who Him invites in as his guests. From that point on, more people arrive, whom Him welcomes with open arms, despite Mother’s confusion and concern. The tension keeps escalating, and Him continues to neglect Mother and embrace the strangers who incessantly show up. Mother becomes increasingly distressed by the new arrivals as their once-peaceful environment turns into complete disarray, showcasing an allegory for Biblical creation, “Mother” Earth, and human nature itself.
1’The Cell' (2000)
Directed by Tarsem Singh
Despite receiving mixed reviews upon its release, it’s safe to say thatTarsem Singh’sThe Cell(2000) is highly regarded as a cult classic and visual masterpiece in 2025. The storycombines horror, science fiction, and crime elementswith concepts of surrealism and the subconscious. It revolves around a social worker, Catherine Deane (Jennifer Lopez), who uses advanced technology to communicate and access the psyche of her patients. But when the FBI catches a deranged serial killer stuck in a coma, agent Peter Novak (Vince Vaughn) asks Catherine to enter the killer’s psyche to find his latest victim’s location before time runs out. Catherine agrees, not realizing how dangerous the request is until she’s in too deep.
The Celldeserves to be seen on the big screen mainly for itsvisual brilliance and noteworthy performances. The natural locations are stunning, like the otherworldly desert landscape in the opening scene. It also features intricate set designs from the serial killer’s hideout and the depraved world that exists within his psyche. On top of that, both the practical and visual effects are magnificent, despite the limitations that existed in 2000. Stylistically,the film is dream-like, vivid, colorful, and unusual, providing audiences with a uniquely enjoyable viewing experience throughout.
NEXT:The Theatrical Experience Will Never Be Beaten, and Here Are 10 Reasons Why
