The Best Horror Movie Franchises

Table of Contents

Toggle

Key Takeaways

• Horror franchises showcase the genre’s best aspects and lasting impact on popular culture.
• A Nightmare on Elm Street, Night of the Living Dead, Evil Dead, Alien,
  and
  Scream
  are iconic and timeless horror franchises.
• Scream
  revitalized the slasher sub-genre, influencing horror films by blending comedy, meta commentary, and terror effectively.

Given it is one of cinema’s most storied and beloved genres, horror possesses some of the most iconic and enduring franchises ever seen on the silver screen. Spawning an array of sequels and inspiring countless imitations, the success of these franchises has been highlighted by their impressive box office returns, superb reception, and their lasting impact on popular culture.

In a genre that has become somewhat over-reliant on jump scares, gross-out tactics, and horrifically graphic violence, the best horror films are those that channel the best aspects of the genre to terrify their viewers while producing legitimately superb movies at the same time. Producing one such offering is impressive enough, but engineering a quality horror franchise full of them is a legitimately inspiring achievement.

5 A Nightmare On Elm Street

Cinema’s Most Iconic Slasher Series

• First release: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• Latest release: A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

Chronicling the blood-chilling exploits of a hideously burned killer who relentlessly hunts his victims in their dreams, the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise is an iconic genre staple for a reason. Wes Craven’s 1984 original outing is universally regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever created, with the harrowing supernatural slasher going on to inspire multiple sequels, a remake, and a crossover with its wildly popular slasher contemporary, Friday the 13th.

TArguably, the franchise is also home to horror’s most memorable and instantly recognizable antagonist — Robert Englund’s Freddy Krueger. Perpetrator of some of the most unforgettably terrifying moments in horror history, the scissor-handed Krueger is renowned for the morbidly inventive nature of his depraved kill sequences, an attribute that has helped his parent franchise carve out a niche as one of the genre’s best offerings, and one that presents the perfect opportunity for a reboot.

4 Night Of The Living Dead

An Undead Masterpiece From George A. Romero

• First release: Night of the Living Dead (1968)
• Latest release: Survival of the Dead (2009)

Home to some of the most seminal horror films ever made, no list in this vein would be complete without the late, great George A. Romero’sNight of the Living Dead franchise. Chronicling an array of desperate fights for survival in the face of a zombie apocalypse across six films along with numerous spin-offs and remakes, Romero’s franchise is renowned for its trademark combination of undead horror interspersed with razor-sharp social commentary.

While the original series has fallen off in quality with 2009’s disastrous entry, Survival of the Dead, the remainder of Romero’s magnum opus constitutes a case-study in masterful horror film-making. In particular, 1968’s Night of the Living Dead and 1978’s Dawn of the Dead are regarded as some of the greatest and most influential horror films of all time. Providing a blueprint for virtually every zombie outing in the history of cinema, Night of the Living Dead is an indispensable entry when it comes to discussing the greatest horror franchises ever made.

3 Evil Dead

A Bloody Medley Of Terror And Humor

• First release: The Evil Dead (1981)
• Latest release: Evil Dead Rise (2023)

While it may not measure up to the longevity or commercial success of the likes of Halloween, Saw, or A Nightmare on Elm Street, Evil Dead stands as the ultimate blend of wicked humor, industrial amounts of gore, and indescribably gratuitous violence. The success of Sam Raimi’s 1981 original, depicting five college students beset upon by demonic forces in an isolated cabin in the woods, led to an array of acclaimed horror films and a television series all set in the same universe.

The acclaim for Evil Dead’s uniquely weird style and premise has carried into the 21st Century. Starz series Ash vs Evil Dead received rave reviews throughout its three-year run; a status quo that extended to later films. 2016’s Evil Dead remake/reboot received very positive feedback for horror virtuoso Fede Alvarez’s interpretation of Raimi’s original premise, while 2023’s spectacularly gruesome Evil Dead Rise was lauded as one of the finest horror films of the year and became the highest grossing outing in the franchise to date.

2 Alien

Taking Horror To Outer Space

• First release: Alien (1979)
• Latest release: Alien: Romulus (2024)

Undoubtedly the greatest sci-fi horror offering of all time, Alien is also one of the most influential movie series of all time. Period. Set in the near future and chronicling a series of deadly encounters with a species of predatory extraterrestrial known as the Xenomorph, 1979’s wildly successful debut outing Alien provided the bedrock for eight further films, including a prequel series, a standalone entry set in the same universe, and two non-canonical crossovers with fellow legendary sci-fi franchise, Predator. This, without mentioning the video games, comic books, and upcoming FX TV series that are also set in the Alien universe.

Channeling a unique brand of claustrophobic realism, the Alien films are renowned for their unique blend of horror and science-fiction, as well as using stunning practical effects to bring the Xenomorphs to life in horrifyingly unforgettable fashion. It also doesn’t hurt that Sigourney Weaver’s iconic protagonist, Ellen Ripley, is one of the most celebrated female characters to ever grace the silver screen. Simply put, it’s hard to find a horror franchise that can even begin to compete with Alien’s lofty accolades.

1 Scream

Horror’s Finest Franchise

• First release: Scream (1996)
• Latest release: Scream VI (2023)

Depicting the murderous exploits of a masked serial killer known only as Ghostface, Wes Craven’s 1996 offering Scream ushered in a new age for horror films and is credited with revitalizing the flagging slasher sub-genre. As self-aware as it was terrifying, the film’s blend of black comedy and cutting meta commentary against the backdrop of a legitimately thrilling horror premise led to widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike.

The commercial and critical success of Craven’s original outing was such that it spawned five lauded sequels (with more on the way) and even a separate television series. The franchise’s iconic Ghostface mask has become virtually synonymous with the wider slasher genre, highlighting Scream’s cultural impact and status as the greatest horror franchise ever made in sharp relief. It’s a franchise that shows no sign of slowing down despite approaching its 30th birthday; 2023’s Scream 6 received glowing reviews upon release, while a seventh installment in the legendary series is currently in the works.