Everyone enjoys a good scary movie every once in a while. Whether it’s an old, black and white movie from the 1930s, or whether it’s a scary movie made in the last 10 years, we all like a good fright once in a while.
Now that it’s summer, it’s a great time to grab a good scary movie. While scary movies have changed over time (some might say they’ve become even scarier), each scary movie seems to have its own niche. Each scary movie director seems to have captured his own take on what is frightening in what gives viewers scared.
While everyone may have their own opinion on the best scary movies of all time, these are the most scary movies according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Here is a list of the 10 scariest movies of all time:
10. The Babadook (2014)
The Babadook relies on real horror rather than cheap jump scares — and boasts a heartfelt, genuinely moving story to boot.
9. Let the Right One In (2008)
Let the Right One In reinvigorates the seemingly tired vampire genre by effectively mixing scares with intelligent storytelling.
8. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
A frightening tale of Satanism and pregnancy that is even more disturbing than it sounds thanks to convincing and committed performances by Mia Farrow and Ruth Gordon.
7. Frankenstein (1931)

Still unnerving to this day, Frankenstein adroitly explores the fine line between genius and madness, and features Boris Karloff’s legendary, frightening performance as the monster.
6. Psycho (1960)
Infamous for its shower scene, but immortal for its contribution to the horror genre. Because Psycho was filmed with tact, grace, and art, Hitchcock didn’t just create modern horror, he validated it.
5. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
An eccentric, campy, technically impressive, and frightening picture, James Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein has aged remarkably well.
4. King Kong (1933)
King Kong explores the soul of a monster — making audiences scream and cry throughout the film — in large part due to Kong’s breakthrough special effects.
3. Repulsion (1965)
Roman Polanski’s first English film follows a schizophrenic woman’s descent into madness, and makes the audience feel as claustrophobic as the character.
2. Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror (Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens) (Nosferatu the Vampire) (1922)
One of the silent era’s most influential masterpieces, Nosferatu’s eerie, gothic feel — and a chilling performance from Max Shrek as the vampire — set the template for the horror films that followed.
1. Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari. (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) (1920)
Arguably the first true horror film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari set a brilliantly high bar for the genre — and remains terrifying nearly a century after it first stalked the screen.