Radio Times has compiled a list of the top 20 horror films and TV series of all time, highlighting the genre's evolution from classics like Nosferatu to modern hits like Sinners. The publication notes horror's growing mainstream acclaim, especially with Sinners receiving the most Oscar nominations of any film. Upcoming releases for 2026 are also featured.
Horror has transitioned from niche frights to critically acclaimed entertainment, as evidenced by Radio Times' selection of the best films and TV series spanning over a century. The list begins with FW Murnau's 1922 silent classic Nosferatu, described as the original vampire story with an eerie atmosphere, available on Amazon Prime Video and BFI Player. Other early standouts include Georges Franju's 1959 French film Eyes Without a Face, focusing on a doctor's obsession with his disfigured daughter, and Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 Psycho, famous for its shower scene and shrieking violins, streamable on Now Cinema.
The 1970s brought influential works like George A. Romero's 1968 Night of the Living Dead, which defined zombie lore and addressed social issues, and William Friedkin's 1973 The Exorcist, which earned 10 Oscar nominations. Nicolas Roeg's 1973 Don't Look Now features Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie in a tale of death and clairvoyance. Steven Spielberg's 1975 Jaws created the summer blockbuster concept, while John Carpenter's 1978 Halloween set the slasher template with its synth score.
Later entries include Ridley Scott's 1979 Alien with Sigourney Weaver, Stanley Kubrick's 1980 The Shining starring Jack Nicholson, and Wes Craven's 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street introducing Freddy Krueger. Sam Raimi's 1987 Evil Dead II blends horror and slapstick with Bruce Campbell. The 1990s saw Tony Todd in 1992's Candyman, addressing social issues, and the genre-savvy 1996 Scream. Jordan Peele's 2017 Get Out pioneered elevated horror with its politics and satire. Ryan Coogler's 2025 Sinners blends period drama and vampire action, now the most Oscar-nominated film.
TV highlights start with 1974's Kolchak: The Night Stalker, a prototype for The X-Files, and 1989's Tales From the Crypt anthology with John Kassir's Crypt Keeper. David Lynch's 1990 Twin Peaks uncovers evil in suburbia. The 1997 Buffy the Vampire Slayer allegorizes teen angst, while 2016's Stranger Things by the Duffer Brothers became a cultural phenomenon. Mike Flanagan's 2018 The Haunting of Hill House revives the genre on Netflix.
Upcoming 2026 films include Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride! with Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley, Sam Raimi's produced Evil Dead Burn, and Robert Eggers' Werwulf. TV prospects feature Crystal Lake, a Friday the 13th prequel, Mike Flanagan's Carrie adaptation, and a Stranger Things animated spin-off.