The 10 best horror movies of the 2010s represent a remarkable creative renaissance for a genre that had spent much of the previous decade mired in torture porn and uninspired remakes. Between 2010 and 2019, horror cinema underwent a dramatic transformation, with filmmakers pushing boundaries in storytelling, visual style, and thematic depth that elevated the genre to unprecedented critical acclaim and box office success. This decade saw horror films competing for major awards, dominating cultural conversations, and attracting A-list talent both in front of and behind the camera. What makes this particular era so significant is how it addressed fundamental questions about what horror can accomplish as an art form.
Directors like Jordan Peele, Ari Aster, and Robert Eggers emerged as auteurs who used genre conventions to explore racism, grief, religious fanaticism, and family trauma. Meanwhile, established filmmakers continued to innovate within more traditional frameworks, proving that supernatural scares and psychological terror could coexist with social commentary and emotional resonance. The decade also witnessed the rise of production companies like A24 and Blumhouse, which championed original horror visions and demonstrated that modest budgets could yield massive returns when paired with genuine creativity. By the end of this exploration, readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the films that defined horror in the 2010s, why they succeeded artistically and commercially, and how they collectively reshaped audience expectations for the genre. Whether revisiting old favorites or discovering essential viewing for the first time, this guide provides the context and analysis needed to appreciate a transformative decade in horror filmmaking.
Table of Contents
- What Made Horror Movies of the 2010s Different From Previous Decades?
- The Essential Horror Films That Defined the Decade
- How International Horror Influenced the Best Films of the 2010s
- Understanding Horror Subgenres That Thrived in the 2010s
- Why “Elevated Horror” Sparked Debate Among Film Critics and Fans
- The Legacy of 2010s Horror for Contemporary Filmmaking
- How to Prepare
- How to Apply This
- Expert Tips
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Made Horror Movies of the 2010s Different From Previous Decades?
The horror movies of the 2010s distinguished themselves through a deliberate rejection of the trends that had dominated the 2000s. The previous decade had been characterized by the “torture porn” subgenre exemplified by the Saw and Hostel franchises, as well as an endless parade of remakes of classic horror properties. Audiences grew fatigued with these approaches, and filmmakers responded by pivoting toward slower-burn psychological horror, elevated thematic content, and original intellectual properties. This shift wasn’t merely aesthetic””it reflected a fundamental reconsideration of what horror could mean and accomplish.
The economic model for horror production also evolved significantly during this period. Blumhouse Productions, founded by Jason Blum, perfected a formula of micro-budget filmmaking that allowed for creative risk-taking while minimizing financial exposure. Films like Paranormal Activity (which technically premiered in 2007 but launched the company’s model), Insidious, and Get Out demonstrated that horror could generate returns of 5,000% or more on investment. This financial success gave studios confidence to greenlight unconventional projects and trust directors with singular visions.
- The “elevated horror” or “post-horror” movement emphasized atmosphere, character development, and thematic depth over jump scares and gore
- International horror gained wider distribution, with films from Australia, South Korea, and Sweden influencing American productions
- Social media and streaming platforms changed how audiences discovered and discussed horror, creating passionate online communities that championed underseen gems
- Female and minority filmmakers gained unprecedented opportunities to tell horror stories from perspectives previously marginalized in the genre
The Essential Horror Films That Defined the Decade
Any serious discussion of the best horror movies of the 2010s must begin with Jordan Peele’s Get Out (2017), a film that fundamentally altered the cultural landscape. Working from his own screenplay, Peele crafted a story about a young Black man visiting his white girlfriend’s family that operates simultaneously as a dating comedy, social satire, and genuinely terrifying horror film. The movie grossed $255 million worldwide against a $4.5 million budget and earned Peele an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay””only the fourth horror film in history to receive a writing Oscar nomination.
Hereditary (2018) announced Ari Aster as a major filmmaking talent through its unflinching examination of grief and familial dysfunction. Toni Collette’s performance as a mother unraveling after tragedy ranks among the finest in horror history, and Aster’s patient, methodical direction builds to genuinely shocking setpieces that feel earned rather than gratuitous. The film demonstrated that audiences would embrace challenging, deliberately paced horror when executed with skill and sincerity.
- The Witch (2015) used meticulous historical research and period-accurate dialogue to create an immersive portrait of Puritan-era paranoia and religious extremism
- It Follows (2014) revitalized the slasher genre through a brilliantly simple premise””a sexually transmitted curse””that generated both terror and thematic resonance
- The Babadook (2014) used its titular monster as a metaphor for depression and the difficulties of single parenthood, earning widespread acclaim and passionate advocacy
- The Conjuring (2013) proved that classical haunted house storytelling remained viable when executed with craftsmanship and respect for audience intelligence
How International Horror Influenced the Best Films of the 2010s
The globalization of horror during the 2010s enriched the genre through cross-pollination of styles, techniques, and cultural perspectives. South Korean cinema, already recognized for its thriller prowess through films like Oldboy, contributed The Wailing (2016), a sprawling supernatural mystery that blended Korean shamanism, Christian demonology, and zombie movie tropes into something wholly original. Director Na Hong-jin created a film that defies easy categorization while delivering genuine scares and profound philosophical questions about the nature of evil.
Australian horror emerged as a significant force during this period, with films that used the country’s vast, unforgiving landscapes to generate primal terror. The Babadook became an international phenomenon through word-of-mouth and streaming, while films like The Loved Ones (2009, with wider release in 2012) and Cargo (2017) demonstrated the depth of talent working in Australian genre cinema. These films often featured stronger character work and emotional cores than their American counterparts, influencing Hollywood productions toward greater psychological complexity.
- A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014), an Iranian-American production, fused vampire mythology with spaghetti western aesthetics and feminist themes
- Raw (2016), from French-Belgian director Julia Ducournau, used cannibalism as a metaphor for sexual awakening and received a seven-minute standing ovation at Cannes
- Under the Shadow (2016) set its supernatural horror during the Iran-Iraq War, using the djinn of Islamic mythology to explore trauma, displacement, and gender politics
Understanding Horror Subgenres That Thrived in the 2010s
The diversity of horror subgenres that flourished during the 2010s reflects the decade’s experimental spirit and audience appetite for variety. Found footage, which had dominated the late 2000s, continued to produce worthy entries but evolved beyond its shaky-cam origins. Films like Creep (2014) and the V/H/S anthology series pushed the format toward new applications, while others like Unfriended (2014) translated the aesthetic to computer screens and social media interfaces, creating “screenlife” horror that resonated with digitally native audiences.
Slow-burn atmospheric horror, sometimes dismissively labeled “post-horror” by critics, became the decade’s prestige format. These films prioritized dread over shocks, often withholding explicit supernatural confirmation until late in their running times””or refusing to provide it at all. The Witch, It Comes at Night (2017), and A Ghost Story (2017) exemplify this approach, demanding patience from viewers while rewarding attention with rich thematic payoffs. This subgenre proved divisive, with some audiences finding the deliberate pacing tedious, but its critical champions argued it represented horror’s maturation as an art form.
- Folk horror experienced a revival through The Witch, Midsommar (2019), and The Ritual (2017), drawing on pagan imagery and rural isolation
- Home invasion thrillers like Don’t Breathe (2016) and Hush (2016) stripped horror to its survival essentials with contained settings and minimal casts
- Creature features returned with practical effects showcased in films like Annihilation (2018) and A Quiet Place (2018)
- Comedy-horror hybrids like What We Do in the Shadows (2014) and Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) found devoted audiences through affectionate genre parody
Why “Elevated Horror” Sparked Debate Among Film Critics and Fans
The term “elevated horror” became one of the decade’s most contentious phrases, sparking heated debates about genre legitimacy, critical gatekeeping, and the very definition of horror itself. Proponents used the label to distinguish films like Hereditary and The Witch from mainstream horror, arguing that their literary ambitions, thematic sophistication, and arthouse aesthetics warranted recognition beyond typical genre categorization. Critics of the term””including many horror fans and some of the filmmakers being labeled””argued it implied that traditional horror was inherently lesser and needed “elevation” to deserve serious consideration.
This debate revealed deeper tensions within horror fandom and film criticism more broadly. When A24 marketed The Witch with the tagline “a New England folktale,” some interpreted the choice as distancing the film from horror conventions to attract prestige-seeking audiences. Similarly, when Jennifer Kent expressed discomfort with The Babadook being categorized as horror, longtime fans questioned whether filmmakers benefiting from genre audiences should reject the label. The discourse forced useful conversations about horror’s history of critical dismissal and the complex relationship between artistic ambition and genre identity.
- Jordan Peele explicitly embraced the horror label for Get Out, pushing back against attempts to reclassify it as “social thriller”
- Box office data showed that horror consistently outperformed other genres in return on investment, undermining arguments that it lacked mainstream appeal
- Academic film studies programs increasingly incorporated horror into curricula, lending institutional legitimacy to genre analysis
- The debate ultimately proved productive, encouraging deeper engagement with horror’s artistic potential while challenging dismissive attitudes from outside the community
The Legacy of 2010s Horror for Contemporary Filmmaking
The innovations of the 2010s continue reverberating through contemporary horror production, establishing templates and expectations that persist years later. The financial model pioneered by Blumhouse demonstrated that original horror concepts could compete with franchise properties, encouraging studios to invest in new intellectual properties rather than relying exclusively on sequels and remakes. A24’s curatorial approach to genre filmmaking””championing distinctive directorial voices with modest budgets and extensive creative freedom””has been widely imitated, if not always successfully replicated.
Perhaps more significantly, the decade’s best horror films proved that genre and prestige need not be mutually exclusive categories. When Parasite won Best Picture at the 2020 Academy Awards, the groundwork had been laid by a decade of horror films that commanded critical respect while delivering genuine scares. The careers launched during this period””Peele, Aster, Eggers, Ducournau””have become major forces in contemporary cinema, carrying forward lessons learned from their breakthrough horror work into increasingly ambitious projects.
How to Prepare
- **Start with the consensus classics** “” Begin with widely acclaimed films like Get Out, Hereditary, and The Witch to establish a baseline understanding of the decade’s most celebrated works. These films earned their reputations through genuine innovation and craft, and watching them first provides context for understanding the broader trends they influenced and responded to.
- **Explore international selections** “” Allocate time for non-English-language horror, including The Wailing, Raw, and Under the Shadow. These films offer perspectives unavailable in American productions and demonstrate the global scope of the decade’s horror renaissance. Subtitles are a small price for exposure to filmmaking traditions with distinct strengths.
- **Sample different subgenres deliberately** “” Rather than watching similar films consecutively, alternate between found footage, supernatural horror, psychological thriller, and creature feature to appreciate the decade’s variety. This approach prevents fatigue and highlights how different filmmakers approached shared genre challenges from distinct angles.
- **Include at least one challenging selection** “” Films like It Comes at Night or A Ghost Story divided audiences precisely because they pushed against horror expectations. Engaging with polarizing works sharpens critical thinking and reveals personal preferences that more conventional films might not expose.
- **Save one crowd-pleaser for recovery** “” After particularly intense viewing experiences like Hereditary or The Witch, having lighter fare available can be valuable. A Quiet Place or Don’t Breathe deliver thrills without the emotional devastation of the decade’s heaviest entries, providing satisfying genre entertainment that doesn’t require processing time.
How to Apply This
- **Research production context before viewing** “” Understanding a film’s budget, production history, and cultural moment enriches appreciation for its achievements. Knowing that Get Out was made for $4.5 million or that The Witch used only natural lighting and candles transforms viewing from passive consumption to informed analysis.
- **Watch without distractions in appropriate conditions** “” Horror filmmaking relies on careful manipulation of sound, pacing, and visual composition that phone-checking destroys. Commit to theatrical conditions at home when possible: darkened room, quality audio, no second screens competing for attention.
- **Engage with criticism and discussion afterward** “” The best horror films reward analysis and conversation. Reading reviews, listening to podcasts, and participating in online discussions reveals dimensions that solo viewing might miss and connects individual experience to broader community response.
- **Revisit favorites to identify craft elements** “” Second viewings allow attention to shift from story to technique. Notice how James Wan stages scares in The Conjuring, how Aster uses camera movement in Hereditary, how Peele plants foreshadowing throughout Get Out. This analytical approach develops critical vocabulary and deepens appreciation.
Expert Tips
- **Don’t dismiss slow-burn horror immediately** “” Films like The Witch and It Follows can feel frustrating on first viewing if expectations are calibrated for jump-scare delivery systems. Give deliberate pacing a genuine chance; many viewers find these films improve dramatically on revisitation once they understand the intended experience.
- **Pay attention to sound design** “” The best horror films of the 2010s featured exceptional audio work that often goes unnoticed consciously while profoundly affecting emotional response. Hereditary’s score, A Quiet Place’s strategic silence, and The Witch’s period-appropriate instrumentation all reward focused listening.
- **Consider theatrical context when evaluating older films** “” Some films, particularly found footage entries, played more effectively in theatrical settings than they do on home video. Understanding that Paranormal Activity or Unfriended were designed for communal viewing experiences helps contextualize mixed reactions to home viewing.
- **Explore directors’ earlier work** “” Filmmakers who broke through in the 2010s often have earlier shorts or features worth seeking out. Ari Aster’s short films, available online, demonstrate his sensibility before Hereditary, while David Robert Mitchell’s The Myth of the American Sleepover (2010) contextualizes It Follows within his broader artistic concerns.
- **Trust your reactions, including negative ones** “” Not every acclaimed horror film works for every viewer, and dismissing personal response in favor of critical consensus impoverishes the viewing experience. If a celebrated film doesn’t connect, that’s valid information about personal taste worth understanding rather than overriding.
Conclusion
The best horror movies of the 2010s collectively represent one of the genre’s richest and most artistically ambitious periods, delivering films that function simultaneously as entertainment, social commentary, and genuine art. From Get Out’s incisive examination of American racism to Hereditary’s devastating exploration of inherited trauma, from The Witch’s meticulous historical recreation to It Follows’ ingenious metaphorical premise, the decade proved that horror filmmaking could achieve virtually anything other cinematic modes could accomplish while retaining the visceral power unique to the genre. These films attracted new audiences to horror while rewarding longtime fans with fresh perspectives on familiar conventions.
Looking back at this decade provides both a viewing guide for exceptional films and a framework for understanding where horror is heading. The filmmakers who emerged during this period continue producing challenging, distinctive work, while the financial and critical success of their breakthroughs has opened doors for the next generation of horror auteurs. For viewers just beginning to explore this era, an extraordinary body of work awaits””films that frighten, provoke, move, and linger in memory long after the credits roll. The 2010s demonstrated that horror’s potential remains vast and largely untapped, suggesting that the genre’s best work may still lie ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
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