Collider ranks James Cameron's Aliens (1986) No. 1, Dawn of the Dead (1978) No. 2 and Evil Dead II (1987) No.
3. A sequel here means any horror movie after the first, not only a second film. The list comes from Joe Leone and spans classic monsters, slashers and recent studio horror. According to Collider, readers can treat its ranked horror-sequel list as a seasonal watchlist.
Table of Contents
- What counts as a sequel here?
- Where do the slashers land?
- Why does Bride of Frankenstein endure?
- What does Smile 2 add?
- Why do the top three lead?
What counts as a sequel here?
Leone uses sequel in the broad series sense. Any film after the original qualifies, whether it continues, remakes or expands the story.
That choice lets later chapters compete with direct part-twos. Viewers should expect franchise turning points, not only films with the number two.
Where do the slashers land?
Wes Craven's Scream 2 (1997) sits at No. 10. It follows Sidney Prescott at college as a Ghostface copycat kills around the Stab movie-within-a-movie.
Damien Leone's Terrifier 2 (2022) sits at No. 8. It brings Art the Clown back at Halloween against teenager Sienna Shaw after the 2016 cult original.
Why does Bride of Frankenstein endure?
Collider places The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) at No. 6.
The American Film Institute catalogs it as a Universal James Whale production released April 22, 1935 in its AFI Catalog entry. Its reputation rests on lasting cultural weight. The Library of Congress selected it for the 1998 National Film Registry as culturally, historically or aesthetically significant, noted in its Registry horror-film guide.
What does Smile 2 add?
Parker Finn's Smile 2 (2024) ranks No. 5.
It follows pop star Skye Riley, played by Naomi Scott, as the Smile entity grows beyond the 2022 original. The entry shows newer studio horror breaking into classic-sequel territory. It rewards viewers who want large-scale dread rather than a small cast in one location.
Why do the top three lead?
The top order favors sequels that widened their worlds while staying frightening. According to Collider, the order reflects editorial judgment for horror viewers in its ranked horror-sequel list, not box-office or awards results. Start with Aliens, then Dawn and Evil Dead II.
- Aliens (1986) at No. 1
- Dawn of the Dead (1978) at No. 2
- Evil Dead II (1987) at No. 3