Time Out Ranks the 10 Best Horror Films of All Time for 2026
Time Out has unveiled its refreshed list of the 100 greatest horror films for 2026. The leading ten films are: The Exorcist (1973), The Shining (1980), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Alien (1979), Psycho (1960), The Thing (1982), Rosemary's Baby (1968), Halloween (1978), Dawn of the Dead (1978), and Jaws (1975). This compilation emphasizes movies that have left a significant mark, many of which were produced on limited budgets. William Friedkin's The Exorcist is lauded for its authentic portrayal of religious horror, while Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is recognized for its ambiguous supernatural themes. The other selections are celebrated for their distinctive styles and their influence on the horror genre, demonstrating its power to tap into personal fears and shape cinema.
Key facts
- Time Out updated its ranking of the 100 best horror films for 2026.
- The top 10 includes The Exorcist, The Shining, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Alien, Psycho, The Thing, Rosemary's Baby, Halloween, Dawn of the Dead, and Jaws.
- The Exorcist (1973) was ranked #1, directed by William Friedkin.
- The Shining (1980) was ranked #2, directed by Stanley Kubrick.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) was ranked #3, directed by Tobe Hooper.
- Alien (1979) was ranked #4, directed by Ridley Scott.
- Psycho (1960) was ranked #5, directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
- The Thing (1982) was ranked #6, directed by John Carpenter.
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) was ranked #7, directed by Roman Polanski.
- Halloween (1978) was ranked #8, directed by John Carpenter.
- Dawn of the Dead (1978) was ranked #9, directed by George Romero.
- Jaws (1975) was ranked #10, directed by Steven Spielberg.
Entities
Artists
- Steven Spielberg
- Roy Scheider
- Robert Shaw
- Richard Dreyfuss
- George Romero
- Ken Foree
- Gaylen Ross
- David Emge
- Tom Savini
- John Carpenter
- Michael Myers
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- Donald Pleasence
- Roman Polanski
- Mia Farrow
- John Cassavetes
- Ruth Gordon
- Sidney Blackmer
- Kurt Russell
- Wilford Brimley
- Rob Bottin
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Janet Leigh
- Anthony Perkins
- Ridley Scott
- Sigourney Weaver
- HR Giger
- Dan O'Bannon
- Tobe Hooper
- Marilyn Burns
- Gunnar Hansen
- Stanley Kubrick
- Jack Nicholson
- Shelley Duvall
- Stephen King
- William Friedkin
- Linda Blair
- Ellen Burstyn
- Jason Miller
- Max von Sydow
Institutions
- Time Out
- Warner Bros.
- Universal
- Laurel Group
- Dawn Associates
- Compass International Pictures
- Paramount
- 20th Century Fox
- Bryanston Distributing Company
Locations
- Amity Island
- Illinois
- New York
- Antarctica
- Georgetown
- Iraq
- Texas
Sources
- Quartz —