horror movies are a genre that keeps on giving, and some franchises have truly become legendary. But just like any good thing, some series continue beyond their prime, testing even the most die-hard horror fans' patience. Then, there are other iconic franchises where each new movie, reboot, and reimagining feels like a gift that keeps on giving. Here's a list of 10 horror franchises that should never end!
Scream (1996 - Present)
Wes Craven gave slasher films a huge shot in the arm, breathing new life into this genre! Since the very first Scream in 1996, fans everywhere got so excited at the hilarious and gory horror this movie has to offer. This film took something typical-masked killers, teens getting murdered. But then added a unique twist: it knew the horror tropes really well!
The sequels doubled down and poked fun at everything you'd see in trilogies. Scream is unique and does a masterful job of using meta-commentary and constantly twists familiar tropes. And now, we're getting the newer Ghostface killers, making the entire series so compelling!
Halloween (1978 - Present)
The original Halloween (1978) movie was a total game-changer for horror but seemed to show no hope for future installments when the Halloween II was so badly received.
But you know what? The franchise refuses to die! And although the timelines jump all over the place (and are constantly retconned), it's like Michael Myers himself - immortal! Now, the focus on Laurie Strode's trauma brings more to the franchise! And it continues to reinvent itself! So, bring on the next chapter!
Child's Play (1988 - Present)
The best part about having a killer doll is how easily you can make sequels, without losing any of its ridiculous believability (which is half the fun). From the early installments to the Cult of Chucky, this campy series proves it never gets old! Sure, the Aubrey Plaza remake happened, but the best way to keep going with the story of Chucky is to go straight to streaming. Those bigger studio pressures make it difficult for a movie like this to keep its special tone.
The Conjuring Universe (2013 - Present)
What began with The Conjuring in 2013 turned into something huge: a massive cinematic universe!
Annabelle and The Nun, and then all the sequels and prequels- this is how The conjuring universe delivers truly terrifying tales and remains successful! Its strength is in creating tense and scary stories that use the original premise from that initial film and helps create such an interconnected mythology. If it can deliver something so original, this could continue for a very long time!
Final Destination (2000 - Present)
Final Destination isn’t your typical horror franchise since the killer isn’t a person, but Death itself. Even as a kid, the idea that escaping death's clutches isn't enough, as it will track people down and cause even more death was absolutely chilling. The best part? The series never needs to have that core set of actors to bring another movie to theaters. What was unique is the series continues to grow in its special effects. Death seems to get crazier with every film.
Alien (1979 - Present)
The Xenomorph from Ridley Scott's Alien (1979) remains to be an absolutely horrifying character to have grace the screens and has been haunting the dreams of people since the beginning!
Even when the series went off-track with movies like Alien vs. Predator, this whole mythology is just so captivating, even if some might say the prequel movies by Ridley Scott didn't meet with approval. The new Alien: Romulus brings something brand new, using legacy to build towards new adventures!
Evil Dead (1981 - Present)
Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead (1981) movies were awesome, but Evil Dead II became a legend thanks to Bruce Campbell’s incredible role as Ash Williams!
It combined great humor and scary moments, making it unforgettable! When it moved on with Army of Darkness, this series created a fun, unique style that hasn't stopped! The new Evil Dead Rises really showed that this movie can totally exist even without Ash Williams. These new films create the best of horror! Bring on more films!
Living Dead (1968 - Present)
George A. Romero totally redefined zombie movies with Night of the Living Dead in 1968. Because of a copyright mistake, this is a public domain series, which meant it went wild with so many amazing versions such as Dan O’Bannon’s Return of the Living Dead and the awesome Italian version Zombi 2.
With so many versions already out there, there's never been something as truly original! That alone should make audiences get excited at the idea that we're able to discover amazing indie horror through these interpretations.
V/H/S (2012 - Present)
This found-footage anthology is always going to be exciting! The premise of V/H/S— mysterious VHS tapes reveal frightening stories—is fantastic for bringing so many diverse directors, actors, and concepts into a single, incredibly scary series. Sure, some films are better than others. But what really stands out? A series with that much range. Bringing the supernatural and some of the classic zombie narratives creates such a variety that should give everyone reason to watch it!
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984 - Present)
A killer who hunts in dreams is super terrifying, making a nightmare on elm street a legend thanks to the incredible creation of Freddy Krueger!
With so many movies already, this is proof it's so successful and even legendary and deserves continued recognition. The original director, Wes Craven showed just how far it could go! Wes Craven’s New Nightmare is an example of a masterpiece as a movie that understands how the franchise could become something epic and a self-referential horror-film. It even toys with the show's legacy in unexpected ways! We hope to see that level of talent continue, especially after that masterpiece. Let’s keep Freddy Krueger coming for as long as it is fun!
