Viewers have access to tons and tons of scary movies… especially since there are remakes, sequels, reboots and prequels of various horror movies to enjoy, as well. Some people favor classic films that helped define the industry, while others are into more modern stories that star the most famous actors and actresses in today’s Hollywood.

One thing is for sure, though: It is nice to have so many wonderfully spooky movies to enjoy, like the 10 that are listed out down below. In this list, we tally five older flicks that are just amazing, as well as five new ones that are even better than the originals. 

Classic: The Amityville Horror 

Amityville 3-D, Amityville Dollhouse, Amityville: No Escape, The Amityville Terror, Amityville: The Awakening… There have been a good amount of movies that have come out to tell the story of the Amityville hauntings, which was first told in a book by Jay Anson in 1977. Two years later, the classic version came out, starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder as George and Kathy Lutz.

In real life, the Lutz family was haunted in their home, as several people had lost their lives there before. This is a well-known horror tale with a super iconic setting, and the first film is the best of all of them. 

Remake: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Invasion of the Body Snatchers was released in 1956, and it starred Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter. This story, which is all about pod people, was retold in 1978, with people like Donald Sutherland, Leonard Nimoy, Brooke Adams, Veronica Cartwright and even Jeff Goldblum in it.

Originally, this was a novel from the 1950s, and then there were other remakes released in 1993 and 2007. In fact, there’s another one being worked on right now. But the version from the ’70s, which was done in a highly entertaining way that still stayed true to the main idea, is the best.

Classic: A Nightmare on Elm Street 

One of the most beloved scary movies of all time is Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. It came to the world in 1984, with stars such as Heather Langenkamp, baby Johnny Depp and Robert Englund. As everyone knows, the plot involves teens getting chased and losing their lives in their dreams and in real life, all due to Freddy Krueger, with his burns, his striped sweater and his razor-like hands.

There are so many Elm Street films, including an actual remake and reports of another, but the original just can’t be touched, and it can’t be beat.

Remake: Village of the Damned

The first version of Village of the Damned was released in 1960, starring George Sanders and Laurence Naismith. The remake came in 1995, and it starred celebrities like Christopher Reeve, Kirstie Alley and Mark Hamill. This movie was about a strange incident when people black out at the same time. After that, ten women suddenly find themselves pregnant and their creepy offspring are become the movie’s focus.

It is an intriguing story for sure, and since this version was directed by John Carpenter (the man behind flicks such as Halloween, The Fog, The Thing and so on), it is even better than the original.

Classic: Friday The 13th 

Another iconic film from this genre is Friday the 13th, from the year 1980. The story behind it involves some teenage camp counselors getting taken out one by one, in scary ways and by some unknown person. The summer camp, the stars like Betsy Palmer and Kevin Bacon and the introduction to one of the most popular horror villains, Jason Voorhees, all come together to help make this a true legend.

Yes, it is the best in the franchise, even when comparing it to the sequels, the crossover with Freddy Krueger and the reboot - all of which have their own merits.

Remake: Suspiria 

Suspiria tells the tale of a ballet student who enrolls in a fancy dance school, located in Germany, and then finds out that there is much more going on there than just dancing. The original was released in 1977, with Jessica Harper in the lead role. In 2018, Dakota Johnson portrayed this main character.

This remake also starred Tilda Swinton as Madame Blanc and Dr. Josef Klemperer and Mother Helena Markos! Chloë Grace Moretz also played a part, and Jessica Harper made an appearance, too. This is a twisted tale, and the updated scenes were creepy enough to make the remake the winner. 

Classic: House of Wax

In 1953, House of Wax came out as a color 3-D horror film. It was about a sculptor who took people out and used their bodies as wax figures in his museum. In 2005, a similar story was told, and this flick starred Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Jared Padalecki and even Paris Hilton.

But the original was a big deal during its original time of release, especially due to its 3D effects. It also helps that the movie starred Vincent Price in the main role, an actor who was also in The Invisible Man Returns, The Fly, House on Haunted Hill, House of Usher and Edward Scissorhands.

Remake: The Fly

Those who are familiar with this genre know about The Fly, which tells the story of a scientist and an experiment that goes wrong. While working with a molecular transporter, a fly gets in, their atoms mix, and the result is a part-human, part-fly creature.

The original version of this came out in 1958, with stars like David Hedison, Patricia Owens, Herbert Marshall and Vincent Price. The remake came in 1986, and it starred Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. The latter was praised for its effects and for Goldblum’s performance, making it the winner. 

Classic: Halloween

When talking about old films that are better than the rest, there is one more legendary film that belongs on this list, and that is none other than Halloween. Directed by John Carpenter and released in 1978, this showed Jamie Lee Curtis, The Scream Queen, in her first movie. It also introduced the world to Michael Myers, who had taken his sister’s life, got locked up in an institution, escaped and returned to his hometown.

There have been many other movies in this franchise, including a recent one that was a direct sequel to the original, and more are being filmed right now. But there is just something about the classics - especially this one!

Remake: The Ring

There are some horror films that are remakes of Asian works, such as The Grudge, One Missed Call and The Ring. Originally known as Ringu, the haunting tale of Sadako was released in Japan in 1998, but the most well-known version was released in 2002.

It starred Naomi Watts as a journalist who found a videotape that seemed to take lives seven days after it was watched. In 2005, the world was given The Ring Two, and in 2017, Rings. But the one from 2002, which is technically a remake, is the best, and it has become a true icon within the genre.