5 Best Classic Horror Movies You Should Watch!

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho is a masterpiece that redefined the horror genre with its suspenseful narrative and shocking twists. The film follows Marion Crane, who, after stealing money from her employer, checks into the eerie Bates Motel. There, she encounters Norman Bates, a seemingly mild-mannered innkeeper with a dark secret.

The infamous shower scene, paired with Bernard Herrmann's chilling score, remains one of the most iconic moments in cinema history. Psycho delves into themes of identity, guilt, and the human psyche, making it a cornerstone of psychological horror.

Where to Watch: Plex, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home 

The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin, is widely regarded as one of the scariest films ever made. The movie tells the story of a young girl, Regan, who becomes possessed by a demon. Her mother, desperate for help, turns to two priests who attempt to save her through an intense and terrifying exorcism.

The film's realistic portrayal of demonic possession, combined with groundbreaking special effects, creates an atmosphere of pure dread. The Exorcist explores themes of faith, innocence, and the battle between good and evil, solidifying its place as a horror classic.

Where to Watch: AMC+, Philo, Shudder, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home

John Carpenter's Halloween is often credited with popularizing the slasher genre, introducing the world to Michael Myers, one of horror's most iconic villains. The film centers on Laurie Strode, a high school student who becomes the target of the masked killer on Halloween night.

Carpenter's use of minimalistic music, including the haunting theme song, and his ability to build tension with suspenseful pacing, set the standard for slasher films that followed. Halloween is a study in fear, playing on the universal terror of being stalked by an unstoppable force.

Where to Watch: Netflix, fuboTV, HBO Max, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home Free, Pluto TV, Amazon Channel, FlixFling, TCM, 

Directed by George A. Romero, Night of the Living Dead is a seminal film that pioneered the modern zombie genre. The movie begins with a group of strangers seeking refuge in a farmhouse as the dead begin to rise and feast on the living.

Romero's low-budget film broke new ground with its graphic depictions of violence and its social commentary on issues such as race and human survival. Night of the Living Dead is both a terrifying horror film and a critique of societal collapse, leaving a lasting impact on the genre and spawning countless imitators.

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home 

Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, based on Stephen King's novel, is a psychological horror masterpiece that explores the descent into madness. The film follows Jack Torrance, a writer who takes a job as the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel. As the winter progresses, the hotel's malevolent influence drives Jack into a murderous frenzy, threatening his wife and son.

Kubrick's direction, combined with eerie visuals and a chilling performance by Jack Nicholson, creates an atmosphere of unrelenting tension and dread. The Shining is a haunting exploration of isolation, insanity, and the supernatural, earning its place as one of the greatest horror films of all time.