Shudderhouses one of the largest selections of groundbreaking scary movies, emerginghorrorseries, anddownright freaky originalson the planet. At the touch of a button, this premium streaming app showcases an expansive range of uncut horror, thriller, and supernatural movies. They’ve created an unprecedented platform for smaller films and filmmakers to emerge on a massive scale while also single-handedly enhancing the viewing experience for horror fans everywhere.
While Shudder’s main agenda is to promote unknown experimental films and filmmakers, it also offers an overabundance ofclassic horror moviesthat will only get better with age. From terrifying next-door neighbors to sadistic family murderers and fearful supernatural entities, here’s a look at some of theclassic horror moviescurrently streaming on Shudder.
Updated June 10, 2025: This collection of classic horror movies streaming on Shudder has been updated with brand-new entries and additional information.
15Halloween (1978)
John Carpenter’s magnum opus is an annual favorite around the Halloween season. Named after the titular holiday,Halloweenforms the foundation of the slasher genre by tellingthe story of Laurie Strode, an ordinary teenager, who’s haunted by Michael Myers, a mysterious stalker with violent impulses. After the latter escapes from his sanitarium, he heads for the town of Haddonfield to terrorize its inhabitants, all while the enigmatic Dr. Samuel Loomis attempts to put a stop to him.
The Perfect Example of a Classic
The firstHalloweenfilmpushed traditional cinematic boundaries in the long-established conventional and technical ways of storytelling through its use of long shots, split framing, and the incorporation of music to alert viewers of tense moments to come. The story itself was so new and fresh for its time period that viewers felt drawn to the characters of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and even Michael Myers, especially in the additionalHalloweeninstallments centering around the Myers family history that followed. Today, theHalloweenfranchise is among the most solid and consistent works in all horror history to date.
14The Day of the Beast (1995)
Though not necessarily as widely-known as other horror films in this collection,The Day of the Beastis a Spanish horror film that manages toeffortlessly blend multiple genresand ideas together into an entertaining whole. Set on Christmas Eve, this satanic black comedy follows the journey of Ángel (Álex Angulo), an (un)orthodox priest who attempts to prevent the birth of the Antichrist with an unlikely pair of allies: a headbanging metalhead, José (Santiago Segura); and an occult conman, Cavan (Armando De Razza). Terele Pávez, Nathalie Seseña, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, and Saturnino García make up the rest of the main cast.
Christmas, Satan, and Heavy Metal, Oh My
Under the direction of Álex de la Iglesia, who would earn a Goya Award for Best Director for his work here,The Day of the Beastis a fascinating watch. It’s a horror movie that feels surprisingly fresh, not only balancing its precarious mix of ideas into something that feels cohesive and unique, but in a way that comes off as more fun than anything else. Sure, the stakes are high, and they’re treated with importance, but the overall tone is surprisingly light compared to what you might expect. The film would go on to earn more than a dozen separate Goya Award nominations, including Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay.
The Best Spanish Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked
With a rich and diverse cultural history, it’s no surprise that Spanish horror movies are regarded as some of the scariest in the world.
13Carnival of Souls (1962)
Carnival of Soulsis an oldie but goodie that only gets better with age.Satisfyingly atmospheric in nature, this movie follows Mary (Candace Hilligoss), the sole survivor of a fatal crash, who finds herself drawn — no, magnetized — to a mysterious abandoned carnival. Strange occurrences, bizarre visions, and the reoccurring presence of a sinister-looking man may all be explained by her trek through the colorful attractions. Sidney Berger co-stars, with director Herk Harvey also playing a mysterious ghoul found throughout Mary’s journey.
A Classic Slow-Burn
While a movie about a knife-wielding maniac is fast-paced, this film crawls by comparison. Largely forgotten during its original release,Carnival of Soulswould eventually earn retrospective acclaim for its incredible atmosphere and its similarities to the many films of the German Expressionist movement, using its striking visuals and deliberate lighting choices to create some incredibly iconic scenes. This is, by all accounts, a slow burn, full of twists and turns that are wrapped up in a neat little bow by the end. Or, at the very least, all ties to reality are cleanly and thoroughly severed. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Carnival of Souls
12Hellraiser (1987)
Being prolific horror author Clive Barker’s directorial debut, it’s genuinely impressive how he managed to hit the nail on the head. Or, rather, the pin on the head.Hellraiseradapts Barker’s own novella,The Hellbound Heart, as it focuses on a mysterious puzzle box that can open a door to another dimension. After a young girl named Kirsty finds herself entangled in a mysterious plot involving murder, a love affair, and grotesque monsters known as the Cenobites, she investigates the box’s role in the madness surrounding her.
Clive Barker’s Iconic Debut
The 1987 release of Clive Barker’sHellraiserwas just the tip of the proverbial puzzle box. The visual appeal ofthis horror classicis part product of its time and part out-there inspired. This singular sexually-charged horror fantasy was a welcome reprieve from the slew of slashers of the time, with enough body horror and gore to satisfy a whole series of movies in just one film. Doug Bradley would also find his career-defining performance here as Pinhead, the infamous leader of the Cenobites, who would later go on to become the mascot of the ensuing franchise. Bradley would reprise his role a total of seven times.
Hellraiser
11The Toxic Avenger (1984)
Arguably Troma Entertainment’s most well-known property,The Toxic Avengeris a horror film that’s as gross as it is funny. The film follows Melvin Ferd Junko III (Mitch Cohen), a well-meaning but meek and bumbling custodian at a health club in New Jersey. After the club’s clientele accidentally lead Melvin to his untimely demise via a vat of toxic waste, Melvin is reborn as The Toxic Avenger — a grotesque mutant with super strength, heightened endurance, and a steadfast mop as his signature weapon. Andree Maranda co-stars as Sara, a blind woman who falls for the titular hero after saving her from a group of violent criminals.
The Start of a Long-Running Franchise
While the quality of its sequels is debatable,The Toxic Avengeris one of the most well-known examples of independent horror, going on to become Troma Entertainment’s official mascot in the years since its debut.It’s shocking, it’s gory, it’s irreverent, but it’s all done in a way that’s firmly tongue-in-cheek. It may not appeal to all horror fans, but its over-the-top nature and borderline exploitative storytelling made it iconic in horror history. It even features an early performance by Marisa Tomei, who would later go on to earn an Academy Award for Best Actress inMy Cousin Vinny.
The Toxic Avenger
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And it’s unrated, which is even better.
10The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)
The Slumber Party Massacreshows how inviting a few friends to spend the night can go terribly awry. In the movie, a high school senior named Trish, played by Michele Michaels, decides to throw an impromptu slumber party with her closest friends. No psychopaths allowed! However, the evening quickly spirals after an escaped maniac with an obsession for power drills runs rampant through the neighborhood. Robin Stille and Michael Villella co-star as Valerie Bates and the monstrous killer Russ Thorn, respectively.
A Cult Favorite
This film is dedicated to those who held a party while their parents were out of town. Originally written as a parody of the slasher genre, what would’ve otherwise been a bog-standard slasher for the time has plenty of humor, even if you’re not necessarily expecting it. Despite middling critical reviews at the time, the film’s strange mix of creative influences and rampant gags would ultimately cement it as a beloved cult favorite. The film and its100% on Rotten Tomatoes remakeshould both serve as a reminder to keep all the drills and screwdrivers stashed safely away at all times.
The Slumber Party Massacre
9Black Christmas (1974)
ThoughHalloweenpopularized the slasher genre,Black Christmaspredates it by a whopping four years.Olivia Hussey stars as Jessica Bradford, one of many residents at a local sorority house during Christmastime. However, when a mysterious visitor makes his presence known to the sorority sisters, things take a gruesome turn for the worse as he picks them off one by one. The film is inspired by the famous “calls are coming from inside the house” urban legend, with Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, and John Saxon rounding out the main cast. It’s also worth noting that Bob Clark directed this terrifying film — the same Bob Clark who would direct the beloved Christmas classic,A Christmas Story, in 1983.
It Inspired Michael Myers
It’s hard to understate justhow influentialBlack Christmaswasto the horror genre as a whole. Beyond just forming the foundation for the slasher genre, it would popularize several prominent filming techniques that would later gain further popularity inHalloween, including a chilling point-of-view shot and a famous scene filmed within a cramped closet. Not only that, the numerous sorority sisters — most especially Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder — saw significant praise for their believable performances along with the film’s shocking twist ending. When you throw in some unexpected feminist themes for the time, you get a classic slasher film that paved the way for the subgenre we all know and love.
Black Christmas
8Children of the Corn (1984)
Children of the Cornisbased on a short story by Stephen King. In this film, a traveling couple visit a mysterious rural town in Nebraska, only to get caught up in a bizarre plot orchestrated by the town’s children. Manipulated by “He Who Walks Behind the Rows,” the children are convinced that a ritual sacrifice must be made to ensure a bountiful harvest in the town’s corn fields. These kids may look cute and innocent, but they’re coldhearted little monsters who should be grounded for eternity.
One of Stephen King’s Best Adaptations
The ‘84 motion picture adaptation is one of Stephen King’s best, inspiring parents everywhere to rethink their decision to have children. These kids are beyond the typical brats — they’re vengeful murderers who torment each other and kill all the adults in sight, making for a genuinely unsettling set of performances that you’ll rarely find from such a young cast. This is especially prominent with Isaac, who is given a brilliantly chilling performance by the young John Franklin. Combined with some beautiful cinematography shot in Iowa, you get a film that’s as authentic as can be. This creepy, provocative classic wouldkickstart a long-running franchisethat continues to this day.
Children of the Corn
7A Bucket of Blood (1959)
Directed by Roger Corman, this black-and-white horror comedy marks the first of several collaborations between Corman and Charles B. Griffith, with their follow-up film being the belovedThe Little Shop of Horrors. InA Bucket of Blood, Dick Miller stars as Walter Paisley, a busboy who, after hiding the killing of a neighbor’s cat with clay, is revered as a talented sculptor. Naturally, this leads Paisley to pursue wanton murder as a lucrative art form. Barboura Morris and Antony Carbone make up the rest of the main cast, with Fred Katz providing the film’s score.
Roger Corman’s First Comedic Horror Film
Despite his inexperience with the comedy genre prior toA Bucket of Blood, Roger Corman manages to effortlessly mix terror and comedy together as if he’s been doing it for years. A fair bit of DNA found in this film can be found inLittle Shop of Horrors, and Dick Miller really shines in the lead role, later going on to star inThe TerminatorandThe Howlingin the subsequent decades. Sure, the scares are scarce, but the subtly sinister tone paired with its laughs make for a more fun and light horror film compared to others featured here.
6The Changeling (1980)
Arguably one of the most valued Canadian horror films in history,The Changelingdeserves a watch whenever you find the time. Directed by Peter Medak,The Changelingfocuses on John Russell (George C. Scott), a composer who moves into a mansion in Seattle with his family to settle down. However, as mysterious happenings and unexplainable phenomena start to occur, John will ultimately unveil a decades-long mystery involving infanticide, supernatural possession, and mistaken identity. Trish Van Devere and Melvyn Douglas co-star as Claire Norman and Joseph Carmichael, respectively.
An Acclaimed Canadian Film
Along with winning a total of eight Genie Awards in Canada, including Best Motion Picture,The Changelingwould also earn two Saturn Award nominations for Best International Film and Best Supporting Actor. It’s a visually-stunning film in many respects, with its prominent filming in British Columbia crafting a haunting and unique atmosphere carried by its central performances and tightly-knit plot. Along with praise from Martin Scorsese, who dubbed it asone of his favorite horror movies,The Changelingwould put Canada on the map when it comes to well-made horror films.
The Changeling
The ’70s Canadian Horror Boom (and Bust), Explained
The Canadian government opened up their wallets anticipating The Sound of Music. Instead, they got exploding heads and deformed, murderous babies.
