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Movies, Films and Flix Horror Special: 25 Favorite Horror Films Released Since 2000

October 28, 2024
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If you’ve followed Movies, Films and Flix for a while you know that we love horror movies,  ranked lists, and movie math. It’s been a while since I released an epic horror list so I recruited 21 MFF website and podcast contributors (who love horror cinema) to submit a ranked list of their 25 favorite horror films released since 2000. I then created a point system (the #1 movie gets 25 points, and the 25th gets one point) and added them all together to create a super list. Putting this post together has been a lot of fun because I genuinely didn’t know which films would be included and what the overall #1 film would be. The lead changed many times and it was thrilling when a new list arrived that shook up the rankings and maybe pushed a film out of the top 25. Overall, I’m really proud of this list (Green Room could be higher ranked though) and I think it showcases a wide range of horror cinema released since 2000. After reading the list, make sure to send me your picks. 

The following list was written by myself (Mark) and fellow horror lover (and frequent MFF podcast guest) Zanandi Botes.

25. Drag Me to Hell

The Sam Raimi directed Drag Me to Hell is one of the most entertaining horror films of the 21st century and it features the greatest fight inside a parking structure ever put to film. Raimi’s film feels refreshingly alive and tells the story of a woman named Christine (Alison Lohman is perfect in the role) trying to prevent a curse from dragging her to hell. The plot is simple, but the shenanigans aren’t as Raimi gleefully torments his doomed character for 90 minutes as she deals with terrible dinners, cat sacrifice, failed séances, dishonest coworkers, grave digging, and funeral appearances that go horribly awry. It’s easily one of the most entertaining horror films released since 2000 and it’s nice knowing that it made the top 25 – because it belongs in the list.

24. Doctor Sleep (2019)

Who would’ve thought that it would ever be possible to make a darn good sequel of The Shining and, at the same time, keep both Stephen King and Stanley Kubrick fans happy? Enter Mike Flanagan, probably the best filmmaker to adapt King’s fiction right now and a storyteller who can get to the root of a tale and run with it.  It’s a killer sequel that looks great, features an incredible cast and has some wonderful nods to Kubrick and the original. Folks may have slept on it at the box office, but it’s since received the praise and following it so rightly deserves.

23. Frailty

Released in 2001, the Bill Paxton directed Frailty didn’t have a long run at the box office, however it lingered in the memories of those who watched Paxton’s tale about a widowed father or two who believes God has given him the power to kill demons (in the form of humans). The atmospheric film featuring Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton and Powers Boothe feels like an old school mood piece that relies on close-ups, shadowy sets, and two iconic axe shots to tell its story. It’s an earnest and theatrical experience that works its way under your skin and stays there. What’s interesting is that it isn’t a gory experience and instead creates dread by making you question whether the man simply named “Dad” has gone insane or really had the ability to kill demons. In Roger Ebert’s four-star review, he sums up the movie perfectly. 

“Perhaps only a first-time director, an actor who does not depend on directing for his next job, would have had the nerve to make this movie. It is uncompromised. It follows its logic right down into hell. We love movies that play and toy with the supernatural, but are we prepared for one that is an unblinking look at where the logic of the true believer can lead? There was just a glimpse of this mentality on the day after 9/11, when certain TV preachers described it as God’s punishment for our sins, before backpedaling when they found such frankness eroded their popularity base.”

22. Barbarian (2022)

Horror fans were practically giddy following the release of Zach Cregger’s solo directorial debut, and with good reason. The plot of this comedy horror (albeit way more horror) slowly unspools and takes audiences to wild and, at times, hilarious places. Barbarian felt like a breath of fresh air as it took inspiration from the greats while still feeling wholly original. If you haven’t seen it yet, go in blind. We promise, it’s worth it.

21. Let the Right One In

Released in 2008, this Swedish vampire tale directed by Tomas Alfredson is a blood-soaked beauty about a young boy named Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) befriending his new neighbor Eil (Lina Leandersson), an ancient vampire who was turned into a vampire at the age of 12. The two form a bond (Oskar is lonely, and Eil needs a new employee) that leads to tragedy and a swimming pool massacre that showcases the awesome strength of the tiny vampire. Powered by Hoyte Van Hoytema’s (Nope, Oppenheimer, Her, Interstellar) gorgeous cinematography and several brutal and bloody scenes involving Eli’s regular (AKA human caretaker) Håkan (Per Ragnar) attempting to gather blood for his vampire boss, Let the Right One might be one of the most beautifully grim horror films ever made. 

20. Mandy

Mandy is so much more than a “Nic Cage freaking out” movie, and I love that it’s become a cult classic that is celebrated by loving fans who love every blood spurt that sprays in Nic Cage’s face. It can best be described as a thrilling experience that bombards your senses with bright colors, loud noises and ultra-violence, that will either make you cheer or cringe. Director Panos Cosmatos has created a movie that feels familiar with its Mad Max, Giallo and Clive Barker/Nicolas Winding Refn vibes, and totally alien with its fever dream cinematography, heavy metal score and dedication to anarchy. I love how Cosmatos found a way to combine the grindhouse aesthetic (lots of blood and heightened performances) with an unconventional arthouse style that will alienate the masses and gain a very loyal audience who embrace how niche Mandy is.

19. The Babadook

Jennifer Kent’s 2014 psychological horror film The Babadook is a marvel of a film that introduced the world to a memorable new monster while expertly tackling themes of grief, depression, and repressed trauma. The performances from Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman are top-notch and it never gets old watching Davis juggle about 300 different emotions (while repressing many). The world is currently in a neat horror renaissance and The Babadook helped lead the way by showcasing that horror films can be scary and carry an emotional weight while tackling real-world issues. The partially crowd-funded Australian horror film’s legacy keeps growing as it recently received a theatrical re-release for its 10th anniversary and constantly appears on 21st century “best of” horror lists (Like this one!).

18. REC (2007)

This Spanish horror by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza is arguably the best found footage horror film this side of The Blair Witch Project. With a straight and simple plot that sees a film crew accompany a bunch of firefighters to a building only to get caught up in a quarantined zombie outbreak, this movie goes fast and hard and doesn’t miss a beat. Its inevitable U.S. remake wasn’t that bad, either, because the formula of a bunch of vicious zombie neighbors in a small apartment building just works.

17. Raw (2016)

We at MFF love ourselves some French horror, and Julia Ducournau’s first feature film is the kind of stuff we live for. A coming-of-age psychological body horror, this movie takes us into a French veterinarian school alongside two sisters who are vegetarians, but only because their parents say so. When the lust for flesh starts flaring up, body parts get devoured — and we’re talking literally here. It’s gorgeously filmed, the acting is solid and there are sequences that will make even the toughest among us feel squeamish. 

16. Midsommar (2019)

On some people’s “Worst Date Movie” and others’ “Best Date Movie” list (yikes!), Ari Aster’s folk horror about a bunch of Americans who go to Sweden only to be sacrificed one by one became one of the most polarizing movies of 2019. That, in our eyes, is not a bad thing. If you think about it, people are still talking about men, women and bears these days. In all seriousness though, the movie’s unsettling tone, attention to detail and strong performances elevates it to more than just some perverse breakup movie. It’s all about intention and perspective here. That, and men stuffed inside disemboweled bears.

15. The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015)

In Osgood Perkins’ directorial debut, we venture into a Catholic boarding school where girls are either lonely, or bored, or both. Naturally, the devil comes knocking, but in this twisty story of three women who are severely misunderstood, things are slightly more complicated (as they usually are with teenage girls). Perkins crafted a tense, coming-of-age tale that not only shows a young woman finding her agency, but also questions what that agency truly means after all is said and done. 

14. Saw (2004)

Put two guys in a room with a dead body, a tape recorder and two hacksaws, and let the game begin. An ingenious idea born from Australian filmmakers (and, by now, horror alumni) James Wan and Leigh Whannell, Saw came out during the so-called “torture porn” wave that struck horror cinema. Only, these guys showed that you can do sadistic body horror and be clever about it at the same time. It shocked and delighted audiences across the world, and gave rise to the seventh highest-grossing horror film franchise of all time (to date). It also gave us another legendary serial killer in Jigsaw who, let’s be real, falls somewhere between Hannibal Lecter and Geppetto.

13. Green Room

Green Room is one of the best thrillers I’ve seen in years because director Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin – watch it now!) has mastered the art of creating white-knuckle tension and killing people very violently.  His films drip with authenticity, and the naturalness of the characters’ insane-decision-making push the films to stressful heights. The characters in Green Room are in over their heads and the result is a glorious exploitation movie that is also very smart.

It made me very happy that Green Room made the list because it legitimately deserves to be considered amongst the elite. It proves that director Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin, Hold the Dark) is an amazing director who knows how to deliver the goods (AKA insane amounts of tension). I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I love how Saulnier makes violence look so ugly and realistic. Nothing is glorified, and you will find yourself incredibly nervous for the trapped punk band, The Ain’t Rights, who put up a pretty decent fight against some neo-nazis who aren’t afraid of committing ultra-violence. Also, Patrick Stewart is awesome as the Neo-Nazi leader who is simultaneously charismatic, calculating and insane. Please watch Green Room.

12. The Witch (2015)

Robert Eggers’ directorial debut will go down in history as a legendary piece of folk horror. Set in New England in the 1630s, it tells the story of a Puritan family who is banished from their settlement and has to start life over on a farm near the woods. Only, there’s a witch who lives in the woods and makes ointments out of babies. Throw in two insufferable twins, a young woman out of sorts with the traditions imposed on her and a black goat who’s all for living deliciously, and you get a thought-provoking, religious horror that has a lot to say, and shows it well.

11. The Ring (2002)

One of the better American remakes of the century, this Gore Verbinksi movie all but screwed over anyone who ever tries to use the phrase “seven days” in earnest again. This movie was downright scary, and who among us have ever been able to erase the image of Samara climbing out of that television? Relying on creepy visuals over gore paid off here, and Hans Zimmer’s score took us all the way to Chills Town.

10. Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead is a supercharged remake that blends fast zombies, likable characters, intense set pieces and cool songs to create a crowd-pleasing delight that is still Snyder’s best film. Whether it’s casting Sarah Polley in the lead, or picking the Stereophonics song “Have a Nice Day” to play while characters are having the worst day of their lives, the film is packed full of neat choices that made it much more than a stock remake of an all-time classic. One of my favorite all-time theater going experiences happened when I watched the movie in a packed theater in Houston, Texas. I remember the crowd going insane during the opening house battle that sees a young girl biting a giant chunk out of a guy’s neck, and the lead character Ana (Sarah Polley) scrambling for her life as the young girl AND her zombified husband try to rip her apart. It’s a thrilling opening and the film never loses its momentum. Toss in the solid performances from Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Ty Burrell, Michael Kelly, Mekhi Pfeiffer, and Sarah Polley, and you have one of the best remakes of the 21st century. 

9. Train to Busan (2016)

Zombies, but on a train — a winning formula for director Yeon Sang-ho who gave us one of the best zombie movies of the 21st century. These zombies are fast, these undead mutants can traverse escalators and these infected creatures can work their way through a train like a fart in a crowd. Best of all, this movie has heart, giving us one of our favorite 21st century side-characters in Sang-Hwa (played by Ma Dong-seok) and a tear-jerker climax to boot.

8. Hereditary (2018)

While many consider Ari Aster’s breakthrough 2018 horror film to be the greatest horror film of the 21st century, I think it’s an excellent heist film involving a cult of people looking to snag loads of money from a demon named Paimon. What’s great about Hereditary is that Ari Aster is wildly upfront about his intentions and hides nothing from the viewer. From the very first moment, it features a wonderfully executed shot to make it seem like the doomed family lives inside a dollhouse, which suggests they are just toys to be moved around. And wow, are they ever played as a cult pulls out all the stops to drive them into insanity, despair and eventual death. Why? Well, they worship Paimon, one of the eight kings of hell, who if put into a suitable male host, will deliver sweet tax-free demon money to all who follow him. Watch the film again, the cult puts A LOT of work into getting rich.

7. 28 Days Later (2002)

I recently had to rewatch 28 Days Later for a Fandom assignment (watch the video) and it reminded me of how much of a miracle it is. Directed by Danny Boyle, and written by Alex Garland, the digitally shot (which was very ambitious back in 2002) horror film blends excellent performances, great music, and utter depression perfectly. It’s a bleak world filled with fast zombies (AKA people infected with a rage virus) and morally corrupt soldiers who went bad after like 3 weeks of living in a zombie apocalypse. What makes 28 Days Later so great is that it’s loaded with memorable visuals like the moment when Jim (Cillain Murphy) leaves a hospital and wanders the empty streets of London until he catches the attention of several rage-filled humans who chase him through the empty alleys and streets of the deserted city. Toss in a desperate stairwell chase and a crow dripping blood into Brendan Gleeson’s eye, and you have a movie that is easily one of the best horror films of the 21st century. 

6. The Mist ((2007) 

Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s 1980 novella can best be described as a gut punch that’s followed by about 43 more gut punches. The harrowing film about a small town beset by a mystical mist that hides a plethora of deadly monsters works because of Darabont’s unflinching direction and the committed performances from Thomas Jane, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher, Toby Jones and Marcia Gay Harden (who plays one of the most despicable characters ever put on screen). The most impressive aspect of The Mist is how depressing and violent it is for an American mainstream horror film. Between the bleak and darkly comedic ending, and the religious zealots who add problems on top of problems, The Mist isn’t afraid to wallow in terror and despair – which is very refreshing. On top of being an excellent horror film, it’s one of the best Stephen King adaptations and he’s gone on record to defend the “terrific” ending that has divided audiences for 17 years. 

5 The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

It’s the movie that turned the splatter genre on its head and rode it all the way to cult status. It’s the one that gave us the magnificent pairing of Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins. It’s the sci-fi comedy horror that features everything from zombies and homicidal trees to a guy who looks like Pinhead and yes, the Merman. All hail the Merman, even though the cleanup on them is apparently a nightmare.

4. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

The early 2000s were a great time for zombie cinema enthusiasts as 28 Days Later, Resident Evil, Dawn of the Dead and Shaun of the Dead revitalized the genre and gave zombie fans new films to devour. The Edgar Wright directed Shaun of the Dead came out of nowhere (for people who weren’t familiar with Spaced) and immediately gathered a fanbase of dedicated fans who loved the unique energy created from Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. The zombie-comedy is packed full of inspired editing, memorable characters and several surprise kills that give the film real stakes. The low-key zombie invasion film set the stage for Edgar Wright’s successful career and also proved that zombie’s could be beaten with pool sticks to the tune of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now. 

3. It Follows

I’ve spent A LOT of time with It Follows over the years as I tracked the total miles traveled by the creature and even learned how to defeat it by creating a rigid travel schedule to keep it as far away as possible. MFF co-writer John Leavengood and I and I also talked at length about the swimming pool finale and I just really adore the David Robert Mitchell directed movie. Not only did the film introduce the world to Maika Monroe, who has proved herself to be a horror legend with movies like Longlegs, The Guest, Watcher, and  Significant Other, it also gave the world a truly frightening monster 

What’s neat about the film is that it raises some interesting moral questions about what you would do if you were being pursued by a sexually-transmitted monster that is following you (the monster has a great GPS system) because a terrible person passed it onto you during a sexual encounter. The thing is, you can pass the curse to someone else, but after they die the creature starts working its way back down the list – which is horrifying because you can never relax knowing that it could make its way to you days/weeks/years/decades later. Would you have sex with someone and curse them to a horrible death to buy some time for yourself? How could you avoid it and live a somewhat normal life? Not only does It Follows create some interesting questions, but it’s also legitimately scary and features a killer synth soundtrack that hits hard and adds to the crushing paranoia. 

2. The Descent (2005)

With visuals of dark corners and cave crawlers that can easily get stuck in the crevices of your mind, it’s no wonder this British spelunking banger climbed all the way to number two on our MFF list. Neil Marshall and the entire cast did good here, and we got both an iconic heroine and a great twist ending on top of a non-stop thrill ride.

1. Get Out (2017)

Jordan Peele’s debut film Get Out is one of the most successful horror films ever created, so it makes sense that it landed in the #1 spot on the list. The global blockbuster pulled in $255 million worldwide and is one of six horror films to be nominated for Best Picture. Jordan Peele won an Oscar for his original script about a black photographer named Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) having a terrible time while meeting his  white girlfriend’s family for the first time during a weekend trip to a secluded mansion. Peele wrote and directed the film because he wanted to master his fears and show audiences of all races the subtle racism that black people in America experience. Peele’s deep love of the horror genre helped him tell an inclusive and crowd-pleasing horror film that can be watched on many levels. Kudos should all be given to Daniel Kaluuya (who was nominated for A Best Actor Oscar), Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, and Caleb Landry Jones, who are all fantastically committed and add a level of comedy and menace to an all-timer horror film. Like Dawn of the Dead, Raw, The Babadook, and The People Under the Stairs, Get Out blends suspense, brain smashing, and a social thriller aspect perfectly, and it’s a great example of the genre being used as an entertaining form of art that can excite and educate. 

Here’s the point breakdown and other fun information.

Here’s a list of all the contributors.

from → Mark's movie reviews
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