A new study has ranked the ten scariest horror films of all time, just in time for Halloween. The research, carried out by casino experts VIP Grinders, analysed movies based on a range of fear-inducing factors, including the number of jump scares, levels of gore, and how ‘creepy’ they are. The study also incorporated rankings from Scary Meter, a platform where horror fans score films on their ‘creepy’, ‘jumpy’, and ‘gory’ elements.
Topping the list is Don’t Listen (Voces), a Spanish-language horror released in 2020. The film, about a man who seeks paranormal help after hearing ghostly pleas in his home, was hailed as the scariest of all time, scoring a perfect 10 across the Scary Meter’s categories. Don’t Listen features 27 jump scares, making it the top pick for horror enthusiasts looking to hide behind their hands this spooky season.
Second place goes to The Evil Dead (1981), one of the oldest films on the list. This cult classic, directed by Sam Raimi, is known for its extreme gore, with approximately 300 gallons of fake blood used during filming. The movie racked up 22 jump scares and earned a Scary Meter score of 9.3 for its gory scenes.
Third on the list is Evil Dead (2013), a modern reimagining of Raimi’s original. The film, which follows five friends who encounter an ancient evil in a remote cabin, scored 9.2 for gore and 7.2 for jump scares.
Coming in fourth is The Beyond (1981), another horror classic. Set in Louisiana, the film involves a woman who unknowingly inherits a hotel built over a gateway to Hell. With 27 jump scares and solid scores for creepiness and gore, it ranks as one of the more intense films on the list.
Fifth place belongs to It (2017), the modern adaptation of Stephen King’s infamous novel. Pennywise the clown returns to haunt Derry’s children, racking up 23 jump scares and 31 deaths.
The top ten list continues with Scream (1996) in sixth place, known for its masked killer and 19 jump scares. Seventh is Host (2020), a horror filmed during lockdown that explores the unintended consequences of a Zoom seance gone wrong, featuring 20 jump scares in its short 65-minute runtime.
The ten scariest horror movies of all time
| Rank | Movie | Number of Jump Scares | ‘Creepy’ Scary Meter Score (out of 10) | ‘Gory’ Scary Meter Score (out of 10)
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‘Jumpy’ Scary Meter Score (out of 10)
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| 1 | Don’t Listen (Voces) | 27 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 2 | The Evil Dead | 22 | 8.6 | 9.3 | 6.3 |
| 3 | Evil Dead | 20 | 8.4 | 9.2 | 7.2 |
| 4 | The Beyond | 27 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| 5 | It | 23 | 8.3 | 5.5 | 7.7 |
| 6 | Scream | 19 | 3.5 | 8.2 | 7.6 |
| 7 | Host | 20 | 8.8 | 9.4 | 6.9 |
| 8 | [Rec] 2 | 19 | 7.6 | 5.9 | 6.5 |
| 9 | The Cleansing Hour | 14 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 10 | The Haunting in Connecticut | 26 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
Eighth is [Rec] 2 (2009), a sequel that surpasses its predecessor with more than 20 deaths. Ninth is The Cleansing Hour (2019), which turns a staged exorcism into a terrifying reality. Finally, The Haunting in Connecticut (2009) takes tenth place, with 26 jump scares and a chilling premise of a family haunted in their new home.
Telma Casaca, Head of Publishing at VIP Grinders, commented on the findings: “Whether you’re a year-round horror fan or getting into the Halloween spirit, these films are guaranteed to deliver thrills. From classic slashers to modern horrors, the list covers all the scare factors fans crave.”
Notable films that narrowly missed out on the top spots include genre favourites Friday the 13th, Insidious, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.