10 Greatest Horror Movies Turning 40 in 2026, Ranked

2 days ago 7

Like any year in modern cinema, 1986 saw the release of lots of horror movies. Most of these were pretty bad. Horrible, even. But of course, with the collection of garbage that usually comes out in the horror genre, there are always a few diamonds in the rough that are able to keep people satisfied. Some of these might be cult films, some might be unintentionally hilarious, and some might be genuinely good, but regardless, they have stood the test of time.

Whatever subgenre they fit into, the following films on this list all share one thing in common: they all came out in 1986, meaning that this year, they'll be turning the big four-oh. Some of them might be products of their time, some of them might be ahead of their time, but they've still refused to age even a day as the years have gone by. Good thing, too, because most (but not all) other horror movies that came out that year were pretty terrible.

10 'Maximum Overdrive'

Full view of the Happy Toyz Green Goblin truck in 'Maximum Overdrive'

Maximum Overdrive is actually kind of a terrible movie, but it's since gained a sizable cult following, and is widely seen as one of those "so-bad-it's-good" movies now. The movie was written and directed by established horror writer Steven King, but it quickly became clear that he should probably stick to writing books rather than movies. The movie is based on his 1973 short story Trucks, which is not one of his finest works, to be honest.

It's basically a movie about killer trucks, one of which looks like a demented Green Goblin. The movie reeks of 80s cheese, including dumb one-liners and dated practical effects. Despite King's initial claims that it would be a scary movie, it really isn't at all. That said, it's unintentionally hilarious in all the right ways, which is why many often recommend you watch it for all its ridiculous hilarity.

9 'Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives'

The sixth installment in the Friday the 13th franchise is one of the finest films in the franchise It's pretty average in the grand scheme of the horror genre, but still very enjoyable for fans of slasher movies, especially campy 80s slashers. This is a movie that basically plays everything safe, not straying too far outside of its established tropes and not trying anything too experimental. And this is fine--this is what put the franchise on the map, after all. However, many didn't like it for how it felt tired and rehashed.

It was also a welcome return to form for the franchise, considering the film before tried to introduce a new antagonist following the death of Jason in the fourth film. The creators quickly learned that people liked Jason more than any other killer they tried to bring in, so they brought him back once again. This was a smart decision, because this sixth part was much better received, even if it's not a great movie. For horror fans, there are better things out there, but for fans of slasher or of Friday the 13th, it's still a film worth watching.

8 'April Fool's Day'

April Fool's Day is another campy slasher flick that doesn't always get the best reviews, but in fairness, this is because a lot of people don't always get it. And that's fine. It's not everyone's cup of tea. The movie, true to its title, is generally an experiment in 80s campiness, especially in the slasher genre, and it decides to play into these tropes in a really satirical, tongue-and-cheek kind of way.

A lot of people slammed the movie for its ridiculous ending, but truth be told, it's probably supposed to be ridiculous. It's a comedy-horror at heart, after all. But the comedy doesn't come from punchlines, but from how over-the-top and meta everything about it is. This is a movie for a very specific kind of people, and has found a decent cult following for its content. It's not something everyone will like, but something that many horror aficionados will love.

7 'Psycho III'

Maureen Coyle and Norman Bates clasped together romantically in Psycho 3.

Psycho III is the sequel that nobody asked for, but that everyone got anyways. The original Psycho movie from 1960 is a classic horror film from Alfred Hitchcock that redefined the horror genre and became a pioneering member of the slasher subgenre. This was followed by Psycho II, which, again, nobody asked for, and then of course with Psycho III. Despite the fact that nobody really wanted this movie, it doesn't do too badly.

It's kind of hard to craft an original story that fit in with the original considering the first movie was based on a novel. It did well for itself in many aspects, including bringing back Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates, who reprises his role from the first film. He does fantastic, as always, but the rest of the movie is comparatively pretty lacklustre compared to how masterfully the first one was. Even then though, it's not a bad movie, and has still found some fans in the slasher community.

6 'Night of the Creeps'

Image of a creepy looking zombie from Fred Dekker's 'Night of the Creeps.'

Now it's time to get into movies that are actually really good. Night of the Creeps is one such movie. This sci-fi comedy horror comes as the directorial debut of Fred Dekker, who became known for his numerous cult films. Night of the Creeps is very much the same in this regard, forming a cult following for how brilliantly it plays into some of the cheesiest horror tropes, but also for how it's a genuinely enjoyable movie, on top of this.

The plot follows an alien species who accidentally let an experimental brain parasite escape. It finds its way to Earth, infecting humans and turning them into crazed maniacs with a thirst for blood. Some critics didn't like how often the movie played into some of the most tired clichés in the horror genre, but other critics determined that it probably did this on purpose as a form of satire. In short, if you're into cult films, this is definitely a movie for you.

5 'The Pied Piper'

The Pied Piper is a Czechoslovak stop-motion animated horror film that doesn't get nearly the amount of love that it so desperately deserves. The movie is only about an hour long, but this is actually the perfect length so that it doesn't overstay its welcome or drag on too long. The story is pretty much exactly what the title says. It's based on the German fairy tale of the Pied Piper, but comes with an even darker, more grotesque twist, with much more macabre visuals.

Many consider this a mix between a dark fantasy drama film and a full-blown horror flick, because the visuals are just that disturbing. The art style is unlike anything seen in other films, which goes to show how every frame is crafted with a level of care and compassion that Hollywood sorely lacks sometimes. This is one of the greatest foreign horror films ever, even though it has a pretty meagre runtime.

4 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer'

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is an indie flick that fits into the psychological horror subgenre. The movie had a rough time finding a distributor due to its shockingly graphic content and controversial plotline, eventually receiving an X rating from the MPAA. It also had a remarkably small budget, making use of every asset it had to deliver something truly chilling. The story follows the titular Henry, who is played by Michael Rooker.

The movie, as its title implies, is a bit of a character study on the serial killer, delving into what makes someone commit such horrific crimes. Henry explains his thought process and reasons for killing to the audience, though this is framed through the way he explains things to his roommate. It's a skin-crawlingly frightening deep dive into the inner machinations of the mind of a murderer, which is a dark place best left unexplored. But for those true crime enthusiasts and psychological horror fans, it's a truly fascinating movie.

3 'Manhunter'

A man with a stocking on his face raising his hands in Manhunter

Manhunter is one of the best, most singular horror movies to come out in the 1980s, not just 1986. Directed by Oscar and Emmy recipient Michael Mann, Manhunter follows an FBI detective who tackles the case of a serial killer known coloquially as "The Tooth Fairy." The movie is actually a part of the Hannibal Lector universe, and is based on the novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. Of course, this was in the days before Sir Anthony Hopkins first played the cannibalistic serial killer in 1991, and before he became associated with the role.

Manhunter might be a film outside the typical cinematic canon featuring Sir Anthony Hopkins, but the movie is absolutely brilliant in every single way. It wasn't very well-received at the time, with critics blasting it for being too stylish and not really having a lot to offer. In the years since, however, it has come to be known as a stroke of genius that was way ahead of its time. If you like The Silence of the Lambs, you should totally watch this movie.

2 'The Fly'

The mutated gly monster in The Fly - 1986 - ending

The Fly is a body horror movie that's actually a remake of a 1953 movie of the same name. The 1953 movie is a classic in its own right, so it wouldn't seem like a good idea to remake something so timeless and untouchable. Fortunately, though, this 1986 remake works really well, and even surpassed the original in popularity, modernizing the story for a new generation, with updated filming techniques and much more frightening visuals.

The movie was directed by David Cronenberg, known for his body horror movies, so this film was most definitely in the right hands when it came out. Like the original, the story follows a young man who fiddles around with a science experiment, accidentally merging his DNA with that of a fly, causing his body to slowly transform into a grotesque half-human/half-fly monster. This is one of the greatest body horror movies of all time, and still stands to this day as being one of the greatest in the subgenre.

1 'Aliens'

Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley looking intently ahead in Aliens.

James Cameron's Aliens is pretty different from Ridley Scott's original 70s horror film. Namely, Cameron's version featured some of the same characters, but took more of an action route, emphasizing the camaraderie between the Colonial Marines, and bringing back a few familiar faces. While it is definitely more of an action film, many consider it to fit snugly into the action-horror subgenre, so it still technically counts.

The dialogue in this movie is really smart for an action movie. It's comical at times, and brilliant at others. The movie also does a fantastic job at establishing the broader Alien universe, allowing audiences to experience more of the terrifying Xenomorphs, diving into their life cycle and culture. While it may not be super scary, it's still a brilliant movie, easily one of the greatest movies to come out that here.