Horror has terrified audiences, redefined genres, and delivered some of the most daring storytelling in cinema—yet, when it comes to the Academy Awards, it remains the perennial outsider.
Only six horror films have ever been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars: The Exorcist, Jaws, The Silence of the Lambs, The Sixth Sense, Black Swan, and Get Out. And just one—Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs—has actually won. That’s a shockingly dismal record for a genre that has not only pushed cinematic boundaries but also produced some of the most hauntingly brilliant performances ever put on screen.
The Academy may have a longstanding bias against horror, but cinephiles know better. Here are 10 terrifying masterpieces that deserved the elusive Best Picture Oscar.
Biggest Oscar Snubs ‘Best Picture’ Horror
10. Nope (2022)
Jordan Peele’s genre hybrid isn’t just a sci-fi thriller—it’s a spectacle about spectacles, a film that turns the audience’s gaze back on itself.
Blending blockbuster elements with biting social commentary, Nope brings together some of the most talented actors in the industry. Its narrative is as unnerving as it is thought-provoking. Nope isn’t just another alien invasion story; it’s an excavation of human nature, where our insatiable appetite for entertainment collides with the uncomfortable realities of exploitation, power, and the dangers of looking too long at something we don’t understand.
Peele’s previous films—Get Out and Us—reimagined the slasher and home-invasion horror tropes, but Nope is something else entirely: a slow-burning, visually arresting reinvention of the alien-invasion genre. It’s a film that keeps its secrets close, revealing them only when you least expect it—leaving you, in the end, questioning everything you thought you knew.
WATCH: Nope (2022) Explained
9. Hereditary (2018)
Director Ari Aster’s debut feature is a masterclass in building tension and creating a sense of dread. From its masterful writing to the genuinely disturbing staging, Hereditary navigates between heart-wrenching family drama and bone-chilling psychological and supernatural terror.
Toni Collette’s portrayal of a grieving mother is nothing short of extraordinary, and Aster springs some nasty surprises on the characters. It isn’t your formulaic horror. The film is a refreshing and poignant take on the dynamics of a dysfunctional family and a beautiful example of visual storytelling.
WATCH: 10 Biggest Horror Oscar Snubs
8. The Babadook (2014)
This Australian psychological horror film stands out for its portrayal of grief and eerie monster design. The film explores themes of loss and motherhood in a truly haunting manner.
It’s a beautiful metaphor for the complexities and hardships of being a mother. Essie Davis’ performance is a stand-out and a huge part of why the film is exceptional. The Babadook excels in every aspect; it’s both terrifying and deeply emotional.
7. The Lighthouse (2019)
Robert Eggers’ bleak and austere monochrome masterpiece encourages multiple interpretations, constantly making us wonder what’s real and what’s not. The film defies categorization, and perhaps such ambiguity restricted it to only receiving a Best Cinematography nomination.
Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe knock it out of the park! Their portrayal of two lighthouse keepers losing their minds in the middle of nowhere was mesmerizing, intense, and raw. Moreover, the artistic choice to shoot in black and white makes every frame a haunting work of art.
6. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is more than just about Leatherface; it’s a boundary-pushing film that breaks away from traditional horror clichés and delivers a visceral experience like no other.
It forces us to confront our darkest fears, and that alone deserves recognition. The film addresses societal issues head-on, exploring themes like family dysfunction and the desensitization of violence in our culture.
Who knew a little blood and guts could have such depth?
Related: 15 Terrifying Horror Mockumentaries, Ranked
5. The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter’s The Thing isn’t your typical alien-invasion monster flick; it transcends genres and becomes a thrilling study of isolation, paranoia, and trust. It’s like a monster movie on steroids!
The ensemble cast of colorful characters are not just victims waiting to die; they are complex, layered individuals being pushed to their limits.
And you can forget CGI; this movie opted for practical effects that still make your jaw drop today.
4. Frankenstein (1931)
Frankenstein chronicles the quest of a mad scientist who brings a terrifying monster to life. This leads to a harrowing journey into the dark depths of humanity. If that doesn’t scream “Best Picture,” I don’t know what does!
Its incredible set designs and breathtaking cinematography bring to life our innermost fears and desires.
Not to mention the legendary Boris Karloff, who brilliantly embodied the monster role with such raw anguish and vulnerability. His performance continues to resonate with audiences today, serving as the epitome of what it means to be an iconic movie monster.
3. Alien (1979)
Ridley Scott’s Alien tackles themes like isolation, survival, and the fear of the unknown. It essentially takes a haunted house set-up and transplants it to the gloomy interiors of a futuristic spaceship.
And if you want to talk iconic, the chest-burster scene is one of a kind, and nothing compares to the level of terror they achieved.
It has received critical acclaim for its direction, visual effects, and screenplay. It even won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects! So why stop there?
2. The Shining (1980)
Okay, let’s be real here—The Shining wasn’t just a horror film; it was a seismic shift in the genre, a film that still seeps into the cultural bloodstream decades after its release.
Kubrick, with his icy precision and obsessive attention to detail, adapted Stephen King’s novel—sculpting fear out of symmetry, silence, and the slow, inevitable unraveling of the human mind. And at the heart of it all is Jack Nicholson, delivering a performance that feels less like acting and more like a descent into something truly unhinged.
The Overlook Hotel isn’t just a setting; it’s a living, breathing entity, an endless labyrinth of floors and suffocating corridors that seem to warp reality itself. It doesn’t just house ghosts—it absorbs its inhabitants, magnifying their fears, their weaknesses, their madness.
Kubrick’s gliding, hypnotic camera doesn’t just follow the action; it stalks it, amplifying the overwhelming sense of isolation and creeping dread. The result? A film that doesn’t just scare you—it unsettles you on a cellular level.
1. Psycho (1960)
Hitchcock created a taboo film that breaks all the unsaid rules for films in the 60s. Unmarried lovers in bed. A woman in a bra. A protagonist who dies before the halfway mark. Psycho’s themes forever changed the landscape of horror and suspense.
But Psycho’s true brilliance lies not just in what it shows, but in what it suggests. Hitchcock masterfully weaponizes voyeurism, making the audience complicit in its own discomfort. Through Norman Bates—Anthony Perkins in a career-defining performance—we stare directly into the abyss of identity, repression, and guilt. Opposite him, Janet Leigh delivers a performance so arresting that her fate still lingers as one of cinema’s great, unsettling pivots.
To call Psycho a classic is an understatement. It’s one of the most daring, controversial, and influential films ever made—a film that doesn’t just demand to be watched but experienced. If you haven’t, well… you’re in for a shower scene you’ll never forget.
It’s going to be difficult to spare you for this one, Academy!
