10 Best Hammer Films In The 1960s, Ranked By IMDb

The Hammer horror movies of the 1960s hit a spot that they never reached in the 1950s or 1970s, and this might be the high point of the company’s output. This decade saw legends like Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee bring characters like Dracula, Van Helsing, and the Mummy to life.

IMDb voters praised some of those more popular character movies. However, with several classical monsters returning in the decade, it was some original releases that stood tall as the best of the decade. With over 20 movies from the studio in 60s, the best of the best included monster movies, gothic terrors, and psychological thrillers.

10 Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) – 6.6

Dracula Has Risen From the Grave was Christopher Lee’s third outing as Dracula. The movie follows a Monsignor and a priest who is undergoing a spiritual crisis and they are the hunters who are after Dracula this time around.

The movie looks great and the acting is solid, with Hammer-favorite Veronica Carlson and Barry Andrews as the heroes. This Dracula movie is about the testing of faith and carries an emotional depth that makes it a solid addition to the vampire’s folklore.

9 Nightmare (1964) – 6.7

Nightmare tells the story of a wealthy teenager who believes she is losing her mind. However, the question in this movie is whether Janet is really losing it or if someone is purposefully trying to drive her mad, with her guardian and nurse as the most likely suspects.

This is a black and white Hammer horror movie and it is an anomaly because it is a movie that doesn’t include Hammer’s core actors. Despite this, the cast holds their own and helped deliver a scary psychological horror story.

8 Night Creatures (1962) – 6.7

Night Creatures is a lesser-known horror movie that was originally released under the name Captain Clegg. The movie has Peter Cushing in the lead role of pirate captain Nathaniel Clegg who eventually returns in the role of a village parson.

The movie received good reviews and IMDb voters gave it a 6.7 rating. The praise mostly went to the story itself and solid direction, with some legitimately scary moments throughout.

7 Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) – 6.7

Dracula: Prince of Darkness is the second movie in Christopher Lee’s turn as Dracula. The movie starts where the last movie left off, with Lee’s Dracula turned into ash by the heroes. The movie then jumps ten years into the future when two more unlucky people walk into Dracula’s lair.

The movie ranks higher than the third in the movie of the series because of the great and creative ending. This is also arguably Lee’s best performance in the role of Count Dracula.

6 The Brides of Dracula (1960) – 6.7

One of the best Dracula movies from Hammer arrived in 1960 with The Brides of Dracula. While Christopher Lee was not in the movie, as there is no appearance of Dracula himself, the story and look of the movie carry it to great heights.

While Lee is not here, Peter Cushing does return as Van Helsing and this might be his best performance in the role. Van Helsing is a strong protagonist here, and both the touches of humor and the creative conclusion shine through.

5 Quatermass and the Pit (1967) – 7.0

Quartermass and the Pit is a Hammer horror movie that could have ranked higher if it had better special effects to go with the great story. In this movie, Quartermass is a scientist who works with a military colonel to find a mysterious object that went missing after a subway renovation.

There were a lot of supernatural aspects to the movie and while the effects were not up to par, the movie still had a great look thanks to director Roy Ward Baker’s great use of color and light.

4 The Devil Rides Out (1968) – 7.0

The Devil Rides Out isn’t one of Hammer’s most famous horror movies, but it is appreciated by fans on IMDb, who gave it a nice 7.0 average rating. The movie is based on the novel by Dennis Wheatley and was directed by Terence Fisher with Christopher Lee in a lead role.

In the movie, Lee’s Duc de Richleau helped save a young man from a devil-worshipping cult. However, they end up dealing with the Devil, also known as the Goat of Mendes. The movie is as suspenseful as Hammer has ever been, and Lee is at the top of his game in this Hammer horror movie.

3 The Nanny (1965) – 7.2

The Nanny is a horror-thriller that is the second collaboration between Hammer and director Seth Holt. The movie stars the legendary Bette Davis as a nanny to a 10-year-old named Joey. The boy was sent to a home for emotionally disturbed children because his parents believed he drowned his sister.

What is most impressive is that Davis remains understated in the movie, which is important considering the twists the movie takes. William Dix was also great in the role of Joey in one of the best underseen Hammer horror films.

2 Never Take Candy From A Stranger (1960) – 7.3

Never Take Candy From A Stranger was different from most Hammer horror movies as it took a serious subject matter and played it straight throughout the entire movie. This was a story of pedophilia and featured a young girl who told her father a stranger made her take her clothes off and dance for him.

What makes this frightening is that the police just want to push this under the rug and told the father to just keep his kids away from the man. The ending is brutal and horrific, giving the movie even more punch.

1 Scream Of Fear (1961) – 7.4

The highest-rated Hammer horror movie of the 1960s is Scream of Fear from 1961. After being estranged from her family for 10 years following an accident that left her in a wheelchair, Penny comes home after her mother and nurse both died, only to find her father gone.

While a horror movie, this is also a straight thriller that is set up as a dark fairytale. The movie is well directed and the double twist at the end elevated it to a high level where fans on IMDb rated it as a high 7.4.

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