The 10 Best Horror Movies Of The 2010s, According To Letterboxd

The more time passes, the more difficult it is to scare moviegoers. Over the years, casual audiences have seemingly seen everything that can be done in a horror movie, so finding new ways to keep them on their toes gets tougher. Despite that, the 2010s saw a slew of fantastic and original horror films.

These might not have always been the most terrifying flicks but they found a way to keep the audience engaged, enthralled, and still at least a bit scared. The users on Letterboxd have spoken and given out their ratings, which will help others find the best horror films of the decade.

10 Midsommar (2019) – 3.83

Stream On Showtime & Kanopy

A handful of directors have truly stood out over the past few years and one of the most unique is Ari Aster. He has seemingly mastered the horror genre, which was proven by his second feature film, Midsommar. On the surface, it doesn’t look like your traditional scary story.

Most of the film takes place during the daytime at a bright festival but the pagan cult behind it proves to be sinister. The movie received praise for being ambitious, completely unsettling, and for the tremendous performance of the cast, led by the talented Florence Pugh as Dani Ardor.

9 The Witch (2015) – 3.86

Stream On Showtime & Kanopy

Another horror director who has quickly become a notable name is Robert Eggers. His feature directorial debut, The Witch, proved to be one of the better reviewed films of the decade regardless of genre. It also helped introduce the world to the talented Anya Taylor-Joy.

Taking place in the 1630s, the plot focuses on a family that is torn apart when the baby is abducted and they’re taken over by witchcraft, black magic, and more. Most reviews found it to be a captivating slow burn that is visually impressive and established Eggers as one of the brightest filmmakers around.

8 The Wailing (2016) – 3.92

Stream On Amazon Prime, Shudder, Crackle, AMC+, Hoopla, Tubi, & Vudu

There has been so much great cinema from South Korea over the past decade. One of the best from the country is The Wailing, which centers on a police officer who investigates a string of murders and a mysterious illness taking over a remote village.

The entire time that this officer is on the hunt, he’s also out to save his daughter, adding an emotional core to the story. One of the longest horror movies to receive such acclaim, The Wailing makes every minute feel worth it. Most Letterboxd reviews found this to be a wild experience in the best possible way.

7 I Saw The Devil (2010) – 3.97

Stream On Amazon Prime, Kanopy, Tubi, Hoopla, & Vudu

Sticking with the theme of South Korean pictures, I Saw the Devil is one of the earliest horror movies to come during the 2010s. However, it’s actually an impressive blend of horror, action, and thriller thanks to a story centering on a psychopathic serial killer.

I Saw the Devil tells the story of an NIS agent who goes on a quest for revenge when his fiancée is a victim of the killer. The movie won a slew of awards across various countries and was praised for not holding back when it came to the depraved aspects of the plot.

6 One Cut Of The Dead (2017) – 3.99

Stream On AMC+ & Shudder

Moving over to Japan, One Cut of the Dead is one of the most unique uses of both the zombie and found footage genres. The movie follows a group of actors and filmmakers who attempt to shoot a zombie film in a single take, only to have their set invaded by the actual undead.

Unlike a lot of other films among the top ten, One Cut of the Dead is actually more of a comedy than a horror but it still has plenty of well-made scenes that are kind of scary. The movie was a massive success, grossing over a thousand times its budget, and was met with widespread acclaim for its originality.

5 Hereditary (2018) – 4.00

Stream On Showtime & Kanopy

Before cementing himself with Midsommar, Ari Aster had to establish himself. He did just that in his directorial debut in 2018, Hereditary. On the surface, the plot feels like the kind of thing seen in plenty of horror movies but Aster brought his now signature style to it to help set it apart.

The story focuses on a family who begins to get haunted following the death of the grandmother. Toni Collette delivered a powerful performance in the lead role and the film was praised for taking something that has been done before and finding new ways to make it more interesting than ever.

4 The Wolf House (2018) – 4.02

Stream On The Criterion Channel, Kanopy, AMC+, Tubi, & Shudder

The final film from outside of the United States to rank among the ten best is The Wolf House. This Chilean movie, known locally as La Casa Lobo, is the rare stop-motion animated horror flick, which actually adds to how creepy the entire thing is.

The harrowing tale is about a young girl who escapes a community run by a child predator, only to end up in a haunting abandoned home in the forest. The entire thing feels incredibly unsettling and was lauded for being both creative and surreal.

3 The Lighthouse (2019) – 4.05

Stream On Amazon Prime & Kanopy

Once again, Robert Eggers finds his work among the best of the decade and it’s again mainly due to his incredible visual style. Obviously, it’s not the only great thing about The Lighthouse but there’s no denying the black and white style, cinematography, or that it’s shot in a 1.19:1 aspect ratio.

Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson also turn in terrific performances as two men who descend into madness while stranded on an island during a storm as they tend to the location’s lighthouse. The film took home multiple awards for cinematography, while Dafoe and Pattinson also did the same.

2 Black Swan (2010) – 4.09

Stream On Hulu

It’s not often that a horror movie finds itself among the Best Picture nominees at the Academy Awards but Black Swan is the rare film to pull that off. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, this psychological horror flick turns the art of ballet into something truly sinister.

The film follows Nina, a ballerina who is perfect to play the White Swan in Swan Lake but can’t find what it takes to play the Black Swan. It causes her to lose her grip on reality and ends up delving into some truly haunting imagery. At the Oscars, Natalie Portman snagged a Best Actress statue.

1 Get Out (2017) – 4.17

Rent On Apple TV

Another horror film to nab a Best Picture nomination, Get Out kind of blew everyone away. After all, writer/director Jordan Peele was just known for his comedic talents on shows like MadTV and Key and Peele but he went out there and told one of the greatest horror stories in history.

Get Out centers on Chris, a Black man who visits his white girlfriend’s parents’ house only to find out that the family has been doing awful things to Black people for decades. It’s one of the most important films of the era. Along with the Best Picture nomination, it also won Best Original Screenplay.

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