The 25 Best Horror Movie Franchises Ever

Published: Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 5:00 pm

Horror Franchises: A Journalist's Look at the Best

The horror genre thrives on recurring nightmares, and the best franchises capitalize on this, offering audiences familiar terrors that keep them screaming. While consistency can be a challenge, some franchises consistently deliver, either through fresh approaches or by maintaining a high average quality.

This list highlights the top horror movie franchises, focusing on those with at least three films that have either consistently delivered or have a high enough average quality to be considered great.

The franchises range from the psychosexual horrors of *Hellraiser* and the found-footage thrills of *V/H/S* to the werewolf transformation of *Ginger Snaps* and the gothic atmosphere of *Dracula*. Other notable entries include *The Texas Chain Saw Massacre*, *The Conjuring*, *Tales from the Crypt*, and *Hannibal Lecter*. Franchises like *A Nightmare on Elm Street*, *Invasion of the Body Snatchers*, *Tremors*, and *The Three Mothers* also make the list.

Further down the list are *Halloween*, *Alien*, *The Living Dead*, *Friday the 13th*, *The Purge*, *Phantasm*, *Child's Play*, and *Saw*. The top five include *28 Days Later*, *Final Destination*, *Scream*, *The Evil Dead*, and the ultimate champion, *The Universal Classic Monsters*.

BNN's Perspective: The enduring appeal of these franchises speaks to horror's ability to tap into our deepest fears and anxieties. While some franchises have their ups and downs, the best ones offer a consistent blend of scares, creativity, and cultural relevance, solidifying their place in cinematic history.

Keywords: Horror franchises, horror movies, best horror movies, Hellraiser, V/H/S, Ginger Snaps, Dracula, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Conjuring, Tales from the Crypt, Hannibal Lecter, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Tremors, The Three Mothers, Halloween, Alien, The Living Dead, Friday the 13th, The Purge, Phantasm, Child's Play, Saw, 28 Days Later, Final Destination, Scream, The Evil Dead, Universal Classic Monsters.

Full Story