The 10 Best Horror Movie Directors, Ranked (2024)

Horror movie directors are some of the most recognizable filmmakers in the entertainment industry. Today, many fans of the horror genre praise these fantastic minds and their visionary talents for crafting some of the most beloved and terrifying movies ever brought to the silver screen. While countless directors have left their mark on the genre, a few have stood over the years for their incredible filmographies.

These pioneers of horror cinema have made considerable contributions, creating memorable efforts that rank as some of the most compelling horror movies ever made. Their talent and passion have made them legends in the entertainment world, remembered for years to come. From the creative mind behind Get Out to the creator of the slasher classic Halloween, here are the ten greatest horror movie directors who made the horror genre what it is today.

10 Jordan Peele (Born 1979)

First Horror Movie: 'Get Out' (2017)

The incredibly versatile Jordan Peele has quickly made a considerable name for himself in horror cinema. Starting as a famous comedic actor on hit sketch comedy shows like Mad TV and , his glorious transition to horror has been met with wild acclaim and success. His fantastic directorial debut was 2017's Get Out, a unique, tightly written psychological horror thriller that became a massive hit with critics and audiences and won him a much-deserved Best Original Screenplay Oscar.

Known for his dark, satirical, and psychological edge, Peele crafts thought-provoking and unique horror stories that are terrifying but unafraid to delve into humor. While fairly recent, Get Out, along with Peele's other films, Us and Nope, have steadily become recognized as modern horror classics and incredible examples of his impeccable filmmaking talents. While there's still more to come from him, Peele is on track to become one of the best horror filmmakers of the 21st century.

WATCH ON Amazon

9 Sam Raimi (Born 1959)

First Horror Movie: 'It's Murder!' (1977)

Before he became well-known for directing the popular Tobey MaguireSpider-Man trilogy, Sam Raimi was already a household name as the king of B-movie horror cinema. Starting with low-budget short films in his youth, Raimi quickly took the genre by storm with his highly influential splatter horror masterpiece, The Evil Dead, which spawned a massive franchise and defined his career for decades to come.

Today, Raimi has become beloved by audiences for his unique directing style and perfect use of dark comedy. Using tracking shots, hand-held movements, and even creative camera angles, Raimi crafted a distinctive style that fans expect from any of his future projects. While he shows genuine terror and gore on screen, Raimi's films often come with a darkly comedic edge, even employing hilarious use of slapstick. Audiences will laugh and scream, but no matter what, they'll always find something to love and enjoy about Sam Raimi's horror films.

RENT ON Amazon

8 David Cronenberg (Born 1943)

First Horror Movie: 'Shivers' (1975)

Fans of shocking and grotesque body horror movies know the name David Cronenberg. Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1943, this passionate and unique filmmaker started his early career directing short, low-budget, and art-house films before making his triumphant leap towards body horror with his big-screen debut, 1975's Shivers. Since then, Cronenberg has become a heavy hitter in the genre, spawning a string of impressive sci-horror classics that certainly aren't for the faint of heart.

A legend in the entertainment industry, Cronenberg is a visionary director known for his creativity and employing some of the most incredible special effects ever shown on camera. The body horror shown in his films can be unsettling, absurd, and even repulsive at times. However, it's so unique and memorable, possessing such a strange, almost beautiful quality, that it's hard to look away. While he's made some impressive classics over the years, many would agree his ultimate masterpiece was his 1986 sci-horror remake of The Fly.

WATCH ON TUBI

7 Mario Bava (1914-1980)

First Horror Movie: 'Lust of the Vampire' (1957)

Known as "The Master of Macabre," Italian filmmaker and cinematographer Mario Bava has left a glorious legacy by directing some of the greatest Giallo horror movies ever. With a film career spanning fifty years, Bava's game-changer productions inspired multiple horror subgenres, laying the foundation for many iconic slasher films.

Today, many of Bava's most compelling films have become highly influential in the horror genre. Bay of Blood, The Boy and The Whip, and Blood and Black Lace have pushed the envelope of on-screen violence and gore, paving the way for future slasher movies like Halloween and Friday the 13th to go bolder and bloodier. Bava's significant impact on the genre can never be replicated, making him one of the most singular and boldest horror directors in cinematic history.

WATCH ON TUBI

6 James Whale (1889-1957)

First Horror Movie: 'Frankenstein' (1931)

Universal's golden age of monster movies had its fair share of incredible directors. While Karl Freund (The Mummy), Jack Arnold (Creature From the Black Lagoon), and Tod Browning (Dracula) made incredible films that brought these memorable and terrifying creatures to life, none hold a candle to British filmmaker James Whale and his work creating the iconic Frankenstein series.

Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Old Dark House, and Bride of Frankenstein have all become classics of the horror genre thanks to Whale's brilliant storytelling. He showed his monsters in a different light, making them more compelling, sympathetic, and nuanced. As a result, he created engaging horror movies that have stood the test of time and continue to be a significant influence on pop culture. Though Whale only has four horror movie credits to his name, each is a triumph, ensuring his spot as one of the most remarkable horror directors ever.

RENT ON Amazon

5 F.W. Murnau (1888-1931)

First Horror Movie: 'Satanas' (1919)

Active during the glory years of the silent film era, German expressionist director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau has become widely regarded as one of the most revolutionary filmmakers to ever live. Using innovative camera techniques and preferring to shoot on location, he became a pioneer of the cinematic arts, creating highly influential pictures and brilliant filmmaking styles that are still studied and used today.

While he's known for his acclaimed melodramas like The Last Laugh and his Oscar-winning film Sunrise, audiences best remember him for his eerie 1922 vampire horror masterpiece Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror. Today, Nosferatu has become a staple of the horror genre, a timeless silent era classic that has cemented Murnau's status as an iconic filmmaker who will truly be remembered throughout history.

Satanas is not available to stream or purchase in the US and Canada.

4 Terence Fisher (1904-1980)

First Horror Movie: 'The Curse of Frankenstein' (1957)

Terence Fisher, one of the most prolific horror directors of all time, is synonymous with the Hammer horror series. Starting his career directing film noirs and crime dramas, Fisher later gained notoriety for directing the gory and much more explicitly violent interpretation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein novel, Curse of Frankenstein. The film helped kick off Hammer's dominance in the horror genre for much of the mid-20th century.

As Hammer Film Production's go-to director for many years, Fisher created countless impressive remakes of classic Universal monster movies, including Horror Dracula, The Mummy, The Curse of the Werewolf, and even a unique adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera. Though the quality of his films differs among audiences, with Curse of Frankenstein and Horror of Dracula arguably being his best, Fisher was instrumental in keeping iconic movie monsters in the spotlight, bringing them back to the big screen in beautiful color and adapted for modern audiences.

RENT ON Amazon

3 Wes Craven (1939-2015)

First Horror Movie: 'The Last House on the Left' (1972)

Sighted as the man who saved the horror genre in the '90s, the late and truly iconic Wes Craven is one of the most significant horror directors of his generation. Beginning with his shocking horror exploitation film debut, 1972's The Last House on the Left, Craven defined horror cinema not once but twice with his incredible slasher classics, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream.

Today, many of Wes Craven's films rank among some of the greatest horror movies of all time because of his creative talents behind the camera. As writer, producer, and director of most projects, Craven created compelling horror stories with interesting characters and even more memorable villains. Freddy Kruger (Robert Englund) and Ghostface are two of the most recognizable horror antagonists ever to grace the screen, and they wouldn't exist without Craven. With his unfortunate passing in 2015, the genre lost an incredibly talented and memorable director, but his work and impact on horror will never be forgotten.

WATCH ON Tubi

2 George A. Romero (1940-2017)

First Horror Movie: 'Night of the Living Dead' (1968)

Zombie horror, as audiences know it today, would not exist without the great George A. Romero, who practically created the genre. Born in The Bronx, New York, in 1940, this beloved American-Canadian filmmaker defined the modern zombie movie with his monumental low-budget debut of 1968's Night of The Living Dead. This highly influential classic spawned an incredible trilogy and changed the horror genre forever.

Though he sadly passed away in 2017 at 77, Romero's legacy in the entertainment industry lives on with his incredible works. With twenty-four directing credits spanning over a five-decade-long career, Romero created remarkable stories that were genuinely terrifying, gory, dreary, and often incredibly thought-provoking. Today, he's seen as "The Godfather of Zombie movies" and a significant figure in pop culture, inspiring popular apocalyptic shows like The Walking Dead and The Last of Us.

WATCH ON MAX

1 John Carpenter (Biorn 1948)

First Horror Movie: Halloween (1978)

Arguably, the most outstanding horror director is the wonderfully iconic John Carpenter. Creator of incredible genre-defining classics like The Thing, The Fog, They Live, and Halloween, Carpenter has become a legend in the industry and is praised by fans for inventive and atmospheric storytelling.

No budget is too short, and no script is too outlandish for John Carpenter. Known for his versatility and determination to give his all to any of his projects, his strengths stretch far beyond the director's seat. Aside from writing and directing, John Carpenter also composed. He crafted truly memorable films that have stood the test of time and changed the genre by inventing the modern slasher formula and experimenting with other genres, proving that horror is remarkably fluid.

WATCH ON Crackle

NEXT: The 10 Best Horror Directors Working Today, According to Reddit