Top 10 Funniest Moments In TERRIFYING Horror Movies

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the top 10 hilarious moments in horror movies. Well be excluding horror comedies or horror movies that are unintentionally funny. Beware of Spoilers!

#10: Kinderman Asks for Chris Autograph

The Exorcist (1973)

In any ranking of the scariest supernatural flicks ever made, William Friedkins 1970s masterpiece would undoubtedly claim a top spot. Regans demonic possession is grotesque, and the movies entire vibe is downright unsettling. Yet amid this nightmarish setup, Kinderman manages to lighten the mood. Showing up to investigate Burkes death, he casually asks Chris for her autograph, lies that its for his daughter before admitting hes a fan. Right in the middle of a murder case tied to a malevolent entity? This probably drew a few chuckles from viewers before the film plunged back into horror. Honestly, its a much-needed breather that reminds us theres a normal world beyond Regans possession.

#9: No Cats

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)

Expanding the eerie silence that made 2018s A Quiet Place so terrifying, this prequel goes back to the early days of New Yorks invasion by blind aliens. This time, the story follows Sam, a cancer patient and a fellow survivor as they navigate the unfolding catastrophe. In the midst of all this is Frodo, Sams cat, who effortlessly steals the spotlight. In a rare moment of levity, Sam enters a store with Frodo - only to be told cats arent allowed, while the store owners cat is lounging in plain sight. Seriously? Talk about a double standard. With a pointed glance at the bodega, Sam calls out the owners hypocrisy, and we get a quick laughter in a film heavy with dread.

#8: The Cheddar Goblin Commercial

Mandy (2018)

With a woman burned alive and a trail of grisly deaths, this surreal revenge film gets as dark as it can possibly go. But then, out of nowhere, it switches that gruesomeness for one absurd interruption. Were talking about none other than the cheddar commercial scene. After witnessing his lovers brutal death, Red staggers home only to be greeted by a strange commercial of a Goblin gleefully vomiting on kids. Its silly, jarring and totally off-key. But in such a grim film, it gives you a chance to either laugh or just be as stunned as Nicolas Cage - like,What the heck is this? Also, if you grew up with cheesy 80s ads, that awkward nostalgia hits you hard.

#7: M3GANs Dance

M3GAN (2022)

This robotic doll may not haunt your dreams like Annabelle, but her cold, calculated approach to violence will give you the creeps. Still, theres a twisted charm to her, especially when she breaks into that fluid, enchanting dance. One second youre bracing for violence, the next, shes serving up some smooth moves before going full-on lethal. Its creepy, yet strangely delightful. Sure, it may come off as ludicrous but it totally works since it stalls M3GANs victim just long enough. According to director Gerard Johnstone, it wasnt even in the original script, but thanks to that scene, the film blew up online. So if you see someone randomly dancing in the hallway, you know what to do. Thanks for the tip, M3GAN.

#6: Annies Three Choices

Halloween (1978)

From the very start of this slasher film, youre on edge. Michael Myers has already stabbed his sister, escaped confinement and set his eyes on a new target. Laurie senses somethings off but her friends are completely clueless. While Michaels lurking, theyre more concerned about their plans for the night. One unforgettably funny moment sees Annie, clearly bored, lamenting about her lame options for the night, as if that should be her biggest headache when a killers on the loose. In fact, the entire scene has a dark comedic edge. Perhaps, John Carpenter is telling us that even with death creeping closer, these girls are still just small-town teenagers preoccupied with petty issues.

#5: Taking Measurements

Barbarian (2022)

Weve all yelled at horror characters for making dumb decisions, convinced wed do better. AJ in Barbarian justifies that feeling. Hes the Airbnb owner, who returns to inspect the basement just to see how much its worth. This is the same place Tess ends up in despite being extra careful, almost as if she knows shes in a horror film. But AJ? He just strolls into this dungeon with blood-smeared walls without a second thought about the dangers he might encounter. Where is this guys survival instinct? Even though we know whats coming for him, its quite humorous because while the dungeon freaks Tess out, AJ acts like its a chill Sunday project. Ignorance will definitely get you in trouble.

#4: A Father-Son Moment

Jaws (1975)

In this Steven Spielberg thriller, the small-town of Amity is being terrorized by a massive, relentless predator and Chief Brody is stuck dealing with this threat. The films general atmosphere is so tense theres hardly any moment to breathe. However, amid the tension, something comes along to ease our minds. At dinner, Brodys little boy starts mimicking his every move. Stressed out, Brody fails to notice. But once he does, he pulls off even funnier faces and this adorable exchange ends with a kiss from son to father. Yeah, it may be a small moment, but its so cute it makes you crack up or just melt. Plus, it makes Brody all the more relatable - hes simply a dad trying to protect his family.

#3: The Demon Goat

Drag Me to Hell (2009)

In this Sam Raimi film, a loan officer gets cursed after denying a creepy old womans request for a mortgage extension. Soon a violent spirit begins tormenting her, and to exorcise it, this demon must be trapped in a goat and then slaughtered. Yep, this is where things take a wild turn. During this extremely chaotic seance, this dark spirit possesses a goat and not only does it speak, it growls foul words in a deep, menacing voice. No freaking way! Its so unexpected and so outlandish some fans probably lost it laughing. A demon-possessed, trash-talking goat? Thats not horror- thats full-blown, over-the-top comedy -and its totally Raimis style.

#2: Knife Game

Aliens (1986)

Before the crew of Sulaco got to blasting aliens in this sequel, their banter already had us hooked. There are plenty of moments that show off their authentic dynamic, but one standout is the knife game scene. Bishop gets cajoled into showing off his knife tricks, and Hudsons face drops when he realizes his hand is the guinea pig. Its such an unexpected burst of comedy in the middle of an alien-horror film. What really sells this scene is Bill Paxtons wide-eyed panic as he tries to keep it together. Rumor has it that Paxton didnt even see it coming, making it funnier and more genuine. Lets not forget Vasquezs savage response to Hudsons silly question - its pure comedic gold.

#1: Pennywises Hoedown Jig

It (2017)

Clowns are supposed to be silly. But horror has twisted them into something sinister and Pennywise is hands-down one of the creepiest out there. This shape-shifting entity is unpredictable with a playful edge thats pretty messed up. As goofy as Pennywise can be, the last thing we expected was for him to suddenly burst into a furious stomping dance like a glitching video game character. Its honestly scary, yet bizarrely hilarious - like what even is this? Maybe it was meant to be horrifying in a freakish way, but it ended up wackier than intended. No wonder it turned into a viral meme that syncs with literally any song. Honestly, after that jig, we cant blame anyone who doesnt find Pennywise as terrifying.

Do you agree with this list? What other hilarious moments in horror films do you know? Let us know in the comment section.