Top 10 Horror Directors of All Time
Maybe we'll sleep with the lights on tonight. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Horror Directors of All Time. For this list, we're looking at the directors behind your favorite scary movies and ranking them based on their popularity and positive critical reception.
Special thanks to our user mac121mr0 for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
Top 10 Horror Directors of All Time
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Maybe we'll sleep with the lights on tonight. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Horror Directors of All Time. For this list, we're looking at the directors behind your favorite scary movies and ranking them based on their popularity and positive critical reception. We're only focusing on filmmakers who’ve built their name and fame as horror directors though and thus have excluded acclaimed thriller directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and Roman Polanski.
#10: Clive Barker
Clive Barker is a popular name in horror due to his contributions in writing and directing, including penning the story that would become the popular 1992 film, “Candyman.” His directing has also received considerable attention, as he is the man behind “Hellraiser,” the classic slasher movie about the horror icon Pinhead, who tries to acquire blood for a resurrection. While he also directed less notable efforts, like the cult film “Nightbreed” and 1995’s “Lord of Illusions,” his Pinhead character has gone on to become one of horror’s most recognizable faces.
#9: James Wan
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The youngest filmmaker on our list, James Wan has made a significant impact in the horror genre as of late and will be remembered for years to come. His most recognizable effort is arguably the first “Saw” film, which started one of modern horror’s most popular franchises. He has also directed two of this generation’s most well-known and critically acclaimed horror films: “Insidious” and “The Conjuring,” the latter of which grossed over $300 million at the box office. Whether it’s through gore or subtlety, Wan is a master of the craft.
#8: Lucio Fulci
Though he shares the title of “Godfather of Gore” with American filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis, this Italian director, screenwriter and actor is more than worthy of it. Lucio Fulci’s most well-known films include “Zombi 2”, a sequel to George A. Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead” and “The Beyond,” a cult horror flick and the 2nd in Fulci’s “Gates of Hell” trilogy. While he also dabbled in westerns and comedies, his gore and slasher flicks are what earned him controversy and fame and have more than cemented his legacy in the horror genre back then and now.
#7: Sam Raimi
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Known as one of cinema’s most trusted horror comedy directors, Sam Raimi has the distinct ability to make us laugh in between our screaming. He rose to prominence in 1981 after directing “The Evil Dead,” which proved popular (and scary) enough to spawn two sequels (both of which he directed), as well as a remake, and a television show. After a run of superhero films, he returned to horror in 2009 with the acclaimed “Drag Me to Hell,” which scored 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed nearly $100 million at the box office. Groovy.
#6: David Cronenberg
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While the name David Cronenberg may not ring too many bells unless you’re a diehard film connoisseur, the fact that his filmography and legacy are monumental can’t be denied. One of the fathers of “body horror,” Cronenberg popularized the concept of fear pertaining to transformations of the body. This is perhaps most apparent in his most popular work, “The Fly,” in which a man slowly transforms into the pesky insect, complete with gross-out moments aplenty. Other notable works include “Scanners” and an adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Dead Zone,” which is often considered one of the better adaptations of the author’s work.
#5: Tobe Hooper
One of the most influential horror directors of all time, Tobe Hooper is responsible for some world-renowned classics. He’s the man behind “Poltergeist,” one of the most famous and scariest ghost films ever. However, it’s his second movie, 1974’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” which is a staple in the horror genre, as it has spawned sequels, prequels, and remakes. That film is often considered to be one of the first slasher movies and one of the most disturbing films ever, so it’s not surprising that a director responsible for one of the horror genre’s most popular entries lands here.
#4: Dario Argento
Born in Rome, Dario Argento has made classics in his home country of Italy and has received universal acclaim for them, and has often been considered one of horror’s most influential directors. One of his most famous films continues to be the stylistic “Suspiria,” about an American ballet student in Germany. He is also well-known for “Opera,” “Deep Red,” and for re-editing the international release of George A. Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead,” making the pace faster and adding more music. His influence has been felt across the world, and his films remain truly disturbing all these years later.
#3: George A. Romero
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Speaking of which, George A. Romero is responsible for the popularization of one thing: zombies. He is behind one of horror’s most influential pieces, “Night of the Living Dead,” which introduced the world to the stumbling undead creatures and resulted in a terrifying movie-going experience. His sequels, particularly “Dawn of the Dead,” remain classics to this day, and his creatures are arguably more popular now than they’ve ever been. And that’s not all; he is also a master of the independent movie, and his film, “The Crazies,” recently saw a well-received remake. Put simply, the man can do it all.
#2: Wes Craven
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Wes Craven may have passed in August of 2015, but he left behind one of horror’s most acclaimed filmographies. His movies have seen worldwide success and continue to inspire, beginning with his very first movie, “The Last House on the Left,” which is often considered one of the scariest films ever. He continued with classics like “The Hills Have Eyes” and the “Scream” series, which is known for reinvigorating the slasher genre in the mid-’90s. Perhaps most importantly though, he introduced the world to Freddy Krueger in “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” with the child killer becoming one of horror’s greatest villains. What a legacy to leave behind. Before we scare you with our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Terence Fisher Rob Zombie Takashi Miike James Whale
#1: John Carpenter
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Perhaps the only director who could possibly match Craven’s influence is none other than John Carpenter. Carpenter reached mainstream success in 1978 with the release of “Halloween,” a horror classic responsible for kickstarting the slasher phase and giving horror one of its most acclaimed characters in Michael Myers. Not one to peak early, Carpenter continued to give us films like “The Fog,” “Christine,” “They Live,” and “The Thing,” with the latter becoming another classic that is still regarded as one of horror’s finest. His influence is second to none, and we have him to thank for laying the groundwork for modern day horror. Do you agree with our list? Which horror director is your favorite? For more scary top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com.
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