America’s Favorite Horror Movies & Villains

The 2018 version of Halloween has done very well at the box office, but it's the original from forty years ago that Americans still point to as one of the scariest movies of all time.

According to an SWNS Digital survey of 2,000 horror fans, the 1978 version of Halloween is second only to The Exorcist, which was also released in the 1970's. What was it about that decade?

Respondents in the survey were also asked about the reasons horror movie are so frightening: the villains. Once again, Halloween ranks high on the list as 'Michael Myers' is in the #2 spot. 'Freddy Krueger' from A Nightmare on Elm Street was crowned the king of creeps. Both lists are below. Are there any horror movies or villains you would add?

Top 10 Best Horror Movies

1. The Exorcist (1973) – 50%
2. Halloween (1978) – 48%
3. Friday the 13th (1980) – 48%
4. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – 47%
5. The Conjuring (2013) – 45%
6. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) – 43%
7. The Amityville Horror (1979) – 43%
8. Saw (2004) – 39%
9. The Shining (1980) – 39%
10. Poltergeist (1982) – 36%

Top 10 Best Horror Villains

1. Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street) – 62%
2. Michael Myers (Halloween) – 58%
3. Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th) – 54%
4. Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs) – 49%
5. Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) – 42%
6. Pennywise the Clown (IT) – 42%
7. Chucky (Child's Play) – 42%
8. Regan MacNeil (The Exorcist) – 38%
9. Norman Bates (Psycho) – 37%
10. The Creeper (Jeepers Creepers) – 37%