By their very nature,horror movieslend themselves to sequels as killers, supernatural threats, and monstrous entities continually return to seek revenge and vengeance. While this can sometimes feel unnecessary as horror franchises continue way past their prime and test audiences' patience, other series have remained engaging and feature characters who I would watch indefinitely. As a horror movie lover, there are just some franchises that, no matter how many installments they make, I’m always happy to hear about a new, upcoming entry.
Thebest horror franchisesfeature antagonists who have carved out important roles in popular culture, as figures like Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger will surely give viewers nightmares for decades to come. While I agree some franchises should be put out of their misery, these are others that I still can’t get enough of. Although it may be true thatHollywood horrors could use more original ideas instead of endless sequels, reboots, and reimaginings, some franchises deserve to stick around and still have plenty to offer in new installments.
10Scream (1996 - Present)
Six movies
Wes Craven reignited the slasher genre with the release of the firstScreamin 1996, and ever since, I’ve been excited to see what kind of hilariously horrific horror movie tropes this franchise would satirize. The first movie took the well-worn concept of a masked killer pursuing teenagers and imbued it with a knowing tongue-in-cheek energy that helped it stand out among so many other slasher movies. The second and thirdScreammovies paid homage to the literal idea of sequels and trilogies to produce a highly clever franchise that was not afraid to make fun of itself.
Screamwas the first horror franchise I ever truly got into, and watching how it’s grown and developed over the past nearly three decades has been a joy. With later installments parodying ideas around legacy sequels and franchise fatigue,Screamhas developed with the times to remain consistently relevant through meta-commentary and clever subversions of tropes. With this incredible history behind it, I’m happy to followtheScreamfranchiseand continual copycat killers of Ghostface for years to come.
Scream
Created by Kevin Williamson and originally helmed by Wes Craven, the Scream franchise takes a meta approach to the slasher horror franchise, centering on teenagers well-versed in the genre who find themselves hunted and killed by figures donning the Ghostface mask. The first four movies revolved around Neve Campbell’s Sydney Prescott as she frequently found herself the target of different Ghostface killers, while the fifth and sixth installments introduced new protagonists, sisters Tara and Sam, with their own dark past connected to the original Ghostface killer.
9Halloween (1978 - Present)
13 movies with three timelines
The originalHalloweenmovie from 1978 was a definitive release in the history of horror but was not a film that I thought needed a sequel. However, director John Carptener soon followed it up with the lacklusterHalloween II, a release that seemed to signal this series' lack of franchise potential. However, the story does not end there, as over the past several decades, the franchise has continued with sequels, reboots, and reimaginings thatfleshed out the backstory of the babysitter killer Michael Myers.
With ridiculously confusing timelines that contradict, ignore, and retcons itself many times over,Halloweenhas proved that, much like Myers himself, it cannot die. With this, I came to accept theHalloweenfranchise for what it was and embrace its never-ending exploration of the trauma of Laurie Strode. With the most recent reboot trilogy showcasing new and interesting ways of exploring Myers and Strode’s legacies, I’m all for it to continue and see just howHalloweenfinds a way to reinvent itself once again.
Halloween
TheHalloweenfranchise, created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, is one of the longest-running horror franchises in cinema. Debuting withHalloween(1978), it introduced audiences to Michael Myers, a masked killer terrorizing the fictional town of Haddonfield on Halloween night. Spanning over 13 films, including sequels, remakes, and reboots, the franchise centers around Michael’s relentless pursuit of his original target, Laurie Strode.Halloweenhas become a cultural staple, inspiring the slasher genre and generating comics, novels, and video games, with a new television series currently in development.
8Child’s Play (1988 - Present)
Eight movies with five theatrical releases, two VOD movies, and one reboot
One of the best things about having a killer doll as the antagonist of a horror franchise was that it’s easy to make sequels without losing any of its believability because it was already unbelievable in the first place. I feel the ridiculousness ofChild’s Playwas always part of its charm, and over the years, it’s continued to lean into its campy, over-the-top style. As the story of a serial killer whose soul has been transferred into a “Good Guy” doll, Chucky has become a true icon of horror and has remained popular for nearly four decades.
While the earliestChild’s Playfilms will always be my favorites, I’ve enjoyed watching it continue as a direct-to-video franchise with excellent releases likeSeed of ChuckyandCult of Chucky. Although there was an attempt to reboot the series with a theatrical release starring Aubrey Plaza, I believe the best way to continuetheChild’s Playfranchiseis as a VOD series. Without having to live up to the expectations of big-budget theatrical releases,Child’s Playcan continue doing what it does best as a campy and often ridiculous horror series.
Child’s Play
Child’s Play is a multimedia franchise that started in 1988 with Tom Holland’s film of the same name. Soon after, Chucky became a pop culture icon, thanks to a total of eight movies (including the remake) and a TV series on Syfy and USA. Today, Chucky is one of the most recognizable villains in horror history.
7The Conjuring Universe (2013 - Present)
Eight movies within three series
Since the release ofThe Conjuringin 2013, this horror series has grown into a sprawling cinematic universe complete with many sequels, prequels, and spin-offs. While I initially connected with the supposed real-life adventures ofthe paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, watching howThe Conjuringled to the development of both theAnnabelleandThe Nunseries’ was thrilling. Having gone on to becomethe highest-grossing horror franchise of all time, I’m certain we viewers can expect more movies set inThe Conjuring Universefor a long time.
As a franchise that continually delivers when it comes to tension and scares,The Conjuring Universehas kept audiences coming back for deeply engaging and terrifying stories. While the original movie helped reignited haunted house narratives, the way other entries have fleshed out the mythology of its world has been deeply fascinating. There are so many directionsThe Conjuring Universecan go in, and I’m very excited to see how it continues to expand over the coming years.
The Conjuring
The Conjuring is a multi-film franchise that started in 2013 with James Wan’s The Conjuring. Since then, it has expanded with spinoffs like Annabelle, The Nun, and sequels to the original film. Due to the popularity of the movies, The Conjuring has become one of the most profitable franchises in Warner Bros.' portfolio.
6Final Destination (2000 - Present)
Five movies
Final Destinationis a unique franchise in horror movies, as its antagonist is not any physical being but the manifestation of Death itself. This concept truly terrified me as a child, and although these movies never gained widespread critical acclaim, they have always been some of my favorite horror films. The idea that after escaping a near-death experience, those who were destined to die but survived would be later marked for a gruesome death was a chilling concept that has kept the door open for sequels that do not require old cast members to return.
Part of the beauty ofFinal Destinationas a franchise is that, by its very nature, the series can go on indefinitely and reimagine itself for each new generation. Although I love seeing the return of old cast members or the way thatFinal Destination 5was actually a secret prequel to the original as the survivors found themselves boarding the doomed Flight 180, this was never a necessity. While so many other horror franchises have a finite number of entries before devolving into ridiculousness,Final Destinationcan go on forever without issue.
Final Destination
“Final Destination” is a horror franchise known for its unique premise centered around the inevitability of death. Each installment typically follows a group of individuals who escape a catastrophic accident due to a premonition experienced by one member of the group. However, Death, unwilling to be cheated, begins to claim the survivors in a series of increasingly elaborate and gruesome accidents. The franchise has gained a cult following for its inventive death scenes, tension-building storytelling, and the overarching theme that death is unavoidable.
5Alien (1979 - Present)
Nine movies with spin-offs and an interquel
The iconic extraterrestrial Xenomorphhas terrified audiences since the original Ridley ScottAlienmovie in 1979 and has been the stuff of my nightmares ever since I witnessed its grotesque chestburster scene. Since that fateful day, I’ve continued to watch every installment in theAlienfranchise, and although spin-offs likeAlien vs. Predatorfailed to live up to the original, the rich mythology of this franchise has kept me coming back for more. From Scott’s divisive prequel movies to the incredible interquelAlien: Romulus, this horror franchise has plenty of life left in it yet.
Although I used to believe that theAlienfranchise required Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley as its main protagonist, the success of later movies has proved its ability to excel without her. The recent success ofAlien: Romulushas showcased that this franchise can embrace its predecessor’s legacy while also carrying out something new. With this in mind, I’m excited to see where this franchise goes next and how it can add to the rich mythology of Xenomorph and, hopefully, one day give audiences a sequel toAlien: Covenant.
Alien
The Alien franchise, which began with Ridley Scott’s 1979 film, is a Sci-Fi series comprised of several horror films, games, and comic books centered on humanity’s encounters with a hostile extraterrestrial species known as Xenomorphs. Characterized by their lethal prowess and capability to reproduce at an alarming rate, these creatures pose a profound threat to human existence. The primary series protagonist, Ellen Ripley, acts as the voice of reason as she seeks to keep the creatures out of the hands of greed-driven corporate scientists.
Five movies with an original trilogy, two standalone films
The first movie in Sam Raimi’sEvil Deadfranchise was a solid horror film, but it was withEvil Dead IIthat this franchise really connected with me. As the perfect blend of horror and comedy, Bruce Campbell made the perfect horror protagonist and helped turnEvil Deadinto one of the most iconic franchises of all time. With the third movie,Army of Darkness, theEvil Deadfranchise embraced more fantastical elements and became one of the all-time great horror trilogies.
My appreciation of Raimi’sEvil Deadtrilogy meant I continued checking out the series for its standalone releases and felt that the 2013 reimagining ofEvil DeadandEvil Dead Riseshelped showcase this franchise’s potential away from Ash Williams. With so many avenues to explore, from standalone sequels tocontinuing the adventures seen in theAsh vs Evil DeadTV series, I’d be happy to watch endlessEvil Deadsequels, spin-offs, and reimaginings well into the future.
Evil Dead
Created by Sam Raimi, Evil Dead is a horror-comedy franchise that began with the release of the original film, The Evil Dead, in 1981. The series follows protagonist Ashley “Ash” Williams as he and his friends venture into a cabin for a vacation only to discover it harbors a demonic book that can summon terrifying creatures known as Deadites, hell-bent on torturing and slaying them all. As the series progresses, Ash becomes more of a masculine B-movie action hero until the soft reboot helmed by Eli Roth occurs, which shifts the franchise deeper into its horror roots.
Six films in George A. Romero’s original series
George A. Romero revolutionized the zombie genre with the release ofNight of the Living Deadin 1968, a film that has influenced every subsequent zombie movie made since. This iconic movie was one of all-time greats, and I’ve never grown tired of watching the countless sequels, spin-offs, parodies, and homages that have been released under the blanket loosely connectedLiving Deadfranchise.
The reason theLiving Deadfranchise has become so large and involves so many series was because a copyright error meantNight of the Living Deadentered the public domain and has allowed other filmmakers to make their own versions without fear of infringement. This has led to iconic releases like Dan O’Bannon’sReturn of the Living Deadseries and the Italian classicZombi 2. The sheer volume ofLiving Deadmovies makes this franchise unique, and I think it’s great that lesser-known filmmakers can become a part of horror history by making their own installments.
Night of the Living Dead
Cast
George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead did more than just invent the modern zombie, it revolutionized the horror genre. Following a small group of humans who hide in a secluded farmhouse when the dead begin to rise and crave human flesh, Night of the Living Dead examines the relationship between humanity and paranoia in times of crisis.
2V/H/S (2012 - Present)
Nine movies, including two spin-off films
The very nature of theV/H/Sfranchise, an anthology series created by numerous filmmakers, lends itself to indefinite sequels. With a plot centering around VHS tapes discovered by innocent viewers, I always connected with the way the V/H/S movies embraced collaboration as they brought together various writers, directors, and performers to create a sprawling horror franchise. Using found footage shorts, the originalV/H/Smovie from 2012 laid the groundwork for a series that continues to this daywith no end in sight.
While manyV/H/Smovies have had their ups and downs when it comes to quality, this sheer variety in this franchise was a major part of its appeal. By inviting so many collaborators to contribute to the franchise and a willingness to explore diverse concepts and ideas, V/H/S managed to carve out something new in the realm of horror movies. Bringing together demonic cults and zombie attacks under one series makesV/H/Sa memorable franchise that can continue for years to come.
V/H/S
Shot as a found footage experience, V/H/S explores several horror tales in this anthology series from Radio Silence. A group of amateur criminals films themselves heading into a mysterious house after an anonymous tipster hires them to break in and steal a specific videotape. Upon infiltrating the home, they discover the decaying body of an older man in front of a TV, prompting them to explore the last video he watched. However, what waits for them is a series of supernatural and horrific events captured on film that may endanger them as much as the victims they’re watching.
1A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984 - Present)
Nine movies with six main installments and one non-canon, crossover, and remake release
With a killer who pursues his victims in their dreams,A Nightmare on Elm Streetwas literally the stuff nightmares are made of. This was a definitive release from Wes Craven and created one of horror’s most iconic villains with Freddy Krueger. As a series with a whopping nine releases,A Nightmare on Elm Streethas already proven its lasting power, and I’m keen to see how it develops in the future.
Although it’s easy to get franchise fatigue due to the huge number of sequels in the series, it was Wes Craven who showed me that there were new and exciting ways to continue the story of Freddy Krueger. The meta-narrative ofWes Craven’s New Nightmarefrom 1990 showcased howA Nightmare on Elm Streetcould continue indefinitely as this unique film toyed with the series legacy by having Krueger haunt the cast and crew who were making movies about him. This kind of clever, tongue-in-cheek concept is one reason why I never want thehorror franchiseto end.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
The Nightmare on Elm Streetis a horror franchise that began with the 1984 film directed by Wes Craven. The series centers on Freddy Krueger, a former child killer who, after being burned alive by the parents of his victims, returns as a vengeful spirit who kills teenagers in their dreams. The franchise became a cornerstone of the horror genre, spawning nine films, a television series, novels, comics, video games, and more. Freddy Krueger, portrayed by Robert Englund in most of the films, is one of the most iconic characters in horror history. The series is known for its imaginative and terrifying dream sequences, blending slasher elements with supernatural horror.
